FRIENDS OF SAPELO
Minutes - Winter General Meeting January 18, 2020
Call to Order and Welcome by Hyde Post, president 100:pm
Minutes of Fall General Meeting
Motion: Phil Second: Kaye Accepted
Treasurer’s Report – Hyde for Edie Leverette
Budget:
- would like to incorporate approx. $2000.00 in budget to fund Adam’s, Rachel’s, and/or Suzanne’s requests
- Motion: Tom Second: Dori Budget approved
SINERR Updates: Doug (Manger research reserve)
Staffing:
- Total of 10-1/2 positions with a shared secretary of which 2-1/2 are vacant (7 positions are on island)
- Hiring freeze (consequence of Kemp dropping budget 4% last year with anticipated 6% decrease next year)
- In response to budget cuts, state froze positions
- No discussion regarding this at recent annual statewide meeting, so no adjustment expected.
- Division has re-organized game mngt, fisheries and non-game. Previously encompassed only coastal counties, but now,
multiple other counties included.
- Per state, “No one will lose job and no salaries will be affected”, but how this will work is questionable.
Needs and Renovations:
- Bus at Sapelo is 27 yrs old. Money is at hand but not released for this expenditure.
- Grant request in Feb to do renovations on trail. Consideration of making part out to metal bridge ADA compliant. Will hire
contractor to do most of the work. It will go thru NOAA – internal pot of $ for construction projects.
- Renovations at Long Tabby - Reynolds’ 1950’s boys camp shower room will be a new office for grad student through
Davison Fellowship – network wide for all research reserves. Adam and Yvonne’s office in Education Bldg to be re-done.
SINEER Advisory Group: (12 people)
- Met Dec 15th.
- Discussed challenges in admin. including need for more communication capacity. Consideration of partnership with
University – they would hire, we would share the positions.
- Possibly go thru University to fill Suzanne’s old position. SINEER has money, but state won’t allow staffing expenditure.
Eagle Scout Project:
- Calan McKinnon directed his project of the nature trail extension to ephemeral pond on Sat., Jan 11th.
- 18 people participated - 7 FOS, boy scout parents, boy scouts. Built trail with signage in 2 hours!
Business:
Memberships: Phil
- Many new members – list not updated to present
- January is dues month!
- membership dues raised slightly: $30/individual $40/family
- about 238 people in our data base - some are no longer current, moved away, etc.
- about 90 people have pd.
- Pay the previous rate of $25/individual or $35/family if FOS receives your check in January!!
- If problems paying on line, let us know
Newsletter: Phil
- putting together newsletter and announcements to come out 4 x year
- When received, click on link at bottom “Add us to your address book” to assure they don’t go to junk or
spam.
- Send pics and any island or FOS info for newsletter.
Mansion Christmas tours report: Robin
- 2nd yr of doing tours on 9 days rather than 20. All 9 days sold out with minimum of 36 visitors per day.
- 324 people toured the mansion
- 24 docents participated with 47 docent shifts over 9 days.
- Total Volunteer hours = 423 hrs not incl. decorating and take down
- Tour revenue $11,480.00 (doesn’t count the ferry $ but definitely increased their traffic)
- Gift shop $1289.00 – much greater than last year
- The mansion was rented out to 16 overnight guests in mansion during December
- $19,076.00 total December revenue for the mansion (Much more than when we did tours on additional days)
Dates for this year:
- Nov 10 Docent training
- Decorate Nov. 16 -17 (stay one night only)
- Take down DAY – Jan 11th (no overnight stay)
Revise docent manual:
- discrepancies and contradictions to be corrected
- need additional stories and anecdotes
- let Robin know if you have changes
2021 will be 25th year of mansion tours:
- 1st holiday tours in 1996
- 2021 we’ll incorporate SILVER in every room to represent 25 years
PROJECTS / EVENTS for 2020:
Sapelo Map Proposal: Doug
- the map provided at the visitor’s center has not been updated since 2002 and is in serious need of updating.
- if FOS have graphic design skills, GIS mapping skills, or other pertinent skills, let Hyde know.
Sapelo Lighthouse 200th anniversary:
- Recent discussion with Fred and a small committee from FOS board re: possible events to commemorate
- FOS available to help with to commemorate the anniversary of the lighthouse.
- Ideas welcome – any activities that would be appropriate to celebrate??
- Sapelo Light Beer
- tall ship Lynx – possibly a sail by or take group of people to Sapelo – anchor near and use tender to bring people in
- suggestion from floor – promote at Blessing of Fleet
Lighthouse (and area) improvement plan:
- re-do lighthouse paint
- new boardwalk on trail to old lighthouse
- picnic pavilion in lighthouse area
- contractors to be used for all above
Bill Lewis – Plein Air art event on Sapelo:
- April 17th – 18th
- 2-night event at mansion. Will have proposal within a week or so.
- Event to accommodate at least 16 and up to 24 people (dictated by mansion accommodations)
Need volunteers –
Repair of guard rails
Remove damaged picnic tables / build new tables
Solar power light fixture at Nanny Goat bathroom
Pine trees off UGAMI tennis court (they’ll have full time students living on island). Not signing up for this at this point.
Native Garden
Other Projects
Bees project
Beach Slope Monitoring.
Phytoplankton Monitoring – Rachel Guy in charge ( national data base – important project – takes a couple hours)
Spraying ruins at Chocolate – Monday, February 24th 8:30 – 4:30
DATES / EVENTS:
Saturday, Feb 15 — Beach sweep Sat 9-12:30
Thursday, March 5 — Advisory Board Meeting: 3:00PM Sapelo Island Visitors' Center
Monday, March 16 — Beach Slope
Saturday, March 7 — Spring Meeting on Sapelo - work day & covered dish lunch 9- 4:30
Saturday April 4 — Beach Sweep 9:00-12:30
Thursday, June 4 — Advisory Board Meeting, 3:00PM Sapelo Island Visitors' Center
Saturday, June 6 — Summer Meeting on Sapelo - work day & covered dish lunch 9:00-4:30
Saturday, June 27 — Beach Sweep 9-12:30
Saturday, August 8 — Beach Sweep 9-12:30
Thursday, September 10 — Advisory Board Meeting, 3:00PM at Visitors' Center
Tuesday, September 15 — Fall Meeting & covered dish supper at Visitors' Center
Saturday, October 10 — Beach sweep 9:00-12:30
Tuesday, November 10 — Docent Training For Reynolds Tours 8:30- 2:30
November 16-17— Decorate Reynolds Mansion
January 11, 2021 — Take Down
Meeting Adjourned: 1:58pm motion – Pat Second – Phyllis
Respectfully Submitted – Susan Fardy - Secretary