A/GVWC Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, Month Day, Year

AGV Watershed Council

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Minutes of May 7, 2011

The meeting convened at 10:06 am. Present were Directors Zeno Swijtink, Ingrid Stearns, Jon Sassin, John Roberts, Jim Lowrie, Barbara Chasteen and Bob Burke

Revisited

• Supporting Memberships

Jon donated $110. to print AGVWC membership stickers and put together a package to explain the supporting membership idea.

Some of the prospective supporting members were receptive to the idea; others not so. One business person joined as a regular member and promised a donation. Jim Lowrie and Jo Bentz have offered to help Jon with future approaches to prospective supporting members.

• Treasurer's Report

John reported that the current account balance 583.45. Two new members have been added at $25. each (including a watershed map).

• 350 Home and Garden Challenge

Zeno reported on the status of this event.

• Interface with Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District

John volunteered to be the contact person for AGVWC especially regarding the technical advisory group.

• Jenner Headlands hike on May 22

Jenner Headlands, the home to eight different watersheds and abundant wild animal and plant life, is currently accessible only through organized walks. Ingrid will contact all who signed up through email. The hike is from 10 am to 3 pm. It is a rough trail with about an 800' gain in elevation, about 3 miles long, taken at a slow pace. Hikers will meet at Russian Gulch parking on Highway 1, then carpool to the trailhead. This hike is currently full but a wait list is available; another hike is in the planning stage for later in the year (Sept/Oct) for members of AGVWC.

• "Quest" project development

A "Quest" when completed is a self-guided environmental education walk. This is active learning that brings alive a chosen area. The development event is led by Steve Glazer, www.poeticsofplace.com.

A Quest connects people with their environment and educates them about the watershed in a fun way. The workshop, for 16-24 people, would include interested members of AGVWC as well as environmental educators in the county. One place the project could focus is the West County Trail between Graton/Occidental.

The "Quest" project is a two day event with half of each day inside, the rest outside in groups. Each team creates a feature to visit, the purpose being to engage people in hunting for the feature through their senses. The times that are open would be mid-August or mid-January.

Ingrid is writing a grant proposal through Community Clean Water Institute; AGVWC might contribute part of the costs.

The Board felt that August would be good timing if funding is available by then. The group also felt that Ragle Ranch Regional Park might be an excellent venue for this project.

Bob moved that AGVWC contribute up to $750. to this project contingent on it being appropriate to conditions of the account funds; that the participants pay a fee to attend; that members of AGVWC would be given an appropriate discount; that Ingrid will lay out a budget, proposed grant funds, and a proposal for cost structure (cost to attendees). Zeno seconded; approved unanimously.

• Annual Celebration

July 16 is the date and the venue is Jon's residence/farm; he is open to a talk re swales, recharge, roof catchment; Barbara and Jon will plan for the food. We plan to have a tour of the marsh; we may include a "mini-Quest, created by Ingrid and Bob.

• Membership, and membership drive

There are 56 names on the current membership list. Board members were each given a sticker with the AGVWC logo, and took several extras to give to new members when they join.

New Topics

• SCWC letter Re: Appointment of Sheila Kuehl to the California State Water Resources Control Board

The letter has been sent; AGVWC approved the letter through John, our SCWC representative

• Future leadership

RE: New designated office of "vice president"

Bob moved: when people step down from Board it's in the interest of the council to empower those who want to continue in public work without being on the Board by giving them a title which would not have the powers and responsibilities of a regular Board member. The bylaws currently don't include such an office. Board members generally like the concept; there is a feeling that the position needs an appropriate title (instead of "vice president"). The discussion was tabled until next meeting..

RE: Future leaders: So far there have been no results from contacting new people who might join the Board of AGVWC.

• E-lists and website (Zeno)

The membership list is not working for yahoogroups email notices - Zeno can make changes now and will coordinate the email notification list with the Google docs membership list

We need a website manager

The meeting adjourned at 12:14 pm.

Next Board of Directors meeting will be on June 4 from 10 am to 12 noon, at 375 Montgomery Road, Sebastopol.

AGV Watershed Council	Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Minutes of May 7, 2011


The meeting convened at 10:06 am. Present were Directors Zeno Swijtink, Ingrid Stearns, Jon Sassin, John Roberts, Jim Lowrie, Barbara Chasteen and Bob Burke Revisited • Supporting Memberships Jon donated $110. to print AGVWC membership stickers and put together a package to explain the supporting membership idea. Some of the prospective supporting members were receptive to the idea; others not so. One business person joined as a regular member and promised a donation. Jim Lowrie and Jo Bentz have offered to help Jon with future approaches to prospective supporting members. • Treasurer's Report John reported that the current account balance 583.45. Two new members have been added at $25. each (including a watershed map). • 350 Home and Garden Challenge Zeno reported on the status of this event. • Interface with Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District John volunteered to be the contact person for AGVWC especially regarding the technical advisory group. • Jenner Headlands hike on May 22 Jenner Headlands, the home to eight different watersheds and abundant wild animal and plant life, is currently accessible only through organized walks. Ingrid will contact all who signed up through email. The hike is from 10 am to 3 pm. It is a rough trail with about an 800' gain in elevation, about 3 miles long, taken at a slow pace. Hikers will meet at Russian Gulch parking on Highway 1, then carpool to the trailhead. This hike is currently full but a wait list is available; another hike is in the planning stage for later in the year (Sept/Oct) for members of AGVWC. • "Quest" project development A "Quest" when completed is a self-guided environmental education walk. This is active learning that brings alive a chosen area. The development event is led by Steve Glazer, www.poeticsofplace.com. A Quest connects people with their environment and educates them about the watershed in a fun way. The workshop, for 16-24 people, would include interested members of AGVWC as well as environmental educators in the county. One place the project could focus is the West County Trail between Graton/Occidental. The "Quest" project is a two day event with half of each day inside, the rest outside in groups. Each team creates a feature to visit, the purpose being to engage people in hunting for the feature through their senses. The times that are open would be mid-August or mid-January. Ingrid is writing a grant proposal through Community Clean Water Institute; AGVWC might contribute part of the costs. The Board felt that August would be good timing if funding is available by then. The group also felt that Ragle Ranch Regional Park might be an excellent venue for this project. Bob moved that AGVWC contribute up to $750. to this project contingent on it being appropriate to conditions of the account funds; that the participants pay a fee to attend; that members of AGVWC would be given an appropriate discount; that Ingrid will lay out a budget, proposed grant funds, and a proposal for cost structure (cost to attendees). Zeno seconded; approved unanimously. • Annual Celebration July 16 is the date and the venue is Jon's residence/farm; he is open to a talk re swales, recharge, roof catchment; Barbara and Jon will plan for the food. We plan to have a tour of the marsh; we may include a "mini-Quest, created by Ingrid and Bob. • Membership, and membership drive There are 56 names on the current membership list. Board members were each given a sticker with the AGVWC logo, and took several extras to give to new members when they join. New Topics • SCWC letter Re: Appointment of Sheila Kuehl to the California State Water Resources Control Board The letter has been sent; AGVWC approved the letter through John, our SCWC representative • Future leadership RE: New designated office of "vice president" Bob moved: when people step down from Board it's in the interest of the council to empower those who want to continue in public work without being on the Board by giving them a title which would not have the powers and responsibilities of a regular Board member. The bylaws currently don't include such an office. Board members generally like the concept; there is a feeling that the position needs an appropriate title (instead of "vice president"). The discussion was tabled until next meeting.. RE: Future leaders: So far there have been no results from contacting new people who might join the Board of AGVWC. • E-lists and website (Zeno) The membership list is not working for yahoogroups email notices - Zeno can make changes now and will coordinate the email notification list with the Google docs membership list We need a website manager The meeting adjourned at 12:14 pm. Next Board of Directors meeting will be on June 4 from 10 am to 12 noon, at 375 Montgomery Road, Sebastopol.