LAKE GASTON ASSOCIATION

Minutes (approved) Director’s Meeting – October 7, 2009

Lake Gaston Baptist Church Littleton, North Carolina - 9:30AM, First Wednesday

Mission: To identify lake issues affecting our membership and pursue resolution with the responsible organizations.

Location:         Lake Gaston Baptist Church

                        Littleton, North Carolina

Convened BY: President Doug Hughes

Pledge of Allegiance:  Led by President Hughes

Moment of Silence:  Led by President Cataldo

Member and Visitor Introductions and Comments:  During the introductions, Roland Beauchaine read a letter he wrote to Warren County Commissioners regarding the revaluation and tax rate issue. In his letter, he pointed out that this year the North Carolina Legislature allowed counties to delay revaluations for one year—with a deadline of June 30th for applications to the variance. He also pointed out that the Warren County Commissioners failed to mention this to the public. It is now too late to make the application for variance. In the discussion of the letter, it was mentioned that Northampton County has changed its revaluation period from five years to four.

Director/Executive Attendance:  Doug Hughes, Linda Hedgepeth, Moira Underwood, Bill Bryant, Barbara Burgdoerfer, John Cataldo, Patrick Dempsey, Ralph Domach, Laura Kolb, Joyce Lindenmuth, Quinton Qualls, Ron Skow, Vernon Wilson

Guest Speaker:  Christine Barford, Principal of KIPP Middle School in Gaston, NC, made a presentation on the background of the KIPP (“Knowledge Is Power Program”) schools and the successes of the KIPP Gaston schools. She also showed a film explaining the KIPP system. Shannon, an 8th grader in the school, gave her personal success story. The following are some excerpts from Ms. Barford’s presentation:

• The KIPP Gaston school is part of the Charter School Network.

• KIPP schools are public schools but are privately run (under the umbrella KIPP Foundation), with 82 sister schools that were originally started in Houston, TX and NY city. GAP clothing is one of its benefactors.

• KIPP at Gaston has a local Board of Directors.

• The KIPP Gaston school is the first, and one of only two KIPP schools in a rural area.

• The club provides a $500 (computer education related) scholarship to HCC every year.

• He reported on the new Microsoft Windows 7 program and how transition to 7 from Vista should be easy, but that transition to Windows XP probably won’t work and that Vista support ends in April 2011 and there is no longer any Microsoft XP support.

• KIPP Gaston was established in 2001 and has added one grade each year since. There are 400 students in grades 5-8 and 300 in grades 9-12. There are about 40 students who have special needs.

• Students are selected through a lottery system (there are no qualifications to meet).

• A majority (85%) of the students are African-American and poor. Prior to acceptance in the program, parents and students must sign a Commitment to Excellence Contract. Parents are heavily involved in the program.

• Students are selected through a lottery system (there are no qualifications to meet).

• 100% of their 48 graduating 2009 seniors went on to college, receiving about $2.5 million in need-based scholarships. It was named a North Carolina School of Excellence—KIPP Gaston was the only school in its area to meet all state testing requirements.

• Many of its teachers come from the Teach for American program (college graduates who make a two-year commitment, and then may choose to stay on). They make a big commitment in extra hours to help students succeed. They are available by phone until 10 p.m. on school nights to answer students’ questions on homework.

• KIPP Gaston is at full capacity for the second year and there is a waiting list.

• Students attend school from Monday – Friday 8-5 with some Saturdays, and have a 3-week summer break. They also commit to 2 hours of homework a night.

• Students may get scholarships for extra expenses.

• Funding is always an issue and the school runs many fund-raisers.

• Volunteers are always needed and anyone is invited to sponsor a student. There are options in ways to help: time, money, books. The public is invited to the school to observe.

Director Input: There was discussion about ways the LGA and the public can support KIPP and get the message of their success and needs out to the public. The LGA Directors will examine these questions at a later time.

New Director Oath: Joyce Lindenmuth was welcomed as a Director and all Directors took the Director Oath with her.

Secretary’s Report:  Doug Hughes presented the Secretary’s report in Bill LaMonte’s absence: The Board approved the September 2009 Minutes.

Treasurer’s Report:  Doug Hughes handed out the Actual/Current Year Budget sheet and gave a brief report in Jack Saunders’ absence: LGA has received more funds than were budgeted and spending to date is under budget. Income includes $4,000 for membership renewals this past month. The Board approved the Treasurer’s Report.

Committee Reports:

Marketing (Ron Skow gave the Marketing Report for Bill LaMonte )

• Marketing has started its 2010 membership drive (both general & business).

• The Littleton Festival generated 1 new general membership and 1 new business sign up. Thanks to all that helped.

• Ads are in the Lions Club Seafood Festival, Lake Life Magazine (fall thru spring), the Lake Gaston Chamber of Commerce Chili Cook-Off. LGA also had ads in the Littleton Festival and Fireman’s Festival. We will soon have a year-long ad in the Lakeland Theatre.

• To date there are five new business members.

• Help is needed for:
  --- Lake Gaston Chamber of Commerce Chili Cook-Off October 31st. Helpers are needed early (7AM) and in the afternoon. The LGA information tent also will need volunteers.
  --- November 14 Boat Parade. Need a boat, decorations and decorators. If anyone is good with theme decorating, please join us!!!
  --- Christmas Parade or two.

• By the end of the year, LGA'S name/ad will have appeared in about 15,000 pages of ads, shirts, cups, news print, posters and signs.

Planning & Development:  (Roland Beauchaine for Jack Saunders)

• The committee is focusing on finalizing the Oct 30th meeting with Center for Watershed Protection.

Lake Environment/Aquatic Weed:  (Vernon Wilson)

• Motorcross Track erosion problem: will be taken to court.

• LEMS: surveys are late, and need to be completed ASAP. Call Jack Saunders.

• LGA Alert meeting is coming up.

Discussion: regarding what LGA is doing about information that Flat Creek and Smith Creek are impaired. Answer: LGA is sending four directors to a water-quality meeting October 30th in Charlottesville where it is hoped that a remediation strategy will be outlined. Doug has sent two emails to a contact person, but has not had any reply to date. The testing equipment that LGA will be using to monitor Lake Gaston water quality has been requested via a grant submitted to VA DEQ. Roland Beauchaine stressed that we know the two creeks are impaired and suspect other impairments. The issue is what do we do, and how do we keep things from getting worse. LGA seeks a proactive plan rather than a reactive one.

Safety:  (John Cataldo)

• The Virginia Legislature has prohibited Dept of Wildlife from enforcing the law that all children 13-years-old and under must wear a life vest on a moving water craft. Although it is a federal law, Virginia has not enacted supporting state legislation. It is apparent and of great concern that many boat owners are ignoring this ordinance. North Carolina has enacted a state law and NC Wildlife enforces the 13 and under requirement.

• Roland Beauchaine suggested that LGA develop and submit what LGA would like to see on the Legislative agenda to the State Legislatures annually: “planting the seeds helps.”

• Doug suggested that at one time the LGA had the largest neighborhood watch program in the country. This has slipped considerably and needs reinvigorating.

• It was suggested that there is an annual Virginia Transportation Safety Workshop usually in October or November at Ft. Eustice and that a lot of laws have come out of this workshop. LGA participation at this workshop would be a good place to start. VDOT may know where it is being held this year.

 Membership:  (Moira for David Duxbury)

• Reported a membership of 1432 households as of the end of September. Membership is growing slowly, but steadily.

Government Relations:  (Ron Skow)

• Things are looking good for a five-county forum probably in 2010; Warren County’s Commissioner Richardson is supportive and will lead.

Discussion: There was discussion about what issues should LGA focus on and sponsor. Roland suggested focus should be on the lake. Doug suggested we need to focus on things where we expect to have impact and results may be expected, e.g., weeds. There was a recommendation that the LGA recognize the success of KIPP students and use the LGA Bulletin to support KIPP.

Executive Director:  Moira Underwood

• Moira detailed her activity for the month.

• Doug: Our first multi-year business member signed up for six years.

Old Business:  Doug Hughes

• LGA Member Survey, which is developed every three years, is on the website and anyone (not just LGA members) is encouraged to respond. The Survey is used to set LGA priorities. There have been 250 responses so far. The deadline for completion is October 23rd. Anyone who provides contact information on the survey will be eligible for cash prize drawings.

• Most committee budgets are in. The budget will be presented at the November LGA meeting.

• Center for Watershed Protection meeting: Vernon, Jack, Doug and Roland will attend a meeting scheduled for October 30th in Charlottesville. The CWP organization helps with evaluations, putting together remediation plans and training individuals and groups. LGA goals include: coming up with some way to predict the future for the lake based on current conditions; building a statement of work and to get grant(s) to do the work; looking at developing ordinances for the lake regarding water runoff, buffers, and animal waste.

New Business: Doug Hughes

The meeting was properly adjourned.

The next meeting will be Wednesday, November 4th at 9:30AM

Respectfully Submitted

Joyce Lindenmuth for William La Monte Secretary

Secretary