Meeting Minutes
Wednesday May 4, 2022
The Board Met
Virtually at 6PM
Attendees:
Gabrielle Oldham Michael
Morgan Katie
Kranich
John Bennett Ron
Anderson Kathie
Jarmon
Rob Feldt Dori Murphy
Gabrielle brought the meeting to order at 6:04PM.
Motion: John
motioned that Katie be added to the Forestry Board as a full member. Dori seconded, and
the motion passed unanimously.
The April minutes were reviewed.
Treasurer’s report
1) John
reported that two checks that were previously approved were written:
a.
$100 to reimburse John for the
Garden Mart registration.
b.
$32.50 to John for mileage
reimbursement.
2)
Rob located the
additional checks—there are plenty.
Big Tree Program
Update:
John gave the county report, and details are provided below:
John made a “cold visit” to the property owner of
BT-2399, an American beech, that was due to be re-measured. The owner had not responded to the January
mailing, but was home at the time of his visit.
Her husband had died in January and she had been dealing with a
multitude of related issues. She agreed
to sign a new form and to allow him to re-measure the tree while he was
there. The tree had lost a huge lower
limb which had sheared off a significant portion of the lower trunk. John discussed that the tree was now very hazardous,
and could be at high risk to be toppled by a wind storm. The owner recognized the danger but requested
it be re-measured, which John did, and found it had lost a few points but still
qualified.
Statewide Big
Tree News:
State-wide, 35 trees were either measured or
re-measured. All but three were in
Central Maryland Region. One new State
Champion was measured, a
John also discussed the Big Tree Committee meeting held on
April 8th. John indicated the
committee wants more oversight—who measures the tree? How do we get it listed? John says that in certain parts of the state,
there are few BT volunteers available to measure. When this is the case, the BT committee
prefers to measure several trees at once, when a lot of travel is involved. Thus increased time between contact with the
landowner and when the measurements occur, is
possible.
NRCC Update:
Gabrielle gave the NRCC camp update:
·
Gabrielle gave the report on NRCC and said
Acting State Forester—Anne Strang—had inquired about
a
·
Gabrielle spoke with Janice Hoover
to discuss logistics—night staff availability, food, etc.
·
She reported that 8 counselors are
lined up, and that staff are getting into place.
·
She’ll be sending out letters to
families and will need vaccine records.
·
32 kids have been accepted.
·
She also wonders if they have filled
Harry Spiker’s old position yet to cover bear
biology.
·
This will be the 50th
ANNIVERSARY OF NRCC!
Website Update:
Ron gave the update:
·
He reported that last month’s minutes are not
posted yet.
·
Gabe says the NRCC page looks good.
Old Business:
·
The Garden Market was discussed, and there was
overall a good turnout, and the location on-site was good. Dori inquired if
it’s possible for us to rethink the interactive leaf display, and if it’s
possible to include some other trees instead of just all oak? Gabrielle suggests flowering trees. Kathie remarked that there were plenty of
folks to talk, but that there were a good number of seedlings left.
New Business:
John stated that he is no longer in charge of volunteers for
MBTC.
Michael found a large mockernut
hickory on a local trail with a 4 foot diameter.
The meeting was adjourned approximately 7:35PM.
The next meeting will be held on June 1st at 6PM.