The first annual Friends of the Rossland Range AGM will be held at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall on Wednesday, November 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Topics on the agenda include:

a)   Election of 7 Directors for upcoming term 

b)   Set membership fees (Director’s recommend $5.00 per member)

c)   Progress report on achieving ‘non-motorized status’ for Old Glory Alpine Area

d)   Report on Website and communication with members

e)   Report on KCTS taking on trail maintenance through an agreement with the Ministry of Forests, and construction of the new Seven Summits Trail

f)    Discuss application for commercial snowcat skiing operation tenure for Crowe/Neptune/Mackie area (across highway from Old Glory Alpine area)

g)   Wolves reported in the higher mountain areas. Director’s seeking more info’ through Provincial Gov’t biologist to determine if action by the FoRR needs to be considered.

 

All members are invited to email us with any other topics that you feel should be added to the agenda.

 

Hope to see you at the AGM and please invite anyone else who may be interested...power in numbers!

March 29, 2004

Information Bulletin

Dear Members,

Since the withdrawal of the cat-skiing application this past December, the Directors of the Friends of the Rossland Range have been working to seek a significant level of protection for the Old Glory Alpine area and prevent its use for motorized recreation.  In addition, the Friends of the Rossland Range (FORR) is now a formally registered society.

UPDATE:

1. As result of the momentum gained at the public meeting held this past December, Directors Stewart Spooner and Kim Deane met on March 12,2004 with MLA Honorable Sandi Santori to discuss the protection of the Old Glory Alpine Area and the steps necessary to initiate a land use plan.  A productive and positive discussion followed.  They are aware of our concerns and are presently researching the process for land protection and have begun discussing this matter with the Ministry of Sustainable Resources.  Santori has assigned his Executive Assistant to continue pursuing this issue and to act as a liaison with FORR.  FORR will continue to monitor their progress and also lobby any activity that may advance the cause.
2. Stewart and Kim also met with Atco Lumber the week of March 8^th. The Old Glory Alpine Area is within Atco’s Timber Licenses on Crown Land. They have no current plans for logging in our specific area of interest. However, it is within their planning to log two blocks on the east face of Mt. Kirkup (above the highway) beginning above a strip along the highway that is reserved for small business logging, and extending up the slope. Also, there is currently an intense logging effort on Mt. Crowe to remove pine-beetle infested timber before spring.
3. The Kootenay-Columbia Trails Society recently submitted an application to the Softwood Industry Community Economic Adjustment Initiative (SICEAI) to seek funding for the proposed Old Glory Alpine Ridge Skyline Trail.  This project is a 28km trail that extends from the Santa Rosa Summit on the Cascade Highway to Strawberry Pass.  The intended use of this trail is for non-motorized activities.  The Trails Society will receive a response by the end of March/beginning of April.
4. We are seeking a website design volunteer to create a Friends of the Rossland Range website. Anyone interested should contact us at friendsoftherosslandrange@yahoo.ca
5. We are starting to plan for the Fall AGM for the Friends of the Rossland Range. Some topics include the following:
   1. Improvement ideas (eg. winter parking, signage, alternative access to the alpine)
   2. Friends of the Rossland Range Logo Contest. Submissions due at the Fall AGM. First prize – Guided Bear Viewing Tour with Barry Williscroft
   3. Membership fees
   4. Voting for board of directors

We will continue to inform you of any further developments until we meet again at the fall AGM.  Thank you for your support and please contact us using the above address or by personally contacting the Directors (listed below), if you have any comments or concerns.

FoRR Board of Directors

Name	Phone #	Email
Kim Deane	362-5648	kdeane@direct.ca
Ken Holmes	362-7723	kenholmes@shaw.ca
Bridget O’Malley	362-7692	briget_o_malley@yahoo.ca
Sparkie Steeves	362-7692	briget_o_malley@yahoo.ca
Barry Williscroft	362-7107	bwilliscroft@telus.net
Stew Spooner	362-5905	stewspooner@telus.net

Sincerely,

The Friends of the Rossland Range Board of Directors