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In attendance: Tina Manos, Ed Marrone, Art Catellier, Dan Fraiser, Jack Saunders, Bruce Colby, Michelle Ryan, Susan Joel
1. The meeting opened with an announcement by Art Catellier that he will be stepping down as president of the Friends of the HDRT, effective immediately, citing time constraints. Art will remain a member of the Friends, and will continue to help in the future. The members of the Friends of the HDRT appreciate all of his effort, and the time spent furthering the cause of the proposed trail. Thank you, Art!
Art nominated Dan Fraizer and Susan Joel as Co-presidents. All present agreed to their nomination. Congratulation to Dan and Susan.
2. Art Catellier distributed clipboards with petitions to those present who did not have any. The petition is to be signed by residents of Springfield only. Dan Fraizer felt that we should try to get signatures at first from people in our neighborhoods, making certain they are educated about the bike trail, before we expand to more public areas (e.g. in front of stores). Bruce Colby suggested stepping up local efforts to educate residents, including print ads and street signs.
3. Bruce Colby and Michelle Ryan reported on the February 22, 2001 "Working Group" meeting organized by the Springfield Planning Department, and including Dave Chappel (the designer from Greenman-Pedersen), neighbors both for and against the proposed bike trail, and representatives from the Forest Park, E. Forest Park and LaBroad Neighborhood councils. Both Michelle and Bruce felt that the meeting was overall quite positive and educational, and that the tone was respectful. Another meeting is planned for early May.
4.Susan Joel reported on her meeting with Springfield Attorney Cynthia Turnbull regarding organizing the Friends as a non-profit, as well as developing paperwork for bylaws and articles of incorporation. The attorney suggested that while the Friends should develop the bylaws and articles of incorporation, that it is perfectly acceptable (and we will save time and money as well) to utilize the existing Norwottuck Rail Trail non-profit organization as a parent or umbrella non-profit corporation for our own. Susan also passed out drafts of the bylaws and articles of incorporation for review and discussion at the next meeting.
5. The March 2001 newsletter was addressed and readied for mailing by those attending the meeting. Included in the newsletter was a flyer on the Pioneer Valley Bike Commute Week Community Volunteers meeting, which will take place on Thursday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Goodwill at the X.
The next meeting of the Friends of the HDRT is scheduled for Thursday April 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Goodwill at the X.
Notes: A new bike shop has opened on Shaker Road in East Longmeadow, Gerard’s Bike Shop. Check it out, biking enthusiasts!
Copied on May 10, 2001 by Kenyon F.
Karl <Webmaster@new-england-rail-trails.org>
from a file supplied by HDRT.
Unintentional errors are likely!
