Attendees:        

                                                                                                                                                            
Jerry Newman was also in attendance
Mario Gangemi called the meeting to order at 6:32 P.M.
The minutes from the February Board meeting were approved with revisions.  Dennis Clower was in attendance at the February meeting.

President’s Report/New Business: Mario Gangemi

• Chris Sopa was introduced to the Board.
• Pat Holleran is leaving the Nature Center April 1.
• We need to fill this position quickly.  In the meantime, a substitute may be asked to help.
• An Executive Committee meeting shall be held Wednesday, March 23, 2005 at 5pm at the CCPS administration building.
• The next Springfest meeting shall be held April 6th @ 5:30 at the Nature Center.

Jerry Newman’s Report:

• The Cecil Whig published an article about the new Environmental Center being funded.  Rep. Smeigal says that funding may not be available.
• The Nature Center should pursue State funding.  We should speak with our Delegates and Senators.
• Jerry discussed funding for the Barn and indicated that funding may be available.  The state will not fund salaries, but are more inclined to fund capital improvement projects.
• We have never formally asked for funding from the State of Maryland according to Dan Schneckenburger.
• Holly stated that the goal was to move the teaching out of the Nature Center into another building.
• The new Environmental Center will be serving older students, so they will not be directly competing with us.  This could be an opportunity for FHNC to partner with them.
• We should ask for funding ASAP.  We need to start a dialogue with the State.  Mario will write a letter to our Senators and Representatives.

Treasurer's Report/Finance Committee:

• Mark Crawford has sufficient time now to transfer Treasurer’s duties.  He will meet with Lisa Perkins and Bill Pannill.  Bill had contacted Mark earlier, but Mark’s schedule had been too busy.  Bill would like to make this happen ASAP.  Mario warned that this will be a daunting task.
• Lisa Perkins will be in on Friday to meet the staff and will try to meet with Mark next weekend.
• Dan Schneckenburger asked if we were on the County Commissioners’ agenda.  Mark Crawford got the letter last year.  It was unknown at this point if 3rd grade was being paid for or not.  Chris Sopa will check to see if CCPS will pay for 3rd grade this year.
• We used to charge for students to attend FHNC classes.  We lost 1/3 of the classes when that policy was enacted.  Correspondingly, we lost 1/3 of the FHNC employees.
• Attempts have been made to solicit a sponsor for 3rd grade.  The cost is $7,200 to fund the entire class.
• We absorb most of the cost at this time.
• Cecilton Lions pay for Cecilton Elementary ($300)
• Rising Sun would be a substantial amount of money due to the large number of students from that area that attend the Nature Center classes.
• We discussed approaching builders in Cecil County
• Ryan, Ryland, Gemcraft, Pulte, Mackie Homes, Slagle Homes, Developer of Aston Pointe.
• We discussed issues with taking donations from builders.  Board decided that taking donations did not mean that the Nature Center endorsed the projects or the builders.
• Bill indicated that he would speak with Karl Roberts about increasing funding for the Nature Center’s classes.

Nature School Report: Holly Hannum 

March 2005 Outdoor School Report

Winter outreach programs were completed on March 4 after some delays due to snow.  Grade 4 outdoor classes begin on March 15.

Marvelous Maples drew 60 people and a troop of 30 Girl Scouts on the 6thof March.   The Bluebird workshop was also popular and filled to capacity (24).  We got eleven new memberships that day.

Trail Day is set for March 19.  We have a nice group of volunteers lined up including Gamma Sigma Sigma, a service sorority from the Uof D, Cherry Hill Middle School Environmental Club, and Troop 443.   I have arranged for the park to bring us some gravel close to the area most in need of repair.  We will need wheelbarrows and a pickup truck.  Lunch will be provided.

The following schools have registered for classes this spring in addition to Cecil County Public Schools: Good Shepherd, Caravel Academy, Immaculate Conception, General Wolfe Elementary, Wilmington Christian School, St. Joan of Arc, North East Methodist preschool, Sanford School, Cedar Lane Elementary, and St, Matthews School.

We have attended camp fairs at Immaculate Conception and Cecil Manor to advertise camps.  Camp flyers were ready on February 23 and have been distributed in Habitats and at the weekend programs.  All camp prices have been increased at least $5 this year.

Calvert Elementary School will participate in a stream clean up on Saturday April 2nd.  Cathryn will supervise this.

Plans are underway and flyers have been distributed to Delmarva Council of Girl Scouts concerning our Discovery Day planned for April 23.

One of our baby snakes has found a new home at White Clay Creek Nature Center.  We are going to keep the last one.

• Dynamic portion of website is currently under development.  It should be ready by the next Board meeting.
• 90 people attended the Maple Sugaring program.
• 24 people attended the Bluebird Box program.
• Frog Frenzy will be offered to membership only this year.  Dan Sch. said that if response to other programs remains large, we should make all programs membership only.
• We have a school from Baltimore County and one from Middletown attending next month.

 Program Committee:

Personnel Committee:  Hinda Smith

• Hinda would like to meet with to define the receptionist position before she advertises for the position.

Community Relations:  Doug Hill

• Doug’s term runs out in June.  He will officially leave the Board at that time, but will remain active.  He anticipates offering a return to the Board at a later date.

Next Meeting: April 20, 2005 P.M., at the Nature Center. 
The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 P.M.
Respectfully submitted by Daniel Speakman