FOSBA Bulletin February 2025

FOSBA:  a collective voice committed to protecting the ecological integrity of Stillwater Bluffs, while encouraging low-impact public access. Our vision is to see Stillwater Bluffs permanently protected through purchase by an entity that will ensure it will not be logged or developed as real estate.

We gratefully acknowledge that the Stillwater Bluffs exist within the overlapping traditional territories of the ɬaʔamɩn (Tla’amin) people, and the Shishalh people who have shared and stewarded this land for many thousands of years.

The days are lengthening, the earth is warming and the alder buds are reddening.  Soon the thrushes songs will praise the rising sun and the silence of winter mornings will be forgotten.

We had our 2025 AGM on Feb. 24th after 2 cancellations.  It was a polite affair and so our slate of incumbent directors have agreed to remain in place with the addition of Monty Drake as our 8th director.  Laurie Chambers will remain as president, Jason Addy as treasurer and David Harris as secretary.  Brent Goodman, Marc Albert, Evan Jones and Monty Drake fill out our roster.  Our goal after our previous AGM in March of 2024 was to increase our numbers from 230 to 500.  It felt at first like a mountain a bit too tall to climb but we’ve reached that summit and even surpassed it a bit.  Our goal for 2025 is for our numbers to climb to 750.  Our success has been in no small part from having  you folks as ambassadors convincing your family and friends to support us in our collective quest. Please continue with vigor this important work!

Our financial numbers were up a bit from the previous year with greater sales and memberships.

Starting balance Items bought Items sold Ending balance Memberships

2023  $2154.56     $400.00      $288.00     $3300.51 + inventory     $580.34

2024  $3300.51     $1358.84      $684.00     $4223.73 + inventory    $1538.23

Within our Land Conservancy fund which can only be used to purchase land we have seen an increase from $15776.84 in 2023 to $16627.61 in 2024.

Unbeknown to most, our fiscal year ends Sept. 30th.  That is the date after which our annual fee of $10.00 is due.  At this point (without getting my calculator out) I figure close to 80% of us haven’t paid up yet, me included.  So I am going to pay by sending an e-transfer of $10.00 to friendsofstillwaterbluffs@gmail.com 

There, that feels better.

No receipts are sent out for the $10.00 fee payment as FOSBA is not a registered non-profit society.  If you wish to contribute to our land acquisition  fund (there is no upper limit) please go to our website https://www.fosba.org and click on the black button “acquisition fund”.  A receipt will be mailed to you for your donation as the acquisition fund is held by the Malaspina Land Conservation Society which is a registered non-profit society.

Our focus for 2025 will be on building our numbers and organizing our members into a quick reactionary force.  In this regard we ask you to consider contributing your telephone to the cause in becoming a first responder for our phone tree. You will be expected to phone a maximum of 20 people in an effort to try to halt or stay potential logging or development.  As our numbers grow, so will the need for us to have more first responder phoners.  Should you join into this joyful group, united in purpose you may, if the need arises, be emailed a list of “Friends” to contact. You must be willing to explain and plead the case for them to join the battle through writing letters, attending meetings or demonstrating.

Through our monthly bulletins we will keep you informed.  You will hear about the Bluffs from many different angles in the hopes that being well informed you can lend your support when the time comes for action.

Happy Trails,

Lauritz

pres.