Meeting Minutes:

March 16, 2005

Agenda Items:

· Guest Speaker Patty Pendergast from the CT Forest & Park Assoc. (Rescheduled until next meeting)

· Grant Application Update (Andrew May): See below

I briefed Nicole Jabaily from AMC Headquarters about our discussion last night & was able to send her a PDF representation of what we have in mind & why we chose the way we did.

She said she has recommended to the Committee that they fund us; in the same breath she said that they are under no obligation to listen to her. I still take some satisfaction in her faith!!

The timeline also appears to be much more favorable today than what I was saying last night (not my fault, it appears to be a moving target).She said that the Committee will evidently have a virtual meeting (not sure if this is right terminology but I think you know what I mean)& decide by late March. If we win, we will have a check by first week in April, which could have us up & running by Trails Day Potluck on June 4th...

· Update on Display products & pricing: (John Crist) Products styles were reviewed and a 3 panel option chosen by overwhelming majority. The committee will work together via e-mail in the coming weeks to brainstorm content for the display (pictures and message). I'll take the lead on coordinating feedback for the next meeting. Please communicate with they group or send me your ideas by March 30th. I'll organize them and distribute to everyone for review. At the next meeting we'll try to hammer out a decision on content so that the display can be ordered. I'm waiting for feedback from Joy Street on picture archives that may be available from the magazine. In the meantime if you have items that represent CT and our message of conservation, and are willing to share those images please send them to me for distribution. The idea of a contest to pick content was raised and liked by the group.

· Update on Webpage: (Keith & Aimee Santeler) They have recently gotten access to make updates to the site. They've been looking into different content options. If you have any ideas please forward to santeler@sbcglobal.net. They expect to have updates visible shortly.

· Skiff Mountain Advocacy: (Andrew May) Andrew gathered information around the passage of the Highlands Act and how it relates to the Skiff Mountain area. The Committee is aiming to put together a hike, with local or Political Luminaries, on the property to raise awareness in during summer 05 timeframe. Andrew has lead.

· Developing a Standard AMC CT message for hike leaders to give to interested hikers: The desire for a standard message to be communicated to all CT Hike Leaders was brought up. David Roberts has agreed to send out such a message once ready. Jim will take the lead on drafting the message before the next meeting.

· The idea of moving the meeting to an alternate location once a year received mixed reaction from the committee. There may be a potential to bring in additional people by moving the meeting but the benefits of a stable meeting place were discussed. The topic will stay on the radar pending the set up of our display and feedback received from members tabling at places like the Fairfield County Group dinners.