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Friends of Lake Norman State Park Membership Update
Greetings everyone. Hope you all have been enjoying the summer and have made it out to Lake Norman State Park to take advantage of this wonderful community asset! I’m Michael Polzin and I am the President of the Board of the Friends of Lake Norman State Park (FLANO). Since our initial meeting back in March, a great deal has happened and I wanted to update you on all of our progress. Key accomplishments to date include: · Our group submitted for and was approved by the North Carolina Friends of State Parks as a fully sanctioned FSP Chapter along with approximately 35 other Friends groups throughout the state. · We have set up various financial management tools including currency and online payment systems, bank accounts, and a post office box to manage membership fees and donations in support of Park improvements. · We have developed a great logo (see attached) thanks to the great efforts of one of our Board members – Kathie Kemp. · We have a beautiful full color brochure about the group thanks to the combined efforts of Kathie Kemp and Debbie Page who designed the brochure and Alison Hemingfield whose company had several thousand printed for us for free · We have developed and launched an excellent web page thanks to Debbie Page. If you haven’t already, check it out at www.friendsoflakenormanstatepark.org · We have participated in several community events such as a Bike-a-thon at the park, Troutman’s Party in the Park, and an event with REI. · We now have 22 paid members and have raised almost $1000 to be used for Park improvements. Not bad for just 5 months and this is only the beginning. The first big project we are going to help support is a complete renovation of the Group Campground. It’s a high priority project for the Park Rangers and it will bring in more visitors to the park. We are also considering new initiatives on trail development/maintenance as well as a recycling program to collect discarded fishing line that can harm the wildlife in the Park. At this time we are looking to continue to expand our membership and make ourselves better known to residents of the area and to local businesses. To that end, we have recently established two committees. The first is the Out Reach committee. This committee will develop programs and identify local events that we can use to get out the word about the park and our group. For example, one event that we recently supported was the Bio-Blitz the Park held this past weekend. This event brought in local wildlife and plant experts so that the Rangers could better catalogue all the species residing in the Park. It was a great way to get out and explore the park! The second committee is the Sponsorship committee. This committee will focus on getting in contact with local business (big and small) with the aim of getting those businesses to donate money and/or equipment, or allow us to partner with them on events. We have had some great support already thanks to the good people at REI and we know that many other businesses would be interested in getting involved as well. We are looking to get some additional people to get involved with these committees and help take our group to the next level. We aren’t asking for a huge time commitment as we all have busy enough lives already, just a few hours here and there to attend committee meetings and participate in executing some of the events/programs that you would be helping to develop. If you would be interested in getting involved, please let us know which committee you would like to join. If you prefer not to be on a committee but are interested in volunteering to help in other ways, please let us know that as well. We are very excited about what this group has achieved thus far and are looking forward to making continuing contributions to our favorite local attraction - Lake Norman State Park. Thanks to you all for your interest and I hope to hear from many of you soon. Sincerely, Michael Polzin, President
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Board of Directors Meeting
Friends of Lake Norman State Park September 25, 2018 Lake Norman State Park Visitor’s Center President Michael Polzin called the meeting to order at 6:11 p.m. Those in attendance and constituting a quorum were: Present: Michael Polzin, Jeff Cooper, Katie Gradert, Jenni Wyatt, Kathie Kemp, Debbie Page, Ashley Thompson & ex-Officio Advisor Greg Schneider Absent: Alison Hemingfield, Shannon Johnson, James Pogue & Vicki Taylor Visitor: O.C. Stonestreet Current Business: Introduction of new Board Member: President Michael Polzin welcomed Ashley Thompson to the Board and introduced her to the other Board members. Ashley was appointed by the Executive Committee to fulfill the term of Jeff Pelchat who resigned from the FLANO Board on 8/23/2018. Ashley Thompson confirmed her willingness to serve on the Communications/Outreach committee. History Presentation scheduled for Tuesday, October 16th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Community Building: Historian, author & columnist O.C. Stonestreet was introduced to the Board as our speaker for this event. He brought samples of his columns and one of his books for the Board to review. He briefly discussed the proposed content of his presentation. O.C. plans to talk for 40 minutes and then open the floor for discussion. A schedule for the evening was planned. Greg Schneider will open with a welcome and brief overview of park amenities. Michael Polzin will give an overview of FLANO goals/achievements to date and then issue an invitation for those present to join FLANO. Greg Schneider will present the Heroism Award to Rich Goad. O.C. will give a 40-minute talk and PowerPoint presentation followed by a 20-minute question/answer period. O.C. will be provided with a table for book signing and sales. Refreshments will be served before and after the event. ACTION ITEMS: Michael Polzin volunteered to provide the spiced cider. Katie Gradert will ask for decaf Starbuck coffee donation and find a rental popcorn machine. Left-over water/snacks from Bio-Blitz will be used. Katie Gradert will obtain equipment needed for the PowerPoint presentation. Michael Polzin, Katie Gradert, Jenni Wyatt & Jerry Wyatt will help with set up of room, FLANO table and refreshments. Park Staff will have a fire in fireplace that evening or instruct FLANO how to do this. Debbie Page, Kathie Kemp & Ashley Thompson will man the FLANO table before and after the event. Katie Gradert and Ashley Thompson, Jenni Wyatt & Jerry Wyatt will clean up after event. Debbie Page will write a press release and publish it in area media outlets. Debbie Page will design a flyer for the event. Jeff Cooper offered to have a flyer printed to distribute in the area. Board members unable to attend tonight’s meeting are urged to help promote and participate in this FLANO outreach event. NLD Trail Building Event on Saturday, September 29, 9 a.m.-12n ACTION ITEMS: Jeff Cooper will set up the FLANO tent and man it from 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Jerry & Jenni Wyatt will man the tent from 10 a.m.-12n. Get Fit, Sunday, September 30, 2-4 p.m. ACTION ITEMS: Debbie Page will be there early to set-up with Get Fit sponsors. Ashley Thompson and Jenni Wyatt will man the FLANO tent. Jerry Wyatt and the Polzin family will lead Alder Trail hikes. Back-Country Clean-up Day & Bio-Blitz Greg Schneider reported on the success of both events. Eleven volunteers and three park staff participated in Back-Country Clean-up Day. Over 500 pounds of trash and electrical wire were removed from the park. $337.06 in funds were donated to FLANO from the recycled metal proceeds. 76 volunteers participated in Bio-Blitz. All the numbers of the species collected have yet to be entered in the database. It appears that there will be around 500 more species identified and added to the species list at Lake Norman State Park. Greg expressed his appreciation to FLANO for helping with the event and preparing/serving meals to the volunteers. Special thanks were extended to Shannon Johnson and Debbie Page who planned meals, shopped for groceries, donated and prepared food, and provided serving dishes, etc. They far exceeded the park’s expectations and served with excellence. A very special thanks to both their husbands too! Treasurer’s Report: Katie Gradert distributed copies of the quarterly report to Board members. This also included the number of hours worked at FLANO volunteer and outreach events. Committees Email Letter Update: Michael Polzin and Jeff Cooper reported that the letter is ready for distribution. ACTION ITEM: Katie Gradert will email this letter to FLANO members. Joy Shuck personally donated an event tent to FLANO ACTION ITEM: All Board members, if you haven’t already done so, please email and thank Joy Shuck for her generosity. Group Camp Update: Katie Gradert submitted grant proposal to Joy Shuck at REI. Joy responded that, if approved, the grant funds would not be available until May 2019. Greg Schneider was willing to wait until funds are available. ACTION ITEM: Katie will communicate to Joy Shuck that this time frame is acceptable and will continue to pursue REI grant funding. T-Shirt Update: Katie Gradert & Kathie Kemp reported that cost of t-shirts greater than anticipated and do not want to deplete FLANO reserves. Several options were discussed including pre-ordering t-shirts, having individuals front the cost of the shirts or asking NCFSP to front the cost. ACTION ITEM: Katie Gradert will contact NCFSP to see if they will advance FLANO the funds to purchase t-shirts and then pay back NCFSP when t-shirts are sold. Next Board Meeting is October 9, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. Meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m. Minutes submitted for approval by President Michael Polzin on 9/25/18. THANKS TO Eagle Scout Candidate Christopher (Kit) Stuckey of Boy Scout Troop 171, sponsored by Williamson Chapel United Methodist Church, for making $73.15 donation to the Friends of Lake Norman State Park.
Stuckey has just completed his Eagle Scout project in Lake Norman State Park. He purchased materials, built four benches, and then installed them in the area of the park's beach. The benches are very popular and have been used every day since installation. The donation to FLANO is from the surplus funds raised for his Eagle Scout project. Lake Norman State Park and FLANO are very appreciative of the much needed benches and the donation. We had a really good Backcountry Cleanup today, finishing all the areas that we had planned! The gathered metals will be taken to the scrap yard and the proceeds turned over to FLANO to fund more great projects! Quinn Morris, along with Superintendent Greg Schneider, was one of the 11 volunteers and three park personnel who helped in the cleanup today!  Board of Directors Meeting
Friends of Lake Norman State Park August 14, 2018 Lake Norman State Park Visitor’s Center President Michael Polzin called the meeting to order at 6:16 p.m. Those in attendance and constituting a quorum were: Present: Michael Polzin, Katie Gradert, Jenni Wyatt, Shannon Johnson, Kathie Kemp, Debbie Page, Vicki Taylor & ex-Officio Advisor Greg Schneider Absent: Jeff Cooper, Alison Hemingfield, Jeff Pelchat, James Pogue Visitors: Sheila Riddell & Hilda Romano attended the 7:00-7:30 p.m. Bio-Blitz information meeting which was held during the Board meeting. President Michael Polzin gave an overview of FLANO’s purpose, goals and accomplishments to date. He also presented upcoming FLANO event opportunities. Park Superintendent, Greg Schneider, presented the details on Bio-Blitz. Board Members and visitors signed up to serve at the events. Current Business Committees: President Polzin gave an update on the committee announcement letter which should be ready to email soon. An announcement was placed on Next Door & submitted to Statesville News & Landmark promoting FLANO membership and directing volunteers for committees to sign up on the website. Ashley Thompson who attended our June Board meeting would like to serve on the Communications/Outreach Committee. REI Park Contributions & Tent Update: Joy Shuck emailed that she is working on getting an event tent for FLANO. REI will be onsite at NPLD on September 29 (Trail-building event). They will be giving away REI 2018 stewardship shirts and REI swags to all participants with some REI branded gear at their event tent. REI will also provide light refreshments for all participants. REI granted the Tarheel Trailblazers $10,000 for Itusi Trail improvements. Tar Heel Trailblazers raised another $6500. November 10 & 11th REI will have its stewardship campout at group camp. As part of this stewardship event, they will partner with Tarheel Trailblazers to do work on the Itusi Trail. They also hope to do a lakeshore clean up using park canoes & kayaks. Joy invited FLANO members to come & present FLANO information at the campout. It was suggested that FLANO do something for REI such as have a breakfast coffee & fruit or hot chocolate & SMORES by the campfire to mingle, meet and enlist support/membership for FLANO. ACTION ITEM: Decide what FLANO will do at the REI campout during our September Board meeting. Joy Shuck also requested more information on the FLANO Group Camp Project as she would like to present this to HQ if it would meet our timeframe for the project. ACTION ITEM: Jenni Wyatt emailed a copy of Joy Shuck’s email to all Board members. Katie Gradert & Shannon Johnson will send Joy Shuck the information she has requested on the Group Camp Project. FLANO Kit & Storage Items: Shannon Johnson has our kit with all other items needed for an event set-up in the conference room storage closet. Katie Gradert, Treasurer, will keep the money box off-site and bring it for events as requested. Wall of Honor Donors: A Wall of Honor Page will be added to the FLANO website to recognize corporate donors. ACTION ITEM: Debbie Page will create the Wall of Honor page. Corporate donors to date include: Statesville Free News, Kathie Kemp Designs, REI. Katie Gradert will contact Alison Hemingfield to ask if she would like her printing company to be listed as a sponsor. Maybe we could email each corporate sponsor (Statesville Free News & REI) thanking them for their support of FLANO and including a link to the Wall of Honor page. Liability Insurance: Vicki Taylor reported that she has heard nothing further from NCFSP. Treasurer Report: To date, Katie Gradert reported that we have 24 members and $1085 in collected funds. Katie plans to collect funds from the donation box monthly on the day of our scheduled Board meeting. T-Shirt Update: Recover T-Shirts unable to do the printing that was needed for our logo so exploring other possible printing companies. Shannon Johnson gave good input on her experience regarding t-shirt sizes and fabric. Action Item: Katie will contact Karen in the LKN State Park gift shop regarding the park’s sales of t-shirts. Kathie & Katie will get pricing for printing t-shirts. As soon as Katie has this information, she will email the Board for a purchasing decision. It would be great to have t-shirts to sell at our upcoming events. Back Country Cleanup Day: Saturday, August 25 9:00 a.m-12n: Participants will remove aluminum wire and trash from the woods. For additional details, see the FLANO website. ACTION ITEMS: Board Members, if you haven’t already, please email your availability for this event. Bio-Blitz: Saturday, September 8: Board members signed up to serve at the meeting. Shannon Johnson will coordinate the scheduling of the FLANO volunteers. Shannon Johnson & Debbie Page both plan to work the event from 6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed for 2 or 4 hour shifts to help cook & serve food to park staff and the scientists or man an educational booth. ACTION ITEM: All Board Members, if you haven’t already signed up, please email your availability to serve at this event. Jenni Wyatt posted the event on NextDoor, made an email announcement to all Wildlife Bay residents and emailed Hilda Romano of Windermere Island who said she would post it in their newsletter. Jenni also emailed Angela Hoover at Troutman Town Hall asking if she would include Bio-Blitz and Get Fit Iredell events in the Whistle Stop newsletter email which goes to Troutman residents. NPLD Trail Building Event: Saturday, September 29 9 a.m.-12n: Join Park Ranger staff to work on the Park Lake Trail. For additional details, see the FLANO website. ACTION ITEM: Board Members, if you haven’t already please email your availability for this event. Get Fit Event, Sunday, September 30: Volunteers needed to man the FLANO booth and lead .9 mile hikes every 30 minutes on the Alder trail. ACTION ITEM: Please email Debbie Page your availability to serve at the Get Fit Event in the park. Jenni posted this event on NextDoor. Website & Traffic Update: Debbie Page reported that both these sites have generated significant traffic. Historian Talk: Jenni Wyatt contacted O.C. Stonestreet, historian and author, who agreed to give a talk at the park. Greg Schneider suggested we host it in the Community Center as it can seat 110 guests. This will be a wonderful opportunity to promote FLANO membership. It was suggested that we serve popcorn and have a fire in the fireplace. Jenni will contact O.C. Stonestreet to see if he is available to speak on Tuesday, October 16th or Thursday, October 18th at 6:30 p.m. Future Board Meeting dates chosen were: October 9, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. November 6, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.—if this meeting is needed December 4, 2018 at 6:00 pm ACTION ITEM: At the December Board meeting, decide when the spring annual FLANO meeting will be held for election of Board members. Determine which officers/Board members will rotate off. Next Board meeting is 9/18/18 at 6:00 p.m. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Minutes submitted for approval by President Polzin and revision by the Board on 8/15/18. Board of Directors Meeting
Friends of Lake Norman State Park July 17, 2018 Lake Norman State Park Visitor’s Center President Michael Polzin called the Board of Directors meeting to order at 6:10 PM. Those in attendance and constituting a quorum were: Present: Michael Polzin, Jeff Cooper, Jenni Wyatt, Shannon Johnson, Kathie Kemp, James Pogue, Vicki Taylor & ex-Officio Advisor Greg Schneider Absent: Katie Gradert, Alison Hemingfield, Debbie Page & Jeff Pelchat Visitor: Jenni Wyatt introduced Ashley Thompson who volunteered with FLANO at the Bike-A-Thon. After the meeting, Ashley expressed an interest in serving on the Communication/ Outreach committee. Current Business Formation of Committees: Jeff Cooper led the discussion. Since FLANO is still growing its membership, it was decided to only activate two of the committees that were added 6/4/2018 to the already existing Nominating Committee. A Communications/Outreach committee and a Sponsorship Committee will be activated with a minimum of five members serving on each of these two committees. Michael Polzin will be the Interim Chairman of the Nominating Committee as the by-laws state that it is his responsibility to appoint members to this committee. Jeff Cooper proposed composing an email letter with Michael Polzin to solicit volunteers for both committees. Letter will include committee descriptions, FLANO accomplishments to date and future opportunities for involvement. It was suggested that in the near future FLANO schedule a general membership meeting to engage new members. MOTION by Jeff Cooper Announce the formation of these two new committees and solicit volunteers with an email letter sent from Michael Polzin to FLANO membership and contact list. Seconded by Shannon Johnson. Motion passed with unanimous assent. ACTION ITEM: Jeff Cooper will draft a letter with Michael Polzin to send to FLANO membership and contact list describing committee volunteer opportunities. Jeff Cooper will ask Debbie Page to post information on FLANO website. Jeff Cooper will write short announcement that Jenni Wyatt will post on NextDoor and possibly Debbie Page could post on Statesville Free News website. ACTION ITEM: Shannon Johnson graciously agreed to be Sponsorship Committee Interim Chairman. Debbie Page was suggested as Communications/Outreach Committee Interim Chairman as she has been doing an excellent job of this for FLANO…without a committee! Also, since Debbie was volunteered in her absence, she may never miss another Board meeting. If Debbie declines, Jeff Cooper volunteered to do this. Brochure Distribution: Kathie Kemp distributed FLANO brochures to each board member. If a Board Member needs FLANO brochures, the boxes of brochures will be stored on a shelf in the office Conference Room in the storage cabinet. Kathie Kemp wrote a heartfelt thank you email to Alison Hemingfield who printed these beautiful tri-fold brochures at no cost. The Board expressed their gratitude for her generosity. ACTION ITEM: If possible, add a Wall of Honor to the FLANO website. With permission from Alison Hemingfield, list her company as a donor of services. If Kathie Kemp has a company to be listed, with her permission, list as a donor of services. Liability Insurance Update: NCFSP policy renews in August and will include FLANO as a named subsidiary. ACTION ITEM: Vicki Taylor will report when we have documentation of FLANO liability coverage. Treasurer Report-Jenni Wyatt read Katie’s email notes to Board Members. To date, FLANO has 22 members. Membership Dues/Donations to date are $960. Less start up expenses: $878.68. ACTION ITEM: Greg Schneider asked about procedure for collecting funds from donation box. How often is box to be emptied and by whom? Katie Gradert will email Greg Schneider and executive committee on this procedure. This probably has been previously communicated but secretary failed to record. T-Shirts-Katie Gradert emailed a written request to print T-Shirts with FLANO logo to sell and give to Heron and above donors. MOTION by Michael Polzin Final T-shirt design will be logo style “D” which is consistent with the logo on FLANO brochure. The “S” will be deleted from the word FRIENDS so the T-shirt will say FRIEND OF LAKE NORMAN STATE PARK. Kathie Kemp will provide artistic input regarding final T-shirt design details such as logo placement and color selection. Katie will contact Recover for pricing of T-shirts and report back to Board. Seconded by James Pogue. Motion passed with unanimous assent. ACTION ITEM: Katie Gradert & Kathie Kemp will design T-shirts with logo specified by the Board. Katie Gradert will bring Recover pricing to Board for T-shirt purchase approval. Katie will consult with Greg Schneider and gift shop staff to help determine initial quantity needed for each size (based on their experience of selling LKN State Park T-shirts). PROJECTS: Group Camp Projects: Katie Gradert has begun researching the costs associated with upgrading group campsites. A very rough estimate for the project is around $5000 and will be an excellent opportunity to solicit corporate sponsors. This will also be an opportunity for hands-on volunteers to donate the labor needed. Greg Schneider stated that his greatest need is ten pedestal grills and five group fire rings. He thinks he can provide the lantern hooks. More picnic tables are also needed. Greg will research his vendors and provide Katie with a cost list/proposal to present to the Board. ACTION ITEM: Greg Schneider will help Katie Gradert create a budget proposal for Group Camp. ACTION ITEM: Brainstorm ways to recognize our corporate sponsors. Could we announce in a FLANO press release to different media outlets noting the area businesses who are making contributions to the park? What other ways could FLANO recognize their contributions? Board members will present ideas at next meeting. Historian Talk-James Pogue has contacted a local Historical Society and other sources. He has been unable to find someone to give a history talk. He asked for the Board’s help in locating someone to do this. ACTION ITEM: Jenni Wyatt will contact Lake Norman Currents for possible contact. Vicki Taylor will review past contacts and archived material. All Board Members are encouraged to help James with this. Email Letter to Local agencies announcing FLANO-James Pogue given approval at 6/4/2018 Board meeting to draft and send email to agencies announcing chapter creation. ACTION ITEM: James Pogue will draft email for FLANO to send to local agencies. As this letter should be signed by President Michael Polzin before sending, James will get final approval of letter from Michael Polzin. James will email letter to local agencies. At next Board meeting, James will bring a list of the agencies he notified of FLANO creation. Get Fit & Party in the Park-Postponed discussion until next Board Meeting when Debbie Page can present details. ACTION ITEM: Discuss Get Fit event and partnership opportunity at 8/14/18 Board meeting. Discuss and sign up FLANO booth volunteers for Party in the Park. ACTION ITEM: Jeff Cooper mentioned the need for organized method of erecting FLANO booth and banner. Shannon Johnson will put together a list of needed materials such as scissors and tape to make a kit to take to events. (Purchase black tablecloth?) Jenni Wyatt will contact Joy Shuck regarding donating a tent to FLANO to use at events. At the Bike-a-Thon, Joy mentioned that REI does not sell these tents in the store but may have a used one that we could have. Volunteer Day in the Park: Greg Schneider presented an opportunity to enlist volunteers to help the park rangers in removing aluminum wire from downed power lines. Aluminum wire could be sold to benefit FLANO. This could be done in a few hours on a Saturday morning with about 20 volunteers. ACTION ITEM: Greg will choose a date for park beautification/clean-up. (Greg, would this be an opportunity to enlist a Scout troop to help in addition to other volunteers?) Fishing Line Collection System: Board members were given copies of the fishing line recycling program. The Board members were in favor of supporting this program although additional information is needed. How would containers be emptied? Greg Schneider does not have the ability to dispose of this material or manpower to empty containers. The park would support the installation of these containers if a procedure is in place to address these concerns. We could also install a FLANO label on the containers to promote FLANO. ACTION ITEM: Address these concerns at 8/14/18 Board meeting. Trail Building Day 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on September 29, 2018- Katie Gradert submitted email description of this trail building project being staffed and organized by LKN State Park staff. Volunteers are invited to work with staff to construct a short section of new trail to adjoin the Bridge Trail. ACTION ITEM: Jeff Cooper will help LKN Park staff promote this event and recruit volunteers by including in letter being sent out about committees and Debbie Page will add to calendar of events on FLANO website. At next Board meeting, discuss further FLANO involvement in this event. Saturday in the Park-Arrange dates for FLANO volunteers to hand out coffee, information, solicit members & sell T-shirts ACTION ITEM: Prioritize FLANO events, including Saturday in the Park, for September and October at 8/14/18 Board meeting. School Field Trips to Lake Norman State Park-Katie Gradert ACTION ITEM: Postpone discussion until 8/14/18 Board meeting. Our next Board meetings are scheduled on 8/14/18 at 6:00 p.m. and 9/18/18 at 6:00 p.m. Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Minutes submitted by Secretary, Jenni Wyatt. Minutes subject to approval by President Polzin and revision by Board members. Friends of Lake Norman State Park volunteers had a great time volunteering at the Cedar Stump Pub and Tarheel Trailblazers Bikeathon fundraiser on Saturday at the park. The event raised money for bike trail repair and construction of new trails for visitors to LNSP to enjoy! Thanks to volunteers Michael, Greg, Katie, Jenni, Jerry, Debbie, Vicki, Sarah, and JW! Thanks to Troutman Parks and Recreation for inviting FLANO to the ECS Party in the Park event! We enjoyed spreading the news about FLANO and meeting a lot of great people!  Board of Directors Meeting
Friends of Lake Norman State Park June 4, 2018 Lake Norman State Park Visitor’s Center President Michael Polzin called the Board of Directors meeting to order at 6:18 PM. Those in attendance and constituting a quorum were: Present: Michael Polzin, Jeff Cooper, Katie Gradert, Debbie Page, Vicki Taylor & ex-Officio Advisor Greg Schneider, Sarah Pogue, Kathie Kemp, Will Washam Absent: Jenni Wyatt, Shannon Johnson, Alison Hemingfield, Jeff Pelchat & James Pogue Current Business Establish Committees: Jeff sent out email for proposal of committees. Already established by by-laws is the Executive Committee, which consists of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. We have a nominating committee established by bylaws. It was suggested that we wait and fill this committee once more members exist. Creation of a new Membership committee geared toward gaining and engaging members is crucial, recruiting and retaining equally important. The purpose of which is to recruit, maintain, and engage the Friends membership. The Membership committee’s will be responsible for the web page, newsletter, soliciting and responding to feedback, etc. Very communications focused. Rename committee Communications/Outreach less focused on managing membership, more focused on recruiting and maintaining members. Another new committee would be the Sponsorship committee, the purpose being to raise funds to support the activities of FLANO and the needs of the park. We would be getting money from the membership so this committee would focus more on corporate sponsors and the State Friends group for NC funds. A group focused on contacting the REI’s, Lowes, and local Troutman business. We need a way to engage volunteers, members, and sponsors. This is where the Events and Programs committee comes in. It will help with efficiency. Our members and our sponsors will want something to get them excited (or to promote at) and so this group would work with the Communications/Outreach and Sponsor committees to develop events/programs to support their objectives. Having committee will allow for the development of a degree of expertise, would be more efficient and utilizing (re-utilizing) materials across both groups so that we don’t duplicate. MOTION by Jeff Cooper: Friends of Lake Norman State Park will add three committees to the already established Executive and Nomination Committees. The committee additions will be Communications/Outreach, Sponsorship and Events/Programs. Seconded by Michael Polzin. Motion passed by unanimous assent. ACTION ITEM: Name interim chairman for each committee: Nomination, Communications/Outreach, Sponsorship and Events/Programs. Brochure: Kathie Kemp and Debbie Page finalized the FLANO brochure. Present members agreed that the wording on the brochure should be revised to remove the words “Additional Donation”. Clarification was made that the membership levels include the $10 annual membership fee. MOTION by Kathie Kemp FLANO brochure is approved for print after revision to membership levels removing “additional donation” is removed. Seconded by Katie Gradert. Motion passed by unanimous assent. ACTION ITEM: Katie Gradert will email Allison Hemingfield and copy Kathie Kemp to notify her that the board has decided to hold off on printing remittance envelopes now that online donations are available and ask is she is able to print 2500 FLANO brochures. FrontPorch Fest: Debbie handed out several membership forms and engaged with community members. Party in the Park is an event coming up in June, August and October. ACTION ITEM: Debbie to reach out to Party at the Park for a chance to have a booth for FLANO. If approved send out email/sign-up for volunteers. Liability Insurance: Vicki chatted with Insurance provider for FSP regarding the liability insurance. She was given a liability insurance form to fill out as a subsidiary for insurance liability. She received a reply back from FSP. We are still uncertain of coverage. ACTION ITEM: Vicki Taylor to continue to follow-up on liability insurance. REI Feedback: Great outreach event. Some new members gained. Discussed that focus was on notifying visitors of Lake Norman State Park. Board members discussed several potential outreach events coming up. We discussed that with the small amount of current members it would be wise to gear outreach and recruitment at events to Lake Norman State Park and Troutman area events. At these events people will be familiar with Lake Norman State Park and more likely to become members and volunteer/donate. Upcoming events discussed include: Independence Parade June 30th 5-9 at Troutman Fairgrounds, Party in the Park, and September Chili Cook-Off, in addition manning a table Saturday morning’s outside Lake Norman State Park Visitor Center. ACTION ITEM: Debbie Page will email contact regarding table to promote FLANO at Independence Parade. Email will be sent out to members to sign up for outreach event. ACTION ITEM: Katie Gradert to create Saturday sign-up for FLANO table outside Lake Norman State Park. See if local coffee shop will donate coffee. FLANO Welcome Letter to Charter Members: Board agreed that a welcome letter will need to be sent to charter members directing to website to become members. Katie will send from flanosp@gmail.com email. ACTION ITEM: Katie to send email. Reimbursement: Procedure needed to track and approve purchases and reimbursement. Treasurer can forward receipts or be copied on receipt to track expenses. If possible batch monthly to FSP. MOTION by Katie Gradert Purchases for FLANO up to $500 in value require approval of two Executive Committee members prior to purchase in order for FLANO to issue reimbursement. Purchases of greater than a $500 value require majority board approval. Email and phone approval are acceptable. Seconded by Kathie Kemp. Motion passed by unanimous assent. Events: Bike-a-thon: Will Washam gave an introduction to Trailblazers and his role. Will Washam states that the goal of the event is to raise funds for the Hawk and Northwood Loops. With their volunteer force it would take too long to go through and make all the repairs. The grant is to bring in professionals to maintain the trails to a state where the Tarheel Trailblazer volunteer task force can maintain it thereafter. They have received a $10,000 grant from REI. The Bike-a-thon is the cherry on top to gain more funds. He stated at the bike-a-thon they would have vendor tents. FLANO can set up a tent in area. They are raffling a bike and superlatives for bikers that come out. James set up a Friends of Lake Norman State Park fundraising and riding team. He discussed the volunteer needs of the Tarheel Trailblazers. Sign up sheet to man FLANO vender booth passed out. ACTION ITEM: Notify members of event. Recruit volunteers for Trailblazers. Sign up to be a FLANO rider. Sign up to man FLANO member table. Katie Gradert to distribute membership collection information. Future Projects: Discussed with Greg the possibility of a volunteer trail day event with park staff. ACTION ITEM: Katie Gradert to contact park staff to set even date. Member dues were collected. Discussed membership dues will be grouped yearly by thirds to make collection of annual dues an easier process. ACTION ITEM: Katie Gradert to send out reminder email to Board Members who have not paid membership dues. New Business: James Pogue talked to Historian regarding speaking about the history of Lake Norman State Park. ACTION ITEM: James to follow up and coordinate with park staff on event date. James Pogue researched lobbying days to advocate for FLANO/FSP. Found local agencies to reach out to. ACTION ITEM: James to draft email and send to agencies announcing chapter creation. Approval given to send. Future Meeting Dates: 7/17/18 6:00pm 8/14/18 6:00pm 9/18/18 6:00pm Meeting adjourned at 8:17pm. Minutes submitted by Treasurer, Katie Gradert. Minutes subject to approval by President Polzin and revision by Board members.  THANKS TO Patrick Wurtz and Greg Johnson for Building and installing the Friends of Lake Norman State Park donation box AT the Lake norman state park Visitor Center! |
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