Woolwich Trails Group

Thursday, June 17^th, 2004

Meeting Minutes

Chairperson: Gloria Yeung

Those attending: Mark Bauman, Shirley Craig, Loretta Dunn, Fred Hager, Merle Hoffman, Eleanor Hrabi, Jane Prime, Ann Roberts, John and Bev Robinson, Gloria Yeung.

1. Membership Committee Report:

§ John R. presented his membership report: 93 members to date for 2004. $1825 has been received to date for 2004 memberships. 39% of 2003 members have renewed in 2004. 32% of members have indicated that they are willing to volunteer.

2. Maps for the Kiosks: Gloria feels that we can simply use and print the map on the kiosk behind the firehall in St. Jacobs for the kiosks on the Mill Race Trail. Will work on the Priddle Park map after the Mill Race maps are done. We may want to use an air photo base to high light the river and the canoe launch.

3. Guidebooks: Since the last meeting Eleanor has distributed books to the Variety store in West Montrose (new distributor); Best Western in St. Jacobs; Adventure Guide. Wings of Paradise would also like more guidebooks. Eleanor will see if she can gather more guidebooks.

There are 6 guidebooks remaining. Eleanor will draft a letter to distributors to say we are working on the next edition.

Reprint: The last printing was October 2002. 1060 copies were printed. The group needs to be looking at producing the next edition soon. Jim Bauman provided printing costs for various scenarios. Decided that best to print 1000 vs 500. Decided to change the entire cover…photo and colour. Gloria will contact Murray Beacom to see if he would be interested in having his photo taken on the hike this weekend with his children and grand children. Cost to print 1000 with a new cover is approx. $2100. Wings of Paradise to be contacted about placing an ad in the next edition. Also considered contacting other local businesses about running an ad on the inside back cover. Given the high cost of printing covers on a separate run, decision made to print 300 extra covers to use if more printing with an addendum is required down the road.

4. May Hike: Shirley lead the May hike. There were about 10 to 12 hikers out. The weather was good. There were a few wet spots in the bush and a tree and some branches down on the section from Bridge Street to Victoria Street.

5. June Hike: Shirley will lead the June hike at Floradale. Murray also hopes to be out to help.

6. HVT Repairs (east of the expressway bridge): The rain earlier in the week left substantial damage to the trail. John R. was out biking after the rain and was unable to get through. The steps east of the 2^nd gate are gone. The east foot bridge is also gone. The rest of the trail needs to be checked out in terms of damage. John to check the trail and report to Mark. Plan is to install cement steps later in the summer during dry conditions. The rest of the repairs will be done over the summer months.

7. May 29^th Clean up Day: TWEEC hosted a clean up day on May 29^th as part of a GRCA initiative. There were 4 clean-up areas in Woolwich: 1- Sandy Hills Pinery Trail: Eleanor worked with a small group to pick up litter along the trail and was happy to report that they collected only on half of a green garbage bag. 2- Graham Gladwell (a TWEEC member who lives on Reid Woods Drive) collected garbage with some neighbours along Reid Woods Drive. 3- St. Jacobs: Mark worked with 8 or 10 volunteers just west of the Mill Race Trail to clean up debris left over from bush parties. They moved approximately 50 wheelbarrows of broken glass and ashes. 4- Ann worked with Steve Racy and Barb Taylor (TWEEC members) to start a clean-up of an old farm dump in a woodlot on public land north of Southfield Drive and just west of the rail tracks. A second work party is planned for September. Thanks to all that helped clean-up Woolwich!

8. TWEEC May 15^th Tree planting Day: Thanks to 44 volunteers, 400 to 500 trees were planted on Township owned land in the Elmira Industrial lands. The trees will help extend the wildlife corridor.

9. Breslau: As part of the Thomasfield development a sewer line and culvert are being constructed through the Optimist park (located between the mill pond and Woolwich Street in Breslau). Unfortunately Optimist members were not involved in the planning process. Several mature trees will be lost and the culvert outlet into the pond is problem. It presents a danger for park users and also crosses a path in the park. Loretta is working with Optimist members to find a solution. An on-site meeting with staff from the region, GRCA, the Township engineering department and Thomasfield homes, is planned for Tues June 22 at 4 pm. Mark, Loretta and Ann plan to attend.

10. Memorial Forest: Mark talked to a member of the St. Jacob’s Lions club about possible interest in developing a memorial forest along the TCT behind the fire hall in St. Jacobs. The club is unable to commit to this project. This will be put on the back burner until an interested/willing group comes forward.

Upcoming dates to remember…….

Next Trails Group Meeting: Wednesday September 8th, 2004, 7 pm at the fire hall in St. Jacobs.

Next Sunday Family Hike:

Sunday, June 20^th, 2004, 2pm, Elmira Lions Trail at Floradale.

Meet at the Floradale park ball diamond behind the Mennonite Church on Florapine Road near Floradale Road (#19).

Trail rating: easy, well maintained trail; includes gravel, earthen and grassed sections.

Sunday September 19^th, 2004, 2 pm: 2 hour scenic hike in Schneiders Woods near Erbsville.

Enjoy the fall colours at Schneiders Woods! Meet at the access point at the corner of Wideman Road and the Wilmot Line (Wilmot/Waterloo boundary). This is one concession south-west of Erbsville. Bring drinking water.

Trail rating: Challenging hike due to steep hills. No baby buggies or dogs please.

Minutes prepared by Ann Roberts. Questions? Please call 669-1647 ext 265 or schering@look.ca . Note: If you no longer wish to receive these minutes or other information from the trails group please contact Ann to have your name removed from the mailing list. Please also advise Ann of any changes in your contact information. Thanks.