BIRPOA Executive Meeting – July 6 th , 2008

Present : Bob Cavenagh, Sharron Curley, John Feltmate, Bill Johnson, Andy Shaw, Jae Shaw

1. Minutes of May 18/08 approved with the following changes: Undeposited funds should have read $520.00

1. Treasurer's Report : Sharron Curley for Alice Howarth

Bank balance $3,626.80. Thirty members paid to date. FOCA and insurance paid. Birch Island domain name renewed for another 5 years at the cost of $90.00. 

1. Marina Bulletin Board :

Install another board underneath bulletin board for business cards and items for sale. Put up AGM and Snake Day notice. (ACTION: Andy and Jae)

1. Great Snakes Alive :

Michael Butler has volunteered to host Snake Day in Orland French's absence, Sunday, August 3 , Horton field at 1 p.m.

1. AGM Sunday August 3, 10am :
• Alice will bring refreshments
• Andy and Jae will make notice for bulletin board and will try to have a bench or two set up by the AGM
• John Curley will put a notice on the web site
• Port-a-Potties will be present
• Suggest people bring a picnic and stay for Snake Day at 1pm
• AGM Items : overview, septic re-inspection (Sharron), treasurer's report (Alice), library, loon platforms (Bob), benches, bulletin board (Andy), constitution (Orland?), loon count (Chuck), membership(Ceyhan), trails, rights of way (John), signs for individual cottages

1. Trails :
• Three additional signs to be going up. (ACTION: John Feltmate)
• Trail Maintenance team: John Curley, John Feltmate, Chuck L., Bill Johnson
• Get measuring wheel and create distance markers.
• Deal with trail mowing by August. Set a standard for primary trails (at least 10 ft wide) and secondary trails (passable).Hire where we must.
• Motion by  Bob C.:

Make a one time assignment for trail maintenance ($500) and try not to    dip into it.

Seconded by John Feltmate

All in Favour

1. Library:

Library tour conducted. Thanks to all who have contributed and volunteered, especially Bob Cavenagh. The library should be up and running this season.

1. Rights of Way :

We have written assurance from the Birch Island Estates that they are willing to work with us to rectify the rights of way. Our expectations are set out in an e-mail which John F. will send to Sharron. Lawyer Richard Minart wants to work at a cost of $300.00 per participant. John F. is estimating 15 people will participate. John F. will collect the money since it is not to go into the BIRPOA bank account. Sharron and John F. will meet to draft an e-mail to Birch Island residents which is to be reviewed by executive first.

Motion by Bob C.:

Accept proposal from Minart that he is willing to work for a fee of $300 per participant

Seconded by Sharron C.

All in favour

1. Other Business:
• John Curley will stay on as webmaster for another 5 years
• Bill Johnson suggested a workshop on “How to Build a Loon Platform”
• History of South Crosby Township and history of Birch Island to be photocopied for the library
• Suggestions for future BIRPOA activities:
1. Create a “discovery map” for island with common names i.e., Cathedral Trail, Bridge Point, Helluva Hill….
2. Clear out Cathedral Trail
• Newsletter 2009 Ideas:
1. include Church Service times and local store hours
2. Under events include Queen's Biological Station Open House (last Sunday in June or first Sunday in July) and Border Collie Sheep Herder Trials second weekend of August every year at Grassy Park
3. Include “How To” articles from Cottage Life

    10. Next Meeting: AGM Sunday, August 3 rd , 10a.m. followed by a picnic lunch (bring your own) and a Great Snakes Alive presentation at 1:00pm