Minutes Friends of Ferris
November 8th, 2011 @ 6 pm
Grind Hose Café
Welcome –
Anne Kidd works with MNR interested in Ferris
Present – Mike Anderson, Barb Hogan, Tom Mates, John Knox, Al Graham,
Carol Robertson, Sandy Chapman, Rose Odell, Gerhard Marzinski
1. Review of Agenda
- Items added ATV meeting and Horc Society guest speaker for
1st Monday in February
2. Minutes approved for September 26th, 2011
3. Review of Minutes September 26th, 2011
Hasty Notes/Postcards/Bookmarks
- postcards are purchased by merchants and are selling well
- hasty notes are on consignment, sales have been disappointing
- merchants want them for the summer not winter due to the lack of tourists
- will replenish stock/new photos over winter for sale next spring
- all agreed that Caroline’s will have our market for hasty notes
- Mike had not yet talked to Tom Kerr about book marks
- Carol showed samples of different book marks
- Carol will look into the cost of book marks as everyone felt they would have
to be given out free of charge to stores to promote park events
Photos on Tours
- Pictures are on display at the Curling Club
- Had to be removed from Royal Bank due to insurance issues
- Carol will prep 6 new photos for framing using the existing frames
- Suggestions to display, Island Park, Arena lounge (upstairs), Westben
- Mike will Benjamin graphics re framing
Trail Head Signs
- two of the three frames have been erected
- thanks to Laura and Brian
- attempt was made at putting signs up but some issues with the glue that held
the signs to the plywood,
- took both signs to Presqui’le for them to look at there is no way to
fix them
- Tom will look into the cost to replace and estimate $200 each
- $317 to have wood cut
- 6 x 6 – 12 foot posts at Rona are $35.99 x 12 = approx $432.
- Motion for a tax receipt for Mike (noting that we could not purchase wood
like we got from Mike) from Gerhard, seconded by Rose
Trails
- As the remaining TCT signs were not put up Al put up some on wood sticks
- Dirt/gravel delivered, Bob and Al awesome job filling trails in south end
- Some areas are still holding water but will be readdressed in the spring
- The grass has been cut along most of the milkweed ski trail, marker posts
are in and trails are being remarked, red for ski and green for snowshoe
- Al has put up some green markers but needs more
- Tom will look into getting more green markers
TCT Flora and Fauna
signs
- Rose is working on getting some of these signs from TCT and won’t give
up
Boardwalk
- Sir Sandford already was committed for this year and hopefully they will choose
Ferris to work on next year
- Tom will follow up on this
- Tom gets wood for Presqu’ile from someone in Norwood at a good price
Weekly Trail Walks
- Carol had her 20th new face on a walk
- Average 3 – 7 per walk
- Northumberland “fall prevention” will mention her walk on their
website
Tree Identifications
- No more signs have been eaten
- We will continue with the same material but include the FOF logo
- All signs should be ¼” off the tree
- The Horc Society had a guest speaker who spoke of our canopy of trees in Northumberland
in Nov that was very informative
- Variety of trees is most important such as we have in Ferris for the propagation
of each species
Website/Facebook
- once final dates of upcoming events will update site
- pictures of Fungi walk and Stone Wall restoration have been posted
- 194, 193 hits one with 250 impressions
- Kathy also posted the article from EMC that Carol submitted
Photo Contest
- Contest closes December 1, 2011
Brochures/Pamphlets
Membership Brochure
- sample of 2012 membership brochure
- add PO Box and RR #
- include 50th Anniversary
- $10 minimum for tax receipt (to include memberships?)
Ski Trail Brochures
- the new extensions will be added to the trail
- motion to order 150 by Mike seconded John all in favour
Mushroom Brochure
*new business *
- suggestion to have a mushroom brochure similar to the flower ones
- Carol looked into cost .60 cents each for 100 - 150, full colour with a layout
cost of $25
- Tom will look into photos for the brochure
Flower Pots
- the three flower pots at the front gate have been cleaned out, thank you Rose
- the one on the right hand side going into Bedrock was moved back to cover
some metal posts that were sticking out of the ground
- Tom will have these posts removed
- there was some damage to this box and Carol has repaired it.
- Barb will purchase three plastic bins that will fit into the boxes that may
extend their life and hold water better for the plants
Beer/Liquor Bottles
- Laura was going to look into if we could post a sign at the recycling/garbage
stations to inform park users that the proceeds would go to Friends of Ferris
for park events and improvements. If so what wording and type of material for
signs.
- Tom will have signs made for spring
Sunday Gospel Services
- Carol gave Dave Lockwood Tom Mates email address
- To date Tom has not been contacted
- There is Ontario Parks policy surrounding this
Final 2011 event
Trail Fest/Fungi Walk – October 2nd at 1 pm
- response was great but the weather was not.
- Thank you to Carol, Rose, Bob, Sandy, Barb and Lori for braving the cold and
rain to make this a successful event, we got soaked setting up
- Approximately 36 in attendance
- Financials submitted to John, (sorry I didn’t keep the numbers) but
it was good
- BBQ was a huge success, hungry walkers
- Article submitted to EMC by Carol and printed with Rose’s photo
- Carol called or emailed members and received great response
BBQ
- a second propane tank was purchased for $56.45
Newsletter
- anyone wishing to submit material should do so by end of December
- if you would like to help put the newsletter together please let me know
Tabloid Submission
- deadline for submissions
- winning photo from photo contest to be included
- as it is our 50th Anniversary Tom would like historical material to be included
- Lisa McPherson will be doing this from Presqu’ile
T-Shirts/Hats
- a year end count has not yet been done
- have contacted Joasia Pyrz (MNR) re 2012 Ont Parks merchandise and CD will
not be out until early March 2012
Volunteer Hours
- 2010/2011 hours are due in now
- 2011/2012 sheets are done if you want to take it with you
2012 Events
2012 will be the 50th Anniversary of “Ferris Provincial Park” and will be promoted at all events throughout the year.
April 12 –
AGM/Kevin Callan “The Happy Camper”
- Aron is confirmed at $100 but they would appreciate $150 to $200 to cover
their costs
- Kevin Callan is confirmed he has his own audio video equipment and will also
be bringing some freebies
- AGM after the presentation (election of board)
May 6 – Trillium
Walk – Rose Odell chair
- David Bree will not be available taking a “sabbatical”
- Rose is looking for replacement
- Tom will supply a naturalist from Presqu’ile
- Rose was to contact Donna Wilson about submitting Art Contest to schools to
give them an opportunity to put in curriculum
- New name “Spring Nature Walk”
- Rose has already purchased three great books to use as prizes for the art
contest
May 27 – Kite Day – Sandy Chapman chair
- Meeting with Fred and Carole will be arranged
June 30th - 50th
Anniversary
- Tom suggested June 30th for a date to celebrate so not to conflict with the
towns July 1st celebrations
- Cake, dignitaries, photo op, invite Ferris family?
TBA - Dry Stone
Wall Restoration
- Felt there was misrepresentation as advertised John Shaw-Rimmington and it
was Evan Oxland instead
- Evan did a wonderful job
- Carol will follow up and report at the next meeting
-
September 20th - Exploring the Night Skies From Ferris Park – Terence
Dickinson
- September 20th best date due to darker earlier
- Fee will still be $175
- Barb will look into Legion or other venue to use as a back up in case of inclement
weather
September 30 –
Trail Fest/Fungi Walk
- note from Jan Thornhill for Fungi Walk
- this should be a registered event to make it manageable for Jan
- suggested a maximum of 50
4. New Business
CSCF 2012 Grant
- letter of intent to be submitted by November 17th
- it was agreed to pass on this for 2011 and re-address for 2012
- Barb will send a thank you note for CSCF for including us in the application
process
ATV Meeting
- Barb and Al attended this meeting and were advised that not ATV route will
be in or near Ferris Park
- It was suggested to Tom that extra signage at all entrances would be advisable
Horticultural Society
Guest Speaker
- the Horc Society has asked if someone from Ferris would be a guest speaker
at their meeting the 1st Monday in February
- Carol would appreciate some help with this
5. Financial Business
- financial statement
submitted by John Knox
- he felt we were on track with other years
6. Ontario Parks
- note comment from Carol and Sandy re washrooms Tom said that they were cleaned
every day
- 20 more electrical sites have been approved on the provincial priority list
but they still need to make the funding list before they become a reality
- roof repairs will be made to the gate house and replacement in 2018
- 2 camp sites for the disabled are on the want list
- Clivus Multrum waterless composting toilets at Kawartha Highlands Provincial
Park (solar powered) financially not feasible
- Our cost per ratio is in very good shape, we should be revenue neutral with
20 more electrical sites, this summer the reservation computer system was down
and the park was still able to maintain $.96 per $1.00 spent, this
is due to friendly staff, clean facilities and well maintained sites and fire
pits.
7. Date and location of next meeting
- Barb will email regarding possible dates for next meeting
8. Motion to Adjourn
About Ferris : Activities : Contact Ferris : Suspension Bridge