Minutes from Friends of Ferris Board Meeting Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. Ferris Park Office Present: Barb Hogan, Rose Odell, John Knox, Mike Anderson, Al Graham, Sandy Chapman & Laura Cobb (Park Warden) Regrets/Absent: Carol Robertson, Tom Mates, Gerhard Marzinski Welcome & Call to Order by Barb Hogan Reviewed & approved minutes of May 4, 2011 Business Arising from May 4, 2011 Meeting Hasty Notes & Postcards They are not being sold at the Ferris Park gate house and are available in town. Thank-you cards were sent to those who submitted photos. Mike has collected funds from the sale of the postcards & hasty notes (see financial report). The toonie postcards are very popular. Mike asks for help restocking the cards and also for feedback. The consensus is that this has been a successful project. Al has been taking photos of downtown from different perspectives (e.g.- from atop rooftops) for future postcards. The hasty notes in Caroline's Organics are selling more slowly. Photos on Tour There was an excellent reception at the Heritage Society. There was a large newspaper article covering the display (see attached). A thank-you card was sent. The photos are currently at the TD Bank. The feedback from the TD customers has been very good with many people expressing an interest in purchasing the photos. Next the photos will be displayed at the BMO & then the Royal Bank. The Curling Club will be contacted for a future display. The Council Chamber will not take the photos. Suggestions were put forth regarding the possibility of selling, raffling off or having a silent auction of one of the photos. Barb reported that Carol declines constructing numerous additional frames but is willing to make one a year. Alternatively, Mike suggested approaching Benjamin Graphics to see if they would be interested in providing free or discounted frames for the photos, in return for recognition as a Friend of Ferris supporter. It was decided to revisit this issue at the next meeting. Historical/Cultural Signage The historical signs are now in place. One is at the sheepwash/boat launch and the other is behind the reconstructed stone wall. They look terrific. A sincere thank you was given to Laura Cobb, Brian Brown & the park staff for an excellent job. Al said he submitted some photos of the new signs to the EMC newspaper but was advised by Sue Dickens that the newspaper wants photos with people in them & they must be named. Al will look into creating a release form for future photos that include the public.
Trail Head Signs The wood from Mike's property is wonderful. Many thanks to Mike & Gerhard. Mike has requested a donation receipt for $900 for his wood. John will look into this. A cheque was given to Dave Smith in the amount of $339 for cutting the wood. Dave delivered it to the park and Bob helped him offload it. Dave also requested a membership form which was mailed to him along with a thank-you card. Bob Hogan, Carol, Tom & Brian Brown worked on the first frame on July 14/11. Ontario Parks supplied the hardware & plywood. The second frame was assembled on August 16/11 by Bob Hogan, Laura Cobb, Carol & Al. In addition, the chimney swift signs are completed and erected. Trails Bob H. & Al have been cutting grass, weed-whacking & trimming. An article & photos have been placed in the newspapers regarding the detour (necessitated by work being done at the Hydro generating station & on the bridge from June September 2011) through Ferris Park for those people using the Rotary Trail. This detour is expected to last until September/11 when construction on the bridge at the Hydro station will be complete. Al bought red reflective tape & will apply it to the faded trail markers. Most of the TCT (Trans Canada Trail) signs are up. To town signs are up. Tom had some You are here signs made up and they look great. The estimated cost will be $8.50 per sign plus the cost of the posts. We will approach the Legion for funding for these signs. The Friend of Ferris emblem is missing from these signs but will be included on the next signs. Al sent photos and an article to the Trans Canada website. Rose said TCT had promised signs regarding the flora & fauna in the park and will pursue the matter. Boardwalk We continue to wait for a reply from Sir Sanford Fleming College regarding students helping build the boardwalk. Laura said that if there is no reply from them by Sept. 15/11 then park staff will build it. Barb has spoken to Tim Craig & Pete Johansen from Ontario Hydro about wood chips. Tim has submitted the request to Trenton on our behalf. The park will order gravel after Labour Day weekend. Weekly Trail Walks There have been a total of 17 walkers since May. Carol reported that there are many more people enjoying the park than she had first thought. Suggestions are: 1. To have a garbage can placed at the east end of the suspension bridge. We pick up garbage as we walk & it would be helpful to have a place to deposit the waste as we leave the trails. 2. Have bookmarks made up advertising the Friend of Ferris events. 3. For our 50 th anniversary take a photo of Ferris family members in the same location as the old picture at the sheepwash. Laura asked that walking posters be placed at the comfort stations to advise campers of the weekly walks. Tree Identification Thanks to Phil Careless & Carol Robertson. Some signs are on the trees. One sign (by the picnic shelter) has been eaten or ripped. It is suggested that we look at another material that can't be destroyed. Perhaps the new signs can be made of the same metal material used for the You are here signs. Phil has sent a list of other trees to be marked. There are currently marked with orange tape.
Parking Passes Only 2 passes have been handed out so far 1 to Bob Hogan & 1 to Fred Ellis. Northumberland Tourism Event Carol & Barb went to the Cobourg Community Centre. The Ontario Parks backdrop was great. It was interesting to see other tourism venues but was not open to the public, so they don't think it's worth going to again. The customer service presentation stressed creating a WOW factor for tourists. Sandwich Boards Fred Ellis repaired the sandwich boards that were broken. A new sign was made stating $5.00 per car entry fee. Website/Facebook The sites are good. Coming events are being posted. The sites have received numerous emails, likes & comments. Also Friends of Ontario Provincial Parks have been posting our events on their site. Photo Contest Al has put hard copies of the photo contest rules in the kiosks. Brochures/Pamphlets The summer/fall flower brochures are out. Rose has been keeping the kiosks stocked. Al has been putting out trail maps. Barb & Bob H. have put tabloids at the suspension bridge kiosk. Remaining 2011 Events BBQ A BBQ for events was purchased from Canadian Tire for the sale price of $282.49. They assembled it for us at no charge; this was our discount. It was first used when the trail head signs were assembled & it works great. Kite Day Fred & Carole will report at the next meeting. Exploring the Night Skies from Ferris Park September 1, 2011 To be held near the picnic shelter. Flyers have been printed & distributed. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 103 has graciously donated the upstairs hall for us to use in case of inclement weather. Barb will make maps to hand out if needed. Rose & Carol volunteered to collect the $5.00 per car entry fee. Passes have been made available to members of the Peterborough & Belleville astronomy clubs who bring telescopes, etc. Mike suggested an honorarium (Rose suggested $50) to the Legion if we need to use the hall.
Stone Wall Restoration September 3 & 4, 2011 The date to pick hearting is August 29/11. We should meet at the Park office at 9:30 a.m. Laura suggests a cold shower with dish soap afterwards due to poison ivy in the area. Park staff will try to eradicate the poison ivy prior to Aug. 29. Laura has approved 2 sites. She suggests we cover the gathered hearting stones with a tarp or place them behind the wall for safe keeping. It should take about 2 hours to fill 50 buckets. The cost to workshop students is $150. A course evaluation form was approved & sent to Mary Shaw-Rimmington for editing. Laura has been given a list of requirements for the workshop. Helpers have been contacted to help out with the food on Sat. & Sun. 4 students have signed up for the workshop. Laura said there are no further plans to clear the wall across from campsite 93 this year. Many thanks to Gerhard/Grindhouse Cafe & Al Graham for the displaying the photos of the stone walls for the months of July & August. Trail Fest/Fungi Walk Barb contacted Jan Thornhill & was given some background information to use for a poster. Jan has written the books I Found A Dead Bird, This Is My Planet and Who Wants Pizza?. We can purchase a couple of books from her that she will autograph and we can use as give-aways. She requested the walkers bring a pocket knife to collect edible mushrooms. We cannot advertise or condone this as no one is allowed to remove anything from the park. Advertising Suggestion Barb said we can do bulk mailings for 1000 @ $.13 each = $130. We agreed that this isn't the most costeffective or efficient way to advertise the park. AGM will be held on Mon., Sept. 26/11 at 6:00 p.m. at The Grindhouse Cafe. 2012 Events Trillium Walk To be held on Sunday, May 6, 2012 Rose will call Donna Wilson (contact person at the schools) at the beginning of the school year to see if the schools would like to participate in the Trillium Art Contest. We hope that the contest can then be fit into the curriculum. Kite Day To be held on Sunday, May 27, 2012. Sandy will chair the event. Sandy will contact Fred & Carole Ellis to schedule a meeting with them and whoever else wants to be involved, and then report back to the Board. 50 th Anniversary Tom will look into what other parks have done. Mike suggested talking to Tom & Rosemary Kerr (Kerr's Books) about us supplying bookmarks that they could include in their books that would have all the 2012 Ferris events listed as well as advertising for their book store. We will revisit this idea. It was decided that the 50 th Anniversary of Ferris Park would be celebrated at each event in 2012.
Dry Stone Wall Restoration We will wait for the results of the 2011 weekend & then decide about having it on Labour Day weekend in 2012 or some other time. A long weekend does allow for a 2-day course and for more travel time. Trail Fest To be held on September 30, 2012. It was suggested by John that we may want to think about renaming Trail Fest to be more be more specific or reflect better the nature of the walk. We will consider changing the name to better reflect the event (e.g.- Fungi Walk, Colour Walk, etc.) and hopefully this will attract more people. Other Events Suggestions are: 1. a birdwatching day 2. have Kevin Callan (aka the happy camper ) give a talk (see attached email reply) 3. have the Reptile Zoo give a talk 4. hold a Trent-Severn turtle watch Flower Pots The 3 flower pots at the front gate need to be emptied & repaired for next season. There were difficulties with watering as the pots did not hold water well. Dates to do this can be discussed at the next meeting. Thanks to Rose for planting the pots this year. Picnic Table at the upland beach area Al has mentioned a few times getting a picnic table at this area. It would need to be chained to a tree as the previous one was removed & there is no sign of it. Beer/liquor bottles Bob H. has been returning the empty liquor & beer containers collected by the Ontario Parks staff. To date over $200. has been collected. We discussed having signs made & installed at the recycle stations to inform park users that all funds collected from the return of empties goes directly to the Friends of Ferris to fund events and improvements in the park. Laura will check with Tom for approval of a sign and also check what the wording should be. Gospel Service on Sunday Mornings CKOL (through Dave Lockwood) expressed a desire to hold gospel services in the park. It is best if Dave deal with Tom Mates directly and Dave should be advised of this. Friends of Ferris will not be involved. Peterborough Newspaper Article A wonderful article was recently printed by a reporter about her trip to Campbellford (see attached). Gator (ATV) Training Barb, Bob H. & Al have all had training to use the Gator. Volunteer Hours All volunteer hours are to be ready by the AGM. Financials Presented by John Knox (see attached).
Ontario Parks Tom Mates, Laura Cobb Corina Bedar is a zone ecologist for Ontario Parks. She has requested any updated information regarding life science information. She is involved with creating a management plan for Ontario Parks. Barb asked that we be able to access the document when it is completed. Date of Next Meeting (AGM) Monday, September 26, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at The Grindhouse Cafe. Motion to Adjourn Proposed by Al, seconded by Sandy.