Friends of Willard Brook

Board of Directors Email Meeting MINUTES

July 14-20, 2011

 

1.  Corrections to minutes none

2.  Treasurer’s report $3084.95

3.  Membership

  • current numbers 60 up-to-date, 26 < 1 year behind on dues, 23 1-3 yrs behind.
  • plan for email-only members who have not renewed. Sussie sent Emily the list of email-only members who are behind with dues.  Emily will send out first reminders this week.  In September Emily will send second reminders to those who still did not renew.  Then, based on Ray’s suggestion, Emily will wait until October to drop from the membership those who still haven’t renewed.

4.  Publicity

  • summer newsletter has gone out electronically; paper version will be sent soon Emily got the paper newsletters last night and will address, stamp and mail them today.
  • summer schedule has been emailed to newspapers, etc.
  • portable signs; buy them or build them? Based on the figures we got from Jeff’s contacts, it was decided that the signs were too expensive to buy.  Bruce said that there’s a sandwich board sign at Willard Brook headquarters that we could borrow when we need to.  Also, Diane and Emily agreed to try building a few sandwich board signs.  Since then, Diane has found some inexpensive alternatives online.  To be discussed at next meeting.
  • FOWB permanent poster/sign – Emily to brainstorm with Deborah Emily and Deborah will meet in a few weeks after Deborah finishes her course.  They will present some poster designs at the September meeting.

5.  Recent programs

  • Watatic sunrise hike – 7
  • Annual meeting – 35-40 people
  • Blueberry picking had 5 people.  The hot day was very pleasant at the summit with a refreshing breeze.  Lots of berries were there to pick.  K. Fitzpatrick, reporter for Nashoba Press came along and will do an article on FOWB soon.

6.  Upcoming programs

  • Blueberry picking on Watatic new date Sunday, July 17 done
  • July 23 – summer hike – Sherisa
  • July 30 – fly fishing and beavers – Eino
  • August 6 – nature journaling – Deborah
  • August 13 – aquatic plants – Suzanna
  • August 20 – trail work – Ray

7.  Invasives committee

  • Tom Flannery of DCR has sent out solicitation for bids on Phragmites removal in Dead Swamp; bids due by 7/22/11 Emily spoke with Tom by phone and discussed several questions brought up at the Conservation Commission meeting. Tom feels that since the Dead Swamp is so far from the forest boundary that there is no need to notify abutters beyond the forest.
  • Voluntary site walk scheduled for 7/19/11 at 11:00.  Meet at Pearl Hill State Park. Leslie Gabrilska of Conservation Commission will go.  Emily will go.
  • Emily meeting with Townsend Conservation Commission on 7/13 to discuss permitting process We discussed non-chemical alternatives, FOWB being applicant, costs for permitting, toxicity of the herbicide, need to notify abutters.  Phragmites removal project on agenda for next Conservation Commission meeting on 7/27 at 7:45.
  • Will schedule bittersweet work during fall Some discussion whether herbicide is needed to prevent regrowth.  Suzanna has had success by pulling as much of the root system as possible. 

8.  Friends of NRRT – Duane and Dann Next meeting scheduled for Monday, July

     18, 2011 at 7:30 at NRWA office.

9.  Trails committee – Sussie and Ray Details are being worked out for the trails

     work day of August 20.  Although several folks stated that going out for pizza

     or ice cream after the work party was not something they’d like to do, Emily

     decided that she’d offer ice cream to volunteers as a way for FOWB to show

     appreciation for their time and effort.

10. Photo contest – Joellyn – any needs? No needs right now.

11. Liability issue Emily has a face-to-face meeting scheduled with Senator

      Flanagan for Aug 2 at 11:00.

12. Fessenden Hill Road gates no progress to report

13. DCR/Forest news Bruce sent positive report …. Lots of park usage, yurt usage,

      good water quality tests so far, progress on projects.

14. Other business

  • We need mushroom expert for early fall walk Deborah suggests Joanie MacPhee.  Emily will ask her.
  • Officers – we need secretary and vice president from individuals on the board.  Please consider filling one of these spots and email Emily individually.  We’ll decide at the September meeting.
  • Diane suggests we put FOWB on Facebook.  Jeff said that it would require frequent monitoring.  Diane offered to do the monitoring, so it was agreed to start an FOWB Facebook page.
  • Cathy Kristofferson discussed the ongoing Forest Futures Visioning Process.  Right now the lands are being categorized to designate types of activities planned.  Woodlands are areas that will be harvested for timber.  The state has designated Mt. Watatic Reservation as a woodland.  This doesn’t fit its use for hiking and birding.  (In addition, isn’t there an endangered dragonfly that lives only on Watatic? – from Emily)  This is the time for people to comment on the proposed designations.  Submit your opinion to comments@state.ma.us by 8/26/11.  Also, go to www.mass.gov/dcr/ld/landscapedesignations.htm and www.mass.gov/dcr/ld/ld_map.pdf for more information.

15. Next meeting:  Thursday, September 15, 2011.  7:00 PM.  Willard Brook State

      Forest Headquarters.