MASKGI MINUTES

May 31, 2001

Location: Ellsworth, Maine – Public Library

MEMBERSHIP PRESENT: 28

OFFICERS PRESENT:

• Natalie Springuel, President
• Scott Anchors, Vice President
• Greg Shute, Treasurer

• Welcome, Pizza and Introductions
• Safety Standards
• Outreach
• Vision exercise for MASKGI
• Leave No Trace discussion and video
• Upcoming events and announcements

• The meeting was called to order at 6:15
• Members and guests introduced themselves.

Since MASKGI's creation over 5 years ago, members have repeatedly revisted the question of what safety gear guides and instructors should be recommended to carry. The premise had been, and still is, that MASKGI members can help establish a baseline for safe sea kayaking in Maine, and beyond, by promoting the use of safety equipment.

• The Safety List subcommittee presented the updated list.
• Critique of the list by membership occurred, and after careful and thoughtful discussion the list was approved as a "Standard for MASKGI Members". The list will be posted on the web, distributed at the next meeting, and viewed as a work in progress.

• How can we more effectively communicate with other boaters? This includes fishermen, pilots, recreational boaters and other vessels..
• A committee will be formed to determine how to shape these efforts.

• Leadership led an exercise to determine priorities for MASKGI upcoming year.

Thanks to Doug Michael for developing this experience.

• The results follow the end of the minutes.

• Charlie Jacobi from Acadia National Park showed a Maine LNV and discussed various ways the group could educate members and the public on this topic.

Following announcements the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

NEXT MEETING – Castine, Maine July 14^th: 4:30 p.m.

MASKGI Vision Notes:

At the April meeting, participants had identified a list of priorities.

This meeting was intended to narrow down the list and focus on a few key topics MASKGI should focus on this year. The system we used to narrow down topics is summarized by Doug Michael.

You write out each item on a separate piece of paper, and post all the ideas on the walls. Then, give each person 3 colored dot stickers to use to "vote" for what they would prioritize. You assign different values to each color - ie, Blue = highest 3 points, Red= second highest 2 points, Yellow = third highest 1 point. Next, let everyone walk around and post their votes!

This is a visually striking technique, and it serves to focus any subsequent discussion._

Before cutting everyone lose with their stickies, we discussed the categories to make sure everyone knew what they meant. We also discussed that some activities will automatically continue (collaboration with the Maine Island Trail, for example). This excercise will help MASKGI members and leadership direct the organization's primary efforts in the year to come. The results (and category details) are as follows.

-Legislative Advocacy and Collaboration with Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Marine Patrol

• B=13x3=39
• R= 4x2=8
• Y= 0
• Total= 47

-Outreach (to other users of the waterfront such as commercial fishermen)

• B= 5x3=15
• R= 8x2=16
• Y= 5
• Total= 36

-Professional Development (including for instance training reviews, WFA/WFR recertifications, Leave No Trace trainings, VHF use refreshers_ etc)

• B= 5x3=15
• R= 3x2=6
• Y= 5
• Total= 21

-Environmental Stewardship

• B= 0
• R= 4x2=8
• Y= 5
• Total= 13

-Media Relations (for instance creating a media emergency action plan, and responding to media requests)

• B= 1x3=3
• R= 2x2=6
• Y= 3
• Total= 12

-Serving smaller outfitters or independent guides (for instance with liability insurance, advocating appropriate risk classification, group rates, and also equalizing membership profiles on the web)

• B= 1x3=3
• R= 1x2=2
• Y= 3
• Total= 8

-Explore opportunities with canoe and recreational guides

• B= 0
• R= 3x2=6
• Y= 1
• Total= 7