GREAT Minutes Monday July 27, 2009
Present: Aimee Rist, Thomas Rist, Lily Kay, Rebecca Smith, Savanna Lyons, Erin St. John, Gabe Pena, Scott Fanello, Lorien MacCauley, Doug Arbogast, Carl Thompson, Patty Korn, Ginger Danz
Topics of Discussion:
Rain Garden: Scott Fanello met with Wetlands expert Tom Biebighauser regarding Fayetteville High School site. Scott estimates that construction will take place in late August and planting will follow in September. We are in need of plants and seeds, preferably low-maintenance perennials such as purple coneflower, Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan) and tiger lilies. Contact: Scott_Fanello@partner.nps.gov
Green Bridge Day: Gabe Pena reported that this is the last week to gather information for next year’s proposal. This year’s focus will be recycling and GREAT will be conducting a trash audit immediately after the event. He indicated that volunteers are needed for the day of the event and the next day’s trash audit. Contact: gabe53_02@yahoo.com Savannah agreed to check into an informational booth for GREAT during the event.
501C3 Thomas Rist presented revised by-laws, a motion was made to accept by-law changes and the motion was seconded. Changes to the by-laws consisted of naming officers (President: Aimee Rist; Vice-President: Carl Thompson; Secretary: Ginger Danz; Treasurer: Thomas Rist) and naming the term of officers and Board of Directors (1 year).
Articles for Publication: Sue Plumley (absent) has requested that GREAT members submit relevant articles for publication. Savanna Lyons offered to edit articles and organize submissions. Each member present agreed to write an article to be submitted to Savanna before August 10, 2009. Contact: savanna.may@gmail.com
ICLEI: Rebecca Smith reported that after a few minor issues are attended to, GREAT will be ready to present data to Bill Lanam and Mayor Akers and other local groups (Rotary, PAN). Gabe Pena reported that he met with Lanam and Akers and they suggested that he contact Chris Perkins (Superintendent of Fayette County Schools). Mr. Perkins has prepared a power point presentation outlining the energy inefficiency of local schools. We discussed the possibility of inviting Mr. Perkins to present his information to GREAT members.
Weatherization: Savanna Lyons discussed the possibility of a GREAT collaboration with members of Coal River Mountain Watch to provide citizen-based home energy efficiency education. She is planning an informational meeting for August 10th or 11th (to be announced).
PAN Vista Lily Kay (a regular GREAT meeting attendee) announced an upcoming PAN meeting entitled “Project Wolf Creek: A watershed-based approach to clean water in our back yard.” The meeting will be held Tuesday August 4th from 7:30 to 9pm at the Fayetteville Presbyterian Church on West Maple Street in Fayetteville.
Lily also provided a template from PAN regarding organizational structure. Aimee Rist will review it and we will address it at our next meeting. GREAT officers will complete a mission statement which will also be open for discussion.
Next meeting: Monday August 31, 2009, 6:30 pm at the Fayetteville CVB on Court Street
