Annual Report – 2009
GaLTT is still a relatively new organization; we had our first AGM in November 2003. As a new board member at that time, I can still remember what my expectations of the organization were. In a word….unrealistic. I had visions of huge grants and fund-raising campaigns and of course large acquisitions. Fortunately my board colleagues were much more realistic. In those first years we built the membership and a strong volunteer base, developed a dedicated and competent board, received grant funding for Cox Community Park, restored beach accesses, maintained existing trails and created some new ones, produced a trail guide, newsletters and a website, and participated in public discussions regarding the 707 lands and other properties. We also set an ambitious goal of having a series of interconnected trails from Drumbeg to Descanso by 2010.
This last year marked the start of a significant transition for our organization. While we continued to work on trails (for instance, the Tin Can Alley Connector and the Drumbeg Beach access), and to do newsletters, the trail guide and the website we also branched out in several new directions:
- Recognizing that 2010 was fast approaching we developed a strategic plan to accomplish the objective of Drumbeg to Descanso by 2010, comprising 14 inter-related projects. Some of the projects involve negotiations with private landowners for trail access and others involve negotiations with other governments regarding access to public land.
- To achieve our goals we recognized the importance of maintaining and enhancing our relationships with different government bodies and actively worked to engage with RDN, Islands Trust and BC Parks staff. We also built alliances with other organizations whose mandates are complementary to ours such as the Gabriola Land Conservancy.
- One of the benefits of this relationship building is that we were chosen by the Islands Trust Fund to carry out two contracts to implement activities in the Elder Cedar Nature Reserve Management Plan. Using our membership volunteers, we removed built structures, placed stepping stones to cross the stream bed, erected signs and eradicated broom and other invasive species from the reserve. The money we received from your efforts is one of the reasons we are on a sound financial footing.
- We have also enhanced our member services. In this year, we have sponsored three workshops (Gary Oak, Camas Lilies and Mushroom Foraging); improved the newsletter and website, updated the trail guide and made an effort to regularly communicate electronically with members.
Looking back on those first five years, I am confident that we have built a strong foundation for achieving our long term goals. Over the next year our focus will be on four areas:
- Engaging in the 707 management planning process and creating opportunities for our membership to influence the plan;
- Continuing to work diligently to implement the 14 projects which will connect us from Drumbeg to Descanso;
- Working with BC Parks staff to eradicate the broom in Drumbeg Park and to increase public awareness and responsibility for broom eradication on private property.
- Continue to enhance our member services with quarterly newsletters, and workshops. This year we have already planned three workshops on oyster harvesting, mushroom foraging and berry foraging. If there are others that you would like to have, please let us know.
None of this could have been accomplished without a committed membership. On behalf of the Board, I want you to know how much we value your contributions whether it is input on important issues, volunteer work or financial support. Growing the membership is a priority. So I have a request and that is that each of you enrolls a new member. Talk to your friends and acquaintances, direct them to the website www.galtt.ca where they can download a membership form, and tell them what we are doing. The membership’s importance to this organization cannot be over-estimated.
On that note, thank you for coming out to the AGM.
Respectfully submitted,
Dyan Dunsmoor-Farley
President
