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Fair Hill Nature and Environmental Center
Minutes from the Board of Director's Meeting

August 24 , 2005

 

Attendees:        

Clower, Dennis xLevia, Dr. Del  xSmith, Hinda  
xGangemi, Mario    xMilburn, Ilene xSopa, Chris  
xGreen, Connie   xPannill, Bill  xSpeakman, Dan 
xHannum, Holly  xPerkins, Ron  xWhite, Cindy 
Jentzch, Tracy   xSchneckenburger, Dan  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Mario Gangemi called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.
The minutes from the July 27 2005 Board meeting were approved unanimously.
It was announced that Barb Snyder has resigned from the Board.  The Vice President position must be filled.  The secretary reminded the Board that the Vice President will become the next President in June 2006.  The President’s term is 2 years.
Action Items:

Nature School Report: Holly Hannum 

We received 88 summer camp evaluations.  All agreed that they would attend a Nature Center camp again.  Thirty four campers indicated that they learned of our camps through our newsletter, twenty eight through a flyer from school, ten because they have been campers in past years, fifteen through a friend, and one from the website.  Kids favorite things about camp were anything to do with water, building boats and beaver dams, crafts and hiking.  Parents listed the quality and variety of activities, small groups, helpful friendly staff who put a lot of time into activities as their favorite things.  Suggestions for improvement included adding ½ hour to the camp day, offering bike camp again, and moving Fair Hill closer to their home.  Camp went well this year with the extreme heat being our greatest challenge.  All camp evaluations are available for anyone interested .in reading more.

      Janet took the snakes to visit Cub Scout day camp on August 10.  Super Kids visited us on August 16 and 18 to participate in an insect program.  Income for these programs totaled $350.00.  Staff costs for August should be minimal.

     I am presently gathering information to put together a fall school schedule.  This schedule must be in to the transportation office two weeks prior to the beginning of classes.  Teachers plan to return on August 30.  We will meet to review camp and reorganize the offices to make better use of storage space.  We will be working on the booklets for the IMLS grant.  We are behind schedule for the completion of five booklets by November 1.  After an extended Labor Day weekend we will prepare for classes to resume on or about September 12.

     Fall Trail Day will be Sunday September 11 from one to four pm.  Snacks will be provided.  Our projects for the day will include the repair of several benches at our water sites.

     We have been invited to attend the United Way kick-off luncheon at Bentley’s on Thursday September 15.  If you would like to attend please let Lisa know ASAP so we can RSVP.  The cost is $18.  I plan to attend with a display.

     Please join me in attending the Cecil County Arts Council members exhibit reception on September 16 at 5:30pm.  At 6:30 we will receive a check for $2,000. From the Community Arts Development grant program.  This money will cover the cost of our “Winter’s Tail” kindergarten program to be brought to 20 classes.  In past years we have designated United Way funds of about $3,000 to complete the additional 30 or so CCPS kindergartens.  Private and out of county schools pay $4.00 per student for our winter visits.

     We have been asked to participate in several upcoming fall weekend events.  Fall Fest in Elkton will be on September 3rd.  I can prepare activities and set up on that day, but I plan to go to Lafayette that Saturday.  Janet will be out of town as well.  There are two “Family Day at the Farm” programs.  They are both on Sunday September 25th.  One is at Rumbleway Farm in Colora and one is in Warwick.  There is no funding for these programs.  Do you want us to participate?  We have done both of these in the past, but they were not held on the same day.

     Home School Day will be one Wednesday afternoon in October but that date is not firm yet.    

Program Committee:

           
 We have the following programs on our calendar for October so far:
 

Foxtrot Casino Night:  October 22, 2005,  6-10pm   Ed Walls Center  

Treasurer's Report/Finance Committee: Bill Pannill

Personnel Committee: Hinda Smith

Lisa has been asking for donations for the Foxtrot Casino night.  We are offering to halve the price of entry for sponsors donating an item with a value of
The Board discussed putting off the search for a new Executive Director.  For now, we need to use the resources that are available (ie Lisa and Holly) to raise funds.  Lisa and Holly will co-“Executive Direct” at this point.  The Board agreed to reevaluate the need for an Executive Director in the future.

Community Relations:  Ron Perkins  (Habitat Editor)

Fair Hill Natural Resource Area Use Expansion:  Dan Schneckenburger

            Dan spoke about the potential for expanded use of Fair Hill Natural Resources Area, specifically a Horse Park.  Dan was attempting to secure the Board’s support for the expansion.  He stated that it would create more awareness of the Nature Center, would not affect the Nature Center’s environment, nor its operation.  There will be public hearings and he feels that representatives from the Nature Center should attend these hearings to support the expansion. 

Next Meeting: September 28, 2005 at 6:30 P.M., at the Nature Center.  
The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 P.M.
Respectfully submitted by Daniel Speakman

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