FRIENDS of the TAY WATERSHED Association
The Tay Watershed Times
Newsletter – March 2007 Volume 6, Issue 1
The Tay Watershed Times
Newsletter – March 2007 Volume 6, Issue 1
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FRIENDS of the TAY WATERSHED Association
The Tay Watershed Times Newsletter – March 2007 Volume 6, Issue 1 |
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Our Board of Directors
For 2007
Auditor: John Gibb-Carsley Mailings: Helen Park Internet mail: Marilyn Devolin and several who assisted at all of our events: Frank Roy, Kevin Bowes, and Mel Dillon Friends of the Tay Watershed is a non-profit , charitable association of residents, associations and other organisations interested in the welfare of the Tay watershed, located in eastern Ontario, at the top of the Rideau watershed. We welcome your involvement in any of the association's activities. For further information and to volunteer contact Chris Stone at 613-267-1026 or christopher.stone@sympatico.ca To contact us:P.O. Box 2065, 57 Foster St. Perth, ON, K7H 3M9 or E-mail: info@tayriver.org For further information: Internet address: www.tayriver.org |
Your ‘Tay Watershed Discovery Evening’ In 2006, your Board of Directors separated our annual open house – the ‘Tay Watershed Discovery Evening’ - from the annual general meeting. The open house, which has taken on a successful life of its own, was held on November 23, 2006, at the Perth Legion Hall – and was again a big draw. In recent years, these evenings have had a theme – for this edition, it was ‘Recreation in the Watershed’. The featured speakers were author and conservationist, Max Finkelstein, with ‘Reflections on Canoeing’ and Project Officer for the Rideau Canal office, Mark Brus, on the Canal’s 175th Anniversary in 2007. Also presented was an update on Ontario’s Clean Water Legislation, by Carol Dillon, and a review of 2006 watershed activities. Recipients of the 2007 Environmental Awards See our website, for more information on these contributors to our community!! The 2006 ‘Discovery Evening’ was supported by the Town of Perth and the Community Stewardship Council of Lanark County. The exhibition area received assistance from Parks Canada and Lanark Stewardship Council. Thank you! March 22 is World Water Day |
Our Annual General Meeting - For those who were unable to participate in our AGM, following is a summary report – and a quick review of our accomplishments in 2006 and plans for 2007. For the detailed minutes of the AGM, please see the ‘Friend’s’ website. Our AGM was held on January 23, 2007, at the Perth Museum. Your 2007 Board of DirectorsFour new members were welcomed to our Board, including: Annie Dalton, Barbara King, Gordon Munroe, and Matt Craig – and Sheanna Tinlin as an alternate member. The incoming Board thanked four outgoing Directors for their considerable contributions to the association over the years – Orion Clark, Aileen Merriam, Sulyn Cedar and Sarah Rosolen. The Board also thanked the volunteers who have helped deliver the association’s activities – and, in particular, Helen Park, who handles our mailings, Marilyn Devolin, for distributing our Internet mail, and John Gibb-Carsley, our auditor. Our 2006 ActivitiesThe meeting opened with a review of the association’s activities in 2006. These are too many to list in this newsletter (again, the list is available on the website), but four areas that were emphasized were:
In 2006, your Board also adopted a position on the issue of climate change, which is expected to have substantial impact on ecological systems around the world, including the Tay Watershed. The Friends of the Tay Watershed will develop, endorse, support, recommend and implement actions to mitigate and to adapt to the effects of climate change within the watershed for the health of the watershed and its inhabitants. Our Financial SituationThe ‘Friends’ 2006 Financial Statements showed a positive balance in 2006. The association also enjoyed considerably increased revenues - and expenditures. Our association, with its charitable status, has been the recipient of several grants for the Lake Management Planning Program, the operation of which is jointly carried out with Rideau valley Conservation Authority, Otty Lake Association, Lanark Stewardship Council, Tay Valley Township and Mississippi Valley Conservation. |
We also received new revenue in 2006 from the lottery for the ‘Wee Lassie’ cedar canoe, which will be raffled in April at Perth’s Maplefest festival. Tickets for the Wee Lassie remain available through our website or by contacting the Association at the address shown above. What are our plans in 2007?
The ‘Friends’ have a busy year planned for 2007. Our objectives include, amongst other things:
A complete list of the proposed activities to meet these objectives is posted on our website ~ click here to view. Some of these proposed activities will be executed only if financial and volunteer resources permit – for example, the development of a management plan specifically for the Tay River and the implementation of a high profile project, such as “Swim Again” in Perth. Scheduled Upcoming Events in 2007 : March 28, 2007 Screening of the film “An Inconvenient Truth”, followed by an open discussion: Council Chambers, Perth Town Hall, 7:00pm (come early as seating is limited). April 28, 2007 FoTW will participate in Maplefest; Draw for the ‘Wee Lassie’ cedar strip canoe lottery. June 9, 2007 FoTW will host an information booth, with entertainment, at the Tay Basin in Perth, as part of ‘‘Doors Open Perth 2007’’. October 18, 2007 The association’s annual ‘Watershed Discovery Evening’, at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall, Perth (watch our website and future newsletters for details). Board of Directors' meetings for 2007: March 27; June 19; September 18; November 20. Other events will be posted on our website as they arise at www.tayriver.org/events.html . |