VIP REMINDER: PLEASE REMEMBER TO KEEP TRACK OF EVERY MINUTE YOU SPEND WORKING FOR THE FRIENDS OF DONALD PARK, INC./HORSE COMMITTEE THESE HOURS SERVE AS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION FOR MATCHING FUNDS. THANK YOU!
DRAFT MINUTES - FRIENDS OF DONALD PARK, INC., /HORSE COMMITTEE September 21, 2000, 7:05 P.M.
ATTENDEES: DIRECTORS: PAT HITCHCOCK, DAVE HUGHES AND VICKI ANDERSON
FOUNDERS: BILL HAACK AND PERSPECTIVE MEMBERS
COMMITTEE CHAIR: DAVE HUGHES, ACTING SECRETARY: VICKI ANDERSON
SPEAKERS
1. Pat Hitchcock :
*Overview of the development of Donald Park since 1996 including the land acquisition and ongoing volunteer
projects in woodlands, prairie, trails, and Delma's picnic area.
*Volunteers meet every Tuesday from 8:30 - 12:30 and by arrangement on Saturday mornings.
*Volunteers vital for park development because Dane County Parks always suffers from a funding crunch for
park operational funds.
*Reminder: Dane County Parks requires that horse trails must be open outside of the Park before horse
trails may be used inside the Park.
2. Vicki Anderson:
*Overview of the development of the Friends of Donald Park, Inc., since January 2000.
*Tax-free non-profit status as a 502(c)3 organization with IRS. Significant for grant writing, memberships and donations.
*Memberships accepted now for Friends group. To volunteer and participate on committees, membership is not required.
*Donations for a specific project shall only be used for that project per the By-Laws.
3. Bill Haack:
*Overview of a map of the parkland and proposed horse trail outside of the park.
*Three years of work already in identifying landowners interested in horse trail easements on their private property.
*Model the easement agreements after snowmobile easement agreements already in place in Dane County.
4. Dave Hughes:
*Overview of goals of horse trial committee: group to focus on trail development. Need secretary, volunteer coordinator, and folks to volunteer for fundraising, trail making activities and publicity via newspapers, Donald Park webpage, horse clubs,etc..
*Members that are horse trail supporters vital to lobby the Friends Board and Dane County Parks on horse trail issues.
*Horse Trail Committee benefits from the legal organization of the Friends for grant writing, memberships and donations. Private horse clubs could not accomplish the same goals without the IRS tax-free status.
*First time a horse trail on private land to be laid out.
*Easement agreements to be finalized and property owners to be approached this fall/winter. Need to reach agreement with DNR to run trail through this state land south of Mt. Vernon. Strive to reach agreements for longest period available.
*Liability insurance available for approximately $285.00/year. Insurance agent identified. The Dane County Parks insurance would cover activities within the Park. The State of WI recreational users law protects landowners that permit recreational users on their land from liability. The Friends insurance would cover any legal fees private individuals outside of the Park encountered in fighting lawsuits.
*Trail layout requirements being researched. Various widths, slopes, clearance, two-way, one-way, etc. Strive to stay off roads as much as possible.
*Trail marking within the Park has begun with Pat Hitchcock, Bob Geimer, Dave Hughes, and Bill Haack.
*The proposed Park trail will have to be approved by landscape architects & naturalist from Dane County Parks.
*By spring 2001 hope to have a trail open. Could travel from DNR land south of Mt. Vernon to North of Park.
*To reach this goal may have to choose the trail/path of least resistance. Later, trails through more difficult to develop terrain could be opened.
*Seasonal trails in spring through fall proposed. Feasibility of winter trails to be explored. Require gates, erosion control, etc.
*Multi-purpose trails for horses and hikers to be considered. Cross country skiers for winter a possibility but the horse trail committee will not lobby for that use.
BREAKOUT GROUPS
1. Fundraising Group Ideas:
*Kris Sherven-Sher-Feeds in Mt. Vernon-offered to sponsor a pig roast and sell Purina's Premium Wildlife Blocks as fundraisers. The wildlife blocks would be sold to our horse committee at their cost of $6.00/block. Our horse committee could sell the blocks for $9.00/block. Sher-Feeds would handle the ordering, stocking, or delivery. The horse committee just sells the customer a voucher for the block and then the buyer goes to Sher-Feeds to pick up the block. We only order and pay for the blocks that are actually sold.
*Julie Jerdee of the Sugar River Horsing Around Club suggested sponsoring a funday/horseday for
children/parents and their horses for games.
*MARES group represented by Jean Warrior has offered to solicit some donations and host a tupperware party
with some of the proceeds donated to us.
*Flyer/phone call to be made to nearby horse stables/riding clubs soliciting donations.
*T Shirt/ Cap sales with Horsing Around in Donald Park logo.
*Fee for horse trail permit with some of those proceeds to the horse committee as well as to Dane County
Parks, modeled after snowmobile trail user fees.
*Grants-Ready to go after grant proposals when specific needs are delineated.
2. Trail Making Group Ideas:
*List of volunteers willing to do labor and the times they are available.
*List of trail making equipment available.
*Lena, Ill horse trail a good example of a trai.
VOLUNTEERS
*Dean Colello volunteered to generate a membership list, mailing labels, and post card to alert interested people in next activity.
*Jean Warrior volunteered to donate stamp money.
*Pat Hitchcock volunteered to serve as volunteer coordinator at this time.
NEXT MEETINGS
*October 17, TUESDAY, 7:00 p.m. First Annual Meeting of the Friends of Donald Park, Inc.
*October 21, 2000, SATURDAY, 12:00 noon. WALK IN THE PARK. Meet at Pat's and we'll walk the Parkland and possible horse trails.
Respectfully Submitted, Vicki Anderson