Friends of Webster Trails

Donate

FWT Board Meeting Minutes

March 11, 2024 7:00 pm

Author:

Sarah White
Attendees
John Bottcher, Bud Gearhart, Ron Happ, Hal Harris, Dennis Kuhn, Chris Peterson, Norma Platt, Linda Siple, Anna Taylor, Sarah White
Adimistrative Reports
  1. Approve/Change Agenda: OK
  2. Approve Minutes from February 2024 Meeting: OK
  3. Membership Status – Denise B: Detailed report distributed to Board via email.
    1. Members 233
    2. Donations: $1380 (in memoriam for Bill Rampe $775)
  4. Review of Treasurer Report- Chris/Lynn P: Report to be placed in Dropbox
    1. New system for donations to be in place soon.
    2. CD and savings accounts set up for higher interest rates.
    3. Looking into credit cards instead of debit cards.
  5. Website Inquiry Summary – Norma
    1. Applicants for Trails Chair position for discussion
    2. Table at St Rita’s Fiesta, Friday May 31 5-9pm; Saturday June 1 2-9pm. Limited coverage during Fiesta approved.
    3. Color Webster Green looking for partnership. Anna and Norma to attend meeting.
    4. Dogs off leash. Town posted to FB and added wording to Website, and signage to be added at park entrances.
    5. Trees down reported and removed.
    6. Signage mistake on Hojack/250 kiosk to be fixed.
    7. High school science teacher looking for partnership for volunteering, response sent.
    8. Person interested in trail work.
  6. Communications Update – John B
    1. Newsletter deadline March 31.
    2. Email frequency to members. Workday emails need to go out in advance, along with notice about website updates. Post-workday summary to go on social media, not in email. ACTION ITEM: Anna to schedule meeting with John and Denise to determine a cadence.
  7. Habitat Committee Update – Norma
    1. Email to membership to go out in early April, along with posting on social media.
  8. Volunteer Waivers – Norma: Annual repeat liability waiver needs to be signed. Norma will contact everyone who hasn’t signed yet.

Trail Planning and Maintenance

  • Trails Chair Position: Candidates Matt & Linda – All
    • Interim solution for Linda coordinate through April workday, and look at how Matt can assist.
  • Trailer Storage:
    • Insurance needs to be resolved.  ACTION ITEM: Chris to look into insurance.
    • Towing and volunteers are a concern. ACTION ITEM: Anna and Bud to address with Parks & Rec.
  • Trail Work Dates/Schedule & Costs: All – for final approval. Approved after discussion.
  • Board Insurance/Trailer Insurance – All: ACTION ITEM: Chris to look into insurance. Sarah to look into insuring trailer in Maine.
  • Monarch/Pollinator Habitat, Monarch CCAA program – Matt S/All: Table until April.
  • Scout Projects – Plan distributed to Board. Scout to give presentation in April.
  • Signs: “Problems on the Trail” & FMC Signs Update Status – Anna: Signs from McAllister signs 2.5 x 4 inches. $100 for 50.  Updated signs for Four Mile Creek with Orange Trail also for $100.  Approved by voice vote.

Meeting Notes
  • ReTree Project – Sarah/Norma: Potting event in April, planting event in October. Placed order for additional seedlings.
  • Promote/Events/Fundraising
    • Review Proposed Event List (See PG 2) – All
      • Trees along the trail hunt – Dennis to determine a date.
      • Scavenger Hunt – Only 1, to be on November 2.
      • Library Summer Kickoff Reading Party on June 21 5:30 – 7. Anna to attend.
    • Additional Vest Order – Anna: New order of 10.
    • Hojack Trail /Village Grant – Anna:
      • Anna and trail stewards to meet with Parks & Rec on 3/12/2024 about signage.
      • Village Grant covers the village portion of Hojack. Anna to find out about this.
    • Social Media – Anna – tabled
    • Post sandwich board a week ahead of workdays.
  • Goals/Priorities to Support Mission
    • Website Post Launch- Status – Rich/Sarah: Website traffic is 60% mobile, not desktop, accessing trail pages most commonly.
    • Trail Use Counting – All (to be addressed with Hojack Trail Grant): Anna met with grant writer to gain information.
    • Recruitment: Adopt a Trail – Anna/All: Tabled.
    • Staffing/Volunteers:
      • Chris has contact for HS volunteers
      • Anna to develop flyer with all events to be handout.
  • Open Space
    • Open Space Status – Hal: No discussion
    • Herman Road Neighborhood Engagement/Feedback – Ron: Neighbors have raised questions about what’s happening.  ACTION ITEM: Anna to ask Glenn to develop talking points/handout.
  • Open Discussion – No discussion.