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Canada South Land Trust 7th Annual General Meeting

March 4, 2010

Essex Civic Building, Room E, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Persons present: David Ainslie, Terry Anderson, Shirley Grondin, Peg Hurst, Tom Hurst, Betty Learmouth, Ray Look-Kan, Patricia McGorman, Helen Moore, Larry Onysko, Phil Roberts, Bonnie Ross, Caroline Williams (13 persons)

  1. Master of Ceremonies David Ainslie welcomed everyone to the Land Trust's Annual General Meeting.
  2. Terry Anderson made a motion to accept the agenda. Shirley Grondin seconded the motion. All were in favour.
  3. Terry Anderson made a motion to accept the minutes of the 6th Annual General Meeting held March 5, 2009. Shirley Grondin made a motion to accept the minutes. All were in favour.
  4. The Financial Report was provided by Tom Hurst. The Land Trust's bank is the United Communities Credit Union. The Land Trust has a number of subaccounts. Under Chequing Account #1 during 2009, Total Expenditures were $11,658.64 with a Total Revenue of $11,919.78. Total Revenue over Expenditures was $252.11.
    Land Trust Accounts include the General Chequing Account, Conservation Easement Account, Raffle Account, Balkwill Endowment Fund and the Legacy Fund. Two term deposits (total $21,654.00) have Land Trust funds invested for a total of $44,753.66 in assets.
    Revenue in 2009 from memberships was $940.00 or 7.25% of income. Fundraising events in 2009 raised $4,106.75 or 31.7% of income. The Caboto Pasta Dinner events raised $1,249.99 or 9.6% of income. Donations from individuals and organizations totaled 5,375.00 or 41.50% of income.
    Raffle sales totaled $600.00 or 4.6% of income. Interest earned in 2009 totaled $689.02 or 5.3%.
    Expenses in 2009 including operating funds of $743.47. Education expenses were $400.00. Membership dues to the Ontario Land Trust Alliance and the Canadian Land Trust Alliance totaled $505.00. Group insurance was $1,161.00.
    Terry Anderson made a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report. Caroline Williams seconded the motion. All were in favour.
  5. An update on activities in 2009 was provided by Betty Learmouth, CSLT Chair. Looking back on 2009, the Land Trust was busy with a variety of activities.
    The Land Trust's main focus is the Conservation Agreement donated by Bill Balkwill and Jack Balkwill. In order to determine if any violations have occurred the Lands are monitored yearly in May and June.
    Volunteers review the Balkwill Lands documents before the monitoring, examining the documents related to the property such as the Conservation Agreement, the Plan of Survey, the record of past monitoring and the photographs of the Lands taken as the Conservation Agreement was being prepared.
    During the monitoring which usually takes place over two morning visits, a checklist is filled out for each lane and for the various areas such as the restoration site with its pond and prairie and for each section of agricultural plans. Notes are taken along with the monitoring notes indicating the route walked along with notes of plants and trees viewed. Photographs are also obtained, especially of plants and trees and the monitors at work.
    Volunteers who have contributed to the monitoring have been Karen Cedar, Shirley Grondin and Linda and Ernie Kennette. Photographs have been obtained by Allen Batke and Larry Onysko.
    An invitation is extended to others who wish to join in on the monitoring. Also on December 19, 2009, Christmas Bird Counters monitored for birds on the Balkwill Lands for the Cedar Creek Christmas Bird Count.
    In order to improve the finances of the Land Trust, a Legacy Fund was established in 2009 with donations invited. Our members responded to the appeal with generous donations. A number of activities occurred that added to the monies raised during the year including the Land Trust's first annual dinner, the first silent auction, a wonderful quilt raffle with a quilt donated by Shirley Grondin, donations from persons attending our walks and donations at a birding presentation by Todd Pepper as well as the Caboto Club pasta nights. The ECFNC and the Little River committee donated as well as the Gaia Women of the Great Lakes Basin and the Sisters of Charity. We intend to continue with our fund raising for projects now and in the future.
    The Annual Dinner held at the Caboto Club in April was a great success with 59 persons attending. Land Trust members donated to the silent auction which raised over $1,000.00 for the Land Trust Legacy Fund.
    The Land Trust was thrilled to receive a donaton of a beautiful quilt from Shirley Grondin. The Land Trust raised $850 through this generous donation which was also an award winning quilt at the Harrow Fair in August 2009. We sold tickets are various malls and events that the Land Trust attended.
    The Land Trust held three walks in 2009, one at the Balkwill Lands and two at the Ainslie Woodland. We viewed wonderful spring flowering plants at the Ainslie Woodland and viewed fall colours on the Balkwill Lands and enjoyed a campfire during the Ainslie woodland walk.
    The Land Trust display attended Earth Day and both the Fall and Winter Festivals.
    Directors attended several conferences including the Ontario Land Trust Alliance Gathering in Barrie and the Carolinian Canada Coalition day long meeting in Leamington "Saving Our Coastal Zone."
    Thank you to all our volunteers. The Land Trust is looking forward to 2010.
  6. Director Terry Anderson introduced guest speaker Phil Roberts.
  7. Phil spoke of the efforts to ensure that Ojibway Shores, the last remaining parcel of lands with natural heritage adjacent to the Detroit River within the City of Windsor, will be protected to become part of the green corridor leading into the Black Oak Heritage Park, Ojibway Park, the Ojibway Provincial Prairie Nature Reserve and the Spring Garden ANSI. These lands (33.9 acres with 500 metres of shoreline) have been spoken about for the last twenty-five years. Now the groups interested in the area and its preservation are meeting more often with the Port Authority, owners of the lands. Presently work is progressing on a zoning change for the lands.
  8. Phil was thanked for his 40 minute Power Point presentation by Director Patricia McGorman.
  9. Director David Ainslie thanked everyone for attending the Annual General Meeting.

Refreshments were served with thanks to Terry Anderson for hot beverages and juices, Patricia McGorman for cupcakes, Betty Learmouth for coffee and Lemon Blueberry Bread and Oran-cranberry bread, and Richard Thibert for a donation of cookies from his bakery.