Minutes for a meeting of the directors of SIRRA November 16, 2019

1.00pm in the Recreation Center Mezzanine.
Present:
Ron Hall
Colin Curwen (telecall)
Helen Wale
Jeanne Crerar
Mairead Boland (minutes)
Apologies:
David Osborne
Michel Chiasson
Call to order, welcome, quorum and selection of a chair. Selection of a minute taker.
Quorum of 5. Ron to chair. Mairead to take minutes.
Approval of the agenda.
Colin added an item of information re CRD and internet to Other Business.
Approval of the minutes of September 14, 2019.
Approved provisionally – “Adjourned at 2.30pm” should be added at the bottom.
Action: Mairead will amend and post to web via Harvey
Business arising from the minutes:
Update on the brochure (Jeanne and Helen).
Copies of the brochure are available (100 at a cost of $107). Plans to distribute them were agreed as follows:
 Properties sold on Saturna over the last 18 months: Addresses (no names) for properties sold over the
last 18 months or so are available from the realtors. Brochures will be hand delivered to as many as
possible. Envelopes are available (via Ron) so that they can be left at site with a handwritten explanatory
note on the envelope (Delivered by, contact xxxx for further information). If some one wants to join on
the spot we should facilitate as best we can. Name and email address is minimum information required.
o Action: Ron to provide the address list. Action: All as appropriate to distribute.
o Safety Note: If you go to deliver alone leave notice of locations, time etc. in case you have an
accident.
 Lots: Realtors may be able to distribute to the owners.
 Going forward: copies of the brochure will be provided to the Women’s Club and the realtors. We may
need to print more – to be determined as we distribute.
Proposal to make Facebook page public (Mairead)
Mairead will cancel and re-invite Ron, Jeanne, Helen, to the page as moderators (only way to show them the
page as its not Public). Approval to make public will be by email.
Logo – someone was asked some time ago to create a logo – we should check with that person first and if there
is no outcome we could approach artists and others on the island
Action Mairead ASAP
Contribution to Bill S.'s memorial
Ron will enquire with Sharon as to plans.
Participation in retirement honours for Pat Ropars (report):
SIRRA will present a Sleggs gift voucher and a heartfelt thank you note to Pat on behalf of SIRRA.
Islands Trust 2050 initiative
Agreed that we should alert people to the initiative and encourage them to provide feedback.
Brief discussion of the need to prepare for commenting on the Islands Trust budget – their process of informing
people of increases is a bit strange and may disguise the true increases.
It was proposed and agreed that we should invite the Islands Trust trustees to meet the SIRRA board to discuss
ongoing IT business and plans and to ask how SIRRA can participate and support the trustees.
Action: Mairead to contact Paul and Lee.
Treasurer's report (Ron)
Brief verbal report provided. No significant changes.
It was proposed that in the Agenda it could indicate whether an official financial report has been asked for or
whether it will be a brief verbal report.
Other business.
New member surveys
The old methodology is not working properly. Ron will check further and look at Google Forms.
Action: All to consider what could go into the survey. Usually presented as a list of items that needs to be
ranked. We had some material from the first meetings we held.
Action: Ron and Mairead to take further.
School reconfiguration meeting (Jeanne)
Jeanne described attending meeting on this reconfiguration and asking about the future of the Saturna schools –
she was assured that they would always exist…
Background information: https://sd64.bc.ca/district-configuration-review/
SIRRA needs to keep an eye on this and Jeanne will monitor on SIRRA’s behalf.
Internet – Connected Community - meeting on Saturna hosted by CRD:
Colin will attend and report back. Helen too – she intends to spend more time on the island and will need
reliable connectivity to support her work.
SIRRA should remind members. Action: Ron and Mairead
(It has been in the Scribbler.)
Saturna Island
Thursday, December 5
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Community Hall
105 E Point Rd, Saturna Island
saturnainfo@crd.bc.ca
CRD activities more generally:
A general discussion occurred about CRD initiatives such as the above – they are providing more funding for
FireSmart, there have been a number of employment opportunities listed, the telecomm equipment at the
Community Hall was provided through CRD funding etc.
It was agreed that we could invite them to come to Saturna for an information session – to describe their plans
and initiatives as they affect the Gulf Islands.
Action: Jeanne to approach xxx
Meeting adjourned at 2.35pm
Next board meeting Jan 2010 (unless we have a face to face meeting with the Islands Trust trustees sooner)
7. Next meeting and adjournment.