Chair person: Mark Bauman for Gloria Yeung

Those attending: Jim Bauman, Mark Bauman, Joyce Cummin= gs, Loretta Dunn, Lucien Guillaume, Merle Hoffman, Eleanor Hrabi, Brenda Kempel= , Jane Prime, Inga Rinne, Clint Rohr, John Robinson, Ann Roberts.

1. Guidebook Distribution: Eleanor has called and/or visited all distribution locations since May 1. 20 copies were delivered to each o= f: Runners’ Choice, Schelter Office Pro, Words Worth Books, St. Jacobs Visitors Centre, Wings of Paradise. The Conestogo General Store (now under new ownership) took 6 copies.= $315 was sent to Don Harloff= for deposit. Eleanor has 14 copie= s of the guidebook left at her house. The group discussed reprinting more copies. Jim Bauman has 287 guidebook cover= s. Decision made to print 287 more guidebooks to take us through until fall or winter. At that time the group can d= ecide about working on Edition 6.

2. WTG Membership Report: Brenda reported 62 members for 2006 (34 lifetime, 28 yearly). Revenue thus far is $855.

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3. March 26^th hike report: Paul lead the hike but was not available to report. Jim was on the hike and reported t= hat it was a good weather day and more than 20 people participated. Paul had comments about a first ai= d kit, washrooms and two-way radios. This will be discussed at the next meeting when Paul is in attendance.

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4. April: Healthy Communities Month Update:

April= 8 hike: Art Woods lead this hike on the Lions Ring Trail, Elmira. The weather was great and 31 people participated. Art arranged for refreshments, compliments of the Lions Club, part-way through the hike.

April= 15 hike: Mark lead this hike on Easter Sunday on the HVT and TCT. Attendance was good. One group stayed with Mark to bird= watch and a second group hiked on the TCT to the Paul Martins and back.

April= 29 hike: Lucien lead a 32 walk from Maryhill to Floradale. 16 people started and 6 walked the= full route. Start time was 9 am wi= th finish time at 4 pm.

April= 30 hike: John and Clint lead this hike on the Lions Lake trail at Floradale. The weather was good and people we= re most interested in the buried cache. Clint suggested this as a hike for 2007.

Mark = asked Ann and Joy to prepare a summary of all HC month events for him to present = at council.

5. Mill Race Trail walking circuit map= : Gloria will work on map when time allows.

6. Grand Valley Trail Updates:

· Tues. April 25^th work party on the GVT north of West Montrose, 9 am: Joyce, Clint and two friends of Clint came out to help. It was a product= ive outing. The group cleaned up = the section from Line 86 to Middlebrook Rd.

· Weed wacking: the grass and weeds will need to b= e cut along the sides of the trail in early June and in late August/early September. Does anyone have a= gas powered weed trimmer that could be borrowed? Ann will purchase a trimmer = by May 18 for the group. Jim, Clint = and Joyce to coordinate a time for a work party.

· June 4 inaugural hike on the new section of trail at Snyder’s Flats. All are welcome. Please contact J= oyce for more info.

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

· Friday March 24^th, GVT Trail Capt= ains Party: John and Bev and= Jane and Wendell attended.

· GVT Audit:&= nbsp; New signs have been installed at all trail entrances in order to com= ply with a request from the GVT insurers. Joyce brought a sign for all to see.

· New president of GVT: Bruce Bjorkquist.

· New guidebook is available: cost is $30. Please log onto the GVT website if= you wish to place an order.

· Bruce Trail maintenance guide: GVT has adopted the Bruce Trails guide. Ann will look into purchasing a copy.

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7= . Unleashed dogs on trails and parks: There remains a definite issue with dogs off leashes on the HVT. Ann and Mark to talk some more with Larry. Could the area in St. = Jacobs south of the water treatment plant be used as a test area?

8= .      Breslau Update: Loretta talked about a problem with motorized vehicles accessing the new Thomasfield trail at the Signs Galore property on Woolwich St. Randy Miller of the Township’= ;s engineering department is working with the developer to have the fencing in= stalled as soon as possible along this section.&nb= sp; There is also a problem with motorized vehicles getting into the Thomasfield property from the Region’s property (old Challenger prope= rty) and the south end of the Thomasfield property along the train tracks. Ann has contacted staff at the regi= on to discuss, has ordered “no motorized vehicles” signs and is having fencing priced for the south end of the property. Loretta asked when the rest of the= trail would be completed in the Thomasfield development. The trail will be constructed as t= he next phases of housing are constructed.&nb= sp; Loretta asked if the trail for the next phases could be marked (blaz= ed) without the trail bed in place to allow people to walk a longer route. Ann will investigate and report ba= ck. A link between the Thomasfield trai= l and the new Forwell development remains an outstanding item.<= /p>
9= .      GIC: The trail group’s GIC came up for renewal in April. Gloria put the money back into the group’s general account. How does the group want this money handled?&nb= sp; To be discussed at the next meeting when more information is availab= le from Don Harloff (treasurer) about the group’s finances.

10.<= span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Tr= ail 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. The Region has given the go-ahead for this project. Ann to meet with Regional staff th= is month to mark out the exact route for the trail. The region has also approved TWEEC’s request to naturalize the north section of Schaner Park. They have advised that the trail c= annot be constructed through the park as it is designated as a “passiveR= 21; park.

11.<= 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 availa= ble from a donation made by the former St. Jacobs Optimist Club. This will be a fall project.

12.<= span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Ot= her projects for 2006: HVT: M= ark talked with Stuart Martin about improvements for the culvert crossings on his farm. Mark will arrange a sma= ll work party in June.

13.<= span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Ne= xt Meeting: Wednesday September 20, 7 pm at the fire hall in St. Jacobs. <= /p>

Dates to remember……

Next WTG Meeting: Wednesday September 20, 7 pm = at the St. Jacobs firehall.

Sunday, June 11, 2 pm: Discover the new t= rail system around the Hopewell Creek development in Breslau, 2 hr hike.

Enjoy the new trail system as part of the= new Hopewell Creek residential development.&nb= sp; Meet in Breslau at Denison Print at 61 Woolwich St. N. Trail rating: stone dust trail plus earthen natu= ral path on varying topography. No baby buggies or dogs please.

Sunday, June 11, 2 pm: 2 hr bike hike

Join Brad Fisher of Green Valley Bicycle = Tours for a bike hike on local trails and some country back roads of Woolwich and Wellesley Townships. Please m= eet Brad at the Observer parking lot at 20 Arthur St. North (where the trail crosses Arthur St.).

Sunday September 17, 1 pm picnic and 2 pm= 7 km/2 hour hike on Lions Lake Trail near Floradale

Pack a lunch and join us for a picnic at = 1 pm followed by a 2 hour hike at 2 pm. Beverages provided. Th= is is a great trail for your family to enjoy.&nb= sp; Meet at the Floradale park ball diamond behind the Mennonite Church = on Florapine Road near Floradale Road #19.&nb= sp; Trail rating: easy,= well maintained trail; includes gravel, earthen and grassed sections. Washroom available.

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