October 2001

October 25, 2001

The Board of Directors of Triangle Greenways Council met for its regular monthly meeting in the offices of Triangle J Council of Governments on Thursday, October 25, 2001, at 7:00 p.m. Dan Jewell presided. Other Board members present were Leslie Kennedy, Dean Kanipe, Mike Cinoman, Jeff Brewer, Barb Oslund, and Bill Bussey. Others present were Bill Flournoy, Don Belk, Charles Dobbins and Larkin Kirkman.

It was reported that the president, Robert Harper, was in Washington for nomination to the Board of Rails to Trails.

No action was taken on the minutes.

Treasurer’s Report: A report was sent by Mike Cinomon. We have a total balance of $6658.62. Of this $3018 is in the Sam Wiley Endowment Fund, and 1430 is in the Land Accumulation Revolving Fund. This leaves as otherwise available funds $2210.62. Bill Flournoy was asked to explain the various funds.

The Sam Wiley Fund, named for a former Board member, was established when we established the Land Trust in 1997. We converted that into an endowment where the principal will remain untouched and the interest will be available for use for purposes of stewardship of the properties. It is increased by 15% of all undesignated funds collected.
The Land Accumulation Revolving Fund is not an endowment. It is available for land transactions and costs. Such a fund is used by many organizations.

Dan pointed out that we may need to remind members to pay their dues. Larkin said that he would put a reminder into the notice of the Annual Meeting.

Nominating Committee Report: Dan reported that the committee had strategized, that it was calling for possible nominees, that it had agreed on various nominations, namely, Barb Oslund serving as president, Bill Bussey, serving as vice-president. This would leave Robert Harper as immediate past president. Jeff Brewer has volunteered to be treasurer. Dan asked for suggestions for 3 positions in the term ending in 2002 and asked for information about the state of the group of directors with terms ending in 2003. Numerous names were given the committee. The committee was to meet one more time and proposed e-mailing its nomination to the Board.

Larkin was to send out notice of the Annual Meeting, notice of dues being due, the names of members of the nominating committee, and possible the names of nominees. The date of the Annual Meeting is set as November 29, 2001.

There was discussion of the location of future meetings of the Board and the need for insurance if we were to continue to meet at Triangle J. It was decided by consensus that we should renew our membership in the Land Trust Alliance, purchase insurance, and cover Triangle J under that insurance for meeting at Triangle J. It was also decided by consensus that the Board would continue to meet at Triangle J. Mike handed a check to Bill Flournoy to send to the Land Trust Alliance for our membership. Dan asked Bill Bussey to do research on insurance.

Motion: It was moved and passed to empower Dan Jewell and Bill Bussey to decide on the best insurance and to authorize Mike Cinoman to write a check to cover the cost of the insurance up to a cost of $600.00. Larkin suggested that Dan and Bill confer with Ben Hitchings on how best to meet the needs of Triangle J.

Report on Land Trust: Dan reported that a Phase I has been done on land being considered for acceptance; but that were not looking to a closing before the end of the year. The donors are sensitive to our interest in using the land for a match for a grant.

Retreat: First there was discussion of using a facilitator at the Retreat. One source in Durham was named. Barb stated her need to focus on the mission and on regrouping. The current confusion and distrust are not good. There was discussion of asking Board members to contribute $50.00 or $60.00 each for the cost of a facilitator. Dan will explore this. Mike pointed out that he has much experience using facilitators and that we could meet in January on our own and plan to use a facilitator later.

Second there was discussion of the setting of the retreat in January. It was suggested that the retreat could be at the Saint Ambrose Episcopal Church in Southeast Raleigh. If it were there, we would be able to tour lands that Norman Camp is considering for asking us to become involved with. It was suggested that we look to January 19 – 20: 9:00 a.m. start, work until lunch, pizza, walk. This site is on Darby Street between Garner Road and State Street.

Discussion of format of Annual Meeting. The question was raised as to what we would do at the meeting. It was projected that there should be a report on the year. It was decided there should be a general report on greenways with an emphasis on our efforts and with maps. Dan volunteered to print out maps. Mike asked that Dan send him maps of Durham greenways. Mike volunteered to make a report on Cary. Mike said that he noted that Joe Miller wrote last Friday on Raleigh greenways and that he had put that onto our web site. Bill Flournoy offered to invite Raleigh’s greenways planner to attend the Annual Meeting.

Mike requested assistance with maps for the web site. He has detailed maps for Raleigh, Cary, ATT. He needs maps for Chapel Hill and Durham. Dan mentioned he had put together a powerpoint presentation.

Reports from Members:
Don Belk pointed out that he had done a newsletter for September and he wanted to get one out as soon as possible after the election, reporting on the results of referenda, etc. He needs stuff. It may not be long and he will edit more carefully.

Jeff noted that there would be work on the trail at Falls Lake on November 3. The Corps is supplying lumber and materials. He has started work on National Trails Day. He pointed out that Allen de Hart is in Virginia updating his Virginia guidebook. He raised a question about our relationship to the American Hiking Society and the Umstead Coalition.

Bill Bussey and Dan discussed the American Tobacco Trail. Dan suggested that each Board member get a map from Bill and go see the trail. There was also discussion of the master plan in Chatham, of Wake bridges, and of insurance by Triangle Rails to Trails.

Bill Flournoy brought copies of a reprint from Our State magazine and asked that this be distributed to Board members who were not in attendance. “The Good Earth: Paradise Unpaved,” February, 2001, pp.41-48.

Larkin reported that Bill Flournoy and he were helping with a trail construction project on Saturday at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Bill Bussey noted that there is ATT trail work on the fist and third Saturdays. This starts at 9:00 a.m. One should contact him.

Notice was given of a Rivers Forum meeting at Blue Jay Point and the McKimmon Center, November 16-17, 2001.

The meeting began at 7:09 and ended at 8:57 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Larkin Kirkman
Secretary