Attendees:
Mary Parry, Event Coordinator
Paul Smith, Arts & Musical Entertainment Chair, A.T. Community Ambassador
Malissa Hoover, Susquenita Elementary Teacher, TTEC Chair
Fred Lauster, Borough Councilman and Logistics Chair
Jack Conrad, Parks & Recreation Board
Kim McKee, ATC Advisor
Rick Knepp, Susquenita Middle School Teacher
Jason Finnerty, Tri-County Regional Planning, Perry County Planner
Luke Johnson, Susquenita High School Student
Melanie Wertz, Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club (CVATC)
Rob Shaw, CVATC and Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
Bob Peiffer, Perry County Chamber of Commerce
Dave Snyder, Appalachian Music Conservancy and Perry Co. Council of the Arts
Matt Smith, Perry County Chamber of Commerce
Sean O’Shell, Perry County Resident
Mike O’Connor, Mountain Club of Maryland
Debra Takach, Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
Minutes:
Recaps: Mary gave recaps of the November meeting, Graphics and Budget Subcommittee meetings from December and the January updates covered in the update document.
Trail to Every Classroom Update – Malissa Hoover
Malissa has received approval from the Elementary School for students to design a thank you card to distribute to event volunteers. Winners will be chosen by March. A request has been submitted to screen the National Geographic film American’s Wild Spaces: Appalachian Trail. Approval is pending. First choice for site to show film is Cooper Field in Duncannon given we can acquire use of a projector. Update from Pat Woods, Middle School Principal – they may not have an appropriate space for a film screening in case of rain. Therefore, another site is needed in case of rain.
TTEC Quests are being created by the Social Studies Department at the Middle School. Plan is to premier on day of celebration. Mary would like more details as soon as possible.
He’s had a series of meetings with Mike Piaskowski of PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources including a site visit with DCNR, ATC and SEDA-COG reps and he feels there is a good plan in place to move forward with implementation.
The first phase is planned for a stretch adjacent to 3Bs Ice Cream, Old Sledworks and Clark’s Ferry Tavern, a historic structure that has received significant attention in recent months from parties interested in a restoration. The first phase could facilitate plans to turn the adjacent green space next to Clark’s Ferry Tavern into park/community gathering place and include improvements stretching to river via the Margareta St. arch. The Borough submitted a grant to the PA Parks & Recreation Society to complete some engineering work in advance of construction.
Mary inquired into how the Committee can support the project and while right now it makes sense to hold off publicizing the project until the Borough receives word on the PRPS application, support may be needed at Borough Council meetings in the future. Future Apple Tree Alley meetings appropriate for attendance by any interested Advisory Committee members will be announced. With Mary’s suggestion Jack agreed to a vendor table at the event with information and visuals about the project. Some volunteers may be needed to man the table.
Mary reminded all that our Advisory Committee is not just about our designation event. Participation in the progress of Apple Tree Alley is also very important.
Event Commitments
Committed organizations, groups and individuals will be updated regularly on the “Event” tab. More specific questions and updates: - Current questions pertain to confirmation of participation from the Susquenita Middle and High School bands. Bob Peiffer indicated the High School band may have a conflict. He will provide contact information to Music and Arts Chair Paul Smith and assist in follow-up. Mary stted the importance of consistent communication.
- Hiking trips – Mary would like to see more hike leaders willing to lead hikes targeting more inexperienced hikers to reinforce our theme of “Saving Our Community from Nature Deficit Disorder”. She also stated she is recruiting hike sweepers from the AT Hiking Family.
- Mary will be attending meetings with Duncannon Council of Churches, Duncannon Fire Company Board, and Lions Club this month to discuss involvement. Fred Lauster stated that for National Night Out Fire Trucks were moved to another location except for the ladder truck which Fire Company members used as part of the event.
Insurance
Since the meeting, Mary is following up with committee members and hike leaders to obtain relevant information to submit to Fred Lauster. As of this meeting the following is in place concerning liability:
- Waiver developed to protect all involved.
- Plan is in place to schedule Hike Leader Training by Karen Balaban, SATC.
- Hikes on Appalachian Trail and official Blue Blazes will be covered by NPS policy. Contract with NPS is ready to distribute to hike leaders.
- River trips are insured by BMO policy.
- Coverage for afternoon events in the borough are being researched by Fred Lauster, Duncannon Borough Council member with the borough solicitor and borough insurance company to be included on their policy as an event in 2012.
Event Location Vote
Two locations were proposed for the events of June 2nd: a downtown location centered on Cumberland and High St. and Cooper Field (Duncannon Community Park). Pros and cons were presented by Mary and Fred and discussion ensued. The Committee voted and 10 attendees voted for downtown (with four absentee votes from business owners that could not attend) and 1 voted for Cooper Field. 4 attendees abstained.
Mary will be attending a Fire Company Board Meeting this month where she will present the plan to the Board and seek advice for shutting down Cumberland Street for a certain amount of time on that day. The Little League Ball field and Fortenbaugh’s lot would be alternate locations.
Since parking space in downtown Duncannon is scarce, a parking and shuttle plan will be developed between area Churches and shuttle volunteers. It was suggested to inquire with Rohrer Bus as potential shuttle use.
Retail vendors will be given parking spaces close to their set-up. Potential parking locations include Mutzabaugh’s, church parking lots, and nearby trail heads.
Jason Finnerty mentioned it may be a good idea to contact PennDOT as they sometimes put flashing lights in advance of areas where traffic should be slowed for community events. Mary will also check if Duncannon Borough owns the yellow crossing alert signs to place on street.
Event Central
Mary is looking for volunteers to man “Event Central” where the Committee will house all event information and be there to direct people and answer questions. Event Central will also sell event t-shirts and Duncannon hats, raffle tickets, bandana personalization, popcorn selling, potential photo booth, free water, and bubble cups. 48 man hours are needed from volunteers (48 volunteers giving one hour or much fewer volunteers taking longer shifts).
Mural
The plan for a community mural (map of trails in area with outdoor embellishments) is currently in the works – Mary is re-routing the plan as the side of Miller’s Newstand may no longer be an option. Jack Conrad suggested the Embarq building at Ann & High Sts. She’s received word that Sunoco commonly funds community murals and will be looking into the possibility. Kim McKee provided a potential grant application from National Endowment for the Arts. Any mural expert contacts would be greatly appreciated for this project.
NS Corp Enola Yard Volunteer Day
A site visit is planned with the NS Corp rep for Tuesday, Jan. 24th at 2:30 at Doyle Hotel to check the River Arches, The Doyle porch and railing, as well as a potential wall for a mural to determine a project they can take on that is both manageable for their team and will have the most impact in the Downtown in advance of the event.
Budget Update and Tax-deduction Eligibility Discussion
A request from a premier sponsor has been put in for $3,408, a figure taken from the most recent budget. The timeline for an expected response is roughly three weeks, potentially sooner. Matt Smith raised the question of ensuring tax deductible donations. As of now we are a non-profit organization awaiting 501c3 status.
A plan is in progress to deposit and distribute the funds via the Recreation Board account. Robert Peiffer stated that the bank can establish a secondary account number within the Recreation Board account to deposit DATC funds. Paul Smith stated that we need a conclusion ASAP as he has groups ready to donate.
Budget Review
Mary reviewed the budget with special attention to line items not included in budget and potential line items that can be changed to in-kind donations to reduce cost.
Porta-Pottys – Some voiced concern that 2 porta-pottys may not be enough. Suggestion was made by Jack Conrad and Dave Snyder to contact New Bloomfield Company (?name?).
Printing - Rob Shaw requested files of documents to be printed for quotes.
Mike O’Connor informed Mary that a potential grant is available and provided her with the information.
Small Games of Chance License – Mary asked Matt Smith if he or Bob have an answer to the possibility of using PCCC license. Matt will check. Linda Britcher is also checking if we can use The Pub Ball teams’ license.
Jack Conrad suggested hosting a bus trip to raise funds. Susquehanna Greenway Tour??
Food
Mary will inquire if the Fire Company is willing to expand their Chicken BBQ to longer hours and if they can add hot dogs and hamburgers.
Matt Smith and Bob Peiffer will check if PCCC is still willing to prepare and sell hot dogs, hamburgers and/or pork dinners and if the Advisory Committee will need to provide funds before the event.
Committee Administration
Mary stated the importance of reading emails. So please watch for emails from trailangelmary with the title line beginning with DATC. She also reviewed the importance of keeping the google document LOG VOLUNTEER HOURS up to date.
If any items are missing from these minutes please inform Mary Parry at trailangelmary@gmail.com.
NEXT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 6:30 PM
