Annual Meeting Pot Luck and Cookout September 19th

WINDHAM REGIONAL WOODLANDS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING & POTLUCK COOKOUT LUNCH

Kiwanis Shelter at Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro, VT

 Saturday, September 19th – RAIN OR SHINE

IMPORTANT: Information needed from you no later than Monday, September 14^th

If you plan to attend the meeting, please let Carol Morrison know by email – or phone – 802-387-2865 whether you would prefer a hamburger made from locally-produced beef, Grand Kosher hot dog (low-fat, no filler), or an Amy’s Organic Quarter-pound Veggie Burger.   Your timely notification will help to ensure that we have adequate grill foods. If you would like to try more than one of the items, that is fine – just let Carol know. Thank you!

Let’s have a “Green” Meeting!

After many years of holding our annual meeting in rural settings, this year we will gather in Brattleboro. The hilltop location, with a view of Mount Wantastiquet in the distance, provides useful amenities (e.g., shelter, running water, kitchen) and the opportunity for a field trip that includes municipal and private land. As in recent years, we continue to strive to “green” the meeting. To help this effort, please bring a travel mug to use for coffee and cold beverages.   We will need your assistance in sorting your materials into (1) reusable items, including the plastic and metal flatware, for washing; (2) compostable items (e.g., soiled paper plates and napkins) that we will bring to Project COW (Composting Organic Waste), (3) recyclables (e.g., cans, bottles, and “clean” paper products); and (4) trash (We expect this to be the smallest pile). We ask that all meeting participants be part of the “Green Team”.

What to bring

–   Potluck dish for lunch, including serving utensil (if needed)

–   Travel coffee mug for beverages (to help our continuing efforts to “green” our meeting)

–   $7.00 registration fee per person to cover grilling supplies and other meeting materials

–   Comfortable walking shoes for the field trip

–   Chair, if you prefer a seat with a back. The Shelter has ample seating at the picnic benches.

Directions

–   From Exit 2 of Interstate 91, go west on Route 9 (Western Ave) for about 0.3 miles.

–   Turn left into Guilford Street, bearing left after crossing over the Whetstone Brook.

–   Turn right onto Memorial Park Drive into the park.

–   Follow the paved road uphill to the Kiwanis Shelter.

Parking

There is very limited parking adjacent to the Kiwanis Shelter.   Please save this area for those who are bringing meeting supplies and those who may have some difficulty walking.   Most people should park their vehicles in the designated area on the grass near the Kiwanis Shelter.

SCHEDULE

9:00 Registration – Enjoy coffee and donuts while visiting with Woodlands friends, old and new.

9:30 Welcome and Business Meeting – WRWA President Sam Rowley. Topics will include Bylaw revision, Treasurer’s report, and election of Trustees.

10:30 Field trip – George Weir and Hayden Lake will lead us on a walk, following trails through Memorial Park woodlands and neighboring lands of Prentiss and Elizabeth Smith. The Smith forestland has been managed conservatively for the last half century, and now supports a fine stand of impressive pine, oak, and hemlock. A near-term harvest is planned for the stand. Harvesting has not occurred in the Park woodland for several decades, and the forest consists of impressive pine, oak and hardwoods. The trail is fairly level, but with some gently rolling terrain.

12:00 Lunch – Grillmeister 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, as appropriate. At a recent meeting, Past President Stu Thurber remarked that the lunch gets better each year! Do remember to let Carol ( or 802-387-2865) know by September 14^th whether you will want a hamburger, hot dog, veggie burger (or all the above!)

1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Afternoon program

Sam Schneski, County Forester for Windham and Windsor Counties, will give an update on the Use Value Appraisal Program (also known as “Current Use”)

Jim Esden, Forest Protection Specialist with Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, will provide an overview of invasive insects that FP&R is monitoring as well as “breaking invasive insect news”.   Jim will focus on the current status in Windham County of the hemlock wooly adelgid and elongate hemlock scale as well as the search for emerald ash borer and Asian long-horned beetle.

Gerry Hawkes will display Forest Savers’ forestry tractor equipped with a bi-directional clearing rake and extreme duty shredder which is very effective for controlling heavy infestations of woody invasive vegetation, including vines.  He will discuss the merits and limitations of uprooting and shredding woody invasives with this equipment.  He will also explain how Forest Savers’ 4 million BTU per hour flame treatment system supplements the uprooting and shredding and can be employed on very difficult sites.  Since the flame treatment system will not be on display, it is suggested that anyone interested may wish to watch videos that are available at www.Forest-Savers.com before attending the meeting.  A variety of treatment options will be discussed and questions will be welcomed.