Broad River Watershed Association Board Meeting

May11, 2010

 

Present at Meeting:  Dudley Hartel, Jean Smith, Robbie Griffith, Pat Kelly, Debbie Lester, Bud Freeman, Victor Johnson,

 

April Ingle from Georgia River Network addressed the group about volunteer opportunities for        2010 Paddle Georgia Float on the Broad River.

Paddle GA will be in the Broad River watershed for days one through 5. June 19-23. BRWA will        receive approx. $4000 from Paddle GA this year.

300+ people will have an opportunity to see how awesome the Broad River is and hopefully will get involved in protecting the watershed.

BRWA will be giving away T-shirts. BRWA will need to decide how to give them away.

Jesslyn Shields is the volunteer coordinator for this event. Contact her to let her know who can        volunteer when.

Fri. June 18 - Registration will be Emmanuel College at Franklin Springs. Set up will be 9AM-1PM.      Actual registration will be from 1-6. 10 volunteers are needed for that day. Dinner will be    at 6:30. Paddle GA will provide 4 tables for BRWA’s use.

Sat. June 19 -11AM-1PM  2-4 people will be needed to load boats and people at Broad River    Outpost to portage around the rapids on that section of the river.

Sun. June 20 – 7:30PM at Elbert County High School representatives from Savannah Riverkeeper   and BRWA will speak for 20 minutes each to the floaters on issues. Jeff will speak on the       incinerator and Charles Mann will speak on the Broad River Valley Farms’ poultry waste             site.

Mon June 21 – Legislators have been invited to paddle one day. BRWA will provide a paddler to      escort them on the river.

April asked if BRWA would be interested in cleaning up the Hwy. 77 access point. Pat and           Robbie will help organize a clean up.

Wed. June 23 – Trucks, trailers and drivers needed to portage boats around Clark Hill Approx. 80     mile round trip from Hester’s Ferry Campground to Clark Hill dam.

Sat and Tues - Safety guides needed at the rapids below the Outpost and at Anthony Shoals.

There were several BRWA folks available for Fri., Sat., presenters on Sun., some to paddle       legislators on Mon., several for cleaning up Hwy 77, several for portaging boats on Wed.

All will confirm by phone or email to Jesslyn Shields.

 

The April Board meeting minutes were reviewed and approved as written.

 

The May treasurer’s report was reviewed. Bud moved to accept the treasurer’s report. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

 

There are 173+ T-shirts available to give away.

 

Becca sent the prices for signs and banner. After discussion Bud moved to purchase one 2x8 banner and 2 double sided 18x24 signs from Fast Signs. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. Dudley asked if Becca could make the purchase. Pat agreed to ask her. Dudley said someone would get the BRWA graphics to her soon.

Jeff reminded everyone that the website should be on the signs and banner.

 

Pat is getting two maple plywood cabinets built to house the water quality survey equipment. They will be ready within the next several weeks.

 

2011 budget discussion was moved to the June meeting.

 

Victor asked if the group wanted to become a participating organization of the GA Environmental Action Network. They are an online activist organization that keeps the public informed environmental issues before the State Legislature. It is free and easy to join. To become a participating organization would cost $350/year and would get our name on the main page of the site which allows you to email your concerns with the issue at hand to your legislator.

We would also need to provide them 50 email addresses and have a member who would manage the software and member database. We would also need to put a link to their organization on our website. Dudley asked to table the discussion until the June meeting.

 

Dudley reported that Melissa will be putting out the newsletter in three weeks. If anyone wants anything in the newsletter email Dudley or Melissa soon. If you volunteer for Paddle GA, take pictures for the next newsletter.

 

Victor asked Jeff to put the August 28 Annual Meeting on the website calendar.

 

A request came in for information on a conservation easement on a property in Hart County.

Victor will find out if the property is in the BRWA watershed, and if it is, he will send them the information packet on conservation easements.