HALIBURTON HIGHLANDS FIELD NATURALISTS

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

SUNDAY, AUG. 23, 2009

Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association, Fish Hatchery, 66712 Gelert Rd. Haliburton ON

Pot-luck lunch 12:00 noon – 1:00pm

Business meeting started at 1:00pm.  16 present (see sign in sheet attached) 

Mac thanked and welcomed all present. Provided Agendas and Minutes from AGM 2008.

REVIEW OF MINUTES:

Mac/Sheila – increase in Jr. Naturalists’ fees. Not raised this year. Will do so next year.

Don Finigan – “Trees in Trust” – Did we donate? Gord will check books. Don will follow up with Kawartha Field Naturalists and get back to Gord.

Pamela – monitoring of new visitors – where they heard about meeting. Mac responded that replies were: The County Voice newspaper and radio. No one came because of posters. He suggests scrapping posters.

Sheila moved to accept minutes. Barry seconded. Carried

TREASURER’S REPORT: Gord Sheehan. Gord passed out copies of Financial Report. (see report)

Gord’s comments:

Membership shows less than last year. Carolyn explained that there were new memberships in April/May, which do not show on this report due to dates of fiscal year of report. Gord reviewed the report, concluding that as of June, 2009, we have $1892.34 in the bank.

Wally – questioned exactly how much went to Jr. Nats? Where did $1700 go?

Sheila – suggested: look at p.3. Jr. Nats will break even. $415 coming from Stewardship Council.

Peter – Is it likely that the other donors from ’08 might pay? Mac – No. They were approached several times already. Maija – It is the policy of some of these organizations to not repeat donations to the same group each year.

Mac – financials seem confusing because Field Nats and HHFN have different fiscal years.

Gord moved that Treasurer’s Report be accepted. Peter seconded. Carried.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS:

Don Kerr volunteered to be on Board of Directors.

Pamela said she is willing to step forward for something but would like more clarification of duties. She asked for the Mission statement for HHFN. 

Discussion:

Keith – read objectives stated in 1994 report on Snowdon Park. Mac noted these are the same as in the constitution (see constitution).

Aileen – How much time does Snowdon take from Pres.? Mac – Pres. Will be part of all committee mtgs. e.g: Snowdon Park

Mac read Duties of President from the constitution. Basically Pres. involved in everything that is going on.

Sheila – What exactly are Pres. Duties in our club? Time commitment?

Mac – Mostly on internet, or “while snowshoeing”. Major backbone is programming.

DISCUSSION RE: PROGRAMMING:

Pamela – Anyone interested in programming? (no response)

Mac has lined one up for possibly Sept.

Discussion continued, with the following ideas expressed:

Shift to more activity programs and less ‘speaker’ presentations. Get out in the ‘field’ more e.g: Ed Poropat looking for help with Butterflies. /  Don’s bird walk has had good turnouts / perhaps a few members volunteer to line up a speaker /  EH may be interested in sharing speaker / going to other events e.g. Frost, Bancroft last year, can be counted as a monthly ‘meeting’ /discuss, “Why did you become a Naturalist?” / B.C. model – different interest groups organize events (outings), posed in newsletter (our website) / more electronic communication /  many nature interest groups now…perhaps consolidate? / can Arts Council concept be used as model sometime in the future?

Mac and Sheila responded re: HEC, Haliburton Environmental Collaborative – a nature/environment collaborative group meets monthly, basically to share. Mac has participated. (see last year’s report)

Peter – present model does not work. Need new one

Proposals:

~ programming with less speaker meetings?

~ first mtg. Announce need for people to step up and fill vacant positions

NEW PRESIDENT:

Sheila asked what position is Pamela willing to take?

Pamela said she is willing to take on President.

Maija moved that Pamela be nominated for president. Gord seconded.

Don Smith asked that nominations be closed.

Vote: All in favour? Carried. Pamela Marsales is the president for 2009/10 by acclamation.

Discussion re: Sept. meeting: Decision made to ask for volunteers to fill vacant positions. Is there time for speaker? Speaker would attract people to meeting. Don Kerr suggested that he could help to provide a speaker; Ron Reid.

EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTORS:

Don Kerr was asked if he would be Vice President. No decision

Treasurer – Gord Sheehan

Secretary – VACANT – Maija explained main points of minutes of monthly mtgs. e.g:       how many present / topic only of presentation/sightings/business. Send to president and keep copy. (on computer or disc)

Board of Directors – Barry Withers, Don Finigan, Don Kerr

It was decided that there are enough people on Exec. plus Board Directors to go ahead with Sept meeting.

Pamela is responsible for date and speaker.

COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES:

Program – Pamela responsible to organize planning committee.

Ontaro Nature – Ray will continue to be the Rep. But he has an address change.

Snowdon Park – Barry Withers, Don Smith, Aileen Coates

Refreshments – Karin Finigan, Margaret Brogden

Newsletter – Pamela Marsales

Account reviewer – Wally Ozog (will work with Gord to change fiscal year to match that of Jr.Nats)

Membership – VACANT – Carolyn has members on disc, will give to Pamela

Advertising – VACANT – Posters optional.

Media contacts: (Mac has list)

Regular e-mail reminders to members – Pamela will do this

Web page – Pauline Plooard

Program Chairs: (1 mtg. each – need to be matched to program dates)

Mac Ellis, Don Smith, Jane Boyd, Peter Brogden, Maija Stone, Sheila Ziman

COMMITTEE    REPORTS

1) Snowdon Park – Mac said there was poor co-operation from Minden Hills last year. He is willing to help sort it out.

 Aileen showed mock-up of updated brochure, which she has been working on. She invited anyone to help her complete it. She is here until Labour Day, Sept.7.

2) Membership – Carolyn reported that membership is 78. In 2005 it was 61.

3) Mac, as Past President, will pass on all the information that he has to Pamela.

4) Junior Naturalists – Sheila reported it was the best ever, yet. We doubled income in fees: $760. There were 48 children in total. Minden classes: 15 – 21. Haliburton classes: 14 – 19. “Worth continuing.” Sheila thanked Sr. volunteers from HHFN. Thanks to Mac for pestering Tim Horton’s for donations. Sheila will continue in her role with Jr. Nats.

5) Roadside Cleanup – It was decided to renew contract with Minden Hills. How long? To be decided at a later date. Pamela volunteered Hugh to be ‘leader’ for pick up.

OTHER BUSINES:

Peter – Announced Stewardship Council program: “What’s new in Wildlife Research?” on October 30, 9am – 3pm at Frost Institute, $20 with lunch – pre-registration required.

Fall Hike: Possible Centennial Ridges Trail Hike – Oct. 17? – to be confirmed.

Don Smith re: Snowdon Park

He has been replacing brochures. Planning to redo plant list. Has no vertebrate list. No fish. Any observations are welcome. Perhaps give brochure to new members.

First meeting in September – Date and Program to be announced.

Add to agenda: Ray’s new address / cost of Snowdon Park brochures – who pays?

Don Smith is willing to do Small Mammals presentation. It has been very popular in the past. Also, Don flexible with dates, which suits our present situation. Pamela will confirm.

Gord moved to ADJOURN. Aileen seconded. All in favour, (about 4pm)

Thank you to all who attended!

Minutes recorded by Maija Stone, Reviewed by Pamela Marsales