Minutes Friends of Ferris
May 12, 2009 @ 1800 hr. Location: Ferris Park Office

Attendance: Barb Hogan, Fred Ellis, Carole Ellis, Al Graham, Rose Odell, Mike Anderson, Doreen Sharpe, John Knox, Scott Rose, Tom Mates, Nick Borton.
Regrets: Bob Hogan

Barb welcomed everyone attending.
Welcome to our new Park Warden and Manager Nick Borton.
1. Review of Agenda
2. Review of Minutes - April 7, 2009

Stonewalls - Meeting with John Shaw-Rimmington on Friday May 1st. Great turn out - Tom Mates, Nick Borton, Fred and Carole Ellis, Rose Odell, Carol Greven, Carol Robertson, John Knox, Barb and Bob Hogan
- Restoration to be Labour Day weekend or weekend of Sept. 26/27
- Work to be done in playground area
- 40 ' of wall to include steps.
- Walls to be built thinner
- no need to bring in more stones
- Friends to clear a 10' area behind wall, Nick to assist
- Requirements, use of park office for instructional videos, shelter area (Barb & Bob have a 10 x 20 tent), lunch for two days, burgers/dogs, sandwiches for 15-18 students
- Nick to clear camping spots (5?) near site for their use
- possibly n/c in exchange for 1 Friend taking the Workshop
- Barb to confirm
- Would like to have historical significance signage

Trillium Walk May 3rd
- Rose - Approx. 45 attended
- best attendance ever
- David Bree took group on very interesting nature walk
- art contest winners
- JK, K, 1, 2 - Sophia Ingram, Sydney Seabrook and Ian Carswell all of St. Marys
- 3, 4, 5 - Skylar Soady, Dylan Forde, David Jarves Hennings all of Hastings Public School
- 6, 7, 8 - Kym Wilson, Emily Mainland, Tarrara Foley all of Kent Public School
- Posters in Bennett's Furniture window
- voting in store (not many votes)
- Financials total income $330.00
- new memberships and sale of bridge T-shirts
- Golf shirt given to David Bree as a Thank You

Kite Day May 31st - Fred and Carole
- workshop on April 16th, Fred and Carole provided organized work stations and lunch
- 250 kites were cut out
- thanks to Fred and Carole Ellis, Carole Greven, Rose Odell, Carole Robertson, Bob and Barb Hogan
- kites given at registration table prizes-to include 2 bug lights from Ontario Parks
- Day use park passes to be given out for Kite Day (May 31) use only
- Hand made kite (designed & sewn by Bill Doan, Texas) to be raffled
- New golf shirts to be sold - Kite Day advertisement in Readers Digest
- Thanks Barb

Music Fest August 22nd
- Minutes of May 7 meeting
- on record Meeting on June 4th @ 7 pm at Ferris park office
- Rotary cooking ribs Trail Fest/AGM - October 4th
- AGM to be held with Trail Fest - Fred will be out of town.
- Chair required
- Suggestions to attract people, geocaching for the day? Web Site
- No Report Promotional Items
- golf shirts are here, suggested selling price of $25 (cost $19.20 each)
- 50 ordered
- Some prefer "Extreme" Shirts
- Suggested order at least 20 - selling price $25.00 (cost $15.99) - 0 small, 8 Medium (Doreen, Rose, Carole, Al) 9 Large (Fred, Bob), 3 XL
- Ontario Park merchandise
- Ferris name on items, sell and pay at end of season
- Ontario Parks donated prizes, 4 bug lanterns (one given as draw prize at Trillium Walk, sleeping bag, $75 Tilley hat, large lantern, knap sack, To be used as prizes at park events
- Spring Flower brochure was $60 for 100
- Rose to contact David Bree for info on Summer and Fall brochures
- Doreen made motion to order these brochure, Barb seconded.
- Barb to order Friends of Ferris magnetic name tags from B & C Variety for approx. $10.00 each.. Motion made by Fred, seconded by Rose.
Trail Updates - Al and Fred
- trail maps - looking great
- Trans CanadaTrail signage on hold (TCT) - 13-14 trees cut and removed
- need to trim road in Bedrock loop re: RVs, also back loop in case RVs miss sign
- Scott advised taking trees down or limbs up 15'
- Fred and Nick to arrange grinding of stumps at RV exit corner by second comfort station
Chimney Swift Tower
- signage allowed to credit sponsors
- woodworking group has not found out about funding they can get.
- need approval from Ontario Parks re plan
- location to be decided.
- 12' high - 2/3 above ground 1/3 down
- to use steel legs? Seymour Conservation Day
- offer to Friends to do BBQ was declined
Try It Week - June 11
- will be setting up information booth at St. Johns United Church
- Scott has agreed to provide a free weekend pass as a draw for our booth to be signed in red pen (can't be copied) Canada Day
- July 1 - Barb will be setting up information tent at Old Mill Park
Waterfront Festival - August 1 & 2 - Barb will be setting up information tent at Old Mill Park

Ongoing Projects
- park benches - on hold - shed
- Fred making up form to pour concrete beween 2 pads
- wood chips - to cut our own
- trail signage - Al to order "To Town" signs
- boardwalks - on hold

Business Arising/New Business
- would like to get green balloons with Friends of Ferris logo to hand out at events, would like to rent Hellium tank, Marlaine will lend nozzle, email sent to ARTIK in Toronto for a quote for 1000 = $265.55 Decided to use plain green balloons with gold ribbon
- Trail Meeting in Peterborough
- Stolen bicycle - purple 18 speed bike - Nick to check police report
- Ferris buttons to be given to campers by Nick and staff, (some held back for volunteers)
- Help required on May 24th weekend
- to re-enforce alcohol free weekend, and help campers
- Nick has 3' x 3' sign to post re alcohol ban
- encourage "family" park
- Nick reported 50% of Park reserved for long weekend
- expect reduction because of alcohol ban
- Nick reported 12 sites rented for May 30 weekend

- Barb received plaque for Friends of Ferris from Mayor re: volunteer appreciation evening
Municipality of Trent Hills - Scott Rose - status of contract - not signed
- revisions subject to: Comfort Station to be built by MNR by 2012 subject to available funds, and Town to improve Park staff and pereformance, termination clause etc.
- When contract is signed Scott to discuss with Tom possibility of upland beach (not swimming)in sheep wash area
- lower parking area. To close off loop in boatlaunch area.
- Park brochure
- subject to advertising being sold
- any wood chips - no
- recommends Friends rent wood chipper from Thompsons
- Results chain saw course
- 9 dead trees cut in picnic shelter area
- Town has purchased a chain saw for Nick (qualified to operate)
- Picnic tables labeled
- town to build 10 new for park Ontario Parks
- Tom Mates - Insurance proof sent to TCT - to check
- German volunteers - possibly 18 to help with boardwalks - to be confirmed
- Trail signage - 3 trail signs for parking lot to be ordered by Ontario Parks
- Ont parks website has been updated
- any additions email David Bree
- More information on Circle of Friends Meeting Sept 25-27 - none yet
- Free admitance to Presquile -viewing the completed boardwalk - June 14
- total cost $600,000.in material
- all volunteer labour. Great job, very well done.

Financial
- $13,596.81

Motion to adjourn
Date of next meeting JUNE 9TH, 2009 FERRIS PARK OFFICE 1800 HRS

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