Chair person: Gloria Yeung

Those attending: Jim Bauman, Mark Bauman, Merle Hoffma= n, Eleanor Hrabi, Brenda Kempel, Paul Miller, Ann Roberts.

1. Guidebook Distribution: Eleanor vis= ited all distribution locations in January to check on the guidebook supply. Lakes, Trails and Travels took 20 = more books. All others still have supplies from Christmas. The Welcome Wagon lady called for more hike schedules and book marks to put in their packages. Eleanor has 1= 00 guidebooks left in stock. If/= when we need to print more, Jim would need 2 weeks lead time. Jim suggests that we would need to= print a minimum of 500 books. Eleanor sees the demand for guidebooks is dwindling somewhat.

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2. WTG Membership Report: Welcome to Brenda Kempel, our new secretary. Brenda reported 58 members for 200= 6 (34 lifetime, 24 yearly). 5 new m= embers also indicated an interest in helping at trail work parties.

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3. March 26^th hike and April hikes:&= nbsp; Paul will lead the hike on the Kissing Bridge/TCT starting at Ariss. There are also 4 hikes planned for Healthy Communities month (April). See list at end of the minutes.

4. April is Healthy Communities Month: Council endorsed April as Healthy Communi= ties Month on Jan. 17th. A calendar of events planned for HC month is at the end of the minutes. We may need some help for the end-to-end hike/walk with Lucien. &nb= sp; Please let Ann know if you are able to help that day (April 29^t=
h). 669-1647 x 265 or Schering@rogers.com .

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5. Grand Valley Trail Updates: Joy= ce was not available to report but left information to share with the Group.

· Tues. April 25^th work party on the GVT north of West Montrose, 9 am: Joyce will lead this trail maintenance wo= rk party. Please call Joyce at 742-5197 if you are able to attend.

· Hike Leader Workshop, Sat. March 4^{th,
Waterloo Rec Complex.}

· End to end on the Black Walnut Section of GVT Oct. 14^th and 15^th. Volunteers needed to staff check points. Call Joyce at 742-519= 7 if interested in helping.

· GVT trail maintenance workshop: Sat. April 8^th, 1:30 to= 4:30, Kitchener. Please call Joyce = at 742-5197 if interested in attending.

· Approval has been received to re-establish t= he GVT through Snyder’s Flats north of Bloomingdale. Joyce will keep us posted…..= she may need some help this year getting the trail back into shape.

· Friday March 24^th, GVT Trail Capt= ains Party: Joyce has invite= d all WTG members who have helped with maintenance on the GVT north of West Montr= ose to a pot luck gathering at her home. Invitations were handed out at the meeting. Please contact Ann if you would li= ke more information.

· GVT Audit:&= nbsp; In order to comply with a request from the GVT insurers, the GVTA mu= st complete a trail audit (of structures installed on the trail by GVT) and po= st permitted use signs at all trail entrances. Thanks to information provid= ed by John Robinson and Gloria, Joyce has been able to complete the audit for the section north of West Montrose.

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6= . Unleashed dogs on trails and parks: At the November and January meetings, there was discussion regarding safety and unleashed dogs on the trail as well as the inconvenience of dog droppings.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Could an area(s) in Woolwich be designated as leash free? The= area behind the water treatment plant in St. Jacobs was suggested as well as a section of the Township-owned land in the Elmira Industrial lands. The group would like to see a trail developed (using part of the existing horse trail) through the un-leashed a= rea. No fencing would be required for the un-leashed area. On the main trail need to post sig= ns about keeping dogs on leash and stoop and scoop by-law with the fines listed. The idea = of a leash-free area is still being reviewed and considered by the Parks and Rec. Department.

7. Trail link to Schaner Park, St. Jacobs: In the fall the group agreed to spend dollars to construct a trail l= ink from the MRT to the new Schaner Park. Ann met with Greg Proctor at the Region and the adjacent landowner regarding trail construction. Both are on board. Ann will meet w= ith Greg once the snow is gone to mark the route. TWEEC would like to naturalize the= north section of the park and have the trail run through the naturalized area. Ann will make a written request to= Bruce McNaughton at the Region regarding the proposed part plans.

8= . KBT Mileage Markers: Ann spok= e with Sarah Wilhelm at Wellington County about mileage markers. The Trailway Advisory Board would = like to see mileage markers installed. They would like the markers to begin in Guelph but will need to wait until the trail link into Guelph is established.

9. Mill Race Trail Walking Circuit: Gloria plans to work on the map this spring.

10.<= span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Di= stance Markers: Mark draft= ed a proposal for distance markers and road signs to be posted at trail access points in Woolwich. Ann presented= this at the January Trailway Advisory Board meeting. The group is in favour of the prop= osal and suggested that the WTG decide on the type of sign. TAB would then use this as a stand= ard to place similar signs on their trail outside of Woolwich. Funding for this project is availab= le from a donation made by the former St. Jacobs Optimist Club.

11.<= span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Ot= her projects for 2006: 1- HVT= : Mark suggested some improvement could be made at the culvert crossings on Stuart Martin’s farm. Mark wil= l meet with Stuart to discuss.

12.<= span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Ot= her Business: Pedestrian Charter: Councilor Pat McLean will attend the Marc= h 8^th Pedestrian Charter meeting. Question from Mark: How does/will this affect Woolwich? Would we need more sidewalks and c= an we afford it?

13.<= span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Ne= xt Meeting: Wednesday May 10^th 7 pm at the fire hall in St. Jac= obs.

Dates to remember……

Next WTG Meeting: Wednesday May 10^th= 7 pm at the St. Jacobs firehall. <= /p>

Tuesday April 25th work party on the GVT nort= h of West Montrose. If interested please call Joyce = at 742-5197 and meet in the West Montrose parking lot at 9 am.

April is Healthy Communities Month in Woolwich!<= o:p>

Sunday, March 26^th, 2 pm: 2 hr= hike on the Kissing Bridge Trailway/TCT at Ariss

From Elmira take Line 86 east towards Guelph. In Ariss turn left or north-east onto Wellington County Road 51.= Turn right on Schuett Road; meet in the parking lot. Trail rating: easy walking stone du= st trail.

Sunday, April 9^th, 2 pm: Discover the= new Lions Ring Trail in Elmira, 2 hr hike.

Join Art Woods of the Elmira Lions Club for a hike on a newly constructed section of the Lions Ring Trail in Elmira. Meet at the trail entrance on the = east end of Oriole Parkway just west of the train tracks. Trail rating: easy walking level stone dust trail. =

Easter Sunday, April 16^th, 2 pm: 2 hr hike on the Health Valley Tra= il, St. Jacobs.

Spend some time birding with Mark Bauman or for those = with a faster pace, hike the entire trail. Meet at the kiosk at the trail entrance behind the fire station in S= t. Jacobs. Take King St. north to Albert St. Turn right or east= on Albert St. and follow through to the back of the municipal parking lot to t= he kiosk. Trail rating: first= half is stone dust trail followed by natural path on varying topography. No dogs or baby buggies on the sec= ond half of the trail please.

Saturday April 29^th, 9 am: Township end-to-end hike.

This hike is for long distance walkers! Join Lucien Guillaume as he walks = the Township from Kossuth to Floradale. Please call Ann Roberts at 669-1647 x 265 for more details.

Sunday, April 30^th, 2 pm: 2 hr hike on L= ions Lake Trail, Floradale.

Join Clint Rohr for a hike around the Woolwich reservoir. Meet at the Florad= ale park ball diamond behind the Mennonite Church on Florapine Rd near Floradale Road #19. Trail rating: ea= sy, well maintained trail; includes gravel, earthen and grassed sections. Washroom available.

Tentative schedule

Saturday, April 1^st

7am–5pm – Elmira Maple Syrup Festival=

Tuesday, April 2= 5^th

1-2:40pm– Clean Waterways Creek Restora= tion and Tree Planting on farm north of Floradale – with Park Manor Publ= ic School and anyone who can join us. Call Joy at 664-3534, ext. 230

Saturday, April = 8^th

9am – Yellow Fish Road Program ™ with the Elm= ira Girl Guides

Wednesday, April= 26^th

9:15am-2:30pm– Clean Waterways Creek Restoration and Tree Planting on farm north of Floradale – with parochial and Conestogo Public School and anyone who can join us. Call Joy at 664-3534, ext. 230

Sunday, April 9<= sup>th

2p.m. Woolwocih Trails Group Hike on the Lion= s Ring Trail, Elmira. Meet hike le= ader, Art Woods, at Oriole St. East near rail tracks, Elmira.

Friday, April 28= ^th

4:30-7:30pm- Clean Waterways Creek Restoratio= n and Tree Planting – with Floradale Mennonite Church Youth Group and any= one who can join us!

Sunday, April 16= ^th

2pm – Woolwich Trails Group Birding Hike on the Health Valley Trail. Meet h= ike leader, Mark Bauman, in St. Jacobs behind the Fire Hall at the kiosk.

Saturday, April = 29^th

9am– Woolwich Township end to end hike = with Lucien (Call Ann at 669-1647, ext. 265)

Energy Tours on the hour and half hour. Call = Joy at 664-3534, ext. 230)

2-4pm – Windmill tour

2-4pm – NextEnergy Tour, Elmira

2-4pm – EDSS Greenhouse Tour, Elmira

Saturday, April = 22^nd

Earth Day, TWEEC* activities

8:30am-12pm – Woolwich Community Clean-up D= ay (call Ann about the site in your community, 669-1647, ext. 265)

8:30am – Tree Planting Lundy Rd., Winterbourne

Sunday, April 30= ^th

2-4pm – Woolwi= ch Trails Group Lions Lake Trail Hike in Floradale. Join hike leader, Clint Rohr, be= hind the Floradale Mennonite Church on Florapine Rd.

Tuesday, April 2= 5^th

9am – Grand Valley Trail Work Party nor= th of West Montrose (call Joyce @ 742-5197)=

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Come out and enjoy an event that interests you!!<= /o:p>

For more information call= Joy at 664-3534, ext. 230 or Ann at 669-1647, ext. 265 or check our website at www.woolwichhealthycommunities.org.

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