Minutes
Friends of the Farm
Board Meeting
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
1:15 pm

Ravenwood Boardroom

Present: Doug MacDonald, Laura Lea Howard, Nora Jenkins, Libby Martin, Catherine Hennessey, Connie MacKay Carr, Ken MacDonald

Regrets: Kim Devine, Gertie Purdy, Sylvia Poirier, Lane MacLaren,Roger Younker

1. Call to Order

Vice Chair Doug MacDonald welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order.

2. Approval of the Agenda

Connie MacKay Carr moved, Libby Martin seconded the approval of the agenda. Motion carried.

3. Approval of minutes of June 10, 2014

Laura Lee Howard moved, Ken MacDonald seconded the approval of the minutes of June 10, 2014 with the change that Libby Martin was not present and sent regrets. Motion carried.

4. Financial Report

Treasurer Nora Jenkins reported a bank account of $6,610.41. A bill to be paid of $319.54 for the friends of the Farm website and a bill $87.07 for Soaring to New Heights expenses.

Business arising from Previous minutes

• Soaring to New Heights – Laura lee Howard reported that the event will take place on Sunday, October 5 at 2 p.m. in the Legacy Garden area at the Farm Centre. Parking can be at the Farm Centre. Insurance to be confirmed.. Laura Lee will look after publicity for the event. Laura Lee will also work on a logo fro the Friends of the farm that could be used on flyers for this event. Laura Lee will be paid an honorarium for her coordination of the ever “Soaring to New Heights”. This is covered by the grant money for 2014 and is all included in the proposal that was accepted by 2014 Commission. Laura Lee will keep the Board up to date.

• Governor General Tree Planting – Lane MacLaren reported that a second letter was sent to Governor General David Johnston requesting that he plant a tree in the Royal Forest on his visit to PEI.

• Crown Garden – It was agreed that there was a good choice of flowers this year. Thanks to all who tended the garden.

• Memorial Bench – Libby Martin reported that she added two plants.

• Meeting with Philip Brown – Lane MacLaren sent a letter to Phillip Brown as follow up to the Friends of the Farm Board meeting with Mr Brown. In the letter he encouraged that the idea of Ravenwood receive attention. He also spoke with Mr Brown expressed support for the project and that he intended to approach ACOA for funds for repair. It was agreed that the Board should have discussions of ideas of what the Ravenwood property could be used for once renovated. Lively discussion ensued and then agreed that the Board should organize a round table discussion. Planning of this was left til a later time.

6. New Business

• Janice Simmonds Award – Suggestions were made and the group decided that Gary Schneider would be a good choice for his work with Macphail Woods and the 2014 Acadian woodland among other things.

• Annual meeting – It was agreed that we invite Gary Schneider to be guest speaker. Possible dates are October 28 or November 3 and would be at the Farm Centre.

Ken MacDonald informed that he wished to complete his term on the Board. Kim Devine who has moved will also be replaced.

7. Adjournment and Date and Time of next meeting.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.

The date of the next meeting is Tuesday, October 15, 2014 at 1:15 pm

Lane MacLaren Chair
Nora Jenkins Secretary

Minutes

Friends of the Farm

Board Meeting

Tuesday, June , 2014

1:15 pm

Ravenwood Boardroom

Present: Lane MacLaren, Doug MacDonald, Laura Lea Howard, Nora Jenkins, Libby Martin, Catherine Hennessey, Connie MacKay Carr,Roger Younker

Regrets: Ken MacDonald, Kim Devine, Gertie Purdy, Sylvia Poirier

1.Call to Order

Chair Lane MacLaren welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order.

2.Approval of the Agenda

Roger Younker moved, Doug MacDonald seconded the approval of the agenda.  Motion carried.

3.Approval of minutes of  May 20, 2014

Laura Lee Howard moved, Doug MacDonald seconded the approval of the minutes of May 20 2014. Motion carried.

4.Financial Report

Treasurer Nora Jenkins reported a bank account of $7,136.87. A bill to be paid of $604.96 for plants for the Royal Crown  and a bill for $100.00 for kites for Soaring to New Heights.  Nora will arrange for a Financial review for the year ending March 30, 2014.

5.Business arising from Previous minutes

• Soaring to New Heights – Laura Lee Howard reported that she and Connie MacKay Carr met with members of the Newcomers Association to talk about aspects of the project. Laura Lee informed  airport personnel about the event. The committee suggests that the date be moved to early October rather than late.  This will be confirmed.
• Governor General Tree Planting – Lane MacLaren reported that there has still not been a response to the letter sent to Governor General David Johnston requesting that he plant a tree in the Royal Forest on his visit to PEI.
• Clean Up the Farm Day – Laura Lee Howard presented a draft of a letter that could be sent to surrounding businesses to seek partnership and participation for next year’s Clean Up The Farm Day. This was put on file.
• Crown Garden – Doug MacDonald reported that Van Kampen’s Greenhouses delivered the plants to the Farm.  The crown will be planted in the next week.  Van Kampen supplied the plants at the same cost as previous years.  It was agreed that Nora Jenkins send a letter of thanks to Van Kampen Nursery.

It was agreed that thanks be expressed to Ron Richard for his                   looking after the plants and the planting.  Nora Jenkins agreed to      look after this with a gift certificate for $50.00 from Top of the                  Park.

Schedule of Crown maintenance

July 1 – 15            Nora Jenkins

July 16- 31            Lane McLaren

August 1- 15         Laura Lee Howard

August 16- 31       Connie MacKay Carr

September 1 -15   Roger Younker

Chair Lane MacLaren expressed thanks to Doug MacDonald for     his work on organizing the planting of the Royal Garden

• Memorial Bench – Nora Jenkins will contact the City again about getting the graffiti on the garbage can near the bench cleaned up. It was agreed that the perennials are filling in the garden and there is not a need to plants annuals.

.  Meeting with Sean Casey M.P. – It was agreed that this was a beneficial meeting with a good exchange of information.

7. New Business

•  Meeting with Philip Brown – The Board met with Philip Brown of Hon Gail Shea’s office on Thursday, May 29. It was a  meeting with a good exchange of information.  The Board learned that the current proposal that is in the hands of the Federal Government is not moving past Treasury Board. The Farm will remain in the hands of Ag Canada at present, however he recommended that the Friends remain vigilant in their goal and work. There was considerable discussion at that meeting about the condition of Ravenwood and the Cereal Barn. Mr Brown agreed to take this concern forward.                             Lane MacLaren will write a letter to Hon Shea expressing the concern of the Friends of the Farm for Ravenhood House and the Cereal Barn emphasizing the beauty of the setting in which it sits. The letter will ask for help how we might move the restoration of Ravenwood ahead. The letter will also express appreciation for the meeting with Mr. Brown. It was suggested that Holland College students use Ravenwood as a class project as an example of a heritage house and the work that needs to be done. Catherine Hennessey agreed to speak with the instructor of the class. While it was agreed that Ravenwood and the Cereal Barn are a concern for the Board, it was also agreed that the focus remains the land with the goal to be preserved as green for all to enjoy. It was agreed that Dr Maria Rodriguezj be informed of  any work/progress in this area.
• Annual meeting – It was agreed that the annul meeting be late fall.  It was also agreed that we provide an educational speaker and all are to work on ideas of who this might be. A suggestion was Eliot Coleman on the topic of Urbanization of Gardening.

1. Adjournment and Date and Time of next meeting.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.

The date of the next meeting is Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at 1:15 pm.

Lane MacLaren                                           Nora Jenkins

Chair                                                          Secretary

Minutes

Friends of the Farm

Board Meeting

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

1:15 pm

Ravenwood Boardroom

Present: Lane MacLaren, Doug MacDonald, Laura Lea Howard, Nora Jenkins, Sylvia Poirier, Libby Martin, Catherine Hennessey.

Regrets: Connie MacKay Carr, Ken MacDonald, Roger Younker, Kim Devine, Gertie Purdy.

1. Call to Order

Chair Lane MacLaren welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order.

1. Approval of the Agenda

Laura Lee Howard moved, Doug MacDonald seconded the approval of the agenda.  Motion carried.

1. Approval of minutes of  April 22, 2014

Amendment to first item under Business Arising to read, “Cookies, Kites, and Connections”.  Libby Martin moved, Sylvia Poirier seconded the approval of the minutes of April 22, 2014. Motion carried.

1. Financial Report

Treasurer Nora Jenkins reported a bank account of $7,249.98. This amount includes the Janice MacEachern memorial fund, monies from memberships, and the funds for the 2014 celebration project.   An expenditure of $20.00 had been made for the annual registration as a not for profit organization.

1. Business arising from Previous minutes

• Soaring to New Heights – Laura Lee Howard reported that the committee met with Yvette Doucette from the Newcomers Association. There will be a meeting next Tuesday with people from the Association who are interested to talk about aspects of the project. Laura Lee will check with airport personnel to see if the kites would be considered any risk to airplanes.
• Governor General Tree Planting – Lane MacLaren reported that there has still not been a response to the letter sent to Governor General David Johnston requesting that he plant a tree in the Royal Forest on his visit to PEI.
• Clean Up the Farm Day – The Clean Up day was deemed a great success despite the weather. It was agreed that the suggestion that Board members do an additional half day to clean up the hedge/tree line would not be done this year but that this would be an area to concentrate on for next year.  An initiative is to be undertaken to build awareness and solicit help for future clean-ups from the businesses along University Ave. that contribute much of the garbage that ends up on the farm property. Laura Lee Howard will draft a letter to seek their partnership and participation in next year’s Clean Up the Farm Day.
• Crown Garden – Doug MacDonald reported that Van Kampen’s Greenhouses will again supply 1600 plants at half price and that the Crown Garden will be planted on June 10.  The schedule for weeding the garden for the summer will be set at the next meeting.
• 2014 Legacy Project – Lane MacLaren and Doug MacDonald met with the Mayor of Charlottetown, Clifford Lee regarding the status of the Experimental Farm property.   A meeting with Philip Brown from Gail Shea’s office was set up for next week.

7. New Business

• Memorial Bench – The bench was placed in the wrong spot initially but has since been moved to the correct one.  Nora Jenkins will contact the City about getting the graffiti on the garbage can near the bench cleaned up.

8. Guest – MP Sean Casey

At the end of regular business, at the invitation of the Board, the Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, Sean Casey, arrived and was briefed on the goals and objectives, history, and past and current initiatives of the Friends of the Farm.  There was a good exchange of information and support expressed by Mr. Casey for the Friends’ goals.

1. Adjournment and Date and Time of next meeting

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.

The date of the next meeting is Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at 1:15 pm.

Lane MacLaren                                           Nora Jenkins

Chair                                                          Secretary

Minutes

Friends of the Farm

Board Meeting

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

1:15 pm

Ravenwood Boardroom

Present:       Connie MacKay Carr, Lane MacLaren, Doug MacDonald Gertie Purdy, Laura Lea Howard, Nora Jenkins

Regrets:        Ken MacDonald, Sylvia Poirier, Libby Martin, Roger Younker, Catherine Hennessey, Kim Devine.

1. Call to Order

Chair Lane MacLaren welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order.

1. Approval of the Agenda

Laura Lee Howard moved, Gertie Purdy seconded the approval of the agenda.  Motion carried.

1. Approval of minutes of  February 25, 2014

Connie MacKayCarr moved, Laura lee Howard seconded the approval of the minutes of February 25 ,2014. Motion carried.

1. Financial Report

Treasurer Nora Jenkins reported a bank account of $7,169.98 of which $1600.00 is Soaring to New Heights.

1. Membership Report

Membership Chair, Gertie Purdy reported we have 356 names on our membership rolls of which there are 115 who have dues paid up to date as a result of the membership letter sent at the end of January.

It was agreed that Gertie would circulate the membership list to Board members and members would review the list and note any changes i.e. people who are no longer at an address.

It was agreed that a reminder would be sent with the letter to tell members of the Clean Up the Farm Day.

1. Business arising from Previous minutes

• Soaring to New Heights –Laura Lee Howard reported that the committee met, Connie MacKay Carr, Kim Devine and herself. They talked ideas and decided that the guiding theme would be “Cookies and Connections”. There will be a demonstration and there will be a number of kites provided which will come from the Dollar Store. It was suggested that the airport be informed. The Farm Centre is booked as the gathering site. A meeting is planned with the Newcomers Assoc.  The date will be either October 25 or 26, 2014.
• Governor General Tree Planting – Lane reported that a letter has been sent to Govenor General David Johnston requesting that he plant a tree in the Royal Forest on one of his visits to PEI this year.  There has not been a response.
• Clean Up the Farm Day – It was agreed that a Clean Up the Farm Day be held on Saturday, May 10 at 9 am.  Doug MacDonald agreed to get the garbage bags and will act as site coodinator.  Nora Jenkins will prepare a letter to members and will contact the City re pick up of bags.
• 2014 Legacy Project – Communication was received from Hon Gail Shea’s office updating the status of the Experimental Farm property which suggests that Ag Canada continues to wish to continue to operate the Farm. It was agreed that the Friends of the Farm request a meeting with Hon Shea, at her convenience, to thank her for her work done to date regarding the efforts of the Friends of the Farm and to restate the goal of the  Friends of the Farm along with the City of Charlottetown and the consensus of the Mi’kamq Confederacy of PEI that the Farm be considered as a legacy gift.

It was agreed that the Friends of the Farm request a meeting           with Hilsborough MP, Sean Casey, to inform him of the Friends   of the Farm and our purpose.  Nora Jenkins agreed to make this               contact.

7. New Business

• Crown Garden – Doug MacDonald agreed to look after the arrangements for planting the Crown Garden again this summer. It was agreed that the maintenance schedule for the summer be drawn up at the next meeting. It was agreed that thanks be expressed to Ron Richard for his considerable help with the planting.
• Guardian  – Lane MacLaren informed that he has contacted the Guardian regarding the Janice Simmonds Award and the fact that the picture from the annual meeting was not placed in the Guardian.  Lane arranged for an article to be written and asked that Roger Younker and Nora Jenkins be interviewed to provide the information for the article.

1. Adjournment and Date and Time of next meeting

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.

The date of the next meeting is Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 1:15 pm.

Lane MacLaren                                           Nora Jenkins

Chair                                                          Secretary