Firewise Meeting June 11, 2025
LCMC Board Room
Meeting was called to order at 10:00am by President Alec Pennington
Present were board members: Alec Pennington, Gary Nelson, Kathy Stafford and Gregg Dahman (via Zoom). Community member attending: Sandy Stafford.
Special guest attending was LCMC Board Vice President Vicki Knox.
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With a motion by Gary and a second from Alec, the minutes of the May 14th, 2025, meeting were approved, all in favor.
Treasurer Report – Gary Nelson.
Treasurer’s Report had been previously published separately. With a motion to approve by Alec and a 2nd by Kathy the Financial Report was approved, all in favor.
Discussed renewing CDs at Heritage Bank that are maturing. Rates at Heritage have dropped. Rates at OUR Credit Union are higher, and they offer more term options. Two CDs at Heritage have matured and the third will renew in mid-July. A motion was made by Alec and seconded by Kathy to authorize Gary: to terminate the two matured CDs and put the money in the Heritage savings account; set up an account at OUR Community Credit Union (OUR CU), with signers David Alec Pennington and Gary Nelson, and then open 2 new CDs at OUR CU – one 9-month and one 12-month term with the money from the Heritage accounts; and, when the third CD matures in July at Heritage, open a third CD at OUR CU in a 6-month term. The vote to approve was 4 in favor and 0 opposed.
Old Business
Assessment Training – We have one assessment request pending. Gary will schedule with Paul to do the assessment and train Paul in the process.
Bank Signature Updates Still need to update signature cards with the banks. Gary will contact Umpqua to find out what documentation we need to provide to update the cards.
Burn Ban banners – Gary has been unable to reach Ray to see if he can put together (and then share so Gary can make modifications) some artwork that we can use to create the design of the Burn Ban banners. He will continue to try to contact Ray. In the meantime, Gary will contact Blackstar and using the previous sign as a template, get an estimate of the cost to create overlay Burn Ban banners for the existing sign.
Alec will make a drawing of size of banner and locations for grommets.
Disaster preparedness day – Discussed options for the day
Format for the day – treat as a fair type event or a speaking type event. It was decided a hybrid of both formats would be best. We will have tables for the groups attending to display information and handouts and will schedule speakers during the day. It was decided to have three speakers with 40 minute time slots for speaking and questions. It was decided we will assign and enforce these slots. We will also put the speakers and time slots on advertising flyers so attendees can choose when to come based on which speaker they are most interested in. Tables and displays will be in the community room and speakers will be in sanctuary. Hours will be from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm.
Gary indicated the first speaker should set overall tone for the purpose of the day.
PUD 3 is confirmed for the day – Alec will contact to confirm if they want to just have their table top exercise display or if they also want a speaking slot.
Chris Carr was a Disaster Preparedness Manager for Los Angeles and he will be speaking.
Mason General Hospital Facilities Manager will do a presentation – Alec to confirm subject matter. MGH also indicated they could provide a table with materials and info. MGH also indicated one of the physicians from the Hoodsport clinic could attend and possibly speak or man the table – Alec to confirm.
Need to reach out to Mason County Sheriff to see if they are interested in attending/speaking. Alec to follow up.
Need to reach out to CERT to see if they would like to man a table. Alec to confirm.
Other possible orgs – Red Cross, Humane Society, IGA, Firewise
Kathy indicated IGA had some type of mobile Zoom equipment to stream the talks. Alec mentioned the church may also have this type of equipment as they stream Sunday Services. Alec to investigate.
Kathy indicated the Masons do have an ice cream trailer at a local fair. She has approached them to attend and they will be discussing at their next Board meeting which is coming up soon.
New Business
Board Resignation – Dave Peterson has submitted his formal resignation from Lake Cushman Firewise. Copy included with these minutes.
Recruitment for New Board Members – Alec recommended we start asking the community, via the LCMC email blasts, for volunteers to serve on the LCFW Board of Directors. These request to be made on a regular basis for the next several months. Depending on the success of these efforts – starting in February or March we let the community know two of us will be stepping down from the Board and if the community wants LCFW to continue replacements will be required. Otherwise, LCFW will be suspended or shutdown. It was agreed we start these communications.
Motion to adjourn Gary 1st, Kathy 2nd; all in favor.
Next regular meeting will be on July 9, 2025, at 10:00am in the LCMC Boardroom.