Protecting Otters Steering Group Meeting

Minutes from April 10th 2008

Present: Liam O’Reilly, Caroline Crossley, Jane Tavener, Kevin Rich, Rachel Midgley

1) Caroline introduced herself and will help us to get our application approved at the next stage.  If we send her a copy of our application, then she will help us to improve it.

2) Kevin has booked a room at the Uni for Gordon to give the otter talk.  The room is booked for Saturday May 17th between 10 and 11am in the Vanburgh building.  Gordon will confirm that he is still able to do this, and if so, he will be giving a slideshow and talk on otters.

Kevin has also found V Cashpoint that might be another source of funding.  A grant of £2500 could be available to us through this.  The deadline is July 18th, and Caroline said that she would help us with this.  (See www.wearev.com).  Caroline also said that she will keep an eye out for any other funding that might be available to us.

3) Stage 2 Application - 

One problem for the next stage of the application is the planning permission.  Jane is looking at the relevant application form for this, and says that the form should be fine, we just need diagrams to show what we will be doing.  Jane and Liam will look at this at the beginning of next week.

4) Group ideas for some points on the Stage 2 Application – 

Evidence of support: BTCV, York Council, Yorkshire Water, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.  Letters of support will be obtained from these organisations.  Kevin will contact the Angling group telling them the benefits they could expect from this project and to see if they will support it.
Caroline said that if we made a draft letter outlining the benefits, people are more likely to respond than if they have to write a letter themselves.  A short paragraph on why they would support our project would be sufficient.

Young people taking part: York University Conservation Volunteers (25+ people) have already been contacted.  We can also contact Huntington School sixth form, York College and York Volunteers Consortium.

What we will do to motivate people not usually drawn into volunteering: 
-We will take part in the Green Festival in Parliament Street
-Encourage people to attend the Otter Talk
-Active recruitment, some of which is through Facebook.

Acknowledge and celebrate contributions:
-Give people certificates
-Hold an opening celebration
-Involve the local press.

5) The next meeting will take place next Thursday (17th April) at 10.30 at the BTCV Office, due to the approaching deadline for the next stage of the application.