ROARING CREEK VALLEY CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

Minutes of November 18, 2010 Monthly Meeting

The monthly meeting was held at Southern High School, Room 102.  President Wayne Petro called the meeting to order.

The secretary’s report was read for the October meeting; the minutes were approved as read. 

The treasurer’s report showed a balance of $9352.33 for October.

Committee Reports:

Hellbender Chairman Dan Brassington noted that the group could discuss the 2010 Half Marathon and 5K race in January to begin planning for the 2011 race. Mark Deibler stated that a five year race agreement with the DCNR can be arranged. 

Old Business:

A motion was made by Dan Brassington to donate $100.00 to the Roaring Creek Valley Quick Response for their support provided to the Association for the Hellbender race. The motion also included $100.00 be donated to the ambulance group who provided support to the race; the Association will have to verify the name of that ambulance group. The motion passed.

Mark Deibler reported that Leon Shoup erected the second of the Association’s two trail logbook boxes has been erected near the Route 42 parking lot.  Mr. Deibler also noted that approximately 600 vehicles carrying some 1300 people traveled through the Roaring Creek Tract of the Weiser State Forest during the October drive through between the Route 54 and Route 42 gates.

Columbia County Watershed Specialist Stephanie Singer reported on a Department of Environmental Protection evaluation for a possible re-designation of the Roaring Creek South Branch. The South Branch is currently designated a High Quality – Cold Water Fishery from its source to T-309, Monroe Road. Its designation could be raised to an Exceptional Value – Cold Water Fishery.  The change in designation would not prohibit [Marcellus shale] gas drilling.

The WREN raingarden project is continuing. A sign will need to be designed and erected. A community event opening the raingarden will be planned for Arbor Day.

New Business:

Wayne Petro was nominated for Association President by Kristen Vitkauskas. Mike Zackowski was nominated for Treasurer by Vickie Zackowski.  Elections will be held at the December meeting.

A motion for to apply for a debit card to streamline Association purchases was made by Kristen Vitkauskas.  The motion passed.

The December meeting will be held at the A-frame near the McWilliams Reservoir. The Route 42 and Route 54 gates will be open at 5:30 p.m. with the meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m. Members and guests should provide a covered dish as well as their own drink and place setting.

Vickie Zackowski extended an invitation to the group to participate in a full moon walk on Saturday, November 20 at 7:30 p.m., meeting at the Route 42 gate.

A donation in the amount of $50.00 was given to the Association by Mary Kutzer representing Sweet Pickins.

President Petro suggested the Association consider providing a scholarship to a graduating student who would be going into environmental studies.

A stream monitoring / assessment project was discussed.  The Association would need a need a chairperson for this committee and would also prefer to get greater participation from the public. Stephanie Singer noted that groups exist that would allow information collected to be entered into a data base, citing a group with the acronym ALLARM (Dickinson College) as one such organization.

With no further business to be discussed, the meeting was adjourned.

Wayne Kashner

Secretary