FOS meeting - October 13, 2004 

Steering committee members in attendance: Margaret Grammer, Jeanie Wilson, Tom Mayer, Burt Allaire, Nancy Horschak, Jay Horschak, Garry Levin, Rosemary Levin, Pauline Angione, Deedee West, Earl Blackney, Bill Zoellick, Bill Stone.  

Guests: Richard Barton, Anne Barton.

The regular monthly meeting of the Friends of Schoodic Steering Committee began at 7 PM on October 13 in the Schooner Club on the SERC campus at Schoodic Point.

Discussion of Comments on GMP

Dirk presented the draft statement from Friends of Schoodic and Schoodic Futures that is to be presented as public comment in response the draft General Management Plan Amendment for the Schoodic District of Acadia National Park.  The statement expressed support for alternative C, the "Collaborative Management" alternative, with two reservations:

• there was concern about corporate sponsorships and intrusive corporate presence
• there was concern about increased traffic that could be associated with this altenative.

The final version of the statement, including changes suggested at the meeting, is available here.

Bill Zoellick moved that we submit this as an official comment at the public meeting and also submit it in writing.  Rosemary Levin seconded the motion.  It passed unanimously.

Bill Zoellick will read the statement at the public hearing on October 20.

Discussion of FOA merger

Jay Horschak opened the discussion on this topic with a motion that we accept the FOA invitation to join with them and that we take steps to move toward that end.  Garry Levin seconded the motion.

Nancy Horschak spoke to the concern, raised in email after the Friends of Acadia presentation to FOS on October 5, that fund raising would necessarily be a primary focus for all FOS members in a merged organization.  Nancy called Dianna Emory about this.  Dianna was very concerned that she had mis-communicated.  She said that there was indeed a fundraising committee, and that she was on it and that it took up a lot of her time, but that this was only a small part of the overall activity within FOA.

Bill Stone suggested that Jay amend his motion to state that, rather than accepting the invitation and plunging forward, the two organizations would negotiate a memorandum of understanding.

There was substantial discussion of the merits, on the one hand, in committing to a merger and, on the other, taking an approach that avoided commitment until there were clearly negotiated terms. Garry did not want to lose the sense that we are moving forward in an affirmative way.  Pauline Angione suggested that, even with an affirmative commitment to accept the FOA invitation, there would still be opportunity to work out details.  She also suggested that, if we passed this motion, the next step -- where we got down to the specifics of just how this would work -- would normally come from FOA.

There was substantial discussion of the points of view, after which is was clear that consensus was not going to emerge, and that we would need to accept the outcome of a vote..

Chairman Tom Mayer counted votes of 8 to 4 in favor of the motion, not counting his own vote.

Dirk agreed that he would get in touch with Dianna and would find out what the next steps are.

Appreciation of Service by Tom Mayer

Before the start of the meeting Tom announced, in email, that he wanted to step down as chairman.  He stressed that his desire to step down was not related to all the changes in FOS, and that he would continue as an active member of the group.  He said that he has been Chairman for nearly two years, that he feels that the organization is in good shape, and that it is a good time for a change.

Jay Horschak made a motion to express appreciation for the work and leadership that Tom committed to the organization.  The motion was seconded by Bill Zoellick and passed by acclamation.

Vice chairman Dirk Faegre agreed to serve as chairman until the next round of elections.

The meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.