Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
Doc. #2008-05A
Outreach Committee Telecon
February 1, 2008

Present: Julie Patterson, Roxy Johnston, Judy Pipher

Agenda: To discuss reorganization of the Outreach Committee (OC) and Statement of Work (SOW) for 2008.

Reorganization:
This meeting began with members feeling that the OC should take a hiatus, and offer to help as needed – this feeling had percolated to the top because we felt uncertain as to the Board’s thoughts as to what we might do to be helpful. We were also uncertain as to the Board’s reorganization plans for committees. While the OC in the past had organized conferences, that function has largely devolved to the Office. Our plans for a poster contest instead of the essay contest we had sponsored for the past 7 years, which we had combined with plans to produce a calendar, seemed to generate at most, half-hearted interest from the Board and office. And while we intended to continue Lakefest and Website management, and as possible, help at functions where the Network had a presence, funding uncertainties made it difficult for us to understand how to provide an SOW without guidance. However, during the course of our telecon, we became reinvigorated as we planned our agenda, and developed our ideas. We have not developed a budget other than the preliminary one Julie circulated, since some costing items are unknown to us. See discussion re: Lakefest below, for example.

Lakefest:
Because the Network is strapped for funds, we began planning this year’s Lakefest as a return to earlier times where not much money was expended, a simpler scaled-down and in many ways better Lakefest. Our first thought was to locate Lakefest 2008 at Goosewatch Winery, where the very first Lakefest was held. This has an added benefit – it feeds into one of our new goals for this Lakefest, namely to showcase what is produced around the watershed (see below). In no particular order, some of our goals are outlined.
1. Food: ask participation by members of the Network and the surrounding communities as to what they could supply. This would mean we would promote eating healthy foods, produced locally. Cooperative extension may be of help. Examples include:
§ Roxy can supply lettuce and tomatoes
§ Julie and Judy volunteer to bake some of the bread
§ Desserts as always by members.
§ Local fruits? Fruit salad.
§ Local cheese?
§ Other wineries? Farms?
2. Only free entertainment will be considered:
§ This may mean we would not have Tom Knight – but we plan other children’s small learning activities (and hope to continue the fish-painting and fossil identification provided by displayers). Kari Richards, if available, is excellent with children. Environmental Appreciation Days highlights participation by older 4H members – we could try to involve them.
§ Judy thinks Wendi Hunter will donate the music. (Acoustic likely at Goosewatch since power may not be available).
§ Limit the entertainment – last year our agenda was too full, and the focus should be on the Network and the individuals providing displays, as well as showcasing the produce of our watershed.
3. Limit the rentals – until a few years ago, we managed with at most 1 tent. Tables and chairs TBD but they are not a major expense.
4. Raffle: have silent auction for a few larger items. Guarantee that all items gone by half time. Roxy volunteered to organize.
5. Decouple Lakefest and Annual Meeting. Make Lakefest a celebration.
6. All planning done by OC. In order for office to valuate volunteer contributions, we have started keeping track of our time. Julie will keep track for us.
7. Cannot yet cost the event. We would need office to provide monetary value of their time at Lakefest (from noon – 4pm), and we would assume the rest would be volunteer time. We would need two half pages of advertising in the newsletter, and that also needs costing. Our plan is to again ask Wells College for a contribution of $700, and to keep within that amount if at all possible. Perhaps other funding could be raised as well.
Timing of Lakefest 2008 needs to be determined asap. The deadline for submissions to the Finger Lakes Times Annual Vacation Guide is March 3. Last year we had a photo and a story on Lakefest, as well as the announcement appearing in the calendar. WE NEED BOARD APPROVAL AT THE FEBRUARY 12 MEETING TO PROCEED AS PLANNED AS WELL AS ANY DATE CONSTRAINTS.

Poster Contest:
Despite feeling discouraged by the Board’s reaction, we wish to move forward. Julie has been on vacation, and received Pat Haines’ e-mail address during that period. Roxy has now contacted her concerning her similar contest (which is too local for the watershed). In particular, Level Green is an old organization, and our efforts could benefit from their experience. Pat is a source of ideas, which we will evaluate for our next meeting/telecon. Some of our thoughts on this:
1. This contest could be large or small – Judy mentioned that a small MLK day contest was held in her locality, and it was successful. The Seneca Falls library recently held a photo contest. See http://senecafallslibrary.org . Awards were part of a grant entitled “Pursuit of Happiness” and the Library has developed several activities under this theme.
2. Judy will contact Goulds Pumps and Linda Solan of Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry for advice on the contest. Goulds because they have supported the essay contest all 7 years, and Linda because she is a photographer in and of our area. See http://www.lindasolanphotography.com/ . Perhaps Goulds might like to help supply direction (that would translate into support for the contest). The OC noted that the Board thinks committees must find funding for their events, so we will try to be proactive in this regard. Roxy has the name of a contact at Goulds in her old e-mail and will supply to Judy, who will initiate contact.
3. We are aiming for a 2009 contest with calendars still a possibility, but in any event we plan a winners traveling road show of posters to display at libraries, banks etc. around the watershed and at Lakefest 2009.

Website:
Judy will continue to maintain the website content. At one stage redevelopment was discussed, but this probably is too costly. So for now she will make minor changes, and the only difference is that she will supply Julie with the hours she spends on it for volunteer tracking purposes.

Respectfully submitted: Judy Pipher