Minutes 22 April 2007 PDF Print
1.    Heather opened the meeting at 9.00 am welcoming all.   

Present:   Jan Tucker; Michael Coulthard, Niven McCrie, Monica Osterkamp-Madsen; Jo Vandermark, Alan Anderson, Gemina Anderson, Heather Boulden; Jeremy Hemphill.   

Cynthia and Phillip Croft and Sally Jacka joined the meeting after participating in NT Filed Naturalists Club and Top End Native Plants Society activities.

Apologies: Leisa Baldwin, Ted Warren, Michael Stott; Denise Goodfellow.

2.    Minutes of the meeting on 25 March 2007, previously circulated to members, were left to be considered at the next meeting due to insufficient people present who were at the previous meeting.    .    

3.    Business arising from minutes.

(a)     Constitution, tax exemption and becoming a tax deductible recipient.
The draft constitution has been amended and now includes clauses to allow for the organisation to apply to become an organisation on the environmental register and as such, recipient of “tax free donations” when we have 50 financial members. Attendance to form a quorum for general meetings has also been modified.

 (b)     Logo
A suggestion to make the water lilies stand out more was discussed with Niven, who agreed to make the change.  .   

(c)    Promotional calendar
Heather suggested time was against us preparing a calendar for year 2008 and that action be suspended. Agreed.
    
(d)    Business Plan
No progress made. Proposed by Jan that this be developed at a small workshop before the next meeting. Agreed, with date and location to be established

(e)    Links with schools
No actions undertaken on Ted Warren’s suggestion that Middle Point, Humpty Doo Primary and Taminmin Schools might adopt Fogg Dam for educational purposes and link with FOFD.

Niven commented it would be important for schools to see they would benefit from such an association, eg through access to expertise, information and materials. Heather noted that the Tropical Savannas CRC, which has an association with Taminmin, has developed an environmental education website:  www.environorth.org.au
To consider when developing the Business Plan.

Correspondence
In:    email from Jo Vandermark re state of Fogg Dam and joining FOFD.

Out:    25 Mar to Parks & Wildlife support funding by Tourism NT to rebuild the monsoon forest boardwalk.
    25 March to Traditional owners on purpose and aims of FOFD for a meeting on 26 March between traditional owners and Parks & Wildlife re joint management of parks

4.    Financial Report   
Bank A/c $280.00 with 14 financial members.   

5.    Other business
 
(a)      Signage for Fogg Dam: Heather provided copies of a draft sign to be located at Fogg Dam advising of FOFD and including the mission, aims and contacts. Parks and Wildlife has offered to make the sign.
Jo suggested the vision would have more impact if it read
“To put Fogg Dam on the map and in the hearts and minds of people.” Further feedback sought.

 (b)    Rice Project Equipment: Monica advised the equipment gathered by former Coastal Plains Manager, Ken Levy, is located at Window on the Wetlands.

(c )    Website: Heather reported the site is up and running and is being modified to become more user friendly.

(d)     World Environment Day   Jeremy provided an update on planning for the 2nd World Environment Expo to be held at the NT Museum and Art Gallery grounds on Sunday 3rd June 2007. Space is free ( 3metres x 3metres) but participants need to provide all display infrastructure (except power, if needed). Set up to be complete by 10.30am, closure at 5.00pm  Theme is:  Sustainable communities – sustainable planet: water, energy, waste, weeds.  Agreed to participate.

Aim to have handouts on FOFD: vision, aim, objectives, contacts, membership applications; ecology: plant, bird, butterfly lists; threats: fire, weeds.  Jeremy to attend planning meeting at the Museum on Tuesday 14th May.

Monica volunteered to contact Rick Shine for information on background ecology of Fogg Dam, changes, threats, startling statistics, reptiles, amphibians and current research program. Bird butterfly and mammal lists also to be prepared: sources Niven, Parks and Wildlife, Don Franklin, Top End Native Plant Society.

(e)    Monsoon boardwalk: Jeremy and Alan advised the walk is closed with a tree across the path and weeds well established. To discuss situation with Parks and possible working bee.

6.    Meeting closed at 9.50am

Joint Meeting
A joint meeting with NT Field Naturalists and Top End Native Plant Society followed including identification of plant species near the rotunda. Around 25 people attended. At 11.00am Heather made a presentation on what FOFD is, its purpose , objectives, and achievements to date.. This was followed by a barbeque. (Notes of this appended).
 
[ Back ]