November 15, 2008 Update

Greetings! This is another of our periodic updates on what's happening with our new effort. We'll send these out when there's "organizational" news to report. In addition we'll send you occasional notes on what's happening with the parks, trails, and open spaces in our wonderful city. If you have some news or suggestions to be sent out to the group, let us know!

Nine of us attended our first planning meeting on October 30. The minutes Karen Schik prepared are attached at the end of this email. Our next planning meeting will be Monday, December 8, at 7pm at the Scandia Community Center. We will continue our parks planning, discuss key issues relating to the drafting of our by-laws, and schedule the first general membership meeting which we hope to hold in January. At the January meeting, we'll adopt our by-laws, elect our first board of directors, and begin serious planning for our first major efforts in the spring. Please join us if you possibly can on December 8; these early meetings are really important.

We now have 120 persons who indicated they would like to join FSPT. Sadly, we lost one of our very first founding members when Doug Pratt died this past week. We all deeply appreciate Doug's lifelong commitment to the outdoors in Minnesota and the last 25 years or so he lived in Scandia. Thanks so much Doug!

Tree Frog in Scandia, MN

Of our 120 members, 42 have sent in their checks so far, for a total collection to date of $1265. Thanks to you all, and special thanks to those who contributed more than the basic $20 amount. (We're working with our fiscal agent on how best to get the formal acknowledgment of these contributions to you.) For those who have yet to contribute, please send your checks to Tom Triplett at 19420 Newgate Ave N, Marine 55047. The checks should be made out to Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota (our fiscal agent) with "Scandia" on the note line. Thank you!

Minutes of Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails
Planning Meeting, Oct 30, 2008
Scandia Community Center

Attendees: Tom Triplett, Karen Schik, Jim Martin, Mike Harnetty, Craig Christenson, Sonia & Brad Borg, Randy & Kathy Ferrin

  1. Potential projects. Karen gave an overview of the kinds of projects this group could work on initially. The trail system and signage at Wind in the Pines, and the interpretive trail and wetland/woodland restoration at Lilleskogen park were two of the top priorities presented.. Other project areas include increasing enrollment applications of Scandia properties to the Washington County land and water legacy program, participating in the Gateway Trail, and supporting greenway and open space efforts.
    There was a brief discussion about engaging other entities - e.g. Lions Club, the Elim Church Boy Scout troop, Camp Lakamaga , local businesses - for partnerships, projects and fundraising.
  2. Organization process. Tom gave an overview of the organization, process for incorporation and timetable. It will take some time to develop the bylaws and to file the paperwork for incorporation, so we decided that a January meeting would be appropriate for a larger kick-off meeting. At that time a board will also be elected. In the meantime, Tom will draft bylaws and a pre-kick-off meeting will be held on December 8 (7 pm Scandia Community Center) to discuss key elements of the bylaws.
    A motion was made to accept Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota as the interim fiscal agent for the Friends group and to begin the process of incorporating the FSPT. Motion passed.
  3. Membership campaign. Tom reported that as of October 30, 108 persons had signed up. (As of November 8, the number has risen to 120.) By October 30, 17 persons had contributed $845 in dues. (As of November 8, that number has increased to 34 persons contributing $1265.)
    Suggestion to increase membership and encourage attendance at the January meeting were: · Call all members a week or two prior to the meeting to remind them and ask them to attend.
    · Send a pdf of the Friends group to the member list and ask everyone to send it to 5 others, inviting them to join the organization.
    · Send regular updates (e.g. monthly meeting notes) to maintain correspondence with members.
    · Solicit people to become board members.