Friends of Webster Trails
July 11, 2011
Board Meeting
Present: Hal Harris, Craig Pratt, Alisa Kokx, Dennis Kuhn, Jeff Darling, Rich Morrill, Rick Taddeo, Karen Mischler
The June minutes were approved as amended.
Treasurer’s Report: Craig reported the balanced to be: checking $2657; savings $3642; petty cash $117, total $6416. The Ken Lou grant contains $4200. Expenses were $80. Income was $0.82, dues/donations were $500-.
501c3 – Dave Mayer sent a blank form to Craig to fill out. This will help FWT to get grants since many organizations do not like to give funds to municipalities.
Membership: Dennis reported that are 123 memberships. Some renewals have come up and some have not yet paid up to keep their memberships going.
Alisa will see about how to have the FWT brochure included in the Webster Welcome Wagon package for new Webster residents.
Dennis reported the ADK Expo. was good. FWT is also scheduled to be at Webster Village Days on 8/13. Dennis may not be there on that date but he will help to schedule people to staff the booth. It will take place near the gazebo area.
Hikes: The arboretum hike was taken by approx. 7 or 8 people. Carol Brown is an incredible and knowledgeable hike leader.
A leader is needed to the July 17th hike at Gosnell. Jeff may be able to do the hike. Alisa can do August 21.
Dennis will send notes about the Arboretum hike to Hal.
Hal will send out a thank you note for the Arboretum hike.
Alisa nominated Shari Gnolek as a candidate for the member-at-large board position since we have an opening. Rich M. seconded the motion. The motion was accepted and the board will vote on it at the August meeting.
Communications Report: There was a discussion about emailing a notice to members to ask if they would prefer to get a reminder to see the newsletter online, as opposed to being sent a paper copy. They will need a link (members@webster.org)
Rick T. will send an email to the trail steward for photos of their section of trail to make into a collage. There was also an idea for the newsletter about board members submitting information about another trail, not in Webster, that they like and why. There could also be an article about what to avoid on the trail and what it looks like, i.e.,hogsweed, poison ivy, etc. there could be an article on butterflies and moths.
Sharon has been assigned an article to write about why it’s a good idea to hike, i.e., history, nature, etc.
The Vosburg Hollow kiosk is up and running thanks to Jenna Bilsback. There should be an article in the full newsletter about this
Norma has been assigned the task of writing an article about this, perhaps also sending it in to the Herald and to use it for the newsletter.
Habitat Report: On the 16th there was maintenance work done in the Big Woods. On the 23rd popular brush was removed and swallowwort spraying took place.
Vandalism took place on the Bird Sanctuary Trail. The kiosk was knocked over, intentionally. The roof is also missing.
Jeff will take the lead on getting the kiosk put back into place.
Alisa and Logan will help.
It was also suggested that I sign should be put up, “Under Surveillance.”
Scout Projects: The UCC Youth Mission Project takes place next week with 40-45 youth. Ideas on projects included cutting down autumn olive, prune trails at Whiting Rd., perhaps clear out near the new pine trees. The North Meadow also has lots of autumn olive that needs to be taken out.
Trails Committee: There were 41 people for the work day, including a Girl Scout troop. 1/4 mile of the new “North branch trail” was cleared and 3 hours were spent on the Blue Trail. On the Midnight Trail, a huge beech tree is gone. August 6 is next work day and perhaps should be moved to Whiting Rd. with one or two groups benching and clearing on the new trail.
Don to update website.
Four Mile Creek. Rich and Larry made progress in the parking lot but most recently it has been too hot. There is plenty of chainsaw work to do first, perhaps in the fall.
Norma has collected the waiver forms and put them in a binder with a list of people who have signed a waiver.
SEQR for the Hojack project – The town is the lead agency.
Hal will contact Joe Herbst.
Water Authority Trail – Nothing has changed there.
Hal will call Carmen on this. (Salt Rd. to water authority, south past ball fields and contact with 104 track.
Grant on Hojack – Tie it into crosstie issue.
Shari Gnolek will get more info. about if the ties can be taken up with the grant (to get the ties up and dispose of them.)
There was some brainstorming around membership and making folks more aware of the trails. One idea was to ask people on hikes sign in with their email. They would be added to a Distribution List (DL) with an opt-out. The “Friends” DL would include everyone, i.e., past members, hikers, etc. Must allow to opt-out. Could use it to advertise.
Media contacts could also be put on the Friends DL.
Ask people to share newsletter with others, friends, dentists office, etc.
Next meeting: August 8 at 7:15 at the Webster Museum