Embedded Files
Incorporating
Process started; we have an EIN!
Working groups & communication
Picked working groups based on interests people expressed.
Most board members are in a few groups, and there are a handful of other people spread across the groups. Using WhatsApp to coordinate.
Let each working group decide whether people need to be active volunteers to be in WhatsApp group. Suspect most groups would be happy to have more people.
Can still join working groups, and split/combine/form new groups as needed. Expect more people will join once we announce Friends more widely.
Will share working group progress updates via email mailing list (google groups). Also, please use that list to share Magens news & concerns (and build Friends community).
Concerns about commercial tours
There is a trailer of kayaks on the walking path at the end of the beach past the bathrooms. Is that for a tour? Maybe Disney? Are there tours on every part of the beach?
Also there are new tables by those bathrooms. Something going on there?
There is a snorkel tour on the Peterborg side of the beach by the dinghy access buoys all the way out to Little Magens. Maybe RCL?
Sandcastle excursion: Previously reported in The Source, Disney. Has been at several different locations, including by the bathrooms at the end of the beach. Think they’re still trying to figure out where to hold their activity, maybe we can have some influence. Also concerns that they were leaving big holes on the beach; one of the Friends talked to them about this, don’t know if they still are leaving holes, should find out.
Saw taxis dropping people off by those bathrooms. Are taxis even allowed to drop off tours at that end? Vaguely recall no taxis allowed over the bridge at one point, but can’t find reference and that might be out-dated. Does anyone know?
Can we protect a section of the beach as a no-tours section? Or a less-tour section? Is there a plan for where different types of usage will generally be encouraged?
Just after Irmaria tourist drop-off location temporarily changed based on facilities. How will upcoming bathroom renovations impact beach location usage? Is there a timeline for bathroom renovations?
What happened at the last MBA board meeting?
Missed most of the meeting (oops!), but caught a few things. Expect coverage in Source, or maybe someone who was there can provide a summary?
Discussion of possible smoking ban, including fire risk/fire plan.
Mangrove runoff & watershed management
Significant mangrove runoff event occurred just after July 4; someone shared video on instagram.
Have heard two very different accounts: (1) Result of regular natural breach as has happened in previous heavy rains; or (2) staff were instructed to dig a trench to drain stagnant mangrove water
Question about this at end of the meeting, board maintains the former account; whereas others said they have credible reports that it was intentional action.
Regardless of what happened, is there a management plan for determining in the future if it’s appropriate to drain the mangroves and how to do so if appropriate?
Water testing: DPNR used to do regular water testing - do they still? Not sure if they’ve been doing continuous testing, but they have tested recently. Possible Friends could pay for testing and/or publicize testing, including establishing baseline and tracking trends; VICS has done some testing elsewhere, so could talk to them.
Access to MBA Board minutes
What are norms around making minutes public? Many organizations do.
They do appear to keep minutes for themselves. Think they should be made public. Could push to have them make their official minutes available online. (Could use transcription software?)
Recognized gap, as the Source has been covering their meetings for years. (Friends website to have an index of past articles for reference.)
Also would like better announcement of meeting times: use community calendars, make sure to announce to all Magens staff. We can bring this up with the MBA board secretary.
Who is the secretary? Is there a list of MBA board members? And roles? This is out-of-date. (Jason Charles replaced Mac; Avery Lewis is running for office and Kevin Rodriguez became the interim STT island administrator. So I think it’s Barbara Petersen, Cecile deJongh, Katina Coulianos, Daryl Barry, Robert G. Moron, Jason Charles, Kevin Rodriguez? Don’t know about roles though.) Guess we’d like them to make a current list public too.
How do we bring things up with the board?
In the past, emails to info@magensbayauthority.org often seemed to get lost, or replies were late, or only some board members saw them; heard members at past meetings say “I didn’t see that” when issues were raised.
Recently have gotten responses by contacting Monique Simon/others individually.
Once we’re official, we expect to establish regular communication channels.
Building our Internet presence
Logo is wonderful.
Social media launch - can share more about this if people are interested.
Website
Bought friendsmagens.org domain (should we get other similar domains as well?)
Demo website ready. Reviewers wanted; let Sara know if you’d like to review.
Want site to be actively updated and useful to the community. What useful information can we have? Water quality, tides, wind, cruise ship schedule, community events calendar for large (& small?) events (and meetings), inaturalist. More ideas please!
Quick updates from other working groups
Arboretum & plants
Putting together plant ID photo albums: identified plants, need help identifying.
Talking with Eleanor Gibney about going on an arboretum walk with the working group.
Want to get signs on some of the trees again.
Boats & watercraft
Need to get more info from VIPCA about how many moorings the proposed plan will have.
Community programming
Expect to start with something for seniors, though haven’t started planning yet.
Lifeguard Porsha has done free swim lessons with kids and would like to do more (if can do so without problems with liability, etc).
Concession & facilities / Accessibility
Photo-tour and descriptions of accessibility & facilities. Magens has at least one working beach wheelchair and is purchasing more.
Attempted to correct some wrong info on Google Maps with limited success. Mapped out beach features on OpenStreetMap instead: wheelchair access, concessions, lifeguard stands, etc.
Is there a water refilling station? There was - provided by VICS - but concessions asked for it to be removed. What would it take to get it back, maybe in another location? Get background first, and then talk to Patricia?
Concerns about trash
Seeing trash in the water, and especially in the chairs area.
Do we want to do some sort of cleanup (land and/or underwater) or prevention effort as Friends?
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