Meeting Minutes

Wednesday February 2, 2022

The meeting was virtual due to COVID-19 concerns

 

Attendees:

Gabrielle Oldham       Michael Morgan

Kathie Jarmon             Katie Kranich

John Bennett               Ron Anderson

Rob Feldt                    

 

Gabrielle brought the meeting to order at 6:05PM. 

Chair’s report

Gabrielle started discussion on the St. Mary Anne’s Garden Market and if a space was desired and if so, what size.  The board felt a 10’x10’ space would be sufficient for $100 for tree giveaway and outreach.

Motion: John motioned to rent the 10’X10’ space.  Kathie seconded.  The motion was approved.

John asked to review the request for funding by the Maryland Big Tree Committee, and stated that Harford, Frederick, Dorchester, Allegany, Anne Arundel, Howard, and Carroll have all made donations.

Motion: John motioned to donate $100 to the MBTC.  Mike and Kathie seconded.  The motion was approved.

Next, there was discussion about the Tome School 5K run event happening in early April.  The run will have an ecological message, and the board could do some giveaways, including trees.  Someone mentioned that Parks and Rec will want 100-200 trees, and the board will need 200 or so for the St. Mary Anne’s Garden Market.

Motion: John Motioned to approve and unknown number of trees for the Tome School 5K run event.  Gabrielle seconded.  The motion was approved.  (I believe follow up discussion involved 100 trees).

 

NRCC Update: Gabrielle gave the NRCC camp update:

·         The website was down for a couple of days.

·         Curriculum still says “2021” and needs to be changed, but no changed to the curriculum is anticipated.

·         Probably will have some good councilors for this year.

·         Still unsure what the COVID-19 situation will be but are optimistic.

Gabrielle reported the Maryland Assoc. of Environmental and Outdoor Educators (MAEOE) conference would be virtual again.  She indicated the NRCC virtual “booth” was ready.

The minutes from the January meeting were read.

Motion: John motioned to accept the minutes and Mike seconded.  The minutes were approved with no corrections.

Ron pointed out that financial information doesn’t need to be mentioned in the minutes and there was general agreement they could be removed from the minutes.

 

Big Tree Program Update:

John gave the county report, and details are provided below:

·         John said the Calvert Regional Park hike was a good one. 

·         The previously discussed Lob/Pitch hybrid in ENSF is probably a Lob pine.

·         Permission were sent out to the trees needing re-measurement on private property.  Progress so far has been:

o   2 trees are dead

o   3 owners have responded.

o   2 have not responded.

o   1 is across from ENSF Arboretum.

·         John also measured a pin oak that was new, but the owner wasn’t home.

John measured 7 new trees, all on public lands, so no permission forms were required. 

They are:

·         BT-3964, pin oak, 240 pts., Cecil Community Center Park

·         BT-3965, water oak, 193 pts., Veteran’s Community Park

·         BT-3966, pin oak, 247 pts, Calvert Regional Park

·         BT-3967, loblolly pine, 175 pts., Elk Neck State Forest, Trail 2

·         BT-3968, loblolly pine. 182 pts., Elk Neck State Forest, Trail 2 – Cecil co-champion

·         BT-3969, pitch pine, 145 pts., Elk Neck State Forest, Pete Bond Overlook Trail –       Cecil champion

·         BT-3970, pignut hickory, 205 pts., Elk Neck State Park, Rustic Cabin Drive

 

Also he declared BT-2396, yellow poplar, to be dead.

 

 

                

 

          

 

Treasurer’s Report:

There was no activity since the previous report.

 

Website Update:

Ron gave the updated, and stated there wasn’t much to report.

·         He reported there are 26 state champions in Cecil posted.

·         He will post the minutes but remove the financial details.

 

Old Business:

·         Mike thinks there is a champion tree—a mockernut at North East Yacht Club-- he’ll be visiting soon, but will find out and report back. 

·         Ron asked about the dawn redwood east of Rising Sun, but landowners never responded.

·         Two Bicentennial Trees lost in a development project in Howard County.

·         Michael says large sycamores removed at Bohemia SP were actually London plain.

 

New Business:

There are 3 Forest Legacy projects—Johns is one and things are moving slowly still.

Ron had nothing new.

Michael is seeing lots of tree death—EAB accounts for lots of them some, and Phytophthora root rot.

The meeting was adjourned approximately 7:45.

The next meeting will be held on March 9th at 6PM, currently planned for Black Hill Ranger Station.