Those Present: Tom Anderson, Claude Eans, Keith Schoonover, Lori Schoonover, Vince Perrotta, Tyson Rose, Dawne Howard, David Hunter, Steve Thrasher, Jim Arnold, Mike Kay

1. Keith called the meeting to order. (Melissa pulled some strings and we were able to meet in the Tea Room again.)

2. Treasurer’s report: Claude indicated that we received $.28 interest for the month. We received five checks that Claude deposited into the Treasury. One check for $1,500 came from MUCFC and is earmarked for the Thurmont Park tree planting project. The second series of checks came from the Darrell McCartney family for a total of $500. Nancy and the children have been sending this contribution every year in Darrell’s memory. Claude drafted a thank you letter to Nancy which everyone signed. Claude will send this letter to Nancy.

3. Logging site exams: Mike received one plan this month for the Frederick City Watershed. Jenny Willoughby, Sustainability Director with the City of Frederick delivered this plan to Mike and requested that we include her with the review. Mike will coordinate a date vie email for the week of July 18 – 22. Mike also relayed that The Monocracy Scenic Rivers Commission is trying to include a requirement to Frederick and Carroll County Regulations that require Forestry Board approval of timber harvest plans within a buffer area of the Monocacy River. Since most of this zone has been designated as a Resource Conservation Area in Frederick County we are already performing this function. The Carroll Board on the other hand is not doing timber harvest reviews unless a harvest is being planned in a Forest Retention Area as per the Forest Conservation Act. Mike spoke to Donna Davis about what we do during our reviews and Mike invited Donna and Carroll Board members to accompany us on site reviews, if they would like to do so.

4. NRCC Camp: Claude, Dawne and perhaps Dave will be visiting camp this year. Dawne has touched base with four of the 5 students we will be sending this year. Subsequent to the meeting Mike has learned that none of the 3 students we are sponsoring have submitted their $125 Activity Fee. Mike will look into this. We had a long conversation on how to recruit for next year with a lot of good suggestions. The general consensus was that we would reevaluate the provision for refunding the $125 fee based on a 500 word essay about camp. Perhaps a video or photo essay would be more effective at interesting high school students? Mike will provide Dawne with Daniel and Anita Palmer’s contact information.

5. Sustainability Commission: Tom provided an interesting synopsis of the field trip he took to Catoctin Mountain Orchards. Tom mentioned that the orchard does a lot of composting using the compost as mulch and soil amendments. The orchard has also adopted the Solox method of growing fruit which stresses planting trees at a close spacing and keeping the trees relatively young and small. (This type of tree produces most of its fruit on the outer branches which develops larger fruit.) Catoctin Mountain orchards manages stinkbugs by directing stinkbugs to certain trees by using pheromone attractants then spraying the “sacrificial tree”. This has been very effective for stinkbug control and it has meant that less pesticide needs to be sprayed on the fruit bearing trees. (The Solox method might make interesting Nature Notes article.)

6. Big Tree Program: Mike mentioned that we still need signed permission slips to list trees for 4 individuals. (One person sent their slip in today 7/12/2016.)

7. Nature Notes: Lori indicated that she has sent most of the articles to Karen and mentioned that it would be good to write a few more.

8. Web Site: Tyson mentioned that the Web Site is up to date. Tyson requested more photos that he can post to jazz up the website.

9. Other business:

• August – Just like in the baseball world, the “players” on the Frederick Co. Forestry Board are entering into our summer recess….The summer recess is now in effect.

It’s time to park the sedan and break the convertible or Harley’s out. Fire up the grill using genuine wood chips or white charcoal if you must. Ditch the coffee and go with ice tea or lemonade. See you next, in a month that ends in “r”!