Attendees: Mark Crawford, Mario Gangemi, Holly Hannum, Doug Hill, Larry Klevans, Dan Schneckenburger, Hinda Smith, Dan Speakman, Rick Waterhouse

Dan Schneckenburger called the meeting to order at 6:37 P.M.

The minutes from the March Board meeting were approved.

Spring Fest: Barb Snyder (report by Dan Sp.)

Spring Fest is coming along. Dan suggests that we get new banners for the bridge for next year. The current ones are difficult to see.

Dan Sc. asked about “the big board”, which advertises sponsors, near the children’s area. Dan Sp. said he will have to look into it.

People gave a quick report from their individual committees. Sponsorships have brought in $7000 in hand and committed, with more possible. Plant sale is on target. Music is set, with entertainment all day. Holly had a volunteer list with her. There are still some places to fill in. Holly would like to hear from other board members to help cover some time. If there are not volunteers to cover all of the times, a booth will close.

Barb will not be back to have another Spring Fest meeting, until the event day. So we will meet at 4:30 at the Board of Ed. Building on April 21, without her.

The raffle has given out about 400 tickets, with about 100 coming back in so far. Give any stubs to Ralph and any money to Larry Klevans, on the day of the event, or to Hinda, before the event.. The drawing is at 4 P.M.

President’s Report: Dan Schneckenburger

Dan Sc. has chosen names for new board members – 5 names. He has made up a sheet for them to fill out, listing past experience and what skills they could lend to the Nature Center. If anyone has other names, please forward to Dan Sc. He is planning on new members coming on in June, for a three-year term.

June first will end Dan’s presidency. Mario will be the new President and Mark will be the new Treasurer. There are still two positions to fill - the Secretary and V. President.

Treasurer's Report/Finance Committee: Larry Klevans

Financial Report as of March 31, 2004
1 In March 2004 expenses ($8167) exceeded income ($4884) by $3283. This is the third negative month in a row
2. The majority of income items were $3050 for Summer Camp $200 for donations, $965 from Membership, $75 from private schools, $412 for Outreach, and $192 for programs.
3. Major expenses for January 2004 were $4981 for wages, $773 for office expense, $491 for payroll taxes, $391 for Workman's Comp. Insurance, $400 for supplies, and $300 for Outreach mileage.
4. As of March 31, 2004 our Year to date Income (YTD) totals $ 11,125 vs a budget of $25,623, while YTD expenses total $19735 vs a budget of $25,623. Thus, our YTD net income is - 8610
5. The Fund Balance as of Feb. 29, 2004 was $7,520, down $3280 from Feb. 29, 2003. This is the lowest that I have seen the fund balance since I have been Treasurer
6. We have submitted a request for a $10,000 appropriation from Cecil County Government to support the hiring an an Executive Director in the 3rd Quarter of 2004. We meet April 1, but I don't expect an answer until June
7. Holly will be submitting a request for $4500 support from the Cecil Soil conservation District on April 21.

Larry Klevans, Treasurer

Discussion:
The fund balance is back up to $9300, due to camp fees coming in. But we will still need to increase the fund balance to be ready for hiring an Executive Director. Larry repeated the fact that we have not gotten money from many past sources, which is discouraging.

A soils grant is coming in soon. We also have three out-of-county schools that will be sending in money.

Dan Sp. pointed out that Spring Fest sponsors are contributing in that venue instead of making general contributions. If people have other contacts, please pass them along to Dan Sp.

Program Committee: Barb Snyder (No new report)
Coming programs:

Personnel Committee: Hinda Smith

Hinda’s committee presented a paper with candidate qualifications and responsibilities, after having met with Theresa Clower about the Executive Director position. Theresa has two graduating students whom she thinks might fit our needs. The advertisement for the position is going out on the University of Delaware’s campus, and on a web-based job site.

Dan Sc. pointed out that the new Director needs to pursue new initiatives, rather than taking over current programs and grants.

It was also emphasized that this person will work with the Board and the Nature School staff, not independent of them. Hinda stated that the Personnel Committee must continue to meet as the person is hired and begins working, so that a good working relationship develops.

There was a discussion about how we will fund this position, beyond the first few months, since there will be a lag between when we must start paying the new director and when they will bring in new funds. Dan talked to Stewart Lee, and has a verbal commitment from County Bank, to secure an equity line to cover this period.

Dan Sc. suggested that July 1 be the start date for this position. Holly pointed out that camp time gets hectic, so the weeks between the end of school programs and the start of camps would be best for her to meet with a newly hired person. The reply deadline will be in mid-May, with interviews scheduled after that time. Theresa Clower will sit in on the interviews.

Hinda would like the interview committee to meet before interviewing sessions start, to develop questions. This will be set after tonight’s meeting.

Nature School Report: Holly Hannum
Trail Day was awesome! We had about 40 volunteers and accomplished more than we had hoped for. We have a new turtle cage and a new footbridge. The fence has been repaired and trails were mulched and stone dusted from here to Elkton. The yard has been raked and the flower gardens cleaned up. Thanks to Troop 443 and all the others.

We completed 4th grade on April 5. We saw 689 students in all kinds of weather from snow to 75 degrees. We invoiced the Soil Conservation District for $4500 on Tuesday the 6th.

We are now hosting out of county schools including Caravel Academy, Sanford School, and Hall Crossroads School from Aberdeen. Thursday we begin with CCPS grade 1 for four days and then we begin forestry with grade 3.

Tomorrow we will host the ACES program. Jerry Henshaw will speak for DNR. We will be supplying dinner for the group of 8 teachers from North East Middle and High School.

The Frog Frenzy is on Friday night and we could use some help with registration. We presently have more than 70 people registered and usually we end up with more than 100. All the teachers will be leading groups and Pat and her husband will cook. I have purchased 16 pounds of hotdogs and plenty of marshmallows. Tom will start the fire. Any extra hands will be appreciated to help with crowd control and collection of marshmallow sticks etc.

The Road Cleanup and Wildflower Walk are on Saturday morning at 8am and 10 am the road cleanup only takes about an hour so you can do both activities.

I have sign up sheets for Springfest volunteers. We still have gaps especially in the afternoon children’s activities. Please ask your friends if they might give us some time on that day. Barb is not available for another Springfest meeting, we can plan one without her if we feel the need.

97 children have signed up for camps so far, with openings still available.

Discussion:
Middle school-aged volunteers are paired to work a booth together. A service organization from UD may have some volunteers here, but they have not confirmed.

Community Relations: Doug Hill
The next Buzz will have one more push for Spring Fest, probably using Barb’s Spring Fest poster, reprinted. Doug would also like to put some more specific information in – highlighting a specific craft artist, musician, etc.

There was a question about the Newsletter being sent out, in addition to the Buzz. This will be discussed more after Spring Fest.

The Wine and Cheese reception planning is progressing. Doug asked for any other names of people to invite. The sponsors will be invited, along with Board members. The County Commissioners, Karl Roberts, Charlie Hayes, Charlie (Ace Hardware), Jerry Hendricks, and Jerry Newman will all be invited.

Membership: Joe Janusz
No report.

Next Meeting: May 11, 6:30 P.M., at the Nature Center.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 P.M.

Respectfully submitted by Rick Waterhouse

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