CT AMC Conservation Committee

Attendance: Adam Moore and John Larkin (Guest Speakers), Aimee Santeler, Keith Santeler, Bob Andrews, Andrew May, Russ Charest, Jamie Lee

* Committee Business 6:30 – 7:30

o Status on Promotional Items
        + eco bags – they're in ☺
        + will use to raise awareness of MWI and boost our donations
o Name Tags
        + Ordered Name Badges for the following:
            Ceila Robbins, Bob Andrews, Jamie Lee
o Stewardship
        + Discussed how best to spend $40 AMC gift certificates (Jamie to review AMC website and come back with possible suggestions)
        + Aimee suggested possibly putting the money toward the Maine Excursion in March.
        + Update: After reviewing website Jamie sent e-mail to committee on 2/7/08 looking for anyone who might want to go on the excursion and we would use the $40 to sponsor and reduce the cost of the trip for them.
o Spring Newsletter
        + Missed the date – will look to do human interest story and the Santeler family for the outdoor magazine and next newsletter. 
        + Next Steps: Need to coordinate who will right the piece and have them work with Aimee and Keith. Need to confirm if Ceila wants to take the lead on this one.
o Upcoming Events
        + Eagle Fest (2/16, 2/17)
o Activities/Tasks/Volunteers
        + Trails Day (6/6 and 6/7)
o Andrew has form (must be completed and submitted by 2/15)
        + Andrew will follow up with Eric Stones to see if he’ll lead a hike on one of the Trails Day – possibly in the Highlands
        + Jamie will set up to lead a hike on one of the MMM trails
        + Hike w/Rep Murphy
o Update (Andrew)
        + Not much progress on this one
        + Andrew will go back to Kristen S. and get a date of when Rep Murphy is available and we’ll work around is schedule to make the hike happen.
o MWI
        + Currently we are at about $2,100
        + Upcoming Eagle Fest may only yield about another $200 (using the $100 we raised at the Annual Meeting as a baseline)
        + Brainstorming to reach $5,000 goal by 3/31/08 (any other thoughts/ideas)
o Not much discussion here other than seeing if we can get a speaker to come to Fairfield (Andrew will follow up)
        + Reminder there is a x-country excursion to Maine in March to help raise money
o March Meeting:
        + Pizza Social
        + Dinner and Movie (something with adventure) Aimee and Keith will find a movie
        + Need to advertise the Dinner and Movie
        + Recommend: Charging small fee to support MWI ($5 donations – all proceeds go to the MWI, $10 or more donations will get Organic Tote bag)
        + Need lead to do the write up
        + Advertise Options:
                - Yahoo Groups (John)
                - Short Notice list (see below for criteria)
                - We can get on the short notice list if we put in there a hike – maybe come at 5:30 for a short hike, and stay for Dinner and Movie after
o Open Discussion
        + Upcoming Event
o Andrew Suggested a Legislation Wrap Up from and Environmental Perspective (let’s discuss more when/where, should we advertise, is it a social, etc…)
o  Invasive Species Library (Jamie to follow up with Dr Pyle)

o Guest Speaker 7:30 – 8:30

o Adam Moore and John Larkin
        + Update on the 2008 Agenda for State and Federal Legislation
        + Electronic copy will be put on the website and associated with the meeting minutes for those who could not attend the meeting

* Review any outstanding action items from previous meetings (see list below)

Action Items:

Andrew:
* Reach out to folks who RSVP’d that could not attend the MWI breakfast to see if still interested in donating to the cause (update)

John

Jamie
* Contact Dr. Charlotte Pyle for additional activities for Invasive Species next year (2008)
* Possible Invasive Species Library at the CFPA building

Beth B

Aimee/Keith
* Add MWI goal watch to website
* Add recent minutes to website