PEEP Donna Hay welcomed the 50 current and alumni parents who attended the semi-annual PEEP meeting.

Guest Speaker Desiree Bumgarner, Administrative Services Manager, University Police. Ms. Bumgarner has been affiliated with the CSU system for 12 years, with prior experience in the police force. She was working at the CSUN campus during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, so she has personal experience in emergency situations, and knows how important emergency preparedness is. However, she stressed how the keyword in any emergency is flexibility - the emergency will dictate what needs to be done, and where.

CSULA has invested time and resources in emergency preparedness. There is a 156-page Multihazard Emergency Plan, and emergency training is a permanent on-going function; there are over 200 CERT (community emergency response team - a group of amateur emergency workers) personnel on campus. In these environments CERTs are far more effective than untrained civilians. With less than 40 hours of training, an amateur disaster service worker becomes qualified to perform about 95% of needed emergency services. This means that 95% of the rescues and life-saving triage and first-aid procedures can be completed in the "golden day," the first 24 hours when rescues and first-aid are most likely to succeed. On campus, there are pre-designated personnel responsible in each building, and a permanent emergency station (EOC) in the lower parking lot behind the Fine Arts Building. Ms. Bumgarner handed out the "Partners in Public Safety" booklet, an annual report on safety at CSULA - the incidents on-campus are almost entirely petty theft crimes of opportunity (unattended backpacks, items left in plain view in cars).

Click here for more information on CSULA's Emergency Plan, suggestions for EEPsters, and suggestions for interesting home and personal safety websites. Rich also handed out an emergency form and requests every PEEP to fill in this "Emergency Contact Information," so the office has good contact information, including that important "Out of Area" contact Name.

Richard Maddox answered questions from PEEPs. Parents inquired about the status of the additional room, and Rich mentioned that it is still undetermined. When the University requested he add an additional 13 students this year (we have 40 new EEPsters - the largest freshman class ever), Rich had asked for three things - 1) Erika full-time, 2) Additional time for Lisa, 3) additional room. The first two were agreed and implemented in September, but the third is incomplete. Space at the University is at a premium, especially with the tearing down of the old Student Union. EEPC President Andrew Post wrote an email to Dr. Ethan Lipton, who is in charge of space allocation, and attached a picture of the crowded rooms at EEP. The University will probably want Rich to accept additional NSS students next year too, and Rich will make it contingent on having firm additional space in hand before such a commitment.

This was an abmormally low test turnout - usually we have over 300, and this time it was 220. Rich said that nothing was done differently, and he had no idea why it was so different. The Early Entrance Foundation is helping with additional outreach - updating school lists to whom Richard sends his bi-annual packet, add adding in email and fax numbers. The Foundation is planning new outreach to child psychiatrists, psychologists and testing facilities. Parents offered to do individual outreach - at their childrens' old schools and with interested friends and acquaintances. Outreach by all PEEPs is welcome. The testing is changing this year too. CSULA Testing will take over some of the administrative duties, and to this end, CSULA testing personnel were present to observe the December testing. No one will notice any changes - EEP will still do the outreach, EEPsters will still be proctors and greeters, Rich will still mail out results and schedule interviews - the changes are behind-the-scenes to ensure compliance with the University's high testing protocal standards.

Rich thanked all the parents, and especially the alumni (Adam Jordan, John Roberts and Suzanne Vega) who made a special trip to come and talk to current and prospective PEEPs.

PEEP Donna Hay encouraged families to sign up for electronic scrip program. There is no problem with sensitive information as this only needs grocery club card numbers; it is easy as you only have to do it once; and it can make lots of money for EEP. Last year we made over $200 with just a few families signed up for just part of the year. If every family signed up, and spent only $100/week, this would add up to a $50 annual donation to EEP - if all our families joined in, this would add up to over $7000 per year! All at no cost or work to you! Just sign up online at the link above, or email PEEP Donna Hay, or call her at 818/905-6249.

The Annual Giving letter just went out three weeks ago, and already we have reached 20% of our goal. EEF Treasurer reminded PEEPs that if checks are dated in December, they will receive a thank-you tax letter also dated in December. With any questions, please call Donna Hay (818/905-6249).

EEP Alumni Adam Jordan joined the PEEP meeting to talk to current parents and stayed on with Alumna Suzanne Vega to present to the prospective PEEPs (parents of test-takers). Both Adam and Suzanne joined the EEP in the mid 1990s, and both graduated from UCLA law school. Alumni John Roberts also joined the prospective PEEP meeting. All parents in both meetings were delighted to hear first-hand of the success of EEP graduates, and how past and current EEPsters enjoyed the program. Current EEPsters Jennifer C. and Lea U. also answered prospective parent questions, and all five current and past EEPsters confirmed that they were happy they chose EEP over high school, and none had any regrets. Current PEEPs and alumni PEEPs (Chris Greene) also confirmed that their children enjoyed the program, and EEP is grateful to have such a committed parent group.