Guest Speaker at our AGM – Kristie Virgoe from Kawartha Conservation

“There is something about the smell of the damp forest floor, the sound of the birds singing and leaves jostling in the wind.  We slow down, we breathe deeper, we feel our mind slowly release the tension of the day.  This is forest bathing.”

Kristie Virgoe, Director, Stewardship & Conservation Lands at Kawartha Conservation is coming to our AGM as our guest speaker to give us a peek in the world of Shinrin-Yoku or forest bathing.  Kristie is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide.  “It is more than just a walk in the forest, it is about deepening our relationship with the more than human world.  The health benefits are well documented in scientific study, but more importantly, you will FEEL them simply by participating.  Shinrin-Yoku is the practice of immersing yourself in the natural environment.  This art is centuries old, but became a formal program in Japan in the 1980’s as a response to an ailing population.  Through this gentle wandering we boost our immune systems, reduce our stress hormones, lower our cholesterol and improve our mental health.”

Come out and enjoy Kristie’s presentation and take part in our 3rd AGM.

DATE:  Saturday March 24, 2018

TIME:  Doors open at 12:30 pm, meeting starts at 1:00 pm until about 3:30 pm.  Light refreshments served at 2:00 pm.

PLACE:  W.R. Best Memorial Public School, on the Old Barrie Road, about 1 km east of the village of Dalston

Elections will be taking place for three positions on the Board for the following user groups:  Snow Sports, Naturalists and Horse Back Riders.  If you are not currently a paid member and wish to have a vote in the elections, please purchase your 2018 membership by February 24, 2018.  You can do this on our website.

Here is a copy of the minutes from our 2017 AGM:

AGM MINUTES 2017 web

Join Us For Our Annual General Meeting

DATE: Saturday February 18, 2017

TIME: 12:30 – 3:00 PM

LOCATION: W.R. Best Memorial Public School located on Old Barrie Road, about 1 km east of the village of Dalston, (To read more, click on title above) which is at the corner of Simcoe Rd 93 and Old Barrie Road.

We look forward to you joining us for fellowship and discussion about what’s been happening in the forest and plans for the future. The proposed agenda is:

12:30 – 1:00 pm         Membership table & browsing information booths

1:00 – 1:30 pm           Break out to user group meetings for ELECTIONS & discussions.

1:30 – 2:00 pm          Refreshments in the gym

2:00 – 2:30 pm          Guest speaker, Carl Lesperance from Severn Sound Environmental Association

2:30 – 3:00 pm          Annual General Meeting – Reports from the President, Treasurer, Membership Chair and Committees, Election of new Board, reports from user group meetings.

We welcome Carl Lesperance as a guest speaker. Carl is from the Severn Sound Environmental Association and he will speak to the ecological health of the region and water quality issues. This is of great importance to us, as Copeland Forest is the source of three rivers in the region, two of which flow into the Severn Sound.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ELECTIONS

Elections will be held for three of our user group director positions which are up for renewal.

  1. Business
  2. Hunters & Anglers
  3. Mountain Bikers

Each of these positions is for a 3-year term and the newly elected user group reps will serve as Directors on the Copeland Forest Friends Association Board of Directors.  CFFA meets monthly on the third Wednesday of the month, 6:30 pm at Horseshoe Resort. According to our Constitution, persons wishing to put their names forward for these positions are required to be a paid member of the Copeland Forest Friends Association. If the candidate is not already a member of the CFFA, they must purchase a membership at least one month prior to the Annual General Meeting. The Board consists of 9 user group directors representing Snow Sports, Hunters & Anglers, Hikers, Mountain Bikers, Horse Back Riders, Naturalists, Residents, Businesses, and Horseshoe Resort. There are also two members-at-large who are appointed by the Board on an annual basis, for a total of eleven voting members. Executive positions on the Board, namely President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary are elected by the Board.

First AGM a Success

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We held our first Annual General Meeting on Saturday February 20th, 2016 at W.R. Best Public School where we welcomed over 70 members. David Kennedy, Copeland Forest Friends Board President, welcomed everyone and gave an overview of our progress to date. Continue reading First AGM a Success

Copeland Friends AGM Saturday Feb 20th

Please join us for the Annual General Meeting and User Group Meetings of Copeland Forest Friends.  The event will run from 1 to 4 pm at W.R. Best Elementary School on the Old Barrie Road east of Dalton.  Doors open at noon.

The deadline to become a voting member at this AGM is Sunday January 24th at midnight.  If you miss the deadline, you are still welcome to come to the meeting where we will be selling memberships.  Read More…