Sault Ste. Marie Naturalists Executive Meeting
April 3, 2014
Attending: Ron Prickett, Val Walker, Tony Walker, Don Hall, Dave Euler, DonnaRyckman-Rooney
Regrets: Carl Linhart
1)Call to order: 7:05 p.m.
2) Additions to the agenda: Hub Trail Festival
3) Approval of last meeting’s minutes: Montioned by Tony, seconded by Don. Approval of minutes: carried
4)Business arising from the minutes
a)Don is still persuingInsurance pricing. ACTION: Tony will send Barbara at ON a message and cc Ron P.
b)Membership information has been passed to new membership volunteers Don and Viv Hall. Membership report and letter attached. (attach #1, #2)
c)Budget for 2014 Executive: Membership submitted an estimate for their annual expenses. Budget discussion carried forward to Treasurer’s report.
d)Fall ON Meeting Planning (Dave): Dave shared a draft outline for the workshop and requested suggestions from the group. Possible dates are Sept 12-14, 26-28, Oct. 3-5. Preferred date is Sept 26-28. Email with outline attached. (attach #3). We are looking for an inexpensive location for 14 to 20 people to sleep. Often the group stays at an MNR camp or personal cottage. ACTION: Ask membership for suggestions.
e)ON meeting costs in Sudbury: Estimated costs for our representative to attend this workshop is $260. Motioned by Donna seconded by Dave that we are in support of Carrie Ginou attending this workshop and that the Club should cover costs for attending the regional ON meeting. Motion: carried.
ACTION: Ron P. to bring to club.
5)Committee and other reports
a)Treasurer’s Report: We did a quick estimate of expenses for the year. President expenses-ink 20, paper- 5, printing 25. Annual report- check, newsletter printing- check, insurance-800, repairs to platforms-20, poster production- 30, Hub trail signs- check. ACTION: Donna to put estimates in the minutes for Gail. ACTION: All to consider costs estimates again for next meeting in May or send to Ron.
b)Outings: Val distributed a planning calendar for the executive to see outings on a four month basis. If you wish to lead an outing contact Val. Outings will still be sent out via a written chart which Val maintains. ACTION: Ron to show outing planning calendar to membership at a meeting.
c)Programs: on schedule. ACTION: A free membership card for Tuesday’s speaker will be given.
Ron P. will thank the speaker.
d)Membership: Don gave a brief update on memberships.
d)Michigan Audubon: No report
e)Ontario Nature and STAC: Tony attended a March 20meeting. Hub Trail is Tuesday, July 1. Last year 500 people attended. Bicyclists supporting the 1 metre distance rule. ACTION: Don discussed the need to plan for the Hub Trail for next meeting. ACTION: Donna to prepare a brief report from the last two years for May meeting.
6)Old business:
7) Updates and reminders:
a)SOS update: The cap is off of the chimney at the Court house in Sault Ste. Marie. It will remain off for 2014 and 2015. Val, Ron, Don and Dave are meeting with the MNR shortly to discuss alternative plans for the future. We may plan an event to celebrate the return of the chimney swifts to the courthouse chimney. ACTION: We will draft up a media release from the documentation prepared by SOS.
b) Constitutional reform: carried forward to next meeting.
c)Copies of constitution: Don will send out revised copy to executive. ACTION: Copy of Carrie’s AGM checklist to be attached to minutes. Dave will resend to executive.
8 )New business:
a)Greeters: Welcome new people
b)Ontario Nature information to John for the Wiki: Tony
c)Nature observations: eastern meadowlark, spruce grouse- corpse turkey vulture, bald eagles, some warblers around, robin too.
9) Meeting adjourned: 9:06 p.m.