Retiring Board Members |
New Board Members |
| Founding directors John Dowling and Dana Rodin are taking a break from serving on OPET's Board. Dana Rodin and former Boardmember Bill Kerfoot had been the prime instigators in saving what is now the Zinn Park from development. John Dowling was OPET's first president and guided OPET from its infancy to a full-fledged 501 (c) 3 charitable organization, complete with Bylaws and other legal instruments. Dana Rodin gave generously of his legal expertise to incorporate OPET and to advise the Board in its policies and activities. Robert Livingstone, another founding member, had to rotate off the Board, having finished the maximum 6th-year term. However, in recognition of his unfailingly enthusiastic support and efforts on behalf of Oyster Pond and OPET, he was elected Honorary Boardmember. | OPET is pleased to have recruited four new directors ready to contribute to OPET's cause. Susan Gagosian from the Moors is dedicated to science education of junior and high school students and will help OPET encourage students to undertake study projects relating to Oyster Pond. Jason Hyatt of Ransom Road is an MIT graduate student at WHOI. He has already been involved with OPET and the Pond in a project to measure water flow from and to Oyster Pond at the weir. Jason loves to kayak on the pond and is interested in environmental protection. Peter Valtin of Ransom Rd. is a computer programmer. Although living here only since 2 years, and just for the warm season, he has already made more use of the Pond (swimming, kayaking) than many of us 'old-timers'. He also trimmed paths in Zinn Park and produced the Pond Sampling graphs in this Watershed issue. Martin White of Fells Rd is a retired pediatrician and interested in pond management. He and his wife love to canoe on the pond, to walk its shoreline and to watch the animal life associated with the pond. |
| OPET SEEKS TO CONTRACT OMBUDSMAN/NEWSLETTER EDITOR |
| OPET seeks to contract with a person part-time who will perform two tasks. He/she would act as an ombudsman for Oyster Pond, regularly investigating activities in the Oyster Pond watershed that might affect the health of the pond. In addition, OPET needs assistance writing, editing, and mailing the newsletter twice a year. The Board estimates that the newsletter will take about 80 hours per newsletter. The ombudsman is expected to devote about 3 hours per week on average or about 160 hours per year. This is a one-year contractual position, which could be extended. The Trust prefers that the person contracted be able to accomplish both tasks. However, if it is not possible to find a person with both skill sets, OPET will consider splitting the tasks between two people. For the full job description, please visit the OPET web site. Interested persons should respond in writing, accompanied by a resume and an example of their writing, to: OPET, Inc. Barry Norris, 52 Landfall Falmouth, MA 02540, or email: barry.nn@verizon.net |
Since its inception, when the main focus was on raising funds for the purchase of the Zinn Park acreage, OPET has grown into an organization with a much broader mission and program. The main thrust of the organization remains the well being of Oyster Pond. But there are many approaches to achieving this, and OPET's strategic plan has evolved to include the following:
1) Land Conservation. This entails keeping a watchful eye on development within the Oyster Pond watershed area; encouragement of owners of vacant, buildable lots to consider placing them under Conservation restrictions; management of the Zinn Park; informing watershed residents about land/home use practices beneficial/harmful to the Pond. 2) Pond Management. The aim here is to assess the success of low salinity in maintaining dissolved oxygen levels high enough to support a healthy aquatic life in most of the pond; to watch that Trunk River keeps flowing and remains a viable herring run; to deal with questions regarding Pond nutrient loading from septic systems/fertilizer use in the watershed. 3) Pond Studies. OPET wants to continue the long-term studies of the Pond that provide the basis for management plans of the pond and of land use in its watershed. This includes water sampling for the Falmouth Pond Watchers, monitoring of salinity, oxygen and fecal coliform counts in the Pond; observing changes in the ecology (animals, plants etc.) in and around the pond. 4) Education/Outreach. OPET's goal here is to inform the watershed residents of land/home use practices beneficial (or harmful) to the Pond, for instance in The Watershed newsletter. To encourage and support study of the pond in the various schools and the many educational and research institutions in the area.
This is an ambitious mission. And it takes dedication to the cause and many volunteer hours to bring about. Aside from this program, there are the many administrative chores that need to be done. OPET has a very hard-working board of directors, and so far we have managed largely without any paid help. But the Board finds its effectiveness limited and has come to the conclusion that it is time to seek help.
Please read our ad above and decide whether the advertised position is for you or for someone you know and contact us.
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