SABDA
 

St. Ann's Bay Development Association

Meeting of 26 June 2012

Present: Janet Dauphney, Loreto Doyle, Michée Lemieux, James Murphy, Anne-Claude Pépin, Rosie Smith, Angelo Spinazzola, Paul Weinburg, Jitka Zgola

Regrets: Carol Kennedy

1) Call to Order
At 7:15 pm, we opened the meeting with a presentation from Mike Targett, whom we have engaged to create our new community web site.

The board discussed our vision for the web site. Some community information and features we would like to portray:

  • A large geographic area with a small population (~400)
  • A large number of artists and musicians living here
  • Full social calendar—ceilidhs, milling frolics, suppers, darts, etc.
  • Year-round outdoor recreation
  • Strong sense of community and cohesion between young and old, local and newcomer
  • Connection to the land

We would like the web site to include the following features:

  • Act as a "virtual town square"
  • Day itineraries—for benefit of tourists and locals alike
  • Community Events sheet
  • Dynamic—make it interesting to get revisits
  • Blog-like for community participation; Mike pointed out that frequent updates are good for Google search rankings
  • Community pages—individual page with blurb on each business/group, with photo, link to their web site if applicable; also space for current events, sales, etc.
  • Virtual tour—use geography to organise the site (map with photos and icons). Map can be filtered by craft, food, activity, etc.

We discussed the idea of developing a series of sign-up mailing lists, organised by topic, to be given to local busineses. We decided against this due to organisational complexity.

We discussed the option of giving web site participants (those who will purchase their own "page" on the site) separate accounts to update their own content. It is too great a time commitment to have a SABDA moderator approve each post, but moderators will have the option to remove content if deemed unsuitable. When new accounts are created, users will be sent the web site rules and instructions on how to use the site. To prevent inappropriate links, links on participant pages will be limited to that participant's own web site.

Mike Targett described some of the features of the web site he will provide to SABDA, per our RFP:

  • The site will be designed to use the WordPress content management system, which offers a user-friendly browser interface for easy content updates
  • Interface can use checkboxes when creating new content to send the content to specific areas (e.g., blog, picture, event)
  • Mike will keep weekly back-ups and the template; history is also kept on WordPress; all of this will help protect against mistakes during updates
  • WordPress includes a spell-checker
  • Mike will provide tips on optimising written content for search engines
  • Site code will include web site usage statistics; for example, how many people click through to different pages, including links to external sources

The steps Mike will take to create the web site include:

  1. Make a wire frame of the layout, and show how different parts of the site are connected
  2. Make a Photoshop mock-up layout
  3. Write code, once function and look are approved
  4. Upload our real content, and site is ready for use (with initial help from Mike)

Mike would like real photos to work with when drawing the layout, so he has a better idea of what SABDA envisions.

ACTION: Loreto will send Mike a list of links to web sites of community groups and businesses.

2) Approval of Agenda:
(moved: Rosie; seconded: Michée; carried)

3) Approval of Minutes of 15 May 2012:
(moved: Angelo; seconded: Paul; carried)

4) Old Business:

  • Web Site Project:

    ACTION: Jamie will contact Bill Conall to send out a call for photo submissions through the online Events sheet and August paper Events sheet.

    ACTION: Jamie will contact these local photographers to request their photos for the web site project: Carol Kennedy, Lee Brown, Lisa Finney, Jim Steele.
  • Non-profit Governance:
    Loreto has found a potential training source (David Upton at Common Good Solutions).
    ACTION: Loreto will confirm the price with David.
  • Open Pen Net Aquaculture:
    Earlier in 2012, SABDA sent a letter supporting a moratorium on new salmon farms. Salmon Wars is a documentary on the issue (www.salmonwars.com).
  • Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance
    Bill 98 (Volunteer Protection Act) states that volunteers are protected from insurance claims (liability), but are not protected from errors or anything that may result in a lawsuit.

    D&O insurance typically costs $400-1,000. To determine whether it is useful to SABDA, we should conduct a liability inventory—a list of things we could be held accountable and sued for.

    We decided to make a petition to share with other volunteer boards, to be signed and sent to the NS government.

    ACTION: Jitka will print out the insurance booklet with the steps for conducting a liability inventory.

    ACTION: Jitka will draft a letter/petition to be sent to other groups to print and sign.

    ACTION: Jitka will continue to contact Keith Bain regarding the protection of Directors and Officers on volunteer boards.
  • Cabot Shores Music Festival:
    There is a group that is interested in holding a larger festival, and the Good Health group has been given money to stage another festival. Angelo suggested contacting Eric MacInnis to document the festivals on tape. The music at the events is participatory, where anyone who is interested can be involved. Paul intends to hold another festival in the fall, and one in the spring.
  • House Concert Series (SABDA Fundraising):
    Angelo still has many performer contacts from the North River Centre; however, there is no venue (except Cabot Shores). In the past, tickets were pre-sold as a season's pass. Not all season's ticket holders would attend each show, so shows could be oversold at the door. Angelo has no time to dedicate to this endeavour at this time.

    ACTION: Paul will assume the risk and run pilot concerts this summer. He will report on the concerts with a plan for future efforts involving SABDA.

    ACTION: Angelo will forward performer contact information to Paul.

5) Financial Report (Jitka):

  • $1,500 was given to Mike Targett of Targett Design, as a first payment for the web site project.
  • $7,148.47 will be the balance once the first cheque to Mike is cashed.
  • $3,500 (plus HST) is still owed to Mike.
  • $3,648.47 (2,898.47 after HST) will be the balance once the web site project is complete.

    Motion: to accept the Financial Report as entered; (moved: Angelo; seconded: Janet; carried)

    ACTION: Jamie will check old insurance policies in his keeping for past insurance payments, as we may not currently be insured.

    ACTION: Jitka will give Jamie a list of things to look up in the SABDA archives.

    ACTION: Jamie will go to East Coast Credit Union to sign documents for the SABDA account.

6) New Business:

  • Web Site Contract:
    The contract with Mike Targett was not signed.

    ACTION: Jamie will check the SABDA bylaws to see how many signers are required to make a contract.
  • Salmon Angling Season Delay:
    Jamie presented his opinions regarding the DFO delay in opening salmon angling this year. He believes the rules should be for everyone. As the delay could result in a loss of income in the community, he suggested SABDA write a letter asking for clarification on the decision to delay the angling season.

    ACTION: Michée will draft a letter to DFO, with the help of Jamie.
  • Alternative Energy: Tidal Energy Presentation:
    Jamie will contact Colin Harker regarding a presentation by him on tidal energy.
  • Alternative Energy: Scotian Windfields:
    Any wind energy projects must be undertaken by a community group to take advantage of the COMFIT program. SABDA decided to host a community open house, inviting Dan Roscoe of Scotian Windfields and Rob Rand of Island Windfield to talk about funding options and wind technology. The presentation will take place at the Fire Hall, with July 30 or 31 the preferred dates.

    ACTION: Loreto will check with Dan and Rob regarding the date that works best for them.

7) Visioning Session:
Postponed to a future meeting.

8) Next Board Meeting: The next meeting will take place on Thursday 2 August 2012, at 7 pm. We will meet at the Fire Hall, where there is a large screen on which we can view and vote on photos for the web site.

9) Meeting Adjourned at 9:30 pm (moved: Angelo; seconded: Janet).

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