GRWA's 41st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, SATURDAY JULY 2, 2005,
10:00 A.M., KENDRICK PARK. Board members present: Emily Conger (VP), Bonnie Mabee (membership), Barbara Jones (secretary), Peter Torbet (MAL). Committee members present: Cam Smith (environment), Alistair Burnett (Conservancy liaison).

Emily welcomed the attendees.
The board & members were asked to introduce themselves and comment if desired. Peter T. said he was involved to keep our waters pristine. Attendees not already mentioned were Linda Torbet, Art & Lynne Shaw, Michael O'Connor, Chip O'Connor, Mary Dean, and new members Brian & Caroline Fowler, who live "near the chimney." Speaker Katherine Beehler brought her sister Jane who helps her with her research.

Prior to the actual meeting, Bonnie introduced Elizabeth Shaw, founding member of the GRWA, and Emily presented Elizabeth with a painting and the first lifetime membership.
Betty paid tribute to all those who came before and helped save the waterways.
She explained that the GRWA's inception was due to concerns about artificial fluctuations of water levels due to abuse of water usage.

Michael O'Connor introduced Katherine Beehler, a Masters student in Geography-Environmental Resource Mgt., U. of Waterloo, doing reesearch on the Northern Map Turtle in our area. Thanks to a chance meeting of the two, Katherine decided to work around Lost Bay, where Mike acted as guide. Katherine gave an informative talk on turtles after which Bonnie presented her with a few appropriate gifts.
Katherine studies riparian areas in E. Ontario. This key habitat has not been researched. She said reptiles & amphibians have many species at risk and need to be studied to help understand and preserve their habitats.
Any given turtle will use different habitats for basking, breeding, etc.
The Map Turtle is a species at risk. Habitat:S.Quebec/Ontario, N. Vermont, & south to Georgia.
Their life span is about 20 years. A mature female is 18-28 c.; adult male, 9-15c.
Their diet is snails, clams, mollusks, crawfish, aqua vegetation & some fish
Nesting: May-July; 9-17 eggs . In Canada they usually nest only once. Hatching: Aug-Sept.
Predators: raccoons, possum, skunk, coyote. When water is polluted mollusks disappear.
Katherine traps the turtles, weighs, marks & determines sex. Females have a wider head.
We should note and report where we see basking: place, date, conditions.
In Lost Bay Katherine has also seen stink pot turtles; she's seen snapping turtles on roads, cliffs, & shorelines, & painted turtles on roads..

At 11:00 Emily formally opened the meeting on behalf of our President, Mary Kaiser, who is gravely ill.

1. MINUTES & SECRETARY'S REPORT:
Moved to accept: Bonnie, 2nd Alistair, CARRIED.
Barbara gave a brief overview of her 14 years with the GRWA and paid tribute to the others
who have worked and held the organization together, with special thanks to Bonnie Mabee.

2. TREASURER'S REPORT: Bonnie said that $2,867.78 in the bank & the recently deposited
$200 in membership fees gives us a healthy balance of around $3,000.

3. MEMBERSHIP--Bonnie:
Our Website has had 250 hits.
Newsletter: Shorelines is produced & distributed on a regular basis.
Water quality testing: invasive species, clarity, phosphates: more data needed--2 more years? Septic tanks are the main culprits for phosphates
Speeding boats: we should document boats & report to local police.
Paddling: w/Biosphere Network & the Beverley Lakes: a paddling route is being created.

4. OTHER REPORTS

PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Emily said this was our most active year in last decade. The Township's Official Plan is important to us all; the GRWA has been an active participant.
We ensured that Long Reach be considered part of the Gananoque River!
We fought against houseboats and for increased setbacks & septic inspections.
We arranged a RH Lake meeting with residents, Ministries & a few Council members.
We've formed a 3-Lakes Group with the 2 Beverley Lakes. Don Ross said Parks Canada has $500,000 to study this area + $500,000 from Ontario Ministries. We can benefit. Gary Nielsen, Stewardship Council, said they did a major Charleston L. study with 200 shoreline restorations. They hope to work next on the Gananoque River system.
Hazardous waste collection: Toxic waste day at County Rd 3, Aug.27, 1-4pm
Frontenac Arch Biosphere: connects us w/other groups & helps us work together. Speeding boats may be an issue for us all.
"Local Flavours": Support local food producers & buyers

Red Horse Lake Meeting--Peter Torbet: Ministry representatives talked about nutrient loading due to more severances & building. Lake Trout lakes are considered a natural heritage feature in Ontario. Kirk Armstrong wants to form a RH Lake Association. Peter will be our liaison.

 

 

Conservancy/1000 Islands Watershed Land Trust--Alistair: In the past year, the name changed & the area encompasses from south of Rideau R. to Cataraqui R. region & includes the 1000 islands. The main goal, especially as regards the GRWA: trying to prioritize river lands to find the best areas to conserve. We need to disseminate knowledge about the land trusts.

5. MISSION STATEMENT, PROPOSED CHANGES: Barbara explained that the proposals were minor changes suggested by Mary Kaiser, emphasizing education and research, in order for us to comply with requirements to gain "Charitable Status", which in turn will allow us to request funding for projects.
Moved to accept: Cam Smith, 2nd: Michael O'Connor. CARRIED.

6. ELECTION OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Emily explained that the nominating committee (Emily, Bonnie & Barb, with input from Mary) identified some skill sets required: computer skills, live locally year round, leadership, vision, biology, ability to work w/elected officials, financial skills, fund raising ability, personality to reach out to community & connect, writing skills, tech. computer skills for brochures & website, artistic skills, legal, ability to organize data & people, etc. (see board Minutes)
With all that in mind, Emily asked for nominations from the floor.
The following board was elected:
Margaret Armstrong Bonnie Mabee
Emily Conger Peter O'Hare
Holly Evans Cliff Redman
Barbara Jones Peter Torbet
It will be the Board's responsibility to find a 9th member.

Moved to Adjourn: Peter Torbet, 2nd Bonnie Mabee. CARRIED.
Meeting adjourned 12:00.

Barbara L. Jones, Secretary

A PICNIC FOLLOWED THE MEETING.