Board Meeting Minutes
July 22, 2019
To Do List plus Decisions
Present in person: Mike Smith, Dee Clarkin, Corinne Stephens (former president), Kit Gage, Melinda Villanueva, Sarah Jane Marcus, Paul Chrostowski. Present by phone: Delia Aguilar
First – Thanks to Corinne for her service and expertise as president of FOSC, and thanks to Mike Smith for taking on the mantle as president – voted in by email between meetings.
Website:
– Mike – Email Sherrell – how long will she be able to handle updates?
– Mike, Michael, Kit and Elaine – get back in touch in 3 weeks to see how we’re doing with populating the new website. Kit will be working with the neighbor on Mississippi Ave who has expertise and wants to help.
– Sarah Jane will get Dee credentials so she can poke around the new site.
– Folks should send Andrew problems they note on the new website to get put on the googledocs list to get Maxx to fix.
– On point, Sarah Jane will suggest to Andrew that he see if there’s a fix for a latent error in not putting ‘breadcrumbs’ into the site as part of the construction process.
Database:
– Corinne will continue to get try to get a list of what Amy does/did.
– Sarah Jane has the pw and admin rights – will also work to figure out what Amy set up, and will get Corinne a password
– together Corinne and Sarah Jane will get a handle on this and for a bit, Corinne may be able to do some of the work – connect back to the board on this.
Responding to People Who Join
– Mike S will ask Sherrell what she’s doing about this issue on the website, if anything now, and to change the QP contact to Paul.
– Water Quality – Paul will let Pat Ratkowski and Anne Vorce know that he’ll take on being the point person responding to people who list Water Quality as an interest. He’ll also work with them about how these folks can help with the issue. Tell Mike S when this is done so he can have Sherrell do the change.
– Litter – Dee will draft a default form letter that people who click on Litter, and send around for comment. That way at least we will be acknowledging their interest and giving them ways to help.
– Litter – We’ll explore the last bit – how people can help more than Sweep – in the next board meeting
– Natural History – Mike S will discuss this issue with Michael W to brainstorm getting a single contact and best response to people as to how they can help.
Walks and Talks
– Mike S will contact Ross to make sure the Fall Bird Walk is happening
– Mike S is working with Bruce on the Natural and Human History
– Paul is working with Dee and Pat on the Water Quality talk – maybe into September?
– Kit will check with Kathy Michels about the single use and micro plastic pollution workshop
– Mike will check with Wes that there’s a reservation for the November Mollusk talk by Jorge Bogantes
– Kit and Delia will consider the Native Plants in Spanish Walk some later date
Takoma Folk Festival
– Kit will forward Jim Baird’s early bird volunteer link to the board. Then when Dee forwards the logo of the TPFF to Kit, she’ll send the link to the list with rationale for people to volunteer.
– Dee will forward to Ed for FB
– Mike S will ask M. Wilpers to send to the full list via constant contact. Kit has sent the doc to be used with Dee’s pic and Jim Baird’s email.
Advocacy Issues
– Kit will keep the board updated on Beltway issues
– We expect some issues to come with the County and DEP about a modified stormwater program – Kit will keep the board updated. Probably Stormwater Partners will be the way we interact.
– Paul C mentioned the Urban Tree Canopy Goal in Takoma Park – when it comes out, we probably should support perhaps with suggestions. Paul C the point person.
– Disposition of Washington Adventist Hospital – Kit and Melinda are paying attention to this issue, and when ownership is clarified, we’ll get more detailed in our recommendations for how modifications should be pursued. Kit has emailed Dr. Spence, Patrick Farley, and awaits their response, presumably after clarification. Likely to be a big process.
Kiosks
– Over the last two years there hasn’t been a point person coordinating kiosks since Laura Mol resigned after many years of preparing and posting excellent materials in the kiosks. As a result the process isn’t working. Board has approved Dee and Delia taking on the process, with the help of Sarah Jane, starting the end of July. Mike S. will tell M. Wilpers about the kiosk change.
-Dee or Delia will tell Katharine Payne, and Roseann (& Joaquin) of the change and see if they want to continue to participate in some fashion.
Draftily submitted by Kit Gage