Friends
of Willard Brook
Board
of Directors Meeting MINUTES
1. Present: Emily Norton, Tom Nevins, Joellyn Nevins, Deborah Smith, Sherisa Sterling, Jayne Perkins, Chris Christie, Dann Chamberlin, Bruce Colburn, Diane Conde, Jennifer Pettit, Kathryn Garcia
2. Corrections to minutes – none to report
3. Treasurer’s Report
$2,087.95 in the account
Tom has created a report of the activities in the account for the past year.
4. Memberships
2 new memberships received on NRRT forms
2 new members - photo contest winners
67 current members
22 less than 1 year past due
25 1 to 3 years past due
Emily to e-mail all past due members with reminders
5. Publicity –
Facebook has 9 likes to date. We need to get the word out.
Diane to e-mail the link for the FaceBook page to Emily
6. Fall Programs
HPV festival was a great success – best weather for the event, but no water provided. Emily will visit the Rail Group meeting as a liaison from FOWB and will suggest the group provide water and apples for the event next year.
Nature Journaling – Rained out
Cranberry Picking – 10 participants – picked for 2 hours – a bumper crop!
Ed got a call from a Weebelo pack in Townsend for a Forestry Badge – Emily Norton did an indoor educational session and will take them on a one hour walk to complete.
Four programs coming up this month:
Aquatic Creatures
Bog Walk
7. Friends of the Rail Trail
Railroad mural is in process
Human Powered Vehicle Festival
Next Meeting 10/24 – we want to encourage them to provide a newsletter article for FOWB next newsletter.
8. Invasive –
There was a discussion at the Conservation Commission meeting regarding the invasives and why we need to get rid of the phragmites and why chemical eradication was the only method that would work in this case. At the conservation commission meeting it was voted and approved to eradicate the phragmites using the chemical method. There was one individual against the treatment and he has 10 days to appeal the vote.
Bruce and Ed surveyed the location for the new gate today. MA DOT Engineer contact is in process. There is a 15’ gate and a 37’ opening so the site will be in need of some landscaping (large stones on either side to block access).
10. Photo Contest –
Two participants – great pictures hung at the Townsend Public Library,
Kim King took first and third place and will receive a two year membership to FOWB.
Greg Maloney took second place and will receive a one year membership.
In addition Greg is interested in doing a photo workshop for FOWB in the future.
Joellyn suggests that we remove the categories for next year’s photo contest – suggested categories/topics, versus definitive categories.
11. ATV Signage –
Emily displayed samples of possible signage.
Sign request has been submitted to DCR
Kathryn Garcia thinks we’ll have the signs in about three weeks
The signs will be placed at road/trail intersections.
FOWB will focus on signage first, followed by letters to the abutters.
Sign Backers to protect the signs need to be pulled out of storage and stained. Tom Nevins suggests we get the signs firs t and then plan staining.
12. Trail Committee –
Ray suggests we think about setting up an "adopt a trail” program. There is the 4 mile Friends trail and we could ask for volunteers to maintain a section of the trail. We need to advertise and show people how to maintain the trails.
Sussie agrees and thinks we should not build any more trails until we have adopters for the trails already under our care..
The goal is to maintain the Friends trails – there are six miles of trails, so ultimately we’d like to get six adopters. Each adopter would be expected to maintain the trail twice a year – once in the spring, once in the fall. They would then report back to Ray or Sussie. Bruce asked that the DCR be notified as well.
Emily asks Ray to write an article about the program for the winter newsletter – needs it by early December.
Bruce suggested calling the program “Adopt a Friends Trail”.
The J. Harry Rich trails are in need of maintenance. There is a home for disabled asked for access for motorized wheelchairs. There is a water crossing that needs to be dealt with. Friends will wait for direction regarding the trail maintenance . Kathryn reminds us that we need to follow DCR’s Trail Standard Manual.
13. Fund Raising
What activities can we come up with to raise money?
A yard sale was suggested. We talked about it and put it to a vote with a show of hands. Decided it was not a good group activity.
A Chinese or Silent Auction was suggested for the annual meeting. We have a yes vote on the Chinese auction. Emily will add something to the newsletter asking for donations (items donated).
A Conservation trust day program was suggested. We would like to invite Tom Wessels – we will need $600 or $800 for the day. Kathryn suggested we start now for the annual meeting in June. Emily to contact Tom for cost.
Next meeting we’ll brainstorm ideas for donations.
14. Winter Carnival –
Can we raise funds on DCR land? We are told to sell items or collect donations on DCR land, we’ll have to get a special use permit which will require liability insurance. Do we want to do a Winter Carnival under these conditions – voted – No.
15.
16. Friends Network Conference – Emily not going.
17.
Parks are now closed – water is being shut off.
DCR’s role in the Squanacook Rail Trail meeting is advisory only.
They are doing cosmetic repairs to picnic area.
Fall cycle for the rail trail to get at leaves every two weeks.
Getting a quote for the location on
Project to paint ceiling in head quarters underway.
Need to get a replacement door for Chevy Truck – getting estimates to paint – looking at $300 to $400.
18. Other Business
501C3
Annual Report due to the
Next Meeting