Windham Regional Woodlands Association
Annual Meeting & Potluck Cookout Lunch
Green Mountain Camp, 565 Green Mountain Road, Dummerston, VT
Saturday, September 24 – RAIN OR SHINE – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
IMPORTANT: Please provide information by Monday, September 19: If you plan to attend the meeting, please let Carol Morrison () know whether you would prefer a hamburger made from locally-produced beef, Grand Kosher hot dog (low-fat, no filler), or a Veggie Burger. Your timely notification will help to ensure that we have adequate grill foods. You are welcome to enjoy more than one of the items; just let Carol know. Thank you!
Let’s have a “Green” Meeting!: The Green Mountain Camp provides a rustic meeting venue with useful amenities (e.g., shelter, potable water, kitchen) and the opportunity for a field trip to a nearby woodlot. As in recent years, we continue to strive to “green” the meeting. To help this effort, we ask that all meeting participants be part of the “Green Team.”
What to bring
– Potluck dish for lunch, including a serving utensil
– Travel mug for beverages
– $7.00 registration fee per person to cover grilling supplies and other meeting expenses
– Chair, if you prefer a seat with a back. Otherwise, there will be ample seating at the picnic benches.
– Footwear suitable for forest trails with moderate hills for the field trip.
Directions
– From Route 30 in Dummerston, turn east at the covered bridge and cross the West River. This turn is about 6.5 miles north of the Brattleboro Retreat and about 5.5 miles south of Newfane Village. (Do NOT cross the West River on the green iron bridge.)
-Turn left at the first road, which is Camp Arden Rd. You will be driving north, parallel to the West River. Go about 0.5 mile
– Take the first right onto Green Mountain Camp Rd. Then turn right into the camp.
Parking
The parking will be on the left and right side of the driveway just after you pass the camp office. Please pull in front first (rather than parallel park) so that there is room for all the vehicles.
For those who have difficulty walking, there is limited parking near the Dining Hall (continue straight down the driveway.)
Program
Morning
9:00 – 9:30 Registration – Enjoy coffee and donuts while visiting with Woodlands friends, old and new.
Welcome to Green Mountain Camp from Billie Slade, Camp Director
Brief business meeting, presided over by WRWA President Marli Rabinowitz. Topics will include Treasurer’s report (Phyllis Weltz), summary of programs (Sam Schneski), election of Trustees, and other matters raised by the membership.
Field trips: In the late morning, we will visit a nearby woodlot that is owned by the Patriquin family. After a brief introduction to the site, you can choose one of two walks.
(1) Foresters, including Charlie Richardson and Andy Sheere (both former WRWA trustees) will lead one walk. Topics will include the recent harvest to foster the growth of new trees and free up growing space for some of the beautiful pine and oak that this property grows so well. We will walk a maintained woods road and stop at key spots to discuss the challenges and benefits of silviculture, timber harvesting, land tenure and forest management as well as natural history and wildlife.
(2) Roger Haydock will lead the other – and more rigorous – walk with a focus on the geology of the Patriquin woodlot. Roger describes himself as a self-taught geologist. He is a knowledgeable and delightful speaker and trip leader.
Afternoon
Lunch – Sam Schneski will again cook our hamburgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers. If you can, please bring a potluck dish to share as well as a suitable serving utensil. At a recent meeting, Past President Stu Thurber remarked that the lunch gets better each year! Please let Carol () know by September 19 whether you will want a hamburger, hot dog, veggie burger (or all the above!) If you do not have e-mail, please call Dana Ruppert at Bill Guenther’s office (802-257-7967, Ext. 302)
Forester Charlie Richardson will provide a brief overview of forest management at the Camp.
Featured speaker: Jaclyn Comeau, Wildlife Specialist with Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, will talk about the behavior and life requirements of black bears as well as how Vermonters can take an active role in the management of this iconic forest species. Ms. Comeau earned an M.S. degree from University of New Hampshire, where she studied human-bear conflict management. In addition to black bears, she has worked on research projects studying bobcats, marten, and mountain lions across North America.
Bill Guenther, Windham County Forester, will provide a legislative update.
John Caveney, Vice President of Timberlands for Cersosimo Lumber, will apprise us of the current market conditions for logs and wood products.
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