Present: Muggs Sigurgierson (Chair), Vicki Bale, Rudy Rogalsky, Phyl Robinson, John Machell, Gemma Colin, Reina LeBaron (recorder) Guest: Gary Manzer
Regrets: Tara Ireland, Jazzmyer Corrigan, Meghan Nordmann

Call to order at 9:43am
1. Agenda approved by general consent.

2. Minutes of the meeting of April 30, 2012 accepted as presented by general consent.

3. Business arising from previous minutes:
a) Youth Funding:
ACTION: Vicki and Muggs will review the draft parameters and meet with Rudy to discuss further.
ACTION: Vicki, Muggs and Rudy will also discuss criteria for funding adults and look at updating the “New Board Member Manual”

4. Correspondence in:
a) Thank you letter received from the Soledad Goldhar.

5. Treasurer’s Report : A financial report was presented, reviewed and approved as presented by general consent.
An interim financial report of the Plant Sale and Berry Tea was presented.

6. Committee Reports (Committees report as needed)
a. Buildings and Rentals: Vicki met with Bard and Charmaine and signed the Rental Agreements.
b. Grounds, Garden and Orchard: There is a big pile of mulch that needs to be moved. Burn pile debris also need moving to the old greenhouse site for burning.
There was general agreement that David or John be hired to do this work.
There was general agreement that the compost area be moved at a fall work-party.
Craig Smith (who has done grass-cutting) passed away recently.
ACTION: Vicki will send a card of condolence to Donna and the Smith family.
There has been positive feedback on the improvements to the Garden and grounds.
The Orchards need to be mowed before summer.
ACTION: Muggs will talk to Florette and Ondrea about the best timing.
c. Communications, membership and newsletter: The newsletter was printed and mailed out before the Plant Sale. A lot of compliments were received on the newsletter.
The membership records are up-to-date thanks to Muggs and Rudy.
All board members are reminded to take pictures and get written reports of events for the newsletter.
The next newsletter will be in October.
d. Programs:
Plant Sale: The Plant Sale went really well and everything looked lovely.
It was suggested that next year instead of discounting all the plants at 1:30, a “sale table” be set up and specific plants moved to it as necessary (e.g. tomatoes and other annuals)
Posters intended for off-island need to specify “Hornby Island”.
It was suggested that the Sale be advertised from “11:00 to 2:00” (rather than 3:00).
It would be useful to have someone in charge of advertising, particularly to ensure that there are enough posters, an ad gets in the May First Edition (April 19th deadline), the sign gets put up at the Co-op corner a week in advance, and the Sale is announced on the Radio.
The volunteers were great! Shirley and Al Dumas were especially helpful with the Tea. Flowers from Maija at Old-Rose nursery were lovely.
ACTION: Vicki will write a card of thanks to Maija.
ACTION: Muggs will bring a binder for the Plant Sale notes and instructions to go in.
There was general agreement to have a laminated instruction card with each tent.
Accident: Tom Pagdin fell on the deck steps during clean-up. He ruptured his Achilles tendon and wrenched his shoulder. Rudy has asked Mae Pagdin to write up a report of the accident for the files.
ACTION: Rudy and Muggs will write reports on their impression of the accident.
Rudy also talked to the insurance company to inform them that an accident had occurred although there is no claim at this point.
There was discussion. It was suggested that the Tea tent be place further from the deck. It was suggested that a ramp (either permanent or moveable) would improve the accessibility of the Annex.
There was general agreement to paint the deck with anti-slip grit coating.
ACTION: John will follow up on purchasing anti-grip coating.
There was general agreement to have a hand-rail installed on the corner of the deck.
ACTION: Rudy will talk to Albini LaPierre about constructing a metal hand-rail.
There was general agreement to smooth the ground next to the last step for an easier transition.
ACTION: Grounds Committee will decide next step on landscaping.
John Margetts is working on the sandwich board sign for the end of the driveway. It was noted that the signage should be discussed with the Camping Co-op.

Vet mini-workshop: The mini-workshop for farmers to talk with the Tsolum vet about sheep and goat challenges went very well. About eight farmers attended at Gemma’s barn and got good information.

Under the Maple: Suggestions for this summer’s Under The Maple
talks include: Jan Bevan talking about seed-saving, Chris and Karin Weix talking about their trip to Spain, Isobel Rorick talking about Salish weaving, a Komox First Nations representative (April Shoplan?) talking about indigenous culture, and a Ukulele workshop/performance.
ACTION: Programming Committee (Muggs, Phyl, Rudy and potentially David Wiseman) will meet at Phyl’s to finalize the UTM program before June 19 (to get ads into the First Edition).

Worm composting: There is some interest in collaborating with the GPA to offer a vermicomposting workshop in the fall in conjunction with moving the compost bins.

AGM: The AGM will be held on Sunday, June 10 at 2:00pm with wine and cheese to follow. Reports will be given by the following people:
President’s report, Rentals and Orchard—Muggs
Treasurer’s report and Programs—Rudy
Grounds and Garden—John and Gemma
HRCCA liaison—Vicki
Water Stewardship—Mary Mackenzie
ACTION: Vicki will put an AGM ad in the Grapevine.
ACTION: Vicki will buy wine, cheese and crackers for the AGM.
David Wiseman has expressed a willingness to stand for election.

7. New Business
a. Round-Table on Housing: Trustee Tony Law sent out an e-mail suggesting a round-table meeting on “Housing” and requesting input from Heron Rocks.
No board members were interested in attending at this time.
It was noted that the ISLA AGM is coming up on Sunday, June 3. Several board members plan to attend.
There was a suggestion to include a notice of support for ISLA in the next newsletter.
There was a suggestion to review the Heron Rocks mandate.
8. Upcoming Dates:
a. AGM: Sunday, June 10 at 2:00pm
b. Board Meeting: Monday, June 25 at 9:30am

Refreshments for next meeting: Undesignated.
Adjourned at 11:21am

Faroe, who is Lu Ackerson’s granddaughter, kayaked with two friends from Kitimat to Vancouver recently. That is a long trip.

They were trying to bring attention to Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline project. They interviewed locals on their way south to get their views on the pipeline.

Faroe will be giving a slide show, talking about their kayaking adventures and the interviews they conducted.

You can go to this link to get more detailed information.

The outerwalls and new roofline are complete and the sliding glass door has been installed. The next step will be windows and a metal roof

Also, please see this addition to the newsletter Save our Seabirds – pdf download

Explore the lovely photo gallery of the flora and fauna of Heron Rocks by B. Bakker