Matt, (or anyone else who would know) I live near Geauga county and do a lot of birding in Geauga but live in Cuyahoga County. Do you have to be a Geauga county resident to participate in the meetings? The implications of this go beyond what is decided in Geauga county. I can see where this kind of activity happening in counties not only all across Ohio, but the entire country, so we as birders need to be involved. Nelson Mostow -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Matt Valencic Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2014 9:04 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Birders: Change coming to Geauga Parks Yes, there is a way for us to facilitate change - get involved by attending as many of the meetings as possible. This is our right and obligation as citizens to participate in the process. I, for one, plan to attend as many meetings as possible and make my voice heard at each meeting in order to get "on the record". If we (birders) participate in this manner our voice will be heard. It's up to the parks system to act once all voices have been heard. Perhaps it would be appropriate to start an off-line conversation on this topic to build support. I would be happy to facilitate that conversation at [log in to unmask] I know a lot of fellow birders who would join the effort. Thanks, Matt Valencic Chagrin Falls (Geauga County) -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sameer Apte Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2014 8:52 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Birders: Change coming to Geauga Parks First note: This sure is a pretty incompetent law if the board can't spell "triathlons" correctly. Is there any way that one could contact the board and ask them to change this ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS law, perhaps citing the Eurasian Wigeon and Cattle Egret at Frohring in the last couple months? Perhaps convince them that these Geauga parks are such bird refuge strongholds that they can be persuaded to at least knock out the new amendment that they can build recreational facilities on conservational habitat, as was not before. Take Frohring Meadows as an example--I would be fine if they found a way to put a playground/rec facilities right near the parking lot, but it sounds like they want to spread these things all over the park including near the impounds. Also, they imply, again in a very vague manner, that they would be limiting use of the parks to Geauga County residents only. As a resident of Cuyahoga County, I visit Geauga parks often due to the location of some bird habitat that is not found in my county. In addition, the Geauga parks (and most birding sites in general) receive most of their birding traffic from outside the county, which would greatly limit the amount of influence birders are allowed to put into the conservation effort of the parks. Good birding, Sameer Apte Cuyahoga County. On Aug 4, 2014, at 10:54 PM, Sandra Buckles <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I am not sure this is an acceptable listing for Ohio Birds and > apologize if it is not. > I am an avid birder and use the Geauga Parks several times a week. I > live in Geauga County and moved here 16 years ago. I have voted for every Park Levy to preserve this natural gem. But now things are changing. Strategic Planning Meetings for the Geauga ParksIn the June 2014 board meeting, the Geauga Park Board voted to change the Park by-laws so that recreation is now on an equal plane with conservation. There is a series of 5 meetings scheduled to find out how the public thinks our parks should be used. There is a strong push in Geauga away from public land conservation and toward privatization, recreational uses. Many of you on Ohio Birds come to Geauga County. Go to http://reservations.geaugaparkdistrict.org/documents/2014/June-10-2014-Board -Meeting-Minutes.pdf#search="" to read the minutes with the proposed by-law changes. It is not clear if these will be finalized prior to the Town Hall Meetings in September and October. > Some of the proposed recreational additions are ATVs, dirtbikes, > firearms range, gas and oil drilling, mountain biking, skate park and sporting clays. If you use the parks and care about their future, muster your family, friends and neighbors to attend as many meetings as possible. Here is the schedule: Strategic Plan 2015 -2025 Town Hall Meetings:Time 6:00 PM - 8:45 PM 9.11.14 Swine Creek Reservation (Lodge) 9.23.14 West Geauga Library 10.7.14 Bainbridge Town Hall10.23.14 Observatory Park (Science Center) 10.28.14 Kent State Geauga Campus > Sandy Buckles > > "We must strive to touch the land gently and care for it as true > stewards that those who follow us may see our mark on the land was one of respect and love....."( From a trail marker at Settler's Cove, near Ketchikan , Alaska.) > Robert B. Oetting > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. > Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. > Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. > > > You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: > listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS > Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4744 / Virus Database: 3986/7985 - Release Date: 08/05/14 ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]