Welcome to the Moreau Dog Park Initiative Website

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!       MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE UPCOMING FUNDRAISING EVENTS! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(This was sent via email to all who are on the Dog Park Initiative email list on 01/08/08.)

Moreau Town Board Meeting
Tuesday, January 08, 2008 7p.m.  

ATTENDEES:   Cheryl Palma, Mike Ray, Phyllis Miyauchi, Terri Liddle, Shelley Englert , Christ Baxter (did I miss anyone???)

☺    Thank you to all who attended. We REALLY need to get more support at these meetings with people speaking up about their thoughts, questions, etc. PLEASE FIND TIME IN YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE TO MAKE THESE MEETINGS AND TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR A DOG PARK !!!

MEDIA IN ATTENDANCE: Saratogian and The Post Star – Both papers were there specifically to get updates about the dog park. Be sure to look in the papers for the articles. Please save a copy, if you find it for any who do not. We would like to archive these articles.  

DOG PARK COMMITTEE CALENDAR:
☺    Thursday, January 17, 2008– Volunteer Meeting:

·        Location: TBD

·        PLEASE RSVP VIA EMAIL so that we can get a head count and determine where to have the meeting

☺    Monday, February 4, 2008 – Parks and Rec Meeting

·        Cheryl Palma and Terri Liddle will meet with Parks and Rec to understand concerns about establishing a dog park in the Town and how we can work together to move forward  

DOG PARK COMMITTEE – TOWN BOARD MEETING SUMMARY (hope I didn’t forget anything-CP!)

1.                 The Moreau Town Board, including new board members, have unanimously voiced their support for creating a dog park in the Town of Moreau . However, where the differences lie are with regard to the location of the park and working with Parks and Rec.

2.                 Preston Jenkins opened discussion by addressing his support for the temporary dog park site that was approved by the previous board. He felt that this was a reasonable way for the committee to “try out” a dog park. Tom Cumm concurred.

3.                 The Committee informed the Board that they were appreciative of them offering a temporary site for the dog park, however, the Committee does not desire to pursue the site. The Committee indicated some time ago that all energies should be focused on creating an APPROPRIATE, PERMANENT site within the Town Park . By creating a temporary site, energies and focus would be diluted from the desired goal. In addition, the town did not indicate financial support for the need fence and “poop” resources. The site is only .5 acres which all research indicates is too small a size for an appropriate dog park.

4.                 CP indicated displeasure with regard to the fact that the Board ruled on a temporary site with no one from the committee present.

5.                 Preston indicated that the committee needs to work with Parks and Rec to establish a dog park. Phyllis informed the board that this was attempted in the past and Parks and Rec was not infavor. Preston suggested that they might simply need more information about what a dog park would entail and this should be the job of the Dog Park Committee.

6.                 CP concurred that it was important that we all work together to create a dog park. CP and Terri Liddle will attend the next Parks and Rec meeting on February 4.

7.                 The Board suggested that someone from the committee should apply to serve on the Park Commission as there are 3 empty seats of the 7. Todd indicated that even if 3 dog park committee members were to sit on the Park Commission, this would be a minority as the current 4 Park Commission members have opposed a dog park. The Town Board approves the seats on the Park Commission.

8.                 Bob Prendergast reminded all that the elected officials, the Board is the ultimate decision making body with regard to creating a dog park in the town.

9.                 CP informed the Board that the Dog Park Committee will work with Parks and Rec to understand their concerns and will report back to the Board re: the meeting. The Dog Park Committee will continue it’s community campaign to seek community support in support of a feasibility report in support of creating a dog park in the town.  

COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS/PUBLIC RELATIONS

1. RADIO SHOW – CP will participate in the All American Properties Radio. Taping is tentatively scheduled for 1/24 to be tentatively aired on the morning of 1/26/08.
2. ALL AMERICAN PROPERTIES NEWSLETTER – Real Estate Agent, Shelley Englert is publishing a real estate newsletter that will include information to potential homeowners about the dog park initiative in the Town of Moreau . (Thank you Shelley!)
3. PRESS RELEASE – CP sent out press release week of 1/1/08 to all local media regarding the creation of www.moreaudogpark.com
4. ASSEMBLYWOMAN SAYWARD – CP reached out to Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward seeking her support of creating the dog park. She responded on 1/3/08 inviting us to speak to her directly about our initiative. Appointment is pending.
5. COMMUNITY CALENDAR – CP is actively monitoring on-line community calendars to post information about the dog park, seeking volunteers

LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN PROPOSED – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

·         A wonderful suggestion was made to me and I think we should follow-through with this idea IMMEDIATELY!

·         Volunteers are needed to write periodic letters to our Councilmen/woman regarding our desire to create a dog park in the Town of Moreau . These letters can be hand delivered to Jeanne Fleury, Town Clerk who will see to it that these letters are put in the appropriate mail boxes.

Topics that can be covered in each different letter (just some ideas…) –

                                                             i.      Why you think we should have a dog park in the town.

                                                           ii.      Cite real life examples of your experiences

                                                        iii.      Cite anecdotes from other people/on-lines stories/articles/etc.

                                                          iv.      Cite benefits of dog parks/how they have improved other communities/etc.

·         Letters to the Editor – Now that we have the attention of the Post Star and The Saratogian, periodic letters to the editor can be written voicing our desire to have a dog park in the Town of Moreau

·         Letters to Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward – Her district office information is
140 Glen Street
Glens Falls , NY 12801
518-792-4546

·         PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO. WE NEED TO START IMMEDIATELY!!!  

VOLUNTEER MEETING - IDEAS

We really need to kick-start our 2008 effort!!!!!!!!!!  Let’s get going and I hope you will attend the Volunteer Meeting on 1/17. PLEASE RSVP!!!  

There are literally MILLIONS of websites, articles, books, consultants, events and information about creating dog parks on the internet. Please familiarize yourself with some of these. This is were a lot of ideas come from. We DON’T have to recreate the wheel!!!  

Here are some of my ideas. More are WELCOME!

1. POSTERS – Let’s ALL make sure that we get some posters out into the community anywhere that we can.
2. SURVEYS –
• Drop them off at businesses that you know.
• Ask your vet, hairdresser, mechanic, etc.
• Ask your neighbors. Canvas the neighborhood.
• Add the www.moreaudogpark.com website to your business card, website, etc.
• Ask a stranger that you see who owns a dog! Keep a survey handy!
3. LETTER WRITING – See Above!
4. PHONE CALLS – Call you friends! We also need volunteers to reach out again to those who have signed a petition in support of a dog park. Let’s give them all a call again and ask for their ACTIVE support.
5. EMAIL CAMPAIGN – Send an email to all your friends and contacts
6. YOUR PLACE OF WORK – Ask your employer for their support. Can we add a link to your website?
7. PLAN A “DOG PARK EVENT” – Come Springtime, let’s coordinate an event to show to the community our support, like a picnic or a walk!
8. FORM A CLUB – By forming an official “club”, we can attend public events. We need to come up with a clever name for the club.

WEBSITE UPDATES

·       Moreau Town Park Map – click “How You Can Help”

·       New puppy pictures – please send more!

·       On-line interactive and “hardcopy” of dog park survey

·       New dog park resource links  

Thank you again for your support. PLEASE consider becoming more active in creating a dog park in the Town of Moreau !  

I know we are all busy people! But every LITTLE BIT COUNTS!