Friends of Willard Brook

Board of Directors Meeting MINUTES

November 10, 2011

 

1. Present:  Emily Norton, Tom Nevins, Joellyn Nevins,  Sherisa Sterling, Jayne Perkins,  Dann Chamberlin, Bruce Colburn, Diane Conde, Jennifer Petitt, Suzanna Black

 

2.  Corrections to minutes – none to report

 

3.  Treasurer’s Report

                $2,066.69 in the account

               

 4.  Memberships

                69 current members

                20 less than 1 year past due

                22 1 to 3 years past due

               

5.  Publicity –

                Facebook has 13 likes to date.  We need to get the word out.

                Diane e-mailed link to Emily who will include it in the winter newsletter

                Winter Newsletter out soon.

Poster Design – Largest John can print is legal 8 ˝” X 11” – we would need a dozen to be placed at kiosks in parks.  Emily to check prices to print larger and come up with a design.

 

6.  Fall Programs

 

                Four programs  this month:

                                Sunrise Hike  - 4 participants

                                Aquatic Creatures – snowed out

                                Bog Walk  - snowed out

                                Dead Swamp Hike – 9 participants

 

                Upcoming events:

               

                                Neat Streets Hike  11/12

                                Winter Weeds – 11/20

                                Post Thanksgiving Hike – 11/27

 

7.  Friends of the Rail Trail

Railroad mural is ˝ done – beautiful work.  Second half scheduled to be painted in the spring.  Dedication ceremony to follow – perhaps in the spring.

                Next Meeting  11/14 @ 7:30PM. – we want to encourage them to provide a newsletter article for FOWB

                next newsletter.

Storm damage to the rail  trail is  significant.  There are dangerous sections which have been officially closed  - curtain tape put across the trail.  DCR crews of 1 can’t get the trailed cleared quickly.  The state crews will come in to clear and estimate three month’s work.  To start Monday 11/14.

 

 

8.  Invasives –

Work is all approved.  Company went to check location and found that it’s too late to treat this year – will treat late next summer.

 

9.  Fessenden Hill Road Gate –

There is no money to put up the gate.  Emily asks how much it would cost to install the gate.  Bruce will check.  The gate is in stock, we just need to pay for installation.

 

10.  ATV Signage –

                Signage not in yet.  Will ask Kathryn to follow up.

                Community Letter – Leslie in Conservation may be able to provide funding through conservation for mailing.  $532 for a town wide mailing.   4,700 houses.  In order to access funds the mailing needs to benefit a conservation project as well.  Funding available in proportion to wetlands discussion topic (ACEC areas effected – wetlands, vernal pools, buffer zones).

 

11. Trail Committee –

Spring trails clean up  will need to be scheduled.  Much damage after the snow storm, but it doesn’t make sense to clean it up now. 

                Troop 10 has volunteered to adopt part of a Friends trail. 

                Question on cleanup – handsaws are OK, chainsaws are not on state land.

                Emily reminds Ray to write an article talking about the Adoption Program for the Winter Newsletter.

12.  Fund Raising

A Chinese Auction – First item donated.  Emily will include something in the newsletter asking for other donations.. 

               

13. Annual Meeting –

Tom Wessels charges $550 plus mileage for a ˝ day program.  Estimated at 124 miles or $68.80 for a total of $618.80.  Suggested June 23,2012 for the meeting.  This is a Saturday with a 1:00 PM start.  Program includes 1 ˝ hour slide show followed by a 2 hour walk (TSF) and wrapping up with our annual meeting and pot luck supper.  We need to start the application process now to get funding.  Bruce to help.  Will e-mail a letter to Ed to request funding.  We can use the Amanda Dwight fund as a fall back.  Vote to proceed?  Sussie moved that we accept the $618.80 expenditure.  Tom seconded and all in favor.

 

14.  DCR Forest News –

There is significant storm damage in Willard Brook.  Some tree tops, some tree limbs.  Circuit Road in Pearl Hill has been cleared. 

                The Chipper has been dedicated to the rail trail cleanup

                Trails will need work over coming months and in to the spring.

DCR is going through a major administrative reorganization.  Willard Brook is changing regions.  Amherst is now the regional office.   Major budget changes as well.  Duane Erickson is the new District Manager.  Will try to get him to come to a meeting.

 

Next Meeting December 8, 2011.