Spring 2003
Editor: Barbara Henderson 72778 Con. 6 Rd. RR #1, Wellandport, ON, LOR 2J0
Phone 905 386 6543 FAX 905 386 7400 email philbarb.henderson@sympatico.ca
|
Spring 2003 | |
|
Editor: Barbara Henderson 72778 Con. 6 Rd. RR #1, Wellandport, ON, LOR 2J0
| ||
Web Version: John Lye email jlye@brocku.ca
Deadline for inclusion in the Summer 2003 issue is May 1.
Contents: |
Annual General Meeting
The Niagara Bruce Trail Annual General Meeting will be held on April 27, 2003 at the Rockway Community Centre.
The Agenda is as follows:
1:00 p.m. - Hike(s)
3:00 p.m. - Annual General Meeting
5:00 - Potluck Dinner
Please note the significant changes in format from previous years; moving from a Saturday evening, to a Sunday afternoon, including a moderate hike(s) (starting and finishing at the Community Centre parking lot), with the AGM preceding the pot luck dinner. Hopefully you will find this to be an interesting and convenient change, allowing everyone to enjoy a hike with the AGM, and an early pot luck dinner allowing everyone to be home before dark.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I look forward to an especially good turnout in response to the above changes.
Niagara Bruce Trail - Board of Directors for 2003 - 2004
Past President Bill Timmins is acting as Chair of the Nominating Committee with Frank Delogu's assistance. There will be some significant vacancies on the Board, presenting a challenge for Bill and Frank.
The BTA Annual General Meeting - 2004
Paul Bateson, our Media Relations Coordinator, has volunteered to Chair the 2004 Committee. This will be a significant challenge and commitment for Paul, and he will be looking for and in need of lots of willing volunteers. Don't be shy about picking up the phone, calling Paul and placing your name on his volunteer list. It will be a great experience for our Club and particularly for those individuals who are closely involved as volunteers in organizing and hosting the 2004 AGM.
Remember, we will not have another chance to act as host for this event until 2013. Let's make the most of it!
Recognizing Volunteer Groups
The Club depends on volunteers; individuals and groups, to support our Mission:
"To provide a public footpath along the Niagara Escarpment and (to) promote protection of the Escarpment and appreciation of its natural beauty."
Some are involved in the quarterly ritual of folding, stuffing and stamping our newsletter. Others led by our Social Convenor, Liz Reaker help feed the hungry attendees at our Annual General Meeting and Landowner Appreciation events. With little fanfare or publicity, our Land Stewardship group looks after and improves lands that have been purchased along the Trail, and this challenge is likely to increase with increased procurement as we work towards securing the Trail by 2015. Coordinating and implementing our very extensive hiking schedule utilizes volunteers in large numbers on a routine basis. Last, but not least, our trail maintenance and trail improvements projects are ongoing and heavy users of volunteers.
We salute and thank all of the above!
Additionally, and often overlooked, are some very important groups of people who either formally or informally work on improving the environment in areas along the Escarpment. One such group: the CAW Trail Busters led by Dave Deane, his wife Kathryn and Irene Konik have taken the unique target of some of the gorge areas, areas where formal and/or informal trails exist, and do clean up and maintenance in those areas. These include; parts of the Niagara Gorge in the vicinity of the Whirlpool; from DeCew Falls toward 12 Mile Creek, and the gorge down stream from Swayze Falls in the Short Hills. Hats off to this group of dedicated individuals, who are concerned about our environment and doing something about it!
Volunteer Coordinator Named
I am pleased to advise that Marcy Lackey has agreed to act as the NBTC Volunteer Coordinator, starting immediately, with reappointment for 2003/2004 expected at our Annual General Meeting in April.
Marcy's current home address, etc. is as follows:
2 Northumberland Street #3
Guelph, Ontario N1H 3A5
Phone: (519) 766-9950
Email: mlackey@execulink.com
You will have the opportunity to meet Marcy at our Annual General Meeting.
History of the Niagara Bruce Trail Club: Dr. A.B. (Steve) Stevenson
Steve has been researching our history, from its earliest days; a big challenge, as records of the early days are incomplete, and not all of our "pioneers" are still available. He will give us a brief interim report on April 27th with a target date for completion in the current calendar year.
Fundraising: The Escarpment Legacy Campaign
In the past issue of the Grapevine, I mentioned the Legacy Campaign, our share of $16,000 between now and 2006, and Cecile Dillon and Fred Azzopardi's involvement in fundraising.
The "general" guidelines from the BTA fundraising committee are that the approach to the project will be in an orderly fashion, i.e.: the BTA will canvas all BTA members; the BTA board members first, the club boards second and finally the members at large. This Club's objective re: the $16,000 would be to establish fundraising projects that would not interfere or be in competition with the BTA activities. This is the position that the NBTC will take, and you will hear more of that in a later newsletter. In the meantime, some of you have been canvassed by Fred already (and successfully!) Fred will not be continuing his canvassing of members in line with what we perceive as BTA policy. He does thank those members who have supported him and has submitted a letter to that effect.
Cecile Dillon, our Fundraising Committee Chair is looking for ideas. If you have suggestions, or are interested in helping her in any way, give her a call.
Badges:
The cost of the badges is going up and our club is not in a financial position to subsidize the sale of our badges.
In order to cover the increased costs, all badge orders received after this newsletter is distributed, will be at $5.00 per badge.
The annual TrailWorkers Workshop will be held in Orangeville on Saturday, March 22, 2003. Any member currently involved, or those wishing to become involved, is urged to attend. More details will be in the Treadway publication. Also, a Chainsaw Course is planned for late March/early April. All equipment is supplied, except safety boots. Lunch will be provided at both events. For further information, to reserve a spot or to arrange car pooling, call me at 905-688-9365. No email please, I prefer to walk to the mailbox.
Thank you to retiring Trail Captain Bud Walsh for many years of service. Best wishes in new endeavors! Paul Bateson from Media Relations has joined our team for Section # 10 Sanitarium Hill to Decew Road.
Trail Closings Spring/Summer 2003
Main Trail approximately km. 19 Beechwood Road to approximately km. 22 Glendale Avenue west of the canal lift bridge. Also affected will be the St. Catharines Side Trail north of Davis Road. These areas access Royal Niagara Golf Course via road travel and will be closed June 21 - 24, 2003 inclusive.
Major construction will commence on the Thorold Tunnel under the Welland Canal this spring leading into summer. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be rerouted in this area. It will also affect the St. Catharines Side Trail. Use extreme caution.
Spring 2003 will be my last Grapevine submission as your Trail Maintenance Director. After four years on your executive I feel I have made a significant contribution to our trail. I wish to thank all who have supported me and, in particular, my right hand man, Tys. I could never have done it without you. This has all been a great privilege. Please take some time to consider becoming a part of our new Board of Directors or volunteer and become part of our many teams.
— Kym Burt, Trail Maintenance Director
The annual Fort George to Fort Erie will be held on Saturday. April 12 and Sunday, April 13. To register, contact Frank Delogu, 144 Village Rd. St. Catharines ON L2T 3C5 or phone 905-684-2090 Registration fee is $15, payable to the Niagara Bruce Trail Club.
The Niagara "End to End" Hike is scheduled for May 17 through to May 19. To register please send a $20 cheque (payable to the Niagara Bruce Trail Club) to Vince Highcock, 123 Dalhoise Ave, St. Catharines, ON L2N 4X5 or phone:905-937-7916.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members for their support and generosity to my proposal even before it reached the newsletter. You are the people that put wind under a person's wings to make him fly higher to reach his goals. In this case, to reach our Club's goal for the Save the Natural Masterpiece Legacy Campaign.
— Happy Trails, Fred Azzopardi
Oil paintings of the Bruce Trail by Marsha Laundry are being featured at the Jordan Art Gallery for the month of March. The gallery is located at 3845 Main Street, Jordan. 905-562-6680
A special thank you to Linda Bonnar, Frank Delogu, Dave Dewey and for the unexpected treats, hot apple cider and warm fire on the Lake Gibson/Pines Loop Hike on Saturday, February 8. It was greatly appreciated by all the hikers.
A warm welcome to these new members to the Niagara Bruce Trail Club:
Kathy Alexander
David and Tiina Adams and family
Todd Beam and family
Dave Clayton
Arthur and Carol Domenicucci and family
Michael and Nancy Dumont
Philip and Deborah Edwards
Sandy Foster
Mike and Sandy Farinacci
Liz Gadsby
Pat Garcia
Maurice and Maria Giandomenico
Sonja Joon
Darlene Leistmer and family
Pete Livingston and family
Brian and Vera Luey and family
Mark Mannering
David Paape
Pat Piccirillo Trevor Pratt
Keith and Ruth Rae
Barry and Mary Lou Reiman
Tony Small and family
Deanne Switzer
Danya Webster.
— Edie Basaraba, Membership Director
The following items were left at the Landowners' Appreciation Dinner: a blue Rubbermaid storage container lid; a cookie sheet; a rectangle glass pickle dish; a clear glass bowl 8"in diameter; 3 "51st Gilwell Reunion" mugs; a Bruce Trail mug and a bath towel.
To claim, call Liz Reaker at 905-734-6773 or pick them up at the annual AGM on April 27.
Return to the Niagara Bruce Trail Club Main Page
HTML mark-up by John Lye February 22,
2003