We began to assemble material for a 10 year Retrospective on the Friends' accomplishments. The M.N.R. agreed to give us aerial footage of the Spanish River for this project.
We started working on producing sweatshirts with our colour logo in on the front for sale to members and the public.
We explored the concept of operating an eco boat tour on the Spanish River. The Tamarac Boat Company and the U-Fab Boat Companys gave us quotes of between $60,000.00 and $65,000.00 for a suitable eco-friendly tour boat that would accommodate 50 passengers. There was resistance from some members to this concept and therefore the idea was not developed.
Our Chairman was assured by the Town of Espanola clerk that we would be immediately informed if any sewage or gray water spills occurred on the Spanish River in the Espanola area.
The historically important film of the Spanish River watershed will not be available to us for our 10 year retrospective. Also, the Blind River historical logging film will only be available to us in parts.
In setting up our annual river cleanup, the M.N.R. agreed to partner with us by cleaning the Upper Spanish River.
We ordered our first batch of sweatshirts complete with colour logos.
The Tamarac Boat Company can provide us with a 9.9hp electric outboard motor for a smaller version of our eco-boat tour concept. It will still move 10 people at 10 knots and has a cost of approximately $3,000.00.
C.B.C.'s Greg Younger-Lewis canoed part of the Spanish with us, interviewing as he went. The coverage of our good news story of the river's recovery to good health was well timed just before Earth Day in April. He even jumped into the river as part of the interview.
The Friends exhibited our big Muskie, Miss Waggles at the Earth Day Festival in Sudbury with great success. We gave out approximately 500 Muskie bookmarks.
At our June meeting, we were informed that our 32' pointer boat was in need of repairs.
After a presentation, we agreed to place our reserve funds with the Edward Jones Company for safekeeping.
After exploring the concept of volunteers testing water quality on the Spanish River, it was explained that whereas it works with lakes, rivers are difficult to sample. The example was brought forward that the M.N.R. and the City of Sudbury partnered up to assemble ‘Environment Care Packs' to be hand delivered to lakefront property owners throughout Sudbury. We will look into this concept for our needs.
M.N.R. told us that due to the increased usage of the Upper Spanish River by people in canoes and kayaks, they had to do an emergency cleanup at Biscotasing.
The need for directors insurance will be researched because of the ‘Friends' directors' exposure to risk.
A report will be presented at our March 2007 meeting on the Spanish River Environment Care Pack concept.
