Meeting Notes - Monday, June 5, 2023

Next meeting, (and final one until after the busy summer): Mon, June 19, 2023
5:30-6:00 (social), 6:00 - 7:30 (meeting)

Present at the meeting: Reed, Ken, Tim, Barb, Robin, Ann, Billy
At this writing the following has been accomplished:

• First pass 'guiding statement' has been published on web
• Testimonies of 7 members now on the About Us. To be added to any and all members
• Meetup events have been published for next outreach: Relaxed Hikes
• 4 new signs for "Zaphod's Run" have been weather preserved and returned to Jim Sullivan

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The following are ideas and thoughts from our discussions. There is no particular order, the purpose of this list is to preserve the 'explosion' of ideas and energy that has emerged from our group meetings.

Persons and organizations to contact and connect with: need point persons who would like to make initial contact and followup with possible cross linking of websites, training of section, etc.
​Is this YOU who are reading this?

• • Bennington Museum Trails - WHO?
  • Plant ID in the city - Master Gardeners organizations - WHO?
  • Library - how and what can collaboration help us outreach - WHO?
  • Grafton Lakes - WHO?
  • Scouting - WHO?
  • Synchronize calendar on section website to Meetup Events - Billy
  • VINS - Vermont Institute of Natural Science -a valuable schools contact - WHO?
  • Adirondack Mountain Club - WHO?
  • Rural Lands Organization - WHO?
  • Vermont Land Trust - WHO?
  • Kiosk at AT/Lt on route  - WHO?
  • Digital website (Weebly) and Meetup training for other members of our local section - Ann
  • Posting of Events on Front Porch Forum for more outreach for events - WHO?
  • Outreach to Realtors - benefit to them having GMC as segway to outdoor activities - WHO?
  • Connect with Manchester and Brattleboro Section - WHO?
    
• Decide on Social Organizations - join or not join on our website
• Reprint Bennington GMC business cards - w/QR codes to our site and mothership
• Redo our trifold brochure and make it a firm Card to fit in brochure boxes in chamber of commerce, etc
• Meet with Search and Rescue to see how our knowledge of outdoors may be of benefit
• Not forgetting our outreach to younger persons - Imagine Kids (of all ages)...Walking ridges and discovering trails, making memories and finding meaning, connecting to their world. New River State Park, North Carolina Interpretive Center
• Meditative Forest Encounter - Anyone wish to spec out such an event? Certainly would attract various 'non-hikers'
• Add Link to Prospect Nordic Skiing live cam feed to our site
• Put on web more Stories about adventures in Nature - idea of reprinting from Stepping Stones
• Already presented more 'relaxed hiking' activities on Meetup
• Podcasts of members backgrounds and experiences
• Equipment for Sale - mini craigslist for our members - Billy
• Business Card Reprint with QR codes for Section and mothership - Billy
• Ancillary outdoor groups: SVHC, Rail to Trail, Showbusters
• Create rack mount card for chamber of commerce and motels instead of trifold brochure
• Education classes: back country first aid, compass, knot tying,