Woolwich Trails Group

Wednesday, October 19^th, 2005

Meeting Minutes

Chair person: Gloria Yeung

Those attending: Loretta Dunn, Merle Hoffman, Eleanor Hrabi, Paul Miller, Jane Prime, Inga Rinne, Ann Roberts, Nancy Stayzer, Gloria Yeung.

Guest: Joyce Cummings

1. GVT Inspection Report: Nancy, Jim, Shirley and John completed the September GVT inspection/maintenance. Nancy reported that they worked in 2 groups with a group beginning at each end. Nancy suggested this approach for the spring as the work was completed in half a day. John completed the report and advised Joyce that a chainsaw crew is needed to remove a fallen tree on the south end of the trail. Gloria will install some posts with white blazing at the entrance to the trail at Line 86.

2. WTG responsibilities on the GVT: Discussion took place about tasks for which the WTG is responsible on the GVT. The following list of tasks was agreed upon:

1- The group will conduct maintenance inspections 3 times per year: early spring, mid summer and early fall; as per the Bruce Trail Guidelines. The guidelines will be made available to each maintenance crew. The WTG will not be responsible for major repairs, such as large tree removal, and major construction projects. Tasks include: trim back growth, paint blazes, provide a written report to Joyce, clean any debris from trail.

2- The group will not be responsible for route selection (i.e. reroutes) or landowner relations. If there are questions from landowners while on the trail, members may give Joyce’s contact information to the landowner.

The GVTA is looking for someone to look after landowner relations in Woolwich. If anyone is interested or knows someone who might be, please contact Joyce.

3. Membership Committee Report: One new registration received since the last meeting.

4. Membership secretary position: Looking for a volunteer to take on the membership secretary position. John will carry on as needed or to the end of 2005. John is happy to help a new person with the computer related tasks, as needed.

Membership Secretary tasks:

· Receive and process membership applications, prepare and mail out packages, as they come in.

· Prepare and mail out renewal reminders in December.

· Prepare monthly membership report and present at monthly meeting. This is fairly automated with Excel.

· Manage Crests program (receive requests and give out to qualified persons)

· Manage membership supplies inventory

· Manage & maintain member database (spreadsheet)

· Manage membership finances (forward cheques & expense reimbursements to Don Harloff, maintain tracking spreadsheet).

· Mail out new guide books to life members as they become available.

· Mail update packages to life members once a year.

Please contact John if you have questions or are interested in the position.

We will plan to stuff envelopes for the membership registration mail-out at the next meeting.

5. WTG brochure: 3000 copies of the brochure are now in print and are ready for distribution. Please contact Gloria or John R. if you would like some brochures.

6. Guidebook Distribution: Eleanor has a new location to distribute guidebooks: Lakes, Trails and Travel in downtown Kitchener. The owner, Dianne, is a previous employee of Adventure Guide. Dianne will offer a 10% discount to WTG members. Dianne invites the public to attend a talk on bears at the store on October 29^th.

7. September 18^th hike in Breslau: Loretta led the hike. Approximately 20 people attended. Due to wet weather prior to the hike, Loretta found if difficult to find a dry route. Loretta would like to have the Breslau hike scheduled for June in 2006.

8. Sunday September 25^th Hike-on-a-bus, 1:30 to 4 pm: Warren was the guide for the tour. There were 25-30 people in attendance. Thanks to Warren for a job well done. $69 was collected. Inga suggests that we run this event every few years.

9. October 2^nd hike at Schneiders Woods: Joy, John R. and Loretta were on the hike. There were about 20 people in attendance. Joy had organized two options for the hike: a 2 hour route and a 3 hour route. The weather was great.

10. October 3^rd School hike day: 325 students and 50 staff and volunteers participated in the event. Staff and students would like to do it again next year. Ribbons were handed out saying “I nailed the trail. October 3^rd, 2005”. Thanks to the Conestogo-Winterbourne Optimist Club for paying for the ribbons. The Elmira Independent was there to take photos and report in the Oct. 7^th edition. A suggestion was made to approach Floradale PS to run a similar event for them on the Lions Lake Trail. Nancy will write a summary of the event with suggestions for 2006.

11. October 16^th hike at Elora: Paul led this hike. There were 6 people in attendance. It was very windy on the rail trail.

12. November 20^th hike on the KBT in Elmira: Jane will lead this hike starting at the Observer building.

13. Mill Race Trail Walking Circuit: Lucien has prepared a detailed table with walking times for a circuit in the St. Jacobs area. The group felt that a map would be helpful with the data and suggested posting it on the kiosk or possibly on the website. To be discussed in more detail at the next meeting.

14. Trail Mileage Markers: Suggestions have been made to install mileage markers on the KBT. Eleanor will contact Jeff at Runners Choice to see if there is still interest. Ann will contact the Region’s staff person for the Trailway Advisory Board to learn about the process of making a request.

15. Woolwich Trail Plan: As part of the Township’s Strategic Plan, a trail plan is being developed to direct the future development of trails in the Township over the next decade. Two open houses (see dates below) are planned to provide comment on priorities for future trail development in Woolwich Township. Hard copies of the draft plan and comment sheet were available at the meeting. Ann will also provide members with electronic versions. Members are encouraged to provide their comments on priorities for future trail development.

16. Proposed name for the new park in St. Jacobs (i.e between the back of St. Jacobs PS and the rail tracks): Clint has made a suggestion for a name for the park as follows:

Hi Gloria,

About a year ago at a Trail's meeting (I know you were absent) the question of a name for what has been tentatively called Triangle Park in St. Jacobs came up. At that time, realizing this is located where the old Schaner Coal Sheds were, I proposed we consider calling it Schaner Park. Hence, I agreed to do more research and after talking with Anne, also decided that this proposal should come through the Woolwich Trail's Committee rather than directly to Woolwich from myself. So here is the scoop you can discuss at the next Trails meeting. (Regretfully, I will be absent.)

Location:
The piece of land we are talking about is a triangular piece of land situated just northwest of the school on the south side of the Artifacts parking area next to the rail tracks.

History:
The land in question was part of a larger tract of land owned by Canadian National Railways which operated the train station. A company called M & L Weber Coal Yard, in 1942 asked Wm. H. Schaner to buy and take over his business including the coal sheds and combine them with his company. The Wm. H. Schaner Coal and Feed Company which was adjacent to the Weber business, had been in operation for many years and  bought from a person named Anthony Gies in 1927. This was the same year that Harold, a subsequent partner and brother of Arthur, was born. The brothers Arthur and Harold operated the business until 1985 when the Schaner brothers closed the business.

(Both brothers are still living; Harold in Elmira and Arthur in Kitchener.)

Nature of the Business:

Schaner Coal and Feed handled a variety of products farm and village oriented. They sold many different kinds of coals, and were one of the last in the area to sell stoking coal. Feed, salts and fencing were sold for agricultural use. Cement was also a common product. As coal petered out and lost its flame the brothers started selling furnace oil.

I do believe naming this little park area "Schaner Park" would be appropriate. It would be meaningful from a historical point of view, as well as honour a business that was typical of the kinds of businesses that supported our rural area. I asked Harold if he has any pictures of the coal sheds and he thinks he has should we be interested.

Well Gloria this is what I have discovered and propose for Trails Committee to take forward to the Township.

Cheers, Clint

The group talked about installing some sort of plaque or display to post historical information about the park. This will be discussed at the next meeting.

Clint’s note mentions approval required by Township council. Ann’s understanding from Larry is that this is not required as the Township does not own the park….the Township leases the land from the Region for a token amount each year. The group is welcome to name the park and install some sort of plaque if they wish.

17. 2006 Project List: The group will discuss possible projects for 2006 at the next meeting. One suggestion is for a trail link between the Mill Race Trail (behind the Jacobstettel Inn) and the new park. Please bring your ideas to the next meeting.

Dates to remember……

Trail Plan Open House:

Monday November 7, 4-8 pm Bloomingdale Community Centre.

Thursday November 10 4-8 pm Council Chambers, Elmira.

November 18^th: Last date to receive comments on the Trail Plan. See #14 above.

Next WTG Meeting: Wednesday November 30^th 7 pm at the St. Jacobs firehall.

WTG Christmas Potluck: Saturday December 10^th at Inga’s home in Bloomingdale. Come and check out Inga’s new kitchen! More details will follow.

Next Family Sunday Hike….

Sunday, November 20^th, 2005, 2 pm: Kissing Bridge Trailway/Trans Canada Trail.

Enjoy the stone dust trail from Elmira east to the Grand River. Meet in Elmira at the Observer parking lot at 20 Arthur St. North (where the trail crosses Arthur St.). Trail rating: easy walking level stone dust trail.

For more information please call Murray Beacom (669-5680) or Paul Miller (664-3643).