Akron East High Alumni Association
Board Meeting Minutes: June 5, 2025
Attendance: Michelle Anderson, Larry Bond, Marsha Bond, Chuck Hayes, Sharon Kerechanin, Ken Larson, Marcia Martz, Mike Oliver, Michelle Sibbio, Janet Stanley
Absent: David Hoff, Rochelle Henderson, Mike Nickolich, Don Young
Minutes of May 1, 2025: C. Hayes moved and seconded by M. Bond accepting the May minutes as presented.
Treasurer’s Report: L. Bond
Updated April 2025 Report:
- Checking Account: $22,646.92
- Business Checking: $1,379.01
- Money Market Fund: $47,832.95
May 2025 Report
- Checking: $19,697.32
- Business Checking: $1,354.00
- Money Market Fund: $57,956.62
Communications Report – M. Oliver
- Posted on website, “Spirit Wins – Oriental of the Month for May” was Ken Larson for his donation of the pies to the Hall of Fame Ceremony
- Posted May minutes of Alumni Association Board Meeting.
Reverse Raffle: S. Kerechanin
- Discussion of providing heavy hors d’oeuvres at the Reverse Raffle instead of a full dinner.
- S. Kerechanin spoke with Guys’ Party Center, Banquet Manager, and the cost would not be less than what we pay for the appetizers and the full dinner.
- S. Kerechanin will be in contact with Guys Party Center over the next few months to discuss the menu again.
- The 2026 Reverse Raffle will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at Guy’s Party Center.
Scholarships: M. Bond
- K. Larson and M. Bond attended the East CLC Senior Awards Assembly on Wednesday, May 28th.
- Sixteen (16) scholarships for a total of $39,500 were awarded and were well received.
- Matthew Futch is the building liaison with Project Grad. M. Bond gave him the list of the recipients and he will follow-up with the recipients to assist them where necessary with the process to ensure they can claim their awards.
- After the ceremony, K. Larson and M. Bond placed the five 2025 HOF inductees’ name plaques on the display board at East.
60+ Reunion Luncheon: M. Bond/J.Stanley
- Approximately 224 reservations were in as of June 5, 2025. Reservations are down from 300 last year. Question is why is attendance down.
- Need board members to sign-up to volunteer for some event responsibilities
- Table will be available to purchase “Chang” pin/pendants for $35.
- Emcee is M. Oliver
- Set-up day on June 11th is from 1:00 -3:00 p.m.
- Photography update – back-up photographer will be Andrea Halgren
- In spite of fewer registrations, contributions to scholarship fund that have been received from invitees is $4,200.
Hall of Fame: M.Sibbio
- M. Sibbio thanked the board for their support and assistance at the Hall of Fame Ceremony in April.
- There are 4 carry-over nominees from last year that will be entered as nominees again for 2026 and will be considered with any new nominees.
- K.Larson will contact East High about the video results of the HOF Ceremony.
Memberships: M. Anderson
- One new Lifetime membership was received in May, 2025
- Total of 11 new/renewed memberships for 2025 – $780
- 4 – Lifetime Memberships
- 3 – 10 year memberships
- 4 – 1 year memberships
- Discussion of potential board members that have expressed some interest in serving on the board. Board members who know them will reach out to them about the board.
- A sub-committee for Membership will be formed to look at a process on how we can reach different classes (former class officers) to discuss alumni association memberships and inform them on what the association offers to East High and to alumni.
- M.Martz, S. Kerechanin, and J. Stanley have also volunteered to assist M. Anderson with this project.
- Discussion of the use of zoom for board meetings. Further discussion is needed on this recommendation before it can be implemented.
Linda Theater Alumni Movie /Fun Night: M.Anderson
- M. Anderson met with the Linda Theater representative and found out that the Linda Theater is presently closed for renovations and was informed it should be open by October 3, 2025 when the Alumni Night was scheduled.
- The board discussed this situation, and since it is not a guarantee that it will be ready for October 3, we will not go further with advertising and rental costs for the Fun Night at this time. We will monitor the Linda Theater situation and determine at a later date of moving forward with this project.
Memorabilia Posting to Website: L. Bond/M. Oliver
- 1997 Yearbook is live on website; working on 2002 Yearbook to be posted on website
- Preparing to transfer extra yearbooks now stored at East to Alumni storage facility. There will be a yearbook sale with M, Oliver, Ken Larson and L. Bond to conduct the sale.
Other Business –
- L. Bond discussed a simpler way to conduct the gift basket raffles at the Reverse Raffle.
He will discuss the process with S. Kerechanin.
- M. Bond wants the board to consider minimizing the number of scholarships awarded each year and look at prioritizing the funds to other needed programs which also need support at East.
- M. Bond proposed that we start in September having our board meetings back at East, so we show a presence in the building. We can continue to use the Tallmadge Library in the summer months or when East is not open.
The next board meeting will be on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the Tallmadge Library.
Meeting adjourned at 7:33 p.m.