Secretary’s Report:  Minutes of the Annual Meeting, September 28, 2025

Acting vice-president, Nancy Steffens, served as Chairman of the Annual Meeting.  She opened the meeting at 1:14 pm and welcomed members and guests.  The Annual Reports were distributed to the audience.  The chairman noted that the report is dedicated to the collaborating organizations with whom the Friends have worked in recent years, including the Vernon Garden Club, the New England Civil War Museum, the Town of Vernon Parks and Recreation Department and the Northford Timber Framers, among others.

The chairman called for a motion to wave the reading of the 2024 Annual Meeting  minutes and to approve the minutes as written in the Annual Report.  The motion by Jean Merz and seconded by Maryann Levesque was approved by members present.

Treasurer Bob Letendre presented the Treasurer’s Report for the fiscal year July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, as reported on pages 9-12 of the Annual report.  He commented on highlights of the organization’s financial position and noted that the organization remains debt-free.

The chairman directed the audience to the Committee Reports on page 4 and cited highlights from each committee.  In particular the publication of an events calendar had been very popular, the Facebook page visitors continued to grow, and the website was updated to enable online donations.  Spring Walks in Valley Falls Park were well attended.  The key project for the Buildings and Grounds Committee was repair of the stone wall in the Icehouse, at a cost of $18,850.  The Business Development Committee noted an increase in membership this year.  For the Heritage Center, a schedule change to have fewer open days during July and August, but to remain open through September and October worked well.  Successful and well attended training docent sessions were held in May.

Beekeepers Allan Valli and Mark Bell reported on the current season, 2025.  Mark noted that the bees had been affected by parasites, viruses, pollution and poor nutrition, and no honey was produced at the farm.  He also said that a 50% loss of bees had been counted nationwide last year.  Sheryl Mc Mullen reported on the Bluebird Project she managed at the Farm and at Valley Falls Park.  Her team cleaned and prepared 15 birdhouses in the spring, 2025.  Data was taken every two weeks at each birdhouse.  From 2023 to 2025 she said our boxes fledged 46 bluebirds.

Election of Board of Directors was held.  Ann Letendre, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, presented the slate of officers and directors:

Officers– Jeremy Geller, president;  Ann Noel, secretary;  Bob Letendre, treasurer Directors–Ryan Ramos, Karen Prewo, Bruce Dinnie, Ann Letendre

Chairman Letendre called for nominations from the floor; hearing none, she asked the secretary to cast one ballot for the slate, per Roberts Rules of Order.

Awards–A plaque was presented to Ann and Bob in recognition of their efforts to preserve history and nature at Valley Falls Farm.

Chairman Seffens called for a motion to adjourn the business meeting at 2:14 pm.  Motion by Maryann Levesque, seconded by Bob Letendre, all approved.

Respectfully submitted, Annie Noel, Secretary

Guest speaker, Karen Monger of “The Three Foragers” gave a presentation about mushroom identification.  She then led members on a mushroom foray at Valley Falls Farm.  Refreshments followed.