Friends of Webster Trials Board Minutes
Monday, February 11, 2008
Webster Community Center
Attendees: Rich Morrill, Hal Harris, Dennis Kuhn, Jeff Darling, John Rider, Sue Stonewell, Rick Taddeo, Karen Mischler
The minutes of the January meeting were approved per some minor changes.
Treasury Report: No report
Membership Report: There are 111 memberships (5 new family and 3 new single.)
Dennis will research how FWT is getting new memberships. This way we will have more information in order to target membership promotions.
Brochures – There are only 100 brochure left.
All Board Members – by next meeting. Review brochure and note any changes that need to be made for the next printing.
Membership Renewal problem and discussion: The board talked about the fact that most members do not renew when prompted by the reminder in the spring newsletter that renewal is due. The board talked about the idea of sending out a letter to members that do not send in their renewals right away. The letter would thank people for their help and membership and would outline 2-3 big projects that have been accomplished (thanks to their membership and giving to FWT). The letter would have a tear off at the bottom of the page, which would be their “renewal bill.” Another idea was to include the membership expiration date on the Newsletter mailing label. Perhaps a membership should be for a year rather the FWT fiscal year as now.
Dennis/All: At the March meeting we will continue discussion and decide what steps to implement.
Sunday Hikes: Ruth and Rich had no attendee for the January hike. The February hike is in Gosnell Big Woods.
Sue Stonewell volunteered to get the Sunday hikes into the Herald and Webster Post.
Sunday hikes for further into 2008 were decided upon.
Hal reported on the Hojack track removal. Carm called a meeting of the stakeholders. The town needs to get an OK from RG&E. Things are starting to move slowly and Hal will try to keep on top of the events.
The Wood Duck house is going into the Pond area of the bird sanctuary trail. It will be installed this Sunday, Feb. 17, in the SW corner near the causeway. A group of cub scouts may help.
Trails Committee:
Hojack – Dan McCoy’s bridge at Vosburg Hollow has been fixed.
Whiting Rd. Nature Preserve – Hal did a re-route of the trail around a fallen tree.
Bird Sanctuary Trail - Karen shared that it looks like a Boy Scout, Ryan Volk, will take on the project of the Bird Sanctuary on the Bird Sanctuary Trail. Hal volunteered to help with some of the technical aspects (i.e., materials list, etc.) that Karen is sorely lacking.
(Thanks Hal !)
Gosnell Big Woods – A committee has been formed, 9 voting members, majority vote, regarding different aspects.
Connecting Trail – The grant money from the Dept of Transportation funding is not available. David Koon will try to find money for the project elsewhere. Gosnell Woods Trail to Pellet is pending approval by the committee.
Vosburg Hollow – Brian Charland will do his project this spring to connect Vosburg to Gosnell.
There was some discussion about a new Parks, Recreation, Green Space and Athletics Review Board being formed to replace the Parks and Rec Advisory Board. It will review proposals (such as from the Gosnell committee) and make recommendations to the Town Board.
The board went through the task priority list that had been put into categories by Jeff Darling.
All Board: Review the list of priorities and be ready to discuss and assign importance next meeting.
The spring newsletter will need to be discussed at the March meeting.
Decisions need to be made about the 2008 Annual Meeting. We will discuss at next meeting.
Next Board Meeting: March 10, 7:15 p.m. at the Webster Community Ctr