Attendees: Steven C, Nancy H, Theresa T, Virginia N, Geordie S, Teena S, Seymour , Ken B, Brian G

Meeting called to order at 7:35pm.

There was another small turnout for this month’s meeting but much was accomplished. Ken B started the meeting by reviewing the 2005 objectives set at the January meeting. Several of these objectives were talked about and some dates were implemented so we have a time frame for completion. Below is a review of the main items discussed at the meeting and the names of those assigned to the tasks.

Brochures:

• Theresa T – to send Steve C a list of several streets near Hilltop for MLS research.
• Steve C – to research streets using MLS and produce a listing of street addresses immediately on the sample streets.
• Theresa T – will verify via walking these streets as to the accuracy of the MLS-generated list. Will send Steve the full list of streets if this is productive and reasonably accurate.
• Steve C – will pursue further MLS listings for rest of streets.
• Ken B – could assist Steve in exporting the list of streets to a tool such as Excel if needed.
• All Attendees – get a list of brochure edits to Teresa by Wednesday, March 2, 2005. Consensus edits were to add a list of events, shorten the verbiage section of the pamphlet, produce the brochure in green, hand deliver.
• Theresa T – Will make edits to brochure, as exec committee for a final review, and then will produce the brochures as per the PIP printing-hand-delivery method by March 9, 2005. Theresa will notify the exec committee when the brochures are ready for distribution, at which time volunteers will be needed.

• Geordan S – In preparation for the cleanup day, procure appropriate garbage bags and ensure that we have sufficient cotton gloves. Geordie, can you also craft a message that we’ll eventually send to various parties announcing this event? Email Invitation, Press Release.
• Ken B – Will contact Parks dept to obtain a truck and personnel for assisting with the cleanup. Will attempt to obtain such assistance on 4/23 (event date) and for a subsequent pickup the following week. Ken will also try to become listed so as to obtain a copy of the key for opening the Hilltop Gate.

• Virginia N – has begun assembling a list of organizations to which she’s reached out. She should provide a copy of the list to the Executive Committee (via Ken B).
• Ken B – has agreed to work with Dennis G to ensure better communications moving forward via the use of a web-based subscription service by which all subscribing members could be notified via the website (no personal email lists to maintain). All paying members will be auto-subscribed and we need to formulate an invitation (that’s easy to understand) for the rest of the contacts we’ve established in one way or another so that they will be attracted to subscribe.

• Teena S - Has offered the services of her son in building upon the consensus logo idea. The idea was a black and white relief (or it’s negative) which would prominently feature a single tree (now perhaps a native White Pine). There would be a bird drawn in and perhaps a smaller tree or two in the background. The words “Hilltop Conservancy” would appear in stencil. It was NOT decided what other text might appear –the current sample includes the 3 towns, but the exec committee thinks that should be changed to “West Essex” or “West Essex County, NJ”
• Theresa T - Was going to submit a few samples (white pine, etc.) and ideas to Teena for her son to use in producing the logo (or possible alternatives).
• Ken B - Will contact Teena to see how she’s making out. Ken B will also contact the logo originator (John L) to see if he’d be able to make another attempt using the consensus ideas listed above under Teena S. Ken will also help coordinate copies of “finished” logo ideas so that they can be presented to Conservancy members at the March 2005 meeting. A vote will be held in April at which time we will choose the Conservancy’s Logo.

• Theresa T – has agreed to present to the Hilltop Conservancy the issue of habitat rehabilitation or remediation. This will be an advocacy/educational type of presentation to the Conservancy group in March, stressing the importance of beginning a program by which the habitat must be actively preserved.
• Ken B – to provide Theresa with digital camera for some species pictures.

• David F will continue to pursue. Ken B will report the status back to the group if David is unavailable.
• Teena S will pursue cooperation of reluctant signers.

• Was not possible due to lack of attendance.

• Logo Samples Distributed
• Theresa T’s Presentation: Habitat Rehabilitation
• Spring Cleanup Event Planning
• Others TBD (including membership update?, etc.)

Meeting adjourned at 9:05pm.

Minutes prepared by Secretary: Brian Glennon