Humboldt Park Friends General Meeting Minutes
Meeting Date: January 7th, 2021
Time: 7:00 pm
In attendance – Ignacio Catral, Susan Catral, Patrick McSweeney, Tim Richter, Mike Bubolz, Dani Graf, Laureen Stirmel, Myron Thompsen, Lori LaGrow, Henry Szymanski – Later joined by Barry Waddell from the Park People
Agenda: Meeting called to order at 7:05 and Agenda Approved
Committee Reports:
Treasurer’s Report
The Profit & Loss report from 12/16/20 shows a balance of $16,353.63
Add $9,846.95 ( Pay Pal transfers less fee and 8%)Add $1,209.80 (Off line checks less 8%)
General Balance
$27,410.38
-less $ 1,184.22 The Lagoon Fund
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$26,226.16
-less $ 79.82
The War Memorial Fund
$26,146,34 -less $20,796.37 100 for Trees
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$ 5,349.97 in General Fund
Membership Report :
Last month there were 89 active memberships, and this month there are 129 active memberships.
Membership is being given to donors of whole trees. Ignacio would like to convert most memberships into reoccurring situations. Possibly create an incentive with T-Shirts or a promotional video.
Facebook has 1,700 followers, and Instagram has 1,235. Members and Followers are increasing.
Lagoon Restoration:
Henry is getting the formal application ready for the county. Jane and Henry sent a copy to Emily Bermiester and received a positive reaction. The final draft is prepared for the Lagoon Committees’ review. Tim says for fundraising for the initial planning, $15,000.00 to $16,000.00 will be needed.
Committee would like to save some of the Lagoon funds HPF’s has for future cattail pulls. The county
did provide the dumpster for the last cattail cut.
100 for Humboldt:
Planting trees will start in spring with River Birch for the wet areas and then about 25 Hardwoods in the fall. Each tree will cost approximately $350.00 to plant. The county is doing the planting. Mike suggested that we should ask the county if they would contribute some money to the project.
Mike also would like to finish the fundraising for 100 Trees and then concentrate on The Lagoon Project. The price of a Whole Tree has been raised to $300.00.
We have 64 full tree donors.
Anyone who buys a tree gets a Friends Membership. The 1st 100 Whole Tree donors will receive a bronze medallion. Mike will make a pro to-type for promotional material. They can be engraved at a later date. Holding a social to present the gifts was suggested. A number of our donors are restaurants, and they are not doing well financially at this time. Toni Spot Realty has moved.
Henry counted the rings on the Biggest Ash that was cut down recently from a slice of the trunk. He counted 148 rings.
New Business:
Board Elections-
New Humboldt Park Friends Board
President – Mike Bubolz
Vice-President – Steve Blank
Secretary – Laureen Stirmel
Treasurer – Lori LaGrow
Ignacio Catral
Susan Catral
Patrick McSweeney
Dani Graf
Here is a list of the Committees:
Membership –
Chair, Ignacio Catral
Communications –
Chair, Susan Catral
Patrick McSweeney
Laureen Stirmel
Ignacio Catral
Lagoon Restoration –
Chair, Patrick McSweeney
Tim Richter
Henry Szymanski
Joanna Demas
Jane LeCapitaine
100 For Humboldt –
Chair, Mike Bubolz
Ignacio Catral
Dani Graf
Henry Syzmanski
Easter Egg Hunt- (Dormant) Needs Board Chair!
Ignacio Catral
Laureen Stirmel
Jane LeCapitaine
Tree Day –
Chair, Laureen Stirmel
Jane LeCapitaine
Dani Graf
Development – New!
Chair, Mike Bubolz
Lori LaGrow
Dani Graf
The Development Committee will work on Fund Raising and Business Support.
The Volunteer Committee will be discussed further when events can be held.
Flag Pole: Dani stated we would need to raise funds for a new Flag Pole and that she had not heard back from any of the companies she contacted.
Ignacio said Lindsay Frost could possibly be getting Humboldt Park a flagpole from another park, and we would have to fund the installation.
War Memorial: Dani suggested we hand out poppies and an informative book about the War Memorial and what it represents for the 100th celebration. We have information collected by Myron and other sources.
Barry Waddell said we should run this by Lindsay first. Mike mentioned the possibility of presenting a video on our Facebook Page.
Tim said it would be nice if we could get John Gurda for a Zoom Project or video.
There might be added interest since the Memorial was built after a pandemic.
Dani, Patrick, and Susan will work on the tribute. National Poppy Day is May 28th, and on May 22nd the War Memorial dedication was held 100 years ago.
The Park People:
Barry Waddell provided some information.
We should still plan things, just make all our dates later. Concentrate on fundraising for now.
Our annual report is done. (Thanks to Ignacio)
Park People would like a List of the New Officers.
The 3year plan report is to get an idea of possible long-range plans – just possibilities.
No park event permits, at least until after May. No new projects for next year park staff have been cut, so they are behind .
The storage usage area has been worked out with the county.
The Park People are starting a new program called Participation. It is a Bingo Card to encourage people to go to their parks and be active. When you complete the card, it is mailed in to be eligible for drawings. One of the giveaways will be a weekend of snowshoe rentals for 4.
The Park People’s Gala is still being planned for Saturday, November 6th. Could use help.
He does not know if the Active Street Program will be brought back, but will check on the matter.
The Oak Leaf Discovery Tour Program was a great success last year. He believes it will take place this year also.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm;