Garrison Creek Park Community Association

Garrison Creek Park Community Garden Association
2008 AGM
Minutes of Meeting

Date: 27 Nov 2008
Prepared by: Melanie Roscoe
Edited by: Kat Tancock

Meeting Date: 18 Nov 2008 7-9pm
Meeting Location: Wallace Emerson Community Centre

Present:
Kat Tancock (Acting Coordinator)
Melanie Roscoe
David Campbell
Mark Cherrington
Barbara Bruce
Airin Stephens

Distribution:
Attendees
GCPCA Membership

MINUTES

1. Call to Order and Introductions

2. Recap 2008: Achievements
• Initial group formation
• Initial garden construction
• We have a achieved a lot for our first year!
• A big “Thank You” to Marc de Mouy for all of his hard work to get this vision realized!

3. Financial Report
• Review of Expenditures
• Review of Treasurer’s Report and Recommendations (presented by Kat Tancock on behalf of Arthur Flach)
• see attached documentation

4. Soil Report
• Information package delievered to the meeting by Marc de Mouy, who worked to get the information from the city
• Mark Cherrington to review the information package – has a friend with biochemical knowledge who may be able to help us understand the results
• Executive to review the material through the winter and summarize for presentation to the membership in the spring

5. Name Change
• Due to the designation of the GCPCGA as “stewards” of the Garrison Creek Park in addition to (but including) the fenced-in garden area, it was proposed that the name of the association be changed to “Garrison Creek Park Community Association”
• Vote was held. Proposed name change passed with a vote of 5-0.

6. Vision Statement
• In order to define and focus the direction of the association, a vision statement was drafted. The text is as follows:

The aim of the Garrison Creek Park Community Association is to:
• Create a community of actively participating members;
• Act as stewards for Garrison Creek Park, working with the City of Toronto to create an     inviting green space for community enjoyment;
• Co-operatively educate ourselves on issues of the environment and the food systems that     sustain our community; and
• Operate a garden space in which GCPCA members can grow food and other plants for     the nourishment and enjoyment of themselves, their families, and the community as a     whole.

A vote was held to accept the vision statement as it appears above. The proposed vision statement passed with a vote of 5-0.

7. Discussion of Challenges and Goals 2009
• Soil in raised beds is not very good – needs to be amended.
• Need to develop a “soil strategy” – this is an ongoing item for the executive to discuss through the winter, to be in place by March 2009.
• Big Plans for the future: ideas include train platform, “wild” garden area, educational programs and aspects
• Need to articulate a plan for the future so we can look for further funding
• Need to find funds to resolve current financial situation ASAP
• 2009 should be a building year for the garden
• Community yard/bake sale for spring 2009?
• Should consider selling the greenhouse
• Park bulletin board to communicate events and information

8. Election of Executive
• See attached for descriptions of the executive roles. A vote was held to accept the executive role descriptions as modified during the meeting (attached document has been updated to reflect those changes). The proposed executive roles with the discussed changes were passed 5-0.
• Empty roles should be filled by 07 Dec 2008.
• Votes were held for all executive positions, and all passed with a vote of 6-0. The results are as follows:

Coordinator: Kat Tancock
Treasurer: Arthur Flach
Maintenance Coordinator: Mark Cherrington
Education Coordinator: Melanie Roscoe
Events Coordinator: Airin Stephens
Membership Coordinator: (this role has yet to be filled)
Fundraising Coordinator: (this role has yet to be filled)
Member-At-Large: (this role has yet to be filled)
Member-At-Large: (this role has yet to be filled)

9. Discussion of Plot Assignment
• Need descriptions of types of membership (eg: who qualifies as an active member?)
• Need rules about who gets a key to the community garden area
• Need rules for maintaining active membership
• All current plot holders will be given the option of holding at least one plot per household for the 2009 gardening season
• First order of business for the executive: sort out membership descriptions and plot assignment!

10. Items for the next meeting of the executive
• Soil Strategy
• Presentation of budget, prepared by Treasurer
• Discuss approaching Joe Mihevc for further funding
• Membership and plot assignment as discussed above
• Date: January 2009

11. Meeting Adjourned