December 2025

Nannen Arboretum Society, Inc.

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

October 14, 2025 Ellicottville Town Center

Members attending:  Mike Braun, Ed Chapman. Laurie Barrera. Gretchen Plough. Blair Hamilton, Diane Smith, and Steve Ward.

Absent : Paul Timkey

• Approved agenda
• Call meeting to order and welcome
• Minutes: The trustees considered the minutes from the September 8, 2025 meeting. Diane made motion to approve and Laurie seconded the motion to accept the minutes. The motion was approved and carried by a unanimous vote.
• Guest Speakers: None
• Treasurers Report: Laurie reported income of $335.47 for the September 8^th – October 13^th Expenses totaled $ 530.00.  Gretchen moved and Ed seconded to accept the report. The motion was approved and carried unanimously.
• Community Project/ Reports:
  • Technology: None
  • Tree Mapping, Inventory, and Signage:
    • Discussed installing new Arboretum sign at the corner of parking lot entra
    • About 60 more QR code tags need to be drilled onto signs

• • Tree Maintenance & Pruning Plan:
    • Bradley Tree Removal will hopefully complete their proposal by the end of October.

• • Ground Infrastructure Maintenance:
    • Mathews delivered two loads of wood chips to use in the Northrup and replenish pathways in the Patio garden.

• • Communication: None
  • Volunteers:
    • • Reminded of our luncheon at Katy’s Fly in on October 20^th at noon
      • Winter Connections will begin on December 8^th at 9:00 with coffee & muffins provided.

• • Education Programs/Speakers:
    • New contact person at Cornell Botanical is Kara Peet.
    • Steve is working on some virtual options for winter programs
    • Creatures of the Night program is being held by Cooperative Extention is on October 18^th. Volunteers are needed to provide baked goods to sell at the event.
    • Marcus Rosten was mentioned to have speak on Arbor Day.
    • Wreath making class will be December 3^rd & 4th

• • Community Relationships/ Outreach:
    • Plans for another Senior walk and possibly having their luncheon held in the Arboretum auditorium.
    • ECS 3^rd grade day was another great success. Thank you to Nan for all her hard work.
    • Holding a Silent Book Club (unplug concept) was discussed.

• • Tree wish List:
    • Request was made to include some smaller trees /shrubs with a $100.00 to $200.00 price range.

• Unfinished business:
  • Need to complete a flyer for Group B Tourism prior to early December
  • Be thinking of ways to attract new visitors
  • A special thanks to Annette and Karen for their hard work in the herb garden.

• New Business:
  • We need to start policy review over the winter.

• Adjournment/ Next Meeting: Will be held on November 10^th, 2025 at 10:00. Gretchen made motion to adjourn & Diane seconded. Passed unanimously.

 

 

 

 

Nannen Arboretum Society Board Meeting Minutes – September 8, 2025

Call to order: Meeting was called to order at 11:30 am by Steve.

Review and approve meeting minutes:

A motion was made by Laurie /Gretchen to approve minutes of August 12, 2025 meeting. Carried

Review Meeting Agenda

Presentation follow up on Oct Event: Creatures of the night presentation will be on Oct 18^th, 2025. Suggestions for a fund raiser was discussed. Desert could be made by members. Maybe have school classes 4^th-7^th help. Steve will find out if the fund raiser would split the money from the bake sale. Possibly add things for kids to do like face painting and nocturnal animals.

Treasurer’s Report: Profit / Loss report and balance sheet was reviewed. Motion to accept treasurer report by Diane/ Gretchen. Carried

$135 in donations has been collected since last meeting.

Bronze plaque for Chapmen is complete and installed on one of the benches.

Committee/Project Reports:

Technology: 2 new zone signs with QR codes will be made.

Tree Mapping and Signage: QR code was installed on new sign. Mike would like to bury tree signs deeper into the ground to prevent them from falling over.

Tree Maintenance and Pruning: dead wood can be removed anytime in the fall and mid-winter.

Ground and infrastructure Maintenance: Steve talked to Ben the engineer about the bridge. Scott was asked to put new millings down for a path from the town center to the pollinator area.

Communication:  Article was in the Villager.

Volunteers: It was decided not to have the picnic on September 15^th.

Education /Speakers: Steve is still working with Daniel from Cornell Botanical for a virtual herb garden program.  Bradley’s do a program on tree service that is open to the public.

Monarch Butterfly program is also possible.

More of the elementary grades would be invited.

Summer Art Program: nothing new at this time.

Community Relations/ Programs: Ellicottville Great Valley Senior Citizens are invited on October 9^th for a tour. 3^rd grade class also invited for a tour. Date to be determined.

Memorial Program: Received a $200.00 donation.

Ellicottville Town (Village):

Steve talked to Ben about the new path from main path to the pollinating area. Info was sent to the town. More info will be obtained after the Town budget meeting.

Paul and Ed looked at the bridge. They didn’t think it looked like it was sinking.

Paul will try jacking it up, but right now it is not a safety issue.

Town was also asked for some diversion for water to feed the pond.

Field Trips: State Park Arboretum. Waiting for confirmation for October 7^th at 10 am.

Tree Wish List: nothing new at this time.

Unfinished Business:   

Dwarf Conifer Collection:  7 new plants are in and 3 more are coming.

Pollinator Garden Area: Nothing new

Message Board: Steve has bulb planting information.

Pet Waste Containers – are being used.

Dogwood Collection: 3 are doing ok one needs to be sprayed.

New Chestnut Oak: If it is yellow, it needs iron. Steve bought some supplements to use on it.

Group B Tourism:  A new flyer or rack card could be designed to include Plantsoon.

Donations: Nothing new at this time.

Herb Garden: See above.

Pond Foutain: Paul ordered and Ed and Paul installed the fountain. It should be advertised to attract visitors.  Mulch and or stone should be put under the solar panels in the spring.

IT LOOKS GREAT!

Deer Fencing: Put up on October 6^th should only take a few hours

Message board: Nothing new

 

New Business: Dead Alberta spruce needs to be removed.

Sandwich board with arrow showing where arboretum is discussed. Steve will check with the town Rental business could add the arboretum to things to do in Ellicottville.

Shed to be cleaned on the 15^th. Steve will trim the shrubs in front of the sign.

Gretchen asked if a new list of members could be done up.

Diane asked about woodchips. Steve will check with Matt.

Wreath making date will be set up for November or December.

 

Policy Review: nothing new at this time.

 

Motion to adjourn by Gretchen / Paul @ 12:45

Members present Steve, Laurie, Gretchen, Paul, Diane. Mike and Nan.

Next Meeting Tuesday October 14^th, 2025 at 11:00AM

 

Patricia Milks