Summary of 04/19/05 meeting, 5:00 pm, Rossland Library

Current Directors: Barry Williscroft*, Bridget O’Malley, Sheree Sonfield, Ken Holmes*, Kim Deane, Sparky Steeves, Stewart Spooner. (*not present)

Members Present:  Lorna Manzer, Bob Bechaud,  Suzanne Paquin, Ari Gore, Gary & Margo Williams, Kim & Jim Simpson

Items on the Agenda

1. Kim Deane called meeting to order at 5:05 pm
2. Director appointment:
1. Sheree Sonfield has accepted the Board’s appointment of her as replacement for resigning Director Cindy Hall.  Elections will be held at the fall AGM.
3. Lobbying Activities for Old Glory Protection
1. Min Abbot:

1.                Kim summarized his discussion on April 13 with Steve Flett of the Nelson office of the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management.  Our 2 letters to Min Abbot came to his desk for reply.    Flett said that a Rossland Area land use planning process is planned and that the letters are helpful in keeping that project at the top of their queue.  After problems with the East Kootenay land use planning process, MSRM now favours tackling smaller “hot spots” of interest such as the “Rossland Area”.  Also, based on the information we provided RE the Ministry of Forests trail designations (as non-motorized trails), he’s had discussions with others in the government and will be suggesting that the Minister of Forests be brought into the issue.   

2. NDP candidate Katrine Conroy is at the Miner’s Hall Sat, 4/23/05 for an open house at 1pm and all are encouraged to attend and speak with her.  Katrine Conroy has been invited to FORR Fundraiser on 4/22 but will most likely not attend due to this open house the next day.  Sheree Sonfield and the Gary Williams agreed to attend and ask the candidate if she supports the FORR goal to protect the Old Glory Alpine.  [POST MEETING NOTE:  Sheree Sonfield & Kim Deane attended the event and spoke to Katrine, who supports FORR goals and re-instatement of Ministries of Environment, recreation of Recreation Areas.]
3. Green Party candidate Donald Pharan will attend the FORR Fundraiser, as guest, not to speak.
4. Liberal Party candidate Pam Lewin had not responded as of the meeting date. [POST MEETING NOTE:  Pam Lewin attended the fundraiser and says she supports FORR goal to protect Old Glory Alpine, she & husband are active outdoor enthusiasts and she has experience (on the Coast) in obtaining protection for special natural places]
5. As other candidate forums occur prior to the May 17 election, Directors should be present to ask about the candidates’  support of our goals and to share information about FORR.
3. Membership/Community Awareness:  follow up items to reach the 350 member goal, which we are gradually working toward:
1. Fundraiser on 4/22/05 7pm Miner’s Hall:  $5/ticket at Powderhounds or at the door.  In Booty’s absence there will be special songs by Sparky Steeves and Mary Rose Drescher in his honor and perhaps someone to tell stories about him and his love of the Rossland Range .  Sheree to contact Sharon Griffiths about this, and further fundraiser details to be worked out among Sparky, Bridget, Bob, Sheree and Gary Senecal.   Sheree and Suzanne to sell tickets at Ferraro’s on Wednesday afternoon, Bridget on Thursday afternoon, Sparky to sing on these afternoons at various locations and sign boards to be placed strategically around town. [POST MEETING NOTE:  about 25 new members were signed on these 2 days]
2. Rossland Rotary:  Sheree & Kim attended Rotary who were very supportive of FORR goals and offered to provide signposts and installation services to complete the sign posts project needs.  (Interior Signs of Trail has donated the 3 outdoor vinyl signs to be stuck on the metal sign backings).  Several Rotary members signed on as FORR members and we sincerely thank Rossland Rotary for their interest, support and participation in FORR.

3. Old Glory “Protected” Area Boundary
1. Discussion of the Boundary that should be “protected”. 
1. Kim suggested that the primary “protected” area that we should start with is the area that is the original Nancy Greene Recreation Area boundary, less what Red Mountain has now in its tenure; however, adjustments to that boundary line should be reviewed and possibly updated for current interests in the area such as logging, watershed, grizzly bear habitat.  We need to identify the stakeholders in the general area and approach them to determine their support of our goal, issues and discuss as needed.   
2. Bob Bechaud suggested that we need to educate ourselves on the process in the East Kootenay to learn from their mistakes and provide ourselves with more insight into several issues such as who we should be approaching for support of our goals.
3. Sheree asked if there was interest in creating an outline that would guide us to creation of a strategy or “discussion paper” regarding the issues surrounding protecting Old Glory.  The idea was developed further by the group, including a more clearly defined mission statement, pros and cons of various alternatives, yet allowing for flexibility in evaluating government suggestions and methods of protection.  Sheree agreed to write a draft outline to start this project.

4. Other community awareness projects discussed and to be developed further: 
1. Old Glory Hikes:  Ari suggested Rossland Rec would perhaps add Old Glory summer hikes, snowshoe walks on their agenda to allow someone to lead these and be covered by necessary insurance.  These activities would help maintain and increase community awareness of the area and our activities and goals.  Suzanne had offered to lead these summer hikes and again agreed to do this.  [POST MEETING NOTE:  Bob Bechaud spoke to Pam Shirley of Rossland Rec who said to contact her office in August RE getting on the winter activity schedule.  Pam will be on maternity leave at that time.]
2. Trail Signs:  Since Rotary and Interior Sign have donated all that we need for the 3 signs, Sheree will provide the words and map info to Interior Signs to create a draft of the sign for our review.  It can’t be finalized until Stacey Lightbourne receives the adjacent mapping just on the northern end of the sign’s map, but the layout can be worked on by Interior Signs and the metal delivered to Interior Signs.
3. Condo owners informational meeting:  Sheree and Bob to contact member Shelley Hummel RE the concept and timing of an informational meeting with condo owners she knows.  Target date, fall sometime or winter, when a few owners are in town.
4. Louise Drescher’s Print donation and draw:  Sheree has the framed print Louise has donated for FORR to license as a lottery, selling tickets at about $2/ticket, 2 for $3.  Target date: get the lottery license and begin ticket sales in the fall, complete sales and have the draw at a mid-January or other winter event TBD.
5. Photo Contest:  Sparky suggested a photo contest connected with or timed alongside of the Rossland Film Festival. 
6. Membership roster:  All agreed that it would be beneficial to add membership list (current, paid) to the website.  The list would only have the member’s name and home town.  Bridget to provide list and Sheree to add to website after the fundraiser.
5. Administrative
1. Director’s schedule:  As of 4/25 Kim Deane will be out of town for the next 2 months and then for a good portion of July and/or August but can be reached periodically by email.  As of 4/30 Sheree Sonfield will be out of town until next winter, except for short visits in mid-summer and fall, but is usually accessible by email or phone and will be working on website updates and “discussion paper outline” project.  On about 4/23 Stewart Spooner will return for the summer.

Adjournment:  Meeting adjourned at 6:10pm

Next meeting:   Wednesday, May 25, 2005 , 5pm , Rossland Library

Next meeting Agenda and other follow-up items not discussed at this meeting:

1.       Follow-up on the above agenda items

2.       KCTS link exchange (when KCTS website is updated) (Kim or Stew)

3.       Tax certificate advise from accountant after tax date April 30. (Sheree)

Summary of this meeting was prepared by:   Sheree Sonfield, Sparky Steeves