Chair person: Gloria Yeung

Those attending: Mark Bauman, Loretta Dunn, Gloria Yeu= ng

1. Guidebook Distribution: Eleanor men= tioned that all vendors are topped up with supply. There are approximately 20 guidebo= oks left.

2. Guidebook Reprinting: Discussion took place about whether= to print the 5^th edition guidebook as is, amend as a new edition, or add an addendum. No notes of required corrections or clarifications were received. It was decided that there would be= an addendum to this edition printed that would include a description of the GV= TA re-route and side trail at Snyder’s Flats. Gloria will work on the descriptio= n with a request for help out to GVTA members.&nb= sp; Gloria will also see about the mapping from Jamie Hember. Costs for printing this time will = be born by the WTG. We will repr= int 300 copies for this year with the thought of doing something new and differ= ent next year.

3. WTG Membership Report: Brenda was not present to report.

4. May, June and September Hikes: None present on the hikes was avail= able for comment at the meeting.

5.      Hike Waiver Forms: Gloria prod= uced a new hike waiver form that has been posted on the website. Hike leaders can now print the for= m and take it to the hike.

6.      October School Day Hike:   Gl= oria mentioned her conversation with a St. Jacobs School teacher that thought th= at it would be nice to have the two Elmira schools hiking on the same day as S= t. Jacobs. This would require mo= re volunteers however, so might be problematic if only WTG volunteers are available. No request has bee= n made this year for volunteers for the event to date.   Gloria will contact Nancy St= ayzer in this regard. Feedback abou= t the interpreters on the hike day was positive as well. Perhaps a geography, science, or b= iology teacher would be available to give a little talk to the groups. Since there is a shortage of volun= teers at this date, perhaps we leave the hike for this fall, step back and re-plan for the spring or next fall with renewed interest.

7.      Hogweed, Trimmer, HVT repair, Fall work Party: Mark mentioned that the hogweed has been cut along the HVT and m= ill race, particularly by the dam. A new self propelled walk-behind trimmer has been purchased and works well. The HVT repair is still in need of completion. Mark will inquire= about it again with the Township. Potential for a fall work party may involve some dead wood removal at the oak tree on the HVT near Martin’s Creek. The kiosks could also use an updat= ing of hike schedules and other information.

8.        CW Optimist Report: Pete was not available to report.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Gloria will inquire about new information to go into the Priddle Park Kiosk.

9.        Grand Valley Trails Update: The following are highlights from = Joyce:

The proposal to create a side trail circli= ng from the GVT north of Highway 86 west along the Kissing Bridge Trailway and= on roads into West Montrose was approved by the Kissing Bridge Trailway Board = at their May meeting. It is still awaiting approval from the legal department = of the Region of Waterloo.

On Sept. 16, there was a hike on the WTG section of the GVT. Seven peo= ple participated. Help is still n= eeded for work on this section of trail.

Jamie Hember reports that there has been continued vandalism at Snyder’s Flats. Several tee bars, which had bl= aze boards on them, have been twisted out of shape, and some blazes on trees we= re carved off. Jamie will replace these but was waiting until fall to commence.

A property proximate to the trail near Middlebrook Place, has sold, but as yet there has been no contact with the = new owner. At present, the trail = passes on the road in front of this property.

The GVTA has again qualified for a Union Gas Helping Hands g= rant of approximately $1400. It is intended that this money will be us= ed for the materials for boardwalks. One to be constructed will be either just north of Bloomingdale in a very wet spot beyond the cedar woods after the bridge or = just north of Bridge Street where there are several spots needing attention. This grant comes with the offer of volunteer work by Union = Gas employees. Last year they helped out at Snyder’s Flats. We are especially grateful to Rick for finding out about this grant and applying f= or it on our behalf.

Alf Lemp, a long time trail worker, has volunteered to take = on the section that goes from Highway 86 to Middlebrook Road, coming out by the Grant Bauman home. This is a long section, passing around fields and through woods and is one that becomes overgrown rather rapidly, despite the work by various WTG members, especially Clint Rohr who organizes a work party to ch= eck it over every spring. Alf has a long association with Woolwich Township, ha= ving grown up in Breslau and, in recent years, having assisted Isobel Ruby in ta= king care of GVT sections from Victoria Street to Rosendale and now the northern section off of Middlebrook Road. He will still need a lot of help from WTG members to keep this trail section walkable and in good shape. <= /span>

10.<= span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Br= eslau Update: Loretta was present to report on Breslau happenings. There are on-going access problems= at a section of trail in Breslau. = Some ways of limiting access of unauthorized vehicles needs to be investigated.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> It was also thought that a letter = to Council regarding unauthorized presence of ATV’s in Breslau might pro= mpt some further investigation and patrolling.

&nb= sp;

11.<= span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> New Business: Mark mentioned another project that might be considered is stonedusting of the KBT east of= the river toward Ariss. The group= can discuss this with Township staff and other trail partners.   Loretta brought in an intere= sting listing of hike events occurring throughout Ontario this year. More information about Trails Open= 2007 is at www.heritagetrust.on.ca  &n= bsp;

12.&= nbsp; Next Meeting: The group will m= eet again in November, date and time to follow.

Upcoming Hikes:

Sunday October 21, 2 pm: 2 hr hike at Schneiders Woo= ds.

Enjoy the fall colours at Schneiders woods! Meet Joy at the access point at the corner of Wideman Rd and the Wilmot Line (Wilmot/Waterloo boundary one concession south-west of Erbsville). Bring drinking water. Trail rating: challenging due to steep hills. = No baby buggies or dogs please.

Sunday Nov. 18, 2 pm: 2 hr hike and Geocache on Lion= s Lake Trail near Floradale.

Discover geocaching-the adventure that uses= GPS to locate hidden “caches” around the world. Join hike leader and veteran geoca= cher John Robinson for an introduction to this exciting new trend. Meet at the Floradale park ball di= amond behind the Mennonite Church on Florapine Rd near Floradale Rd #19. Trail rating: easy, well maintained trail: includes gravel, earthen and grassed sections.   Washroom available.

Call Bev at 5= 19 669-1647 x 274 for more information.