CT AMC Conservation Committee

Attendance: John Crist, Jim O’Rourke, Andrew May, Adriana Gabarron, Keith Santeler, Aimee Santeler, Beth Byron, Russ Charest, Jamie Lee, Birge Dayton, Ceila Robbins, Diana Desnoyers

    * Introductions

          o New Members

                + Welcome our two newest members
                      # Ceila Robbins
                      # Diana Desnoyers
                + John Crist provided an overview what the committee does
                      # Committee is provided a budget each year
                      # Focus on Environment Events/Issues
                      # We do about 3 to 4 clean ups per year (next one is October 20th – will discuss further in the agenda)
                      # Table at AMC Events

          o Recent Events
                + Farmington River Clean Up (8/4/07)
                + Bluff Point Invasive Species Hike
                + Willimantic River fest – Conservation Focus
                + LL Bean Opening
                + And others…

    * Blueberry Pancake Breakfast for Maine Woods Initiative

          o Date Sunday, 9/23/2007 -- Where CFPA Bldg in Middlefield

          o Advertising submitted for outdoors magazine (done)
          o Kit ordered by Andrew (Andrew will Order this week 9/5/07, and follow up on Speaker)

Next Steps:

          o Investigate Press Release to further advertise event (Diana and Ceila (our newest members) jumping right in and helping with advertising) Way to go Diana/Ceila!!!

Jim will contact Cable Company to advertise event up until 9/23/07 (thank you Jim)

                + Wrapper (new members)
                + Short Notice Lists
                + Flyers (use LL Bean event weekend of 8/10 to further advertise) (done)
                      # Russ to put together flyer
          o Group decided to have a raffle (1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes) (Andrew to continue to focus on Raffle)
                + Ideas for prizes – Weekend at the Maine Woods Camp (looking for donation), EMS Daypack filled with goodies (water bottles, etc…), and Conservation Basket filled with energy saving light bulbs, etc…
          o Goal:
                + Breakfast 63 @ $8.00 = $504
                + Raffle 200 @ $5.00 ticket = $1000
          o Note: With are already $500 in donations + the $1500 above will allow us to save 2 acres
          o ** Need Volunteers (at least 4 more – that would make 6 with me and Andrew)
                + Russ C
                + Diana D
                + Jim O
                + Adriana G
          o Jamie to set up/organize touch point week of 9/17 to finalize tasks for Pancake Breakfast
          o Suggestion was made that if there is money left over in the budget could some or part of the money be donated on behalf of the committee towards this initiative

    * Nominations for Co-Chair

                + Andrew May and Jamie Lee

    * Open Discussion/Topics

                + October Meeting need to focus on the following:

                      # Budget/Activities for remainder of 2007 year
                      # Forecast Budget for 2008
                      # 2008 Activities
                + Upcoming Committee Events
                      # Green Festival Saturday 9/8/07 (Andrew to table – anyone else interested in helping out contact Andrew May)
                      # Annual Chapter Dinner in December 2007 (Mountain Side in Durham/Wallingford area)
                      # Club-wide Dinner in January 2008 (Framingham, MA)
                      # Check website for further details and other activities 
                      # Bulls Bridge Clean Up (Aimee/Keith Santeler)
                            * Date: 10/20/07
                            * Time: 9am – 1:00 ish (lunch provided)
                            * Check Outdoors Magazine for details on how to register
                + Check out this link: www.OneThingCT.com for energy saving tips
                + Source to Sea (one day clean up) Saturday 9/29/07 – check it out at www.ctriver.org