Sandy Hook Community Association
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
MINUTES
Thursday, May 1, 2003
7:OOPM
Present: Board of Directors:
Bob D’Arcy Michael Davidson Gray Waddell
Tom Nash Harold Fletcher Pat Moore
Din Ruttelynck Joanne Rykers
Approximately 40 members of the Association were present representing a quorum.
1. Call to order – Bob D’Arcy, 7:00pm
2. Adoption of agenda – strike item 8, “New Business,” moved by Michael Davidson, adopted.
3. Minutes of AGM, May, 2002 – read by Joanne Rykers, moved accepted by Gray Waddell, adopted.
4. President’s report – President Bob D’Arcy reminded the meeting of the first objective enunciated in the Sandy Hook bylaws: a) to promote and maintain acceptable standards with respect to the environment and general welfare of the Sandy Hook community. He noted the following achievements in 2002 in support of this objective:
a) The successful effort to assist the District of Sechelt in creating a plan for Hidden Grove. He paid special tribute to Committee members Gertrude Pacific, Michael Davidson, Koen Drugmand, Din Ruttelynck and Gray Waddell.
b) President Bob also thanked the volunteers who created No Name Park, the small parklet which starts behind the mailboxes on Skookumchuk and runs through to Deerhorn. It is now an attractive enclave with native plantings.
c) The trail keepers were acknowledged who maintain the trails in the Sechelt Heritage Forest making it always accessible and pleasant.
d) The traditional cleanup of Sandy Hook Park; the garbage pick-up on Sechelt Inlet Road from Sandy Hook Road to the provincial park; and successful calls to the District of Sechelt regarding road repair issues; were all ongoing projects undertaken by Sandy Hook volunteers.
e) The Association, he noted, became most active in the fight against Short Term Rentals --again keeping in compliance with our objectives of general welfare and fundraising to support that endeavor.
Finally, President Bob offered special thanks to Joanne Rykers and Michael Davidson who came on the Board to complete unexpired terms. They, along with the rest of the Board, struggled with many difficult decisions due to the Short Term Rental issue.
Particularly, Bob thanked the membership as a whole for its strong support, as reflected in the Association’s recording the second highest number of memberships in its 40-year history. Now well over 100.
5. Treasurer’s report – Harold Fletcher read the financial report a copy of which was appended to the agenda.
6. Committee reports
a) Public Works Report
President Bob presented the Public Works report, noting that issues dealt with included: flooding at the Fishtail; water running over Deerhorn Drive with the potential for a freezing hazard; a watching brief on the main road down to lower Sandy Hook, and in particular the main water pipe which was, and may still be, exposed to problems. The board continues to monitor such issues.
b) Planning
Din Ruttelynck reported that she had attended most planning committee meetings of the District of Sechelt which usually dealt with minor matters until the issue of Short Term Rentals came up. In particular, she noted the helpful presentation by Councillor Melamed of the Resort Municipality of Whistler, which has finally dealt successfully with the matter and firmly protects its residential neighbourhoods.
c) Parks
Michael Davidson noted that the Ministry of Forests is now downloading responsibility for the maintenance of its parks within municipalities. While the SHCA has asked the District of Sechelt to take over the Sechelt Heritage Forest, the Sandy Hook Community Association has promised to continue its maintenance work.
The Hidden Grove Park Plan committee included a “dream” list with the solid potential for its implementation. The District of Sechelt is now firmly behind the plan; its benefits go well beyond Sandy Hook and extend to the District as a whole. In addition the Sechelt Indian Band is looking favorably upon the plan. Costs incurred, amounting to some hundreds of dollars, were all absorbed by the volunteers, Michael emphasized.
No Name Park consists of two lots at the T-bone of Skookumchuk and Deerhorn. Sandy Hook volunteers spent many hours working on the park, eradicating the blackberries, and planting native plants donated by Casey’s, Murray’s Nurseries, and Willow Farms. We now have a beautiful little park, also enhanced with a bench donated by the District of Sechelt.
7. Nominating Committee Report – Pat Moore and Joanne Rykers presented the following slate for Board of Directors:
- Continuing Directors – Bob D’Arcy, Tom Nash
- Standing for election – Pat Moore, Din Ruttelynck, Harold Fletcher, Gray Waddell, Michael Davidson, Joanne Rykers
In the absence of additional nominations, as required by our bylaws, the president instructed the secretary to cast a unanimous ballot.
8. Open Discussion – The following points and questions were raised by the membership:
- Bula Hess read into the record tributes Bob D’Arcy’s leadership from various other Community Associations. (See attached)
- questions about Short Term Rentals, including previous studies, the prevalence of the problem in Sandy Hook, and the suggestion that a petition be circulated in Sandy Hook and presented to Council. Those interested in the decision of DOS on this issue can attend Council meeting on May 7th.
- A suggestion that people erect tubes at the foot of their driveways for Newsletter delivery. Bob D’Arcy thanked all the delivery people for their work.
- A question about when the trail work will start on Hidden Grove; this is stalled pending the decision by the government on the Park application.
- A question on the “Bluff Bench appearance,” and the “Fairy Folk disappearance;” these are still mysteries!
- A question on the Sandy Hook Park playground equipment – no word as yet from the DOS.
9. Adjournment – Bob D’Arcy, 8:00pm.
Refreshments
ATTACHMENT
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Sandy Hook Community Association |
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Statement of Receipts and Disbursements |
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for the Year ended December 31, 2002 |
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Receipts |
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Memberships |
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$838.79 |
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Disbursements |
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AGM |
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$131.32 |
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Newsletter |
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89.12 |
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Garden crew |
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30.02 |
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Website |
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10.00 |
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Summer Picnic |
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206.92 |
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Society Annual Report |
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25.00 |
492.38 |
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Excess or Receipts over Disbursements |
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346.41 |
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Add: Cash in Bank Jan 1, 2002 |
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2,125.76 |
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Cash in Bank Dec 31, 2002 |
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$2,472.17 |
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Cash in Bank Dec 31, 2002 |
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Cash in Bank Account |
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472.17 |
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GIC's (due Aug 20, 2003) |
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2,000.00 |
$2,472.17 |
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2. TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT BOB D’ARCY
The G-8 is a group of the presidents of the community associations within the District of Sechelt.
It meets monthly to consider issues of concern to the community as a whole and to act in unity when the occasion warrants.
I was one of the founding members of the G-8 some 8 or 9 years ago, and as such, still have many contacts within that group of leaders. As they all know, Sandy Hook has undergone an extremely d and stressful year thanks mostly to the insidious matter of Short Term Rentals.
I have heard recently from most of these community leaders. They offered the following tributes to Bob D’Arcy’s leadership throughout this exhausting period. For the sake of brevity I quote only excerpts.
From Jason Herz, President, Sunshine Heights Residents & Owners Association:
Bob “...The sad byproduct of (the hidden agendas of some individuals) can be the loss of hard working and dedicated individuals such as yourself to our volunteer groups... .A group unwilling to make some waves or to stand up and cry foul simply enables others who would use the system for their own ends. I would say you were definitely one of those willing to stand up and get shot at. I find that an admirable trait; one that served your community well. It is however rather draining to be in the line of fire on a regular basis. . . . (your stepping down [would] be a loss to the quieter majority that surrounds us.”)
From Grant Thompson, President Davis Bay/Wilson Creek Community Association
“Bob, your passion and sense of humor [be sorely missed at the G8 meetings. You represented your community very well and were instrumental in bringing the STR issue to a head. Well done
From Renee McCall, President, West Porpoise Bay Community Association
“Bob...1 feel you have been a great asset to the community as well as to Sandy Hook. . . .I feel you should be proud of all you have accomplished during your tenure as president. It’s not easy to be the only voice crying in the wilderness.”
From Linda Williams, President, ‘Tuwanek Ratepayers Association
Regarding Bob. ...“the flood of new Sandy Hook memberships is not only awesome but an acknowledgement of Bob’s many leadership qualities. ..I am impressed with Bob and his intensity, tempered by his willingness to listen and reconsider.”
These spontaneous tributes from volunteers throughout the District, far beyond Sandy Hook’s borders, provide eloquent testimony that Bob D‘Arcy is one of Sandy Hook’s most valuable assets.
Since I cannot make a motion, I urge the Board to ensure that “these remarks be included verbatim as an addendum to the minutes of this AGM, May 1, 2003, or else published in the next addition of the Sandy Hook newsletter.”
Submitted by Bula Hess, May 1, 2003