Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
Doc. #2007-34
Outreach Committee Telecon
May 10, 2007

Present: Diane Emmons, Sharon Anderson, Julie Patterson, Roxy Johnston, Judy Pipher

We welcome new members of the Outreach Committee, Kari Richards and Judy Morehouse. Kari wants to participate in events, and both Sharon and Roxy report that she is excellent! Judy M. also likes events, and can do paper work from her home.

1. Lakefest
Sound equipment needs to be available the entire time of Lakefest – Diane will add to the Lakefest planning document and will resend to members. Our joint action item is to go over the list as a committee in order to ascertain how many tasks we can take over from Diane, who will be out for a minimum of 6 weeks following her July 13 operation. Diane particularly wishes to offload calling and arranging for displays – she will send around her list (and we need to try Empire Biofuels again this year).

We went over Sharon’s proposed Lakefest schedule (discussed below). Among other things, Lakfest will be the kick-off of the Network’s 10th anniversary as an organization (the 1st Lakefest at Goosewatch Winery marked the beginning of the first official year where the first Board of Directors was installed). Cornell is planning “Love your Lake” and we are hoping to partner with them. Contact is Ethan Rainwater, a Sustainability Intern – his position was created following the redwoods controversy.

We need something special to celebrate our beginning as an official organization, and culminate the year at Lakefest 2008. The Membership/PR committee is tasked to plan this. Judy suggested we have a big decorated cake - with 10 big candles – and all sing Happy Birthday (Second Wind could lead as their final number).

Sharon says we have 5 tables: Julie will check to see if she can purchase 5 more for $40/each from Big Lots in Auburn. If not, we can use picnic tables at Cass Park for this year, although that often isn’t an option. If we don’t purchase extras, Judy suggested we advertise in Network News the possibility that members with slightly used tables (6 ft x 3 ft) consider donating them as a tax write-off. Roxy said she can arrange storage of tables.
Another option is that Sarah E. (Finance Committee member) has family with an auction house that may be able to supply tables, and delivery and pickup.

Sharon and Diane favor renting a large tent for the displays. (In Lakefest year 2 at Cass Park the displays were merely set up in the open the field adjoining the pavilion). We also need two smaller tents – for registration and for Jack the R.E.A.D. dog. Judy and Julie have two small tents (Judy’s used last year for Jack) but a larger one for registration was rented. Diane will call same rental place.

Diane has already contacted Shur-Save as a heads up – no order yet. Will confirm with them later.

Committee confirmed that there should only be one door prize chance per person. (Judy later wondered whether we would consider selling other chances? 5 for $10?)

The grant we received for Lakefest requires feedback on event success. Sharon will invent a few questions, and will task Board members to informally survey and write down comments and feedback. Another grant component is to stress local history – this is planned in the program below.

We discussed the possibility of a big banner announcing Lakefest with dates and location to post in busy Ithaca location: Diane had it costed at $200. Since this has one-time use, we did not view this as a good use of funds. Nonetheless, Roxy will explore permitting etc. Roxy suggested that we could have big posters made and laminated that could be posted around town.

Captain Dennis and MV Haendel – it will be at Farmer’s Market 10am-2pm on August 18. We should ask him to have a table (brochures, display) at Lakefest, and we can advertise location. Roxy will explore whether he could arrive over closer to Cass park at 2:30 free of charge, or whether there would be a charge. We also discussed his staying extra time at Farmer’s Market, TBD.

Judy confirmed reservation of sound equipment from Hickeys. Closes at 5pm, so will have to return directly following. Niamh thinks we could borrow the Wells College brown drink dispensers.

Judy will make sure Lakefest link on our home page, and will update preliminary announcement to reflect updated Schedule below.

Judy will ask Peter Schuster whether he can make old-fashioned ice cream

Lakefest 2007 Schedule – important for everyone to be aware that there are MANY events, and that events are not necessarily serial.

11:45 Second Wind - Music begin
12:00 Welcome (Sharon? Janet?)
12:00 – 1:00 Picnic and Music by Second Wind
12:00 – 3:30 Displays
12:30 – 1:30 Children’s Garden (Lee McDonald)
12:45 – 1:45 Jack the R.E.A.D. Dog (few kids at a time)
1:30 – 2:00 Compost Theatre
2:00 – 2:30 Annual Membership Meeting anad Presentation of Morehouse and Lake
Friendly farms Awards
2:30 – 3:15 Tom Knight
3:15 – 4:30 Walk through Local History (Vicky Armstrong)
4:00 Annual Board Meeting

2. Other Events
Sharon requested participation in various upcoming events:
· Cayuga County Conservation Field days grade 6 (June 5 and 6 – Tuesday Wednesday at Emerson Park) – perhaps a water cleanup activity or aquatic habitat game. Roxy may be able to, and we wondered whether Judy M would be interested.
· Danby Fun Day (July 14 – Laura Pittsley 564-7700)
· Interlaken Old Home Day (Sat June 9 hot - bring your won canopy) – a benefit to the community
· June 3 noon-6pm, Ithaca Festival sustainability fair (maybe 2nd half Judy? – Kari can do first shift.

We ask Sharon to e-mail the committee for availability: Roxy cannot help weekends this summer. (Should PR committee also be approached?)

Roxy and Kari did both Earth Day and Water Week – Roxy advertised results of essay contest with a very nice poster.

Essays were graded, winners chosen, Press Release written and sent to Diane, and essays now posted on website – still need pictures of student winners. Checks will not be forthcoming until pictures received. Sharon needs to contact Goulds concerning non-receipt of promised prize money. Judy will modify website essay winners announcement to acknowledge Goulds, and give Sharon the URLs of both the announcement of the contest and the results with Goulds mentioned, so she can send to them.

Diane will do the certificates of appreciation, and Judy will compose letters to winners, with complimentary newsletters for a year.

In lieu of an essay contest in 2008, Judy suggests a more creative alternative “Artistic Impressions of the Cayuga Lake Watershed” which could include
· Photography
· Drawings and paintings
· Poems/essays
· Other?
Committee endorsed this idea, and Sharon or Julie will present to the Board.

NEXT MEETING:

Time June 7 12:30 pm proposed

Subnitted,. Judy Pipher