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Attending: Bob Gray, Anna Hull, David Ross; Kent Wagner and Marci Mowery via speaker phone A) Key Dates
Conference Dial-in Number: (716) 748-0224 (potential toll call) 2. Grassland Restoration Days (conditions permitting) Sunday 9 March Chrome Barrens
B) Action Items Going Forward
Mike Bertram: Make time to check out latest version of Bob’s site tracker database circulated via email; relay comments to him on the format and information captured. Update mission statement on Web site: Point person for our history initiatives Bob Gray: Arrange for Ruth and Rose to complete PPFF disclosure forms. Schedule meeting/conference call with TNC’s Liz Johnson Find a day for HW, BG, AH & KW to walk lower Chrome to explore Bill Birney tree work proposal; could coincide with some trail work or planning. Fine tune master stakeholder list in electronic form. Follow up with architect about historic serpentine buildings slide presentation Pursue university contacts on Master Land Plan / Stewardship Plan Scope (with David) Schedule a meeting/conference call with Anna and Jen Renhill on volunteer outreach. Will check on the procedure we need to follow whenever there is a need to revise our memo of understanding with PPFF. In particular, clarifying the circumstances under which we need to obtain a liability insurance rider for an FSLSB-sponsored event. Point person for monitoring our strategic plan. Anna Hull: Make time to check out latest version of Bob’s site tracker database circulated via email; relay comments to him on the format and information captured. Participate in meeting/conference call with Bob and Jen Renhill on volunteer outreach Draft letter for Bob to send in support of John Dighton’s grant application. Evidence of Scottish Highland cattle as effective greenbrier control? Contact Chris Hoess to see if he would be interested in leading Maryland Native Plant Society hike at Goat Hill on September 21. Point person for science, education and membership/outreach initiatives. Marci Mowery: Provide Bob and Henry with revised volunteer sign up sheets once available. Language for MOU clarifying the circumstances under which we need to obtain a liability insurance rider for an FSLSB-sponsored event. David Ross: Make time to check out latest version of Bob’s site tracker database circulated via email; relay comments to him on the format and information captured. Pursue university contacts on Master Land Plan / Stewardship Plan Scope (with Bob) Explore using Google Docs or Dropbox to store Board-only data and documents Follow up with Jay Gregg about Chester Co. planning for Nottingham Pk. Meet with Henry to collate available contact information for volunteers Point person for administrative initiatives. Kent Wagner: Let Bob know when you might visit Lower Chrome for some trail planning; possibly coordinate with discussion of Bill Birney proposal. Make time to check out latest version of Bob’s site tracker database circulated via email; relay comments to him on the format and information captured. Point person for recreational uses and trail planning initiatives. Mike Waltz: Develop a plan for sharing and storing TNC equipment with State or County (with Henry). Make time to check out latest version of Bob’s site tracker database circulated via email; relay comments to him on the format and information captured. Henry Whitesel: Develop a plan for sharing and storing TNC equipment with State or County (with Mike Waltz). Make time to check out latest version of Bob’s site tracker database circulated via email; relay comments to him on the format and information captured. Help David create database of volunteer contact information. Reschedule meeting with Joe Frasetta Contact Patrick Hurley about spring workdays and to explore whether he or others might be interested in our master plan project Provide Anna with a list of likely work sites on planned workdays so she can flag any plants needing protection. Point person for our conservation/maintenance activities C) Agenda Items Considered 1. Approved Minutes from Board Meeting of 01/26/2014. 2. Approved agenda with minor tweaks. 3. Review Action Items from 01/26/2014 Board Meeting a. Complete and submit PPFF Annual Report Done – Ruth and Rose to sign disclosure (BG) b. Ask PPFF to include FSLSB workday schedule on website (BG); Done – Thanks to Pam Metzer c. Discuss 2014 plan, equipment needs and controlled burn idea with TNC on Feb. 7. Bob will organize follow up session with TNC’s Liz Johnson over the next couple of weeks Resulting agenda items Prescribed burns Harvesting cedars at Chrome (Billy Birney) (Item 8 below) - Next step: Find a day when we (HW, BG, AH & KW) can walk lower Chrome with this in mind; could coincide with some trail work or planning. Scraping d. Discuss with Molly - TNC planning doc’s for Chrome and Goat Hill. (BG) We have the planning document for Goat Hill and will discuss more broad planning documents in our meeting with Liz Johnson. e. Identify work items in the Master Plan initiative suitable for an intern. (BG, AH) f. Pursue conference call option with PPFF and TNC. (BG) Thanks to Marci for pointing us to the solution that worked very well for today’s meeting. Conference Dial-in Number: (716) 748-0224 (potential toll call)
g. Work with Henry to get master stakeholder list in electronic form. (BG) Henry sent the data to Bob. h. Sound out architect about historic serpentine buildings slide presentation (BG) Bob has call in to architect i. Complete draft of Site Tracker spreadsheet for Chrome. (BG) Bob has circulated the latest version. We are asked to relay comments to him on the format and information captured. We’ll continue a conversation about the distinction between savannah and grassland j. Establish Botanical / ecology and historical hike / presentation dates. (AH and MB) k. Work on approaching universities about developing master plan (BG, DR) Now that we have approved draft Master Land Plan / Stewardship Plan Scope (see below), Bob and David will pursue their contacts Bob will set up a meeting with Harris Steinberg (Penn) and David in early April [Kent provided contact information for LaSalle]
l. Explore using space at Lincoln U. for board meetings. (AH) Done – with many thanks to Anna m. Take Henry’s worksite plan and ID where rare plants are located (to prevent damage on workdays) (AH) Henry and Anna will consult as Henry plans for the current spring workday schedules. At this point in the meeting David suggested that we agree to store our expanding set of databases and documentation on Google Docs or Dropbox. He’ll bring a proposal for March Board Meeting. n. Update handout for spring workdays and distribute to Herrs, OMI, David (for Feb 1st Fri) (AH) Done o. Evidence of Scottish Highland cattle as effective greenbrier control? (AH) in process p. Follow up with Jay Gregg about Chester Co. planning for Nottingham Pk. (DR) David will remind Jay q. Handouts for oxford 1st Fri at Oxford Arts Alliance. (DR) Done [I’ll distribute again on March 7] r. Work with Henry to create volunteer contact database. (DR) David to set up a time with Henry s. Identify OHA program coordinator for serp history slide presentation. (HW) Ken Woodward -- done t. Reschedule meeting with Joe Frasetta (HW) In process u. Share workday schedule with Patrick Hurley and DeLoitte. (HW) DeLoitte -- June 6 Patrick Hurley – in process. v. Develop tentative plan for sites to be worked next six months. (HW) In process w. Contact David when obtain new volunteer liability form - for database. (HW) x. Review Strategic Plan draft and suggest simplified Mission statement and review Master Plan Scope (Board) See below Deferred / Carryover items from previous board meetings. Not done
z. Explore Grant opportunities: Continuing to defer
aa. Begin to explore outreach materials to attract volunteers to workdays (AH)
PPFF is working on scheduling webinars on this topic PPFF guides on outreach are available on Web site Bob will schedule a conference call with Jen Renhill 4. Monthly reports from board member “Leads” as applicable: John Dighton of Rutgers University, is pursuing funding for an expanded of fungi in stressed pine barrens-like terrains. We agreed to write in support of his funding request. Anna will draft a letter for Bob’s signature. f. Membership / outreach (AH) See (3.aa) above. Anna has requested permission to set up an info table for April’s Oxford First Friday (April 4); We’ll need volunteers to staff the table. g. Administration (DR) See (3.m) above. 5. Status of TNC request for “shared” equipment acquisition cost and maintenance expense. Need for permanent convenient storage, ability to transport. See (3.c) above. 6. Status of request for entomology research by Bob Kula (USDA, Smithsonian) See (4.f) above. 7. Status of Maryland Native Plant Society engagement with FSLSB next fall We (Bob is primary contact) have proposed a lecture by Mike Bertram for Saturday, September 20 at Cecil College and a hike at (probably) Goat Hill for Sunday, September 21. Anna will contact Chris Hoess to see if he would be interested in leading the hike.
8. Status of request by Billy Birney to harvest cedars and other trees at Lower Chrome. See (3.c) above. 9. Review status of Site Tracker Spreadsheet (BG) See (3.i) above 10. PPFF – Marketing assistance regarding event promotion, social media, outreach, etc. BG and AH to set up conference call with Jen Renhill.
11. PPFF – Requirements Marci will provide revised forms once PPFF receives input from insurance company. PPFF is also drafting an incident report form to be used whenever there is an injury during an FSLSB event. b. MOU provisions (indemnity, liability insurance) FSLSB is covered by PPFF insurance policy for typical events consistent with the PPFF mission. We would need to obtain an insurance rider (available through PPFF insurance company) for out-of-the ordinary events (such as a kayak trip or fireworks display). This understanding is different from the language in our memo of understanding with PPFF. Bob will discuss with his wife (a lawyer) how we should go about amending the MOU.
12. Discuss Strategic Plan Draft - revisions, further discussion, approval, etc. Approved with this revised Mission Statement: The FSLSB serve as educators and stewards to preserve the history and ensure sustainability of the globally rare state line serpentine barrens ecosystem.
13. Review and approve Master Land Plan / Stewardship Plan Scope for discussion with universities and consultants. Approved the document as an exploratory instrument for conversation with TNC, other stakeholders and partners. BG to circulate after last set of edits 14. Admin – Status of contact lists in electronic form: Board members, stakeholders, volunteers 15. Next board meeting on Fri 3/28 See (A) above 16. Other business None 17. Adjourned at 6:30 with thanks to Anna for hosting at Lincoln University’s new Nelson Science Center and guidance on getting off campus.
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