Executive Committee

Minutes August 19, 2009

3:30-4:45pm

Points discussed:

1. New Chairman

• Howard Butcher has agreed to be Chairman of the conservancy for a term
• Grant McAlpine as former chairman will be involved as much as he aspires to be and committee agreed to reserve the “chair” in the near future should Grant wish to resume his role as chairman

2. Sign and Letterhead Logo

• The sign was agreed upon: Cape Nature and conservancy logo still needed to be included (Thanks to Henk and Roger for working on this)
• The letterhead with address details was agreed upon
• Tine agreed to find a way to paste the letterhead from PDF format on to a regular word document
• It was decided that a Website was essential and needs to be put in to form part of the address on the letterhead
• Although Sutherbys (spelling?) had agreed to sponsor the sign committee agreed against it
• Reasons for declining sponsorship offer was to avoid being associated with such agencies, which could make people question our motives and integrity
• It was decided that the community will need to sponsor the sign and make it a funding project which will make the community “proud” of the sign
• Howard offered to approach van Rheenen regarding posts for the sign and also agreed to find labor for actual assembly of the sign
• Petra would put a letter out to conservancy members requesting ideas for sponsorship

3. Website

• A Website is an essential marketing tool for the conservancy and it can derive an income from it
• All businesses in the area can have links on there thereby making the conservancy website central to healthy tourism promotion
• Tine agreed to look in to website design and name format required
• Alternative names were discussed as registered name is too long for a website
• Phantom Conservancy or Homtini Conservancy could be used

4. Projects

• The conservancy needs to “jump start” in to action through realistic projects
• Project ideas will be sent around to members and whilst we wait for official registration members can start thinking of relevant issues and project interests

• Projects so far proposed:

ü Keep Rheenendal Clean! Recycling awareness and facilities at Portland mini market (discussion already under way with interested members and Deon from Portland)

§ If the municipality is unable to supply glass/tin/paper bin depots for recycling then we need to look in to private organizations

ü Alien clearing: Cape Nature to supply alien veg map and chemicals

ü Indigenous tree planting: planting cleared areas with relevant indigenous shrubbery/trees

ü Information Board at Portland Mini Market: showing conservancy map, main interests of the area, accommodation, local flora and fauna, projects

§ Local businesses can advertise their details on the board and pay a yearly fee to support conservancy projects

ü Eco-trails: member’s who have already established walking trails or want to, can welcome visitors to their property for walks. This will expand the orientation to the area as it will allow for locals/visitors to walk in areas other than the Millwood area etc. A fee of R10-20 will be requested for input in to the conservancy

ü Wildlife Monitoring Project: through the use of remote cameras keeping a monthly check on what’s walking on our land. Information will feed in to main Cape Nature database

ü Bi-monthly Newsletter: to share and inform environmental matters/wildlife encounters amongst members and the greater community

5. Future Projects discussed: Once conservancy is up and running well

§ Employment of a scout to keep the conservancy free of snares

§ Training would be provided by Cape Nature

§ This would create some employment in the area as well

6. Conclusions

• It was decided that Tine would look in to website design
• Henk would finalize sign/letterhead with Roger
• Petra would compose an updated letter requesting members to begin thinking about signboard sponsorship/ projects which will be discussed at next meeting
• We will only have next meeting once Conservancy is officially registered
• Howard would look into ways to use his running business to raise some money for the conservancy