FOS Meeting Notes -- March 9, 2005

In attendance: Tom Mayer, Dirk Faegre, Jeanie Wilson, Rosemary Levin, Garry Levin, Jim McKenna, John Kelly, Fran Rhodes, Marla O'Byrne, Pauline Angione, Bill Zoellick, Phil Church.

Welcome to Denny O'Brien

Dirk introduced Denny, the new executive director for Acadia Partners -- he started work this week.

Discussion of Nominations, Structure Going Forward

Bill Z. suggested that we might open up the committee to all members of Friends of Acadia interested in Schoodic. Jeanie suggested using the town newsletters.  The question of how and whether to open up the FOS governance and membership was set aside for a future meeting.

Dirk asked that people send him notice if they are interested in serving as officers of the group. He noted that Bill Zoellick would be happy to step down as secretary if someone else was interested in the job.

Office Painting

Dirk and Pauline masked and spackled Denny's new office -- Jim McKenna finished the painting.  Denny thanked the group.

Gatehouse

Tom said that he would send out letters in the next couple weeks to ask for gatehouse volunteers. He expects response to be strong, as it was last year.  Tom wants to talk more about the scheduling and planning for training--rethinking some of the current plans--and will take that up with Ed.  Jeanie asked about getting copies of schedules made for volunteers. Both FOA and the park service offered to help. There is also need to get more copies of the volunteer forms.  Marla O'Byrne offered to send forms to Dirk electronically

Newsletter

Dirk, Tom, Bill, and Fran will collaborate on the newsletter.  The publication date is still April 15.  Articles will include coverage of SEA.  The lead story will be about Acadia Partners and SERC, which Jim and Denny will help write.  John Kelly circulated a fact sheet to help structure that presentation.

FOA Journal Article

Garry will take charge of this for the next issue.  Deadline is the end of April.  The focus of this first piece will be to introduce FOA Journal readers to Friends of Schoodic.  He will work with Marla, who edits the Journal.

SEA

Fran described her conversations with Ken Olson about fund raising, and stressed the importance of coordinating with FOA on fundraising matters to ensure that all efforts are coordinated.

Artists in Residence

Garry and Rosemary, working with Kate, will develop efforts to introduce artists in residence to the community.  The focus is on three objectives:

• provide an introduction to the community--including a welcome package
• facilitate interactions between artists and artists in the community
• help ensure that there are opportunities for the artists to interact with the general public -- demonstrations, exhibits, and so on

Cataloging of Drawings

Pauline has gotten started on this, finding out what is there.  Pauline contacted Brooke ...., the Park curator. 

The task appears doable to Pauline.  The drawings belong to the Navy.  Copies go to the National Archives.  Originals stay here. This is under a deadline--so it is time critical.

Garry reminded us that this is yet another opportunity to reach out to new volunteers, rather than just doing it ourselves. Marla asked for photographs, if possible.

Junior Rangers

Marla said that there is a Junior Ranger program in the Park on MDI.  There is potential funding for developing some kind of program here.  Marla passed out the program description and asked the group to think a bit about whether something like this might make sense over here.

Clean Up

Garry and Jay have been working on this.  It is scheduled for April 30.  Marla will provide bags and T-shirts and posters, and will help with publicity.  There was also discussion of expanding the clean-up to State roads outside the Park. Garry will work with Marla on the details.

The meeting adjourned at 9 PM.