B/G Club Bus Pick Up Service - SIGN UP NOW!

[Jessica Rubecindo]

After a long time planning, meeting, and hoping, there is finally light at
the end of the tunnel!  Below are the details.
PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO ANYONE YOU THINK MAY FIND THIS INFORMATION HELPFUL.
If you need this as bad as I do, now is the time to act!  Please read entire
post, the sign-up date is below.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Please, please forgive us for one problem  -  the initial
transportation service will pick up those students who attend the Mary C.
Burke Complex (Hooks, Sokolowski, Kelly and Berkowitz) only.  The Parent
Council will continue to push for an extended program serving the middle and
private schools, but we do understand that the B/G Club must start small in
order to make this effective for everyone so this program can continue well
into the future, serving many more of our children.  So, for those of you
affected by this, please continue to be patient.

VAN:  The B/G Club did get a donated van, as they promised. However, there
were several issues with the van, including the lack of seatbelts.  Turns
out, the van just does not run as well as we all hoped.  So, we cannot use
an unsafe van to pick up our children.

PLAN B:  Timing is everything.  Last week, Josh received a call from a
representative of the Paul Revere Bus Co., who expressed an interest in
partnering with the B/G Club to provide AFFORDABLE transportation from
school, to the club.
What timing!  So, Plan B is now in effect.

SIGN-UP DATE:  There will be a mandatory brief meeting, followed by official
sign-ups for the transportation service on Tuesday, February 13th at 6pm at
the Boys/Girls Club.  At the meeting, we will discuss the Transportation
Policy, Application, fees and payment process and go over any questions you
may have.  Josh and Michelle will host the meeting.  Please tell anyone you
know that have children attending the Complex about this opportunity.  Many
people who need this service simply do not have email, so telling our
friends is how people will find out about this.

FEES:  Great news!   When we first starting talking about transportation -
almost a year ago -, the costs were going to be $25.00 per week, per child.
We are very excited to share that the cost have dropped significantly, which
means more people will be able to benefit from the service!

While the costs have not been 100% finalized, we are 98% sure that the MOST
you will be charged is $20.00 PER MONTH, per child!   Yes, it is definitely
much cheaper, but please come to the sign ups fully prepared, ready to pay
one month in advance in order to guarantee your spot for the coming month
(cash, money order, checkbook).  I think that is both fair, and also very
reasonable.  But, I would love your feedback.  So, email me.

START DATE:  The proposed start date for the first day of transportation is
Monday, March 5th (yes, this year!).  We thought it would be best to wait
until after the school vacation, and give us time to get as many people as
possible to sign up.

FLYER:  I will try my best to create a flyer and hang it up in the Club by
Monday.  But, please tell everyone you know.  We need this service to be a
great success and we need you in order to make it happen!

After all that great news I just brought you, WHO'S INTERESTED IN SIGNING UP
FOR THE PARENT COUNCIL AT THE B/G CLUB?!  I expect phone calls, lots of
phone calls!  Can you tell how happy I am about this?!   Please tell me if I
left out something.  Thank you all!

--Ramona
617-889-5494 - home
781-338-3945 -work




-----Original Message-----
From: Foster, Ramona
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 3:42 PM
To: Foster, Ramona
Subject: RE: Transportation at B/G Club - JANUARY 2007 UPDATE


For those of you that have been emailing me inquiring about where we are
with transportation, sorry for the delay and I hope this helps.

I have been in contact with Josh Kraft and asked him about the status of the
seatbelt issue that was brought to our attention back around Thanksgiving.
Well, unfortunately, the issue has not yet been resolved.  Josh had to order
the seatbelts from the Auto body place and they have not yet come in.  Then,
I imagine, there will be more wait time because they will have to be
installed in the van.

I am hoping we can really get this started as soon as possible, just like
you all are.  Since I just lost the person so kind enough to pick up my kids
since the start of the school (thanks, Gabi!), I have been leaving work
(Malden) to drive to get them, bring them to the club, then come back to
work in Malden....takes me almost a full hour with school bus traffic!
While I sit there and wait for the club to open (with some of you), I get so
frustrated watching three separate school busses drop off children, one
directly in front of the club!  It completely baffles me as to why the City
cannot make arrangements, especially if we are willing to pay the City for
the bus!

Sorry about the tangent.  I will let you know more when Josh tells me more.
Thanks for your patience.

Ramona



-----Original Message-----
From: Foster, Ramona
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:38 AM
To: Foster, Ramona

Subject: Transportation at B/G Club - THANKSGIVING UPDATE



This update contains great news and not-so-great news.

GREAT NEWS:  The Club WILL be offering transportation VERY SOON.  It's true.
With the help of parents, the club has created a transportation policy and
the application - both are all set and ready to go!  Sign-ups are right
around the corner, but...

Not-So-Great News:  The Club just found out that the freshly painted,
donated van does not have seatbelts!  They certainly cannot go into
transporting our children without them.......

What does this all mean, Ramona?!  In the mean time, Josh and Michelle acted
immediately and just ordered new seatbelts from the manufacturer (Ford),
then they - The Club - will have to pay to have the seatbelts installed.
How much longer?  I do not know. It was a setback that was not anticipated.


Patience and persistence have both worked for our group so far!  Keep the
patience going....I will email you all again as soon as I hear anything from
Josh and Michelle.   Thank you all!

Ramona




Ramona Foster
Education Specialist
Massachusetts Department of Education
Career/Vocational Technical Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148
(781) 338-3945
rfo...@doe.mass.edu
www.doe.mass.edu/cte