Friends of Dicken Woods General Assembly
Minutes for the Wednesday, September 16, 2004 meeting at Dicken Elementary School
Attending were Helen and Mason Barr,
Mike Champion, Jack Eaton, Kay Holsinger,
Doug Wood, Stephanie Hunter, Tom Ivacko, Naela Jenkins, Debbie Johnson,
Deb Norbotten, Diane Imredy, Theresa Liete, Sophia Jan, Erik
Stalhandske, Mary Lou Unterberger, Max Ziegler and Jason Frenzel (City
of Ann Arbor NAP Division).
Erik Stalhandske chaired the meeting and opened proceedings at 7:00. The meeting was moved to Erik's house to escape the heat.
Jason Frenzel, City NAP Division. Jason
Frenzel, Outreach Coordinator for the City's Natural Area Preservation
Division, joined the meeting and spoke a bit about NAP's role and
purpose. The group thanked Jason for all his outstanding work and
support over the last few months.
Summer Fundraising. Naela Jenkins reported
on the late June garage sale, which raised $1,625. There were less
items this year, but they were higher quality goods in general. Erik
reported on the late August benefit concert. After expenses for hall
rental, the concert netted $1,977. The musicians were wonderful and
those in attendance had a great time. Erik expressed the group's
appreciation for the business sponsors. Their support was critical to
the financial success of the concert fundraiser.
Budget Status. Erik reported that after all expenses have been accounted for, FoDW now has $50,198.90 in the bank! (Editor's
note: after the meeting we found that the concert did even better than
expected, and we now have approximately $50,591 in the bank.) That
will cover the $50,000 contribution to the city, and leave some funds as
the basis for the first annual Dicken School Grants program (more
below).
Fall Ceremony. Discussion turned to
planning for a ceremony in October where we would dedicate the new
trails, present our $50,000 donation to the city, and possibly present
awards to Dicken teachers through our grant-making program. The target
date was set as Sunday, October 17th at 2pm. Tom is tasked to check the
date with Dicken School; Erik is tasked to check with Ron Olson;
Stephanie Hunter and Naela are tasked with coordinating refreshments.
The possibility of a sign or plaque was raised. Jason noted that large
boulders with plaques on them are being used at other parks, but that
they are very expensive. Erik is tasked with contacting nurseries to
see if we could get a boulder donated.
Development of the Trails. An enormous
amount of work was done over the summer to develop the trails in DW.
More cutting and clearing the trails, placing log bridges in low spots,
placing temporary signs and placing woodchips. Erik expressed the
group's appreciation, recognizing Doug Wood for his leadership of the
trails committee, and Mike Champion and Steph Hunter for their great
work on the trails.
Fall Work Day. Doug Wood reported on
options for a fall work day, after the meeting on 9/14 between Doug,
Erik, Stephanie and Bev Walters of the NAP Division Staff. Doug
recommended that we treat work days at this point as smaller affairs
than the spring 2004 work day; we do not need huge turnouts for the
immediate work on the agenda. Doug reported that Bev identified 4 major
options for FoDW to focus on in the near term for park improvements:
(1) improving the small grove of hickory trees in the northeast section
of Dicken Woods. We would cut and clear some smaller trees in the area
to allow better growth for the hickory trees; (2) consider options for
the grove of walnut trees by the old farm house on the western end of
DW. If we do nothing, the walnut trees are likely to prevent other
growth. We should decide if we want that outcome, or some other
alternative. We might also consider planting new flowers in this area;
(3) plant new trees if we are able to. Bev encouraged FoDW to seek out
free and/or inexpensive sources of small trees and to plant what we can
get. Ideally the trees should be native to S.E. Michigan, to better fit
with the existing ecosystem and for better chances of survival; (4)
move the existing trails in a couple of spots where they cross the
stream bed too close to large trees. In these instances we might need
to move the trails about 10 feet away from their current locations.
Diane Imredy, from Walden Village, will speak further with Doug and
Erik regarding the hickory tree grove, since that location is very close
to the property boundary between DW and the Walden Village area.
Improvements at Dicken Drive and Carol Street.
Jason reported on the options for replacing the ugly rusted guard
rails at the road ends. Options include large trash-can like blockers;
split-rail wood fencing; split-rail fencing of man-made materials;
boulders; or new guard rails. The group asked Jason to check on costs
and other issues related to the split-rail options and boulders.
Eagle Scout Project to Build Bridge at Dicken-Carol Pathway.
Doug and Erik reported on the possibility that an Eagle Scount might
have a project to build a bridge/boardwalk over the low land area on the
pathway between Dicken Drive and Carol Street. We need to wait for
further contact from this Scout. And we should be prepared to offer
assistance.
Grant-making Program to Dicken Teachers.
Tom reported on plans for the grant-making program. We expect to have
between $750 - $1,300 available for grants this year. The goal of the
program is to enhance the environmental education curriculum by
integrating DW into the classroom experience, hopefully getting the
students into the woods, and the woods into the classroom. FoDW would
designate a Grants Committee (Erik, Naela, Tom, Stephanie and Max
Ziegler). The Grants Committee (GC) would issue a request for proposals
(RFP) with a proposal coversheet and instructions, describing the goals
of the program and offering ideas as examples for possible projects.
The teachers would make proposals; Mary Anne Jaeger, Dicken Principal,
would review them and provide comments to the FoDW GC, and the GC would
make final award decisions. FoDW might also provide other support for
the projects, such as event photography, assistance with arranging
speakers and other outside visitors, etc. Upon completion of the
projects, the teachers would submit a 1 page report, along with any
other project materials like photos or copies of poems, artwork, etc.
Mary Anne Jaeger has reviewed the plans for this program and offers her
enthusiastic support.
Discussion of this program ensued. Mike Champion offered a motion,
with a friendly amendment by Jack Eaton, to: approve the grant-making
program as described; approve the GC; and empower the GC to make further
program design, grant award, and spending decisions. Doug Wood
seconded the motion. The motion passed with unanimous approval.
The GC is tasked with getting the grant program underway immediately.
Next meeting of FoDW will be on Wednesday October 20.
The meeting ended at 8:42pm.
Minutes by Tom Ivacko