I think we'll be okay. All right. So, um, in attendance so far is, uh, Lane Po, um, Barbara Bigalow, Anne Bighgam, Sam Spisiac, and Diane Adams.
uh other people who join will be named as they come in. So our first order of business and we have a quorum so we can do this and I hope everybody who's is who's been with the committee for a while is very proud of me for what I'm
about to do. Um do I have a move does anyone move to uh accept the minutes from April 28th 2026? Okay. And a second. And all those in favor just raise your hand and let
the minute show that it is unanimous. Thank you. So, um I just I kind of elaborated the the um the whatever it's called the agenda. Um because I realized that I get myself
into a pickle with the agenda because it has to be in within 48 hours and I'm usually doing it at like 72 hours or something like that. But what I finally decided to do to avoid getting any kind of emails is just put in an agenda for every time I put in a meeting. And the
agenda is overview of existing programs, new programs, and then I can elaborate it, but that way I don't need to worry about it. So the first thing on on the agenda is to provide updates on ongoing and completed programs since 428. Um,
and one of them is the stitchins. I sent out a um uh an email to everybody with a with um with one of those schedule things. There's a more official name for it than schedule thing. And everybody
noted times that they were available. And we're only looking at times when the library is open because the way it's set up right now, if if the library is not open, then either Sam or I have to show up to open up the the library. And it's not really great, especially because
people want to meet once a week. And so we so the poll showed that the two times that everybody that people like the best were Friday 3 to 5 and Friday 4 to 6. And not everybody could come 3 to 5. Not everybody could come 4 to 6, but if you
make it a three-hour drop in, we get just about everybody. So, u we propose that we do that and then we don't need to worry about whether Sam or I or Maryanne because she's willing to do it. I know she'd prefer not to open it up. U
but this way they can just come in, get set up, and go for it. Is there any discussion about that? Is is this something we need to vote on the change of time? No. Okay. Probably not. >> All right. So, we're all set for that. Now, the only other thing is the next
one is scheduled for May 31st. I'm going to be gone and Sam is very, as will Maryanne. So, we will not be here, so we can't unlock it. And Sam is doing the soccer. So, it's not it's it's a great inconvenience for her to come up,
unlock it, let people in, come back, unlock it. So, here is what I would propo propose. That we cancel the Sunday 5:31, send out a townwide email that announces that, and that starting on June 5th,
there will be a drop in knitting group every Friday between 3 and 5 or 3 and 6. Does that sound good? And then I I will send if this is if this is good then I will send an email to the people who have been coming regularly to the group
or whose emails I have just as a personal thing saying you know this is what what we've decided and here's the you know the times that worked best for all of you in the in the survey that we did. >> Can I ask a question? Mhm.
>> Um, does that mean are we talking about Fridays only in the summer or because that's the way I thought I read your >> you did >> email. >> Yeah. The reason for doing that is people's schedules often change in the
fall and so we'll do another uh we'll just do another poll >> and so then we're not going to do any Sundays in the summer. >> None. No. >> Okay. >> Yeah. We probably won't ever go back to Sundays because it it really is.
Oh, there's Let me let Jess in. Hope she hasn't been there long. Um, so yeah, so um Oh, what was I I saying about that? At any rate, yeah, we we will not be going back to the Sundays ever because
we cannot do that once a week. >> It's just too hard. So, and it may turn out that the Friday 3 to 6 time is going to be great, but we thought people's schedules change. So, we'll we'll do another another poll at that point and see. And if it turns,
hopefully it'll turn out that the Friday 3 to 6 will work and then that's a no-brainer. We just keep that time. >> Um, and um, Jess Carlson Baler has just joined. Hey, Jess. I love catching people when they just put food in their mouth.
Okay. So, that's why it said for the summer is just in case there's enough people whose schedules change. >> Barbara, I would just, you know, tell Maryanne about the 3 to six before you send emails. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. I was going to send her an email
right after this with that. And she already saw the times and one of the times she said was not going to work. So, she's already said any of these times are fine. And the way it will work is people will go into the big room unless there's an event in there in which case they can do what we did when
we first started which is just pull some chairs out, sit in a circle um in the library in the main library part of it. >> Sounds good. >> Good. But yes, I definitely going to let her know before we do anything. Uh right. Um the other ongoing one,
hikes are a big success. um current approach to scheduling them once a month and is it at the fourth or the or the last Sunday of the month? >> The last I think. >> Okay, so it's the last Sunday of the month. >> Um but that has been working
fantastically and I just wanted to confirm that Diane and I will be leading the June 28th walk at Pine Brook Camp. Okay, great. >> And we'll do a practice before then. So that would great. We usually do the week before. So this >> Oh, perfect. Next Sunday is
the Poverty Mountain Hike >> off of Sant Hill Road and at one o'clock >> and Beth and I still have to scope it out to make sure it's okay, but we'll do >> um
it's on Freeman Road this this month. >> Sorry. >> I'm sorry. It isn't Freeman Road this >> Oh, no. It is Freeman Road. I'm sorry. Thank you. I think this one is Freeman Road and Poverty Mountain is in July. I think you're right. Okay, great. And we can
figure out when we'll go and do our our dry run of um the the one that we're doing. I'm forgetting the name of it already. Um the Pine Brook camp. >> Yes. >> And just what >> can I add one more thing?
>> Oh, please. Yes. Um, at the bike tuneup, Sergeant Curtis Maguire said that he would like to join the hikes. He wants to be more involved in the community. He loves to hike and he wants to know the
trails and conservation areas around here. I think he said he's the trail officer, so he I just forwarded the um the flyer to him. >> Can we ask him not to wear a gun?
>> Yeah. I can definitely somewhere you're you know I can also said I know that you know I I hope he doesn't show up in full gear come back gear. >> Yeah it seems unlikely we can handle that one with delicacy.
>> Yeah. >> So happy you're coming and so pleased that your gun does she have a name stays home. >> I don't know why guns are called she. It's it's a he we know that. Okay. So, that's that is fantastic and we'll just
um keep that going and just um you know it's if at any point you know because I think this is going to pretty much get institutionalized and you may be in a position not dissimilar to what Sam and I were in with the um with the stitching group. So, we just want to make sure
that you know there's other people who are lined up. I'm certainly willing to cover and um but so that it doesn't going forward you're not thinking oh no another one um other people can can certainly take on and yeah >> it's helpful to having the collaboration
with the conservation commission because yeah and someone else Leo not Leo I always say Leo but it's his son Scott >> um and someone else on the conservation commission all are interested in doing it so great >> they also show up so that feels like a
back stop too. So >> great. >> No worries. So far so good. >> Good. We've got a depth in the team. >> That's fantastic. Okay, here's Annie. Let me let her in. She'll be thrilled to know about the change in our time. Um
okay, so hey Annie. Uh bike tuneup, another successful event, second year in a row. Um Sam and Diane, you were both kind of organizing in there. Can you give us an
update of how it went from your participation in it? >> I think it went great. Um, it was a big turnout. It was a hot day. I think there was less kids this time than last time, but more people overall. Um,
yeah, I think it's a good I Yeah, it's a good model. I like it. I think we should do it every year. I'd either get an extra mechanic or make it an hour longer. And the other thing I could do different is I hadn't considered this at this time, but we could move it to the
library parking lot so that >> it while people are late waiting in line, they could go in and browse or cool off. Um, but then that would we'd have to figure out the kid riding component differently for that. Um, but that's the only thing I would consider
differently. >> Sounds great. >> I think I was gonna Oh, sorry. Go ahead. I think it was a nice balance with the soccer and the back field and then the kids came in and joined in and rode bikes. So, I did like those two
activities meshing at the end for sure. Families, it seemed like families were coming in um until about 10:00. I thought, okay, after the kids parade, it's going to quiet down. But at 10:00, adults showed
up in swarms with their bikes. So it was very busy. It was there was a little low with the kids time and it wasn't labeled as kids time and adults time, but that's how it pretty much worked out. They um I
think the bike swap, I'm not sure if that was a problem. There was one one woman who dropped off the bike and I thought someone was going to take it. They were looking for a bigger bike for their daughter and it turned out they
didn't take it and then Sam had to take it. So, I'm not sure if that was an issue or not having them swap. if we need to add some more details for conditions for swapping bikes. Otherwise, you're going to end up with a
basement full of bikes. >> Yeah. Um that's fine. Um we had like discussed it and then um since the library wasn't doing the tag sale until the fall, I I thought not we shouldn't do it. Um so that we because then we had
to find a way to get rid of them. This the bike that was left I think my daughter's going to fit on actually. it'll be fine. But yeah, >> um in the future if we plan something like that, I would only take something I would like I would Yeah. If only if we had a plan of how to get rid of things,
I would take things. That would be how I would do that. >> Yeah. >> And Sergeant Maguire was there and he was handing out the lights and the kids love them and it was it was very they were great lights. He told me that he
put in his budget for $700 for safety, I don't know, safety something. And most a lot of that will come go towards the bike tuneup next year. So, he's planning the white lights for the front and more blinking lights for the back and helmets
for anyone who wants them. So, >> that's great. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I know they have been looking for community engagement activities and the last one that came up was really not feasible which was to show a movie. Um but this
one I think is so is you know so much better because it hits a real cross-section and we don't have to pay licensing fees. So >> that's like it's appropriate. It's an appropriate place for them to be too like that's actually educational and >> exactly >> and helpful.
>> Yeah, absolutely. Um, I only had one observation and because I wasn't there, you can tell me whether it was an accurate one or not. When I got there, um, uh, Andy was working on this bike that looked like it had a lot of that it
wasn't just like a tuneup, it was a fix up, that it had a lot of problems. And I just wondered whether that's problematic. So, if if people are showing up with books with books with bikes that need a lot of work, it's going to make it go even longer. it's going to mean people are going to be
standing in line longer. And if if this is in fact an issue, um, you know, could there be a way to just if somebody comes in with a bike like that just to say, you know, we can't we can't do that. That this is
>> I'll talk to Andy. Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. I mean, it just it would Yeah. It's not really what the time is set up to do. I mean, if Andy wants to fix it, he could say, "Come bring it over." Because my wife loves it when people bring bikes when you're doing that.
>> I love it so much. >> I think that was something that Cliff said also was that uh somebody came with a a bike that was like way beyond what they were going to be able to do for him. And he did help him a lot, but it
it it just needed a whole lot more more work. So I think reminding people on the flyer that it is definitely uh just um a uh bike tuneup and not repair
>> because I'm not sure actually I'll have to look back and see if it's listed as tuneup and repair and we'll just have to make sure the repair is off of it if that is how it is advertised. >> I think it's as tuneup. >> Okay, good. And there's also a list of
the things that can be done. So it it was pretty clear about this is what we do. Um and it might be necessary to say and here's things we don't do, but we're you know we're happy to send you in the right direction. For example, the specics on Facebook.
>> God, great. It's so nice to have these things that become annual events because they're so successful. This is really great. And people were very impressed with Fletcher and and I don't remember the other twins
name. I'm sorry. Was it >> scient? Yeah. >> Yeah. They were just so impressed with how much Fletcher knew and could do. And it was really a a very great thing to
watch to see the pride and you know confidence and you just >> that was sweet. Yeah, they had fun. >> Okay, >> great. Well, thank you both and obviously thanks to the mechanics who
did did the work. Um, and I'm just so happy to see that kind of word is getting out and people are coming and um really taking advantage of it and and next year hopefully I'll be in line too with with my bike.
Um, let's see. Uh, soccer Sam update on that. >> I canceled this week because of the rain and um, the week before we had like 20 kids. It was hopping. >> That usually always happens the first week and then it dies down. Um, but it
was great and there was a lot of people from Ammerst that came up. So, word's getting out about that too. So, >> we should charge them. >> We should get to do that. Do you live and choose? Prove it. No, no. But so soccer is good.
>> That's fantastic. That's great. Um, any word on basketball? >> People like basketball. They want to do it again. >> Okay, good. All right. So, we can >> talk. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Cold weather. Cold weather.
>> Yeah, that's what I was going to say. More. We're not in any rush to do that. Um, now is the soccer also in the fall? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And that was when the girls team came up. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It would be great if they did that again. It was really nice.
>> I can ask. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Can ask. That was very sweet. >> Yes. So, we're getting a reputation here. >> Our programs. >> I know. >> Um Oh, I also was going to ask the kite flying. Is that happening this year or not? Do you know? Because it was in May
and I think May's >> I I kind of let that let that get forgotten about. I'm nervous. Okay. >> You didn't bring it up >> because it just felt it feels busy. It feels busy. It feels like we have a lot going on.
>> But I'm happy to revisit that >> at some point. It's just a hard one because it's so weather dependent. >> Yeah. Yeah. Was it last year the Gale Force winds? >> Oh my god, that was horrific. That was so bad. >> It was It was >> Anyway, I think it's it's hard to
>> It has to be a spontaneous family fun. >> I might. Yeah. good day to write to fly a kite. I know, but yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, we could in theory have little popup events. >> Um, you know, it's a nice day, you want
to go fly a kite, send out a town wide and ounce. Want to fly a kite, >> meet us at uh common. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, there's all kinds of possibilities that don't create additional work for it for us if it's something we're doing anyway. Maybe we
could like do that at the townwide birthday party or something as our piece. >> That's a great idea >> because that's engaging and low-key. >> Yes, fun. Yeah, absolutely. I That's >> something already existing. I like
tagging things onto that. >> Yeah, definitely. >> Okay. >> Um Okay. So, going then moving on to review of planned programming. We have the mushroom walk scheduled for Saturday, October 3rd from 10 to 12 and we just need to think about when we want
to start publicizing. Does early September seem like a reasonable time? >> Well, the thing is that we're going to try to cross advertise because Jessing a program at the library on Tuesday, September 28th called
>> uh right >> about mushrooms. Uh, what did she say? The topic will be common fall fungi of western Massachusetts. So, um, Maryanne will probably want to advertise together. So, perfect.
>> I think we wait on that. >> Okay. >> And talk about it with Maryanne. >> Okay. >> I can Well, I'm about to spend a ton of time with her. So, um, actually not because we're not walking together, but
>> Well, over dinner. >> But over dinner, we can Yeah. >> bring up advertising the mushroom. >> Bring up some of this stuff. Exactly. Exactly. >> Okay. Um, and then the other trivia nights, another big success. And Ann, I don't know if you want to say a word
about how when you're envisioning doing more and how many more. I mean, within the course of the fiscal year. Oh, how many trivia events do >> do we do? Two nights, one night. Yeah, I know you had spoken. >> I mean, I think December is out because
it's too much, right, with school and holidays. >> Um, I would I mean, I'm curious what you all I haven't given this any thought, Barbara. I think >> November we decided on. I I mean, I I could do January and February or January
first week of March. I mean, when does winter end? >> How about November and really? >> I said, when does winter end? Really? You know, April 15th is done now. So, yeah. I don't know. >> But we could just do two. I mean, I'm totally open. What does everybody think?
>> And do we know if the library is planning another one? Oh, sorry, Jess. I was going to say I loved it and I would love to do more, but I also wonder if the library wants to do one as well, but I thought we had talked about doing November and February, but I that could
just be I just made that up. >> No, you didn't. Those were dates which were in my head, but I don't know where they originated. >> Yeah, >> there's no chatter on the library front about anymore. >> Okay. In my knowledge, >> we could leave the spring for them like March, April, if anybody from the
library wants to do a fundraising one. >> Um well, I mean, I think I think maybe then we should stick with November and February and then Jess, you had sent out that email about um competitive puzzling, which I'm happy to talk about and happy to do.
>> Um >> so we could think of that for January. You know, it's that's a lot less planning for all of us, too. Um, but it's a great um indoor activity. So, we could think of something else game oriented, but is
that's not trivia. >> Yeah. >> I'm sorry, Barbara. I'm jumping. I'm doing a tangent off your agenda. >> No, that's absolutely fine. They're connected. >> Um because in fact, one of the things that I wanted to talk about in a little bit was considering having some kind of event once a month during the cold
months. So, you know, having the puzzle thing, maybe having a game night, maybe having two puzzle things because it's easy to organize, but just things that, you know, there's some presence there and some event that people can go out and do on the in the evening on these
cold nights. >> Okay. So, trivia. So, do we want to try to set a date for November? >> Sure. We'll need to check with the sack. So some I would guess we'd want to do it earlier in November rather than later
because for one >> the turkey trot is in is right is the >> okay the 21st and so probably early would be better. >> So maybe the 7th so it's not >> sure >> because that would because the
>> that gives us a week in between. >> Jess, do you mind checking with SACE? >> Yep, I can do that. >> Great. Thank you. What? What date? >> And I definitely want to be on the committee again. >> What date in November? >> The 7th. Elaine,
>> thank you. >> Great. >> Yeah. Great. And I assume Jess wants to be since she wanted to do trivia in July, so I'm assuming you're still in. >> I do, but I kind of want to play also. So, I feel like that's where I ran into
a last time was like I really also wanted to play. Um, so maybe I could help with one and play at the next one. >> Yeah, >> we Diane, you weren't planning so you could play. So, you know, we might just
want to do some switch offs of people. Yeah, >> that works for me. >> Okay, great. I don't want to play because I'm so bad that it's it's it's not that fun. I just It's like I don't know. I don't know. I don't
know. Well, I don't know. What do Elaine and Annie and Sam have to say about that? Is it Is it fun regardless of >> Oh gosh, yes. >> That's so fun. >> It's fun when you make a fool of yourself. >> I wouldn't know.
>> In front of all every everybody in town. >> Yeah. >> Better there than at town meeting, I guess. >> Yeah. >> True. And it was really nice seeing M because Matteo in I don't think a couple there's been a little bit of chatter among us about which of the things he
did we would want to do. Some of them were really great giving the answers right after maybe not but the when the group gets together whoever is going to be on the planning committee and coming up with the questions um we can kind of look at what he did because his use of
technology was really >> good. Yeah. And that's we can certainly do. >> Um >> definitely an area of improvement as we like to say. >> Yeah. Yes. Yes. Um okay. Uh so that's
the trivia nights and then u maybe in November or December we can pick a date for February to do that. Let's see. Now the the Okay, so I think that's it for programming at this point. Is there anything that
I'm missing that we need? Yeah, Diane. >> I'm I'm working with Cliff to do the bird watching on Saturday. >> Fantastic. >> A quick update on that. He and I are meeting at 5:45 a.m. at the parking lot
and he has been contact with people to um from DCR to leave the gate open so that we can park. So he said there's a 35% chance of rain or precipitation and
he said the birds don't care so we'll be out there unless it's pouring. So that's part of it. Um, one thing I have Sam sent me sent us the link for the registration form.
So, I could register, but I can't see who's registered. And do I need to know who's there or how many people are there? >> I have that and I can send it to you like the day before. Does that work for you? >> It does. It does. I just don't know if I need to know like who people are or how
many people attended or anything. We have seven people signed up, seven responses, and then there's like one that's um two people. So, it's like eight people, I think. And I could send out another Should I send out another 10
email about that this week? >> That would be great. >> Yeah, that I'll send out a reminder. >> Can you include the hike, too, in that email? >> Yep. And I'll put soccer. >> Okay, >> good. >> I should write that down. Okay. Yeah,
it's nice to know how many people and it used to be really important who because when I was doing it, I kept a waiting list on thing on it. This one, it doesn't sound like that's going to be an issue and in general Maryanne has not done that with their programming and it
may be that we don't need to either. So, okay. Um, let's see. Thank you for bringing that up, Diane. I had just not written that down. >> That's for this Saturday. Okay, thank you.
>> So, um Christine Marglin, um Jess and I met to discuss some kind of tribute for uh for Christine. And what we propose is having it putting birdhouses up around and about on the library. And I
mentioned it to Maryanne and she was certainly agreeable to this. and the birdhouses. And uh Elaine, you had brought up there was some of some concern that you had about whether or not we could use money for it for I can't remember what the
reason was, but we're going to build the birdhouses. So, there will be an activity which is building the birdhouses sometime in the winter so that they can go up in the spring. Um the in order to use the money
uh from the from the rec committee for to get to the library, you have to do a program. It has to be for programming. Um that's what our money is for. And so if we have a programming of
teaching people how to build birdhouses Exactly. >> That's fine. But we have to uh make it as teaching people how to build birdhouses. And you might want to get in touch with David Moer because he just
built a prototype of a birdhouse for us. We had it at the uh library building committee meeting on Thursday night, the prototype that he had. And so you might want to ask him if he would be willing to run a program of doing that.
>> Thank you. That would be great. Yeah, that because that and and thank you for that input because I don't know always what we can and can't spend money on, but this would be programming to build birdhouses, >> right? And so, um, he builds birdhouses
and, um, I know Glenn Warren, uh, builds owl houses. >> Oh, >> so if we wanted an owl house, you might check in with Glenn about that. >> And somebody was telling me that we want to make sure that whoever we whoever we
have building it is knowledgeable enough about the birds to know what size holes to put in them. >> Yes. >> And it sounds like Penny knows that. >> Yes. Okay. >> Actually too, Barbara, any bird house kit you got. So, David
would probably know this. It It tells you what size hole, >> right? I guess that makes sense. >> Yeah. And just to make a pitch, um, to have some bluebird houses because I don't know about any of you, but we had some bluebird houses and we have bluebirds now. >> Wow. >> Yeah.
>> I was talking to someone earlier today had the same experience. >> Yeah. do bluebird houses. That's a great idea. All right. Now, to me, this sounds like things to do during the winter months so that we're ready to go in the spring
with these. Um, and this would be, I would guess, a daytime activity more than a nighttime activity. Um, but I will talk David >> I would think a Saturday afternoon activity. >> Yeah, that would be absolutely perfect.
I think that December would be a great time because people could build birdhouses as gifts because >> That's right. >> Great. >> What type of activity would fit in December when everyone's very busy? But that would really be attractive. I want
to build a birdhouse, an owl house. I mean, a blue bird house and an owl house. >> I think that's a great idea. you know, maybe we even would, as you were saying about uh kits and maybe we
would just have, you know, purchase kits that people put together instead of actually sawing the wood and creating it to have kits that we
we have people um able to to do that. And maybe we'd have Depending on how many birdhouses the library would want to have, we could purchase those and other participants
could pay the fee to purchase their kits, but we would purchase them all together and so maybe get a discount. >> That's a great idea. >> That's a I like that idea too, Elaine. I'm sorry, Diane. >> No, no, that's okay. Go for Um because I think Elaine and Barbara and I were and
Sam, you were there because you were leading it were at the um library focus group event >> and there was a person there who was talking about having events that were ac you know widely accessible. So that would be something to look into as well,
like what kinds of materials and kits and preparation could we have that, you know, a wide range of people um could use to build a birdhouse. So, I really like that idea. Elaine, >> I'm wondering where we could do this
because we could get messy with painting and things with the library. >> It's not a problem. We uh we did a a furniture painting with Becca Wheeler in the um large room and we have drop
cloths and covers for all the chairs and the tables. It's it's ready to be messy. >> Oh, good. >> Oh, good, good, good, great. >> We built it that way. So, another thing to bring up with
Maryanne, >> um, I had another idea, too, after I drove away from talking about this and memorializing Christine. Um, so I have always thought about having some kind of thing like the stone soup
cafe in Montigue where people come and we have like food ingredients donated and we cook a big meal and everybody can eat and whoever can pay for it can pay for it and whoever can't pay for it
doesn't have to pay for it and you can volunteer to like prep things too. Um, and when I was driving away from our meeting, I was thinking about Christine and just her um, selfless service that she provided in town
>> and thought about somehow making well I guess my idea is all like I'm just saying this out loud for the first time so forgive me if it's not polished. Um but like having something like that where we could all come
together and have some sort of meal um like celebration kind of thing. I know her birthday was in the fall. We talked about that a little bit. Um, so I was kind of thinking around that time like a harvest dinner where people could
donate money to go towards something in town if they wanted or it could be a donation for me each year. I'm not quite, you know, just like thinking out loud. Um, but something like that where it's like a thing that
we do yearly where we feed all the people who need to be fed and people who can volunteer their time can volunteer their time and also possibly have donations go towards whatever MIA might need at the time or
something in town like that Christine would have >> um wanted to see happen. >> We could do that at the AC. I've had a thought on that too that >> um we could I've always thought the turkey
trot could have a spaghetti dinner the night before, >> but it's nothing that I could organize that day. But if I always thought if there was somebody in town that had a different organization that wanted to add that component to it, that would be uh that would be a cohesive
>> thing tack on. But that it doesn't have to be that. It's just a thought that Friday night before at the sack. >> Actually, that's nice. There'd be lots of people who would be interested in doing that because it makes the whole race experience even more exciting for
people. >> But it doesn't have it doesn't have to be that either, but it's a thought that I've had. >> Yeah. Well, yeah, we can look at all these thoughts. Um Elaine, I just have a question. Would we as a committee be able to do that collecting money for things or not?
I have no idea. >> Oh. Oh, okay. Something to find out. That's because it which just would mean that those of us who want to do it would do it, but it wouldn't have it wouldn't be a recreation committee event. >> So, right. Maybe. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know.
>> Because it might have to be like a 501c3 or something to >> Oh, yeah. >> The money part I don't feel like is the big part for me. The big part is more like just a community >> gathering. Yeah. >> Yes, absolutely.
>> Well, something to think about. >> I think it's a great idea. And let's think we sort of have a time of in November, possibly in December, but that's a time of year when money could be tight for lots of people and certainly will be in this day and age.
And providing food um and friendship is a great thing to do. Good. Okay. Let's see. So, all right. So, I think we're good with the birdhouses. >> I'll be uh in charge of exploring what
kits and the people who >> who would help us. >> Super. That sounds fantastic. Now, we're into the true other. Those some of those things were um others that didn't I just didn't
elaborate on. First, we voted. We had the vote on the new meeting time for the committee based on the survey. 5 to 6 on Tuesdays was the time that worked for everybody. So, I'm going to um what I plan to do is just grab that time for
the as long in the future as I possibly can um and then put the little dummy agenda in so that we have a meeting on schedule. As of this moment, nobody's scheduled for 5 to 6 on the fourth Tuesday of the month. So once we get
off, I'm going to put a meeting in there and then the as many of the fourth Tuesdays as I can. Um I don't know what the rules are. If it turns out there's a conflict in there somewhere, but we're going to have to deal with that one. But I'll ask about
that because I don't unless there are people who are on two committee two committees that are meeting at the same time. I'm not sure whether that's how big a issue that is, but I will find out. So starting at our next meeting which is going to be on I
thought I had written down the date but it will be the last or the fourth Tuesday of June. We will be meeting from 5 to 6. So thank you everybody for filling it in and I breathed such a sigh of relief when I saw that everybody had said 5 to 6 was
possible because um makes a difference. Let's see. Um, new members. Um, Jess, you're you you've got >> Yeah, >> you're our our lead to the teens. >> I sent out um an email to a few teens in
town and I got three responses which were I was like, "Wow, that's surprising." It took a while for them to get back to me, but this is how it might be with teens on our committee, right? Um, so they're all at different levels of like wanting to be a part of it and
just thinking about being a part of it. Um, some of them had conflicts with school sports that go till 5:30. >> Um, but I think a 5 to six time will be fine for that because even if they come late, I think that's okay.
>> Yeah. Um, and so what I told them was that we were changing our time. So, we weren't I couldn't tell them what time it was yet because I didn't know. Um, but that we would welcome them to join our meeting in August when they don't
have school yet. Although, the fourth Tuesday they might have school now that I'm thinking about it. Um, so maybe I should recommend that they come join us in June if we don't have a July meeting. >> Yeah, that makes sense. >> Do that.
>> Um, and I I let them know that there were a few people interested, but they were welcome to come. And then I had we had talked a little bit about um possibly having like I think they call them associate members >> who aren't actually members but who come
to the meetings. So if more than one of them wanted to follow through with this then maybe we could have associate teen associate members. >> Yeah, it would be great. >> Yeah. So all three of them are lovely. One of them will be a senior next year,
>> so it would be his last um year around here. I I assume. >> And then two of them are in eighth grade, maybe ninth grade. I think eighth grade. Um, so they would have like a little longevity on the committee
if they started. It's pretty, their emails are pretty adorable. It's like sweet. >> Um, I'm really glad that we reached out, but I will let them know if they're interested to come to our June meeting. >> We'll all be on best behavior. I mean, us.
>> Um, >> oh, shoot. and uh and we'll see which one sticks if they want to or if they don't want to that's totally fine as well. >> That's you now you know Barbara's going to put pole dancing on the meeting agenda for June.
>> Yeah. Well, now that I know that you know you can just bring your own poll. I mean we could do this anywhere. Yeah. Anyway, speaking of uh memorial things, I do like the idea of the Christine Robinson memorial poll because
we did have a lot of fun trying to figure out could we actually do this. >> That was a conversation Christine had with my mom while working too. So that's funny because that seems to be a running theme. >> A running theme. Yes. Yes. She had a
debra for sure. Um, okay. Well, and again, thank you, Jess, for reaching out to the teens, and I'm so glad that some are interested. I've started really pushing it with I'm on the uh recycling and solid waste committee because it just seems like
that's the perfect thing for teens who are concerned about environmental issues and waste and um so I think we're going to go after some younger people for that committee too which is just really I think really great for I mean I can't think of a committee that wouldn't
benefit from having younger voices on it. So, okay. Um, the budget, our endofear budget is, um, we've spent $2,512 this fiscal year, which leaves us with $949.
What we have typically done when we have leftover money is that we um, we use it to support library programming. So, um, I would like to exercises and other programming as Maryanne sees fit. So I just would like to put out there is
there any discussion about that? Okay. Um in that case um I move that we spend 900 that we provide the library with $949 towards exercise classes and other programming. All those in favor.
Okay. And so >> and you didn't get a second. >> Oh, I didn't get a second. Okay. Second. Okay, all those in favor can Okay, put Thank you. I will never ever ever read rules of
Robert's rules of order ever. So, and I don't have to know very many of them, but I don't do well with those. So, um it's probably better that I stay away from that. Okay, I'll um get in touch with um actually Sam, could you talk to
Maryanne about that? And then I'm actually going to get all the budget stuff to you because then it can get submitted now rather than when I get back. Um I've already started the the thing. So it's it's >> Can you tell me the exact amount? >> N Well, it's 9 I just took the 18 cents
off or 20. It's $949. Okay. >> Yep. And I need an invoice. >> Uh yeah, we need I need an invoice. >> Y >> and I will get the uh figure out a way to get to you. I already started the
warrant and it al that will also include the money to the guy who was working at the bike um today. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I figured I would not do separate ones on that. >> Okay. So, our next meeting again is June
23rd um at 5:00 p.m. Um just just for information, we have kind of been in the PRA we have just simply not had a July meeting for some years. And so, if anybody feels that there's a compelling reason to have a July meeting, then
let's talk about it at our at our June meeting. But what we found is that usually by that time we don't we're not really doing any new programming during those summer months and then we're prepared on in when we meet in August to get things ready to hit the ground
running. So um but if anybody is feeling like I don't know why we're not having a July meeting and we should let's have that be a a something to discuss at our at our June meeting. Okay. Are there any other
um issues that anyone Yes, Diane. >> Um I have notes about the gardening um either garden club. We were going to collaborate with a garden club to do some gardening uh helping people make their own
gardens. And I was wondering if that was happening or is it still are we planning it this year for next year? Good question. Um, now Ann, you had sent the Yeah. Why don't you
>> Yeah, I reached out. It wasn't about helping people with gardens, Diane. So, I'm not sure. I reached out about a garden tour of people's gardens to Penny Jake and um, rightly so, Penny said, "It's just way too late for this year, and she is
also really busy with the library." Um, so I mean there was I I forwarded the email to Annie and Barbara. So Annie and Barbara feel free to jump in, but it I mean she said that the Shoes Garden Club sometimes does a garden tour and they
use it as a fundraiser. And she just she she said something like I think if we had one a garden tour that people sometimes pay for and sometimes don't that can be confusing. But she didn't say whether or not the Shootsbury Garden Club was planning to do it in the future
and she didn't say so I don't think you should do one. So I think we should just because it wouldn't be possible until to do it until summer of 2027. Maybe we should just table this discussion until August or September and and come back
around to it. I mean, Elaine, you probably know a little bit more from being on the um library committee, but it sounds like Penny's just really busy with land. So, I just >> it's overwhelming right now. We're trying to get all the trees and shrubs
in >> to the library and we're talking about >> 42 trees and 73 shrubs and we have to go through a bidding process and so she is like over she's drowning in it. >> Yeah.
>> So right now that's >> she wouldn't be able to touch it. >> Yeah. Yeah. whoever the woman I keep forgetting, is it Elizabeth who u did the programming, she um she knows how to
save seeds and so I thought a really good fall activity having to do with gardening would be to ask her to come back and do something on um seed saving. And the other thing, you know, I think it was Ann, and if it wasn't you, I
apologize. U but I think it was you who said, "Could we just figure out a way to get to go see her garden?" And and I agree. You know, I'm not I'm I think that it would be wonderful because she is a very accomplished gardener. And
if she would be willing to do that, just kind of a walkth through talk through of her garden to help people think about kind of what are the things that they could do, I think would be fantastic. Um, I don't know whether we want to try to organize that right now. I would say
do the seed thing now and then maybe do do something looking at her garden because it depends on what time of year we go what the issues would be that we'd be talking about. >> Here's a thought. What if instead of a garden tour on one day, you you guys did it like um the hike meetups like uh like
a monthly garden meetup, >> you know, and like you coordinate with one gardener a month, you know, in the right time or something like that. But but that is coming from a person who knows absolutely nothing about gardens. So maybe it's only good one month or two
months of the year or something. I don't know. Well, Sam, it's it's funny that you said that because I was thinking, you know, from having some ins inside in inside information about the open studios um that they're not doing it this year because it was so much work.
Like trying to coordinate something like that for one day is a lot of work. >> So, I like the idea of either even if it's just >> two gardens a summer, but doing like yes, this Saturday we're going to go see so and so's garden and this next
Saturday. I really like that idea, Sam. >> Like Yeah. Garden meetups instead of tour a tour. >> Yeah. >> I think truthfully, I think that would be really hard to to pull together because >> I wouldn't want I wouldn't want
>> 10 12 people walking around to my garden and checking things out and all of it. I It just would >> personally it it would not feel comfortable. >> So, I I think it still might be something you'd have to plan in advance
and you might not have enough people to to do it that frequently. Like you might have >> a couple people a year maybe who would want to have that many visitors or feel like they were prepared to have that many. >> Right.
>> But um I do think that Elizabeth I feel like she she does have people come over and look at her garden. So I don't I don't know. Um, I feel like she's always ready to talk about it and show it in my experience
walking past, but um I I don't know about like how many people or or how publicly she would want to do that also. So >> yeah, I um well, two things, Elaine, I really appreciate what you're saying and I think Elizabeth's event was so
successful, maybe we just think about, you know, someone could come to the library and do a talk on some aspect of gardening and it doesn't and it could be something that they really do in their gardens, but you're not walking through it. I also think Elizabeth said this, too, that the seed sewing workshop probably would been good to do in the
fall, so she could might maybe even combine that with seed saving. And Annie, um, to your point about how public publicly she might want to do that. When I saw her at the Amoris plant sale, she was so nice and she was so she she was just so friendly and I blurted
out. I was like, "Oh, it would be so great if you know if the rec committee like if we could talk about like coming to your house, you know, doing a tour." And she just kind of like looked at me like, "Oh, you know," AND LIKE RIGHT BEFORE THAT she said, "Oh, you should come by sometime." And then I would and
but when I said it as like more I it would have might have just been me but I felt like I and I like apologized prof profusely but I felt like she was sort of like you know I kind of draw the line at the >> yeah people I know >> to Elaine's point. >> So
>> agree. >> I mean what did work and we we haven't done it for a long time so we might want to consider doing it again was going to um Ancient Pony Farms. It is a farm. It's a they have a lot of things that they do that were very in helpful to the
people who were there. And then at the end we went over and the kids the there were a lot of small children and they got to pick up the little baby goats and play with the baby goats. And so it was just a nice a family afternoon out. >> I think I think they might be scaling
back on the farming. I think Zoe went back to school and >> um like she's not doing her CSA anymore and so I think she's doing less farming wise. >> No, I understand why I haven't seen much activity over there. >> Yeah, >> I just live down the street from her so I walk by all the time.
>> Yeah, I think they still have a bunch of the animals and and then still doing stuff. But >> yeah, >> they they didn't have as many um female um goats this year, so there there are not as many babies. Hi. >> Those curls.
>> I know. Beautiful. So, I think that is it unless there's another some other other business that anyone wants to bring up. Well, as always, thank you. I'm just always blown away by this committee and what creative ideas we
have and how much people look forward to working on these projects that they're fun and they're appreciated in town and doesn't get much better than that. So, is there um a a move to adjurnn? >> So, moved. >> A second. I can second. And all those in
favor, we are adjourned. Okay. Let me turn the recording off. And now we're Are you sure you want to