Woolwich Trails Group

Thursday, September 8th, 2005

Meeting Minutes

 

Chair person: Gloria Yeung

Those attending: Jim Bauman, Mark Bauman, Inga Rinne, Ann Roberts, John Robinson, Warren Stauch, Nancy Stayzer, Gloria and Emily Yeung.

Guest: Joyce Cummings

1.      Membership committee report: John R. noted that membership increased by 2 since the June report for a total of 68 members in 2005.  Gloria noted that the reminder renewal letter was not sent in June, so we will wait and send it with the renewal package at year end.

 

2.      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.

 

3.      Draft WTG brochure:   John will finalize the brochure and send it to Jim for printing.  Decision made to print 3000 copies at $345 plus taxes.

 

4.      June 19th hike on GVT near Elora: John R. and Paul Miller lead the hike.  10 folks (mainly GVT people) came out.

 

5.      September 18th hike in Breslau: Loretta will lead the hike. See details at the end of these minutes.

 

6.      Sunday September 25th Hike-on-a-bus, 1:30 to 4 pm:  Warren will be our guide on the tour.  Inga, Warren and Ann will meet to discuss the route.  We will hand out the coloured Township based trail maps with detailed maps of Breslau and Elmira on the reverse side.  Will rent a bus from Breslau bus lines. Hike will start and finish in the Woolwich Health Centre parking lot.  Decision made to ask for a minimum $2 donation.  The limit is 46 people.  The ads will ask that people call to reserve a seat on the bus.  Ads will be placed in the Observer and Independent.  Flyers will be posted.

 

7.      GVT inspection report:  Jane and Loretta went out with Joyce in July.  Gloria went out with Joyce and Jane in August.  John, Jim, Shirley and Nancy plan to go again on September 24th.   Mark suggested that the group purchase a pair of Fiskars ratcheting loppers for the group to use.

 

8.      2005 trail user survey on KBT:  Pete arranged to have Optimist members do the July, August and September surveys on Northfield Drive.  WTG and some Lions members did the surveys on Homer’s Lane in Elmira.  Ann will compile results this fall.  Thanks to all of those who were able to help out.

 

9.      October 3rd School Hike Day, 11:05 am:  Nancy has ordered 400 ribbons and is sending a letter home to parents next week.  She also emailed Bob Cassidy to tell him about this event and to indicate that we would like to have all Woolwich schools involved in 2006.  Older students will be paired with younger students.  Gloria is looking into ordering t-shirts for WTG members for that day.  Look for Gloria’s email for more details.  Press releases will be sent to the Observer, Independent and KW Record.  Nancy offered to have her students make a sign for the sandwich board to announce the hike day and advise regular trail users that there will be 350 students on the trail between 11 and 12 on the 3rd.  We will put brochures in the pocket on the board. 

 

10.  Mill Race Trail Walking Circuit: To be discussed at next meeting when Lucien is able to attend.

 

11.  GVT updates: Joyce provided some updates re the GVT: 2 GVT end to end hikes are planned in October.  Please contact Joyce if you are interested in hiking—742-5197.  Discussions are underway about amalgamating the GVT with Avon trail group.  Joyce is looking for volunteers to help maintain sections of the GVT outside of Woolwich Township.

 

12.  Next Meeting: Wednesday October 19th 7 pm.

 

  Dates to remember……

 

Hike-on-a-bus: Sunday September 25th, 1:30 to 4 pm.  Meet at the Woolwich Community Health Centre Parking lot.

 

School Hike Day: Monday October 3rd. 11:05 with St. Jacobs Public School on the Mill Race Trail.  Please contact Nancy or Gloria if you would like to help out that day.

 

Next trails meeting date: Wednesday October 19th, 2005, 7 pm at the fire hall in St. Jacobs.

 

Next Family Sunday Hike….

 

Sunday September 18th, 2005, 2 pm: Discover the new trail system at Thomasfield Homes in Breslau.

Enjoy the new trail system as part of the new Thomasfield residential development.  Meet in Breslau at Denison Print at 61 Woolwich St. N.  Trail rating:  stone dust trail plus earthen natural path on varying topography. 

Sunday, October 2nd, 2005, 2 pm:  Enjoy the fall colours at Schneiders woods.

Enjoy the fall colours at Schneider’s woods! Meet at the access point at the corner of Wideman Road and the Wilmot Line (Wilmot/Waterloo boundary). This is one concession south-west of Erbsville.  Bring drinking water.

Trail rating: challenging hike due to steep hills.  No baby buggies or dogs please.

Sunday, October 16th, 2005, 2 pm:  Explore the Elora-Cataract trail near Fergus.

Enjoy the fall colours on the Elora-Cataract trail!  Cross the bridge into downtown Elora and turn right onto Road 18.  Continue on Road 18, through Aboyne, until you get to the overhead railway bridge just before Fergus.  Take the first right past the railway bridge and park in the lot.

Trail rating:  easy walking stone dust rail trail.  Note:  there is a steep hill to access the trail.

Sunday, November 20th, 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).

 

 

 

Minutes prepared by Ann Roberts.  Questions? Please contact Ann at 669-1647 x265 or Schering@look.ca .  Note: If you no longer wish to receive these minutes or other information from the trails group please contact Ann to have your name removed from the mailing list.  Thanks.