ROARING CREEK VALLEY CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

Minutes of February 18, 2010 Monthly Meeting

The meeting was called to order by Vice President Kristen Vitkauskas at the Southern High School in Room 102.

The January minutes were read and accepted. 

Vickie Zackowski, Treasurer, reported a balance of $5362.47.

Committee Reports:

Dan Brassington chaired a Hellbender Half Marathon meeting with 12 members present prior to the start of this February meeting. A review of 2009 race activities that went well and areas for improvement were discussed for the 2010 event to be held on August 22 at 8:30 am. Promotions for the event will likely begin in April.

Kristen Vitkauskas reported that the 2009 audit of the Association’s finances was performed by herself and Wayne Petro.  No discrepancies were noted.

Mary and Jim Kirk, Ralph Evans and Cathy Haffner met with Fish & Boat Commission representative Dave Keller and property owners on February 16 on the stream bank erosion issue along Roaring Creek’s South Branch on February 16. They reported that the landowners are cooperative and welcoming the opportunity to make the repairs, which may occur as early as June 2010. The use of logs and a vegetative buffer are likely to be utilized to restore the damaged stream bank.

Old Business:

Leon Shoup presented a suggestion on converting Association annual memberships to lifetime memberships.  Mr. Shoup’s proposal read:

“Life Membership will be awarded to a member paying $150.00 dues in consecutive years.

Family memberships will be divided equally between participating family members until said member pays $150.00 dues.”

A drawback to the conversion to lifetime memberships is the loss of annual income.

Association clothing information concerning types of material and pricing will be presented at a future meeting.

Dates, time and cost for a meeting afloat on the Susquehanna River’s West Branch were presented. September 19 and October 10 are available dates if the members decide to move a monthly meeting to the Hiawatha for a 1½ hour cruise at a cost of $22.50 per person.  There was considerable interest demonstrated for this experience.

New Business:

Kristen Vitkauskas reviewed the Association’s 2010 calendar of events and meetings.

Interest was shown on acquiring an individual to present a talk on bats for a future Association meeting.

A brief discussion ensued on stream and environmental impacts of Marcellus shale gas well drilling.

Depending on the event, Association volunteers may be considered as employees of the DCNR (Department of Conservation & Natural Resources) for Workman’s Compensation purposes.  Volunteers may be asked to complete application forms for liability purposes.

A motion to apply for a $5000.00 Water Resource Education Network (WREN) grant was made by Mary Ann Haladay Barely and seconded by Vickie Zackowski.  Motion passed.  This would be for a rain-garden project at the Southern High School. The grant is due by March 24, 2010.

Motion to adjourn was made by Mike Zackowski.  Motion passed by consensus.

Wayne Kashner

Secretary