Friends of Willard Brook
Board of Directors Meeting - MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, February 3, 2010. 7:00 PM, Willard Brook State Forest
Headquarters
1. Attending were Joellyn Nevins, Tom Nevins, John Belotti, Don Stoddard, Eino Kauppi, John
D'Angelillo, Ed Torcoletti, Raynold Jackson, Deborah Smith and Jayne Perkins.
2. Corrections to minutes - none
3. Treasurers report Eino - $2,189.81
4. Membership report Sussie sent an email 52 active members, 32 members less than 1 year
overdue, 42 more than 1 year and less than 3 years overdue and 13 more than 3 years overdue
or no renewal date known.
5. Publicity
For Sy Montgomery program, we need: posters, book display at library, newspaper
article, message to Friends of the Townsend Public Library. Emily will take care of
contacting friends of library and librarian, and the newspaper article. Tom designed a
flyer and it looks great.
6. January programs
Emilys hike, Jan 31 4 attended
Cross-country skiing
7. Friends of NRRT
Ayer kiosk in process as far as being on the list of things for the regional carpenter to
make.
Washout north of Sandhill Road on hold until spring
Other - Received a grant from Groton Cultural Council for the second mural.
8. Trails
We need to put painted blazes at Dead Swamp trail on hold until spring
New trail work for upcoming year?
9. Fessenden Hill Road gate in process per Ed is on the list.
10. Sy Montgomery program NOTE DATE CHANGE to March 14, 2:00-4:00
We need volunteers:
2 people to serve refreshments _________ ___________
One person to sell T-shirts, hats and memberships Jayne
Five people to bake cookies Emily Jane Jackson, Jayne, Joellyn and Deborah
2 people to help set up John, Joellyn and Jayne
11. T-shirts should we order more short-sleeved ones? Currently have only 15. Moved and
voted to purchase 24 assorted short sleeved gray T-shirts.
12. Forest Futures Visioning process Feb 4 Public Meeting 6:30-8:30, Westborough Public
John D, Ray J, and Don S. going.
Library, 55 W. Main Street, Westborough. See www.mass.gov/dcr for more information.
13. FOWB-Townsend Seniors
connection John D - there is a questionnaire in the Senior
Newsletter for Townsend
to see if there is interest.
14. Annual Meeting
Emily has tentatively arranged a speaker for the annual meeting. Tom French, Asst.
Director of MA Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, can present a
slide-show and talk about bats in MA, their natural history and the threat posed by white-
nose syndrome that might result in near extinction of several of our bat species.
Thursday, June 10 would work for Tom. Cost to FOWB is $0. The Board okayed this
program and the date for the Annual Meeting.
15. Mountain bike trail off Vinton Pond Road on hold until spring
16. Invasive species committee on hold until spring
17. DCR/Forest News Ed - the final phase of the Pearl Hill Pond rehab project is next. On site
bidders came for the meeting on what needs to be done. The beach area will have the sand
removed and replaced. This will improve the beach as the weeds will have been taken out.
Staffing for 2010 will remain at the same number as 2009 but for shorter periods, with later
start times in spring and earlier stop times in the fall. The office has been painted. The
office rehab will continue so the remaining items will be completed eventually. Park Serve
Day is Saturday April 24 this year. The Yurt will be going up. A variance was needed for it
because of a well. A dumpster and shed will be relocated.
18. Other business
A. Earth Day for Townsend is April 24, theme is water conservation. Joellyn will send an
email to reserve a spot and confirm that we will be there.
B. Townsend Conservation Commission looking for volunteers. See info on our web site.
C. Last year there was a question about getting the friends groups more involved with the
state, the Friends Network Group. Ray was wondering if there was activity with the
group.
D. It was moved and voted to send a check for $50 to Greg Whittly Mott for his work with
the server maintenance for our web site.
E. Don found www.stateparks.com and there is a place for comments. There are a couple of
notes on Willard Brook. One about trail markings not so good the farther you go on the
Friends trail. (That will be checked out.) Ed said DCR is trying to standardize the trail
markings. They are starting with Walden Pond with a sample system.
F. Stewardship Council is urging the Director to use more volunteers across the state.
19. Next meeting Thursday, March 4, 7:00 PM. Jayne to chair.