OPET's 4th Annual Meeting was held July 9th at SEA (the meeting room walls were gaily decorated with the informative and creatively presented posters describing Oyster Pond studies by SEA's students - from algae to nutrients to sediments to zooplankton). Outgoing President John Dowling first called for a minute of silence in memory of Oyster Pond Science pioneer K.O. Emery amongst whose scholarly legacy is the book A Coastal Pond Studied By Oceanographic Methods. This book about Oyster Pond, the bible of pond studies, was reprinted by OPET in 1996. Copies are still available for purchase from OPET or the Market Bookstore. John Dowling then briefly reviewed the year's highlights, good news all of them: the weir was constructed; pond oxygen levels have improved; the capital campaign is making good progress and OPET membership is rising steadily; OPET has sponsored student science projects and SEA has adopted Oyster Pond as field lab for their students; OPET received a grant to study the impact of the weir on pond ecology; and Falmouth voted to purchase the Peterson Farm for open space, the largest undeveloped piece of land in Oyster Pond's watershed area. Reports by the various Committees followed, and guest speaker Cameron Gifford, Chairman of the Board of the Spohi Gardens Trust, explained the purpose (preservation of the Spohr Gardens) and workings (see article below) of the Trust. Concerns about bus and other heavy traffic on Fells Road were voiced and Cam Gifford gave assurance the Trust would work closely with the Fells Road residents. The election of Board members followed (these are your representatives - call/write to them with your complaints or suggestions) and then it was on to refreshments and lively socializing. Please join us next year!
Carl Breivogel, 54 South Rd; Jonathan Davis, 112 Ransom Rd; John Dowling, 106 Ransom Rd; James Ferguson; 21 Ouonset Rd, Stanley Hart; 53 Ouonset Rd, Patricia Kerfoot, 49 Ransom Rd; William Kerfoot, 49 Ransom Rd; Robert Livingstone, 66 Landfall; Barry Norris, 52 Landfall; Julia S. Rankin, 37 Oyster Pond Rd; Dana Rodin, 5 Sheeps Crossing Ln; Birgit Rose, 102 Ransom Rd; John C. Scibek, Montauk St; Robert Wilsteraaan 83 Cumloden Dr; Erik Zettler, 63 Glenwood Ave
At its July 26, 1998 meeting, the Board elected the following Officers: Birgit Rose, President (548-5984); Robert Wilsterman, Vice President; Barry Norris, Treasurer, Patricia Kerfoot, Secretary
John Dowling (Ransom Road) stepped down as OPET's President but will - we are so lucky! -
remain active as member of the Board. Under John's skilItul and wise leadership, OPET's
initial founding board members coalesced into a hard-working team that managed to use its
many differences of opinion constructively for a better OPET. We might not be here but for
John's expert guidance.
Duncan Aspinwall (The Moors) helped OPET focus its mission and brought it to the
attention
of The Moors Association. He also advised us on our fundraising efforts for the Fischer
parcels.
Bill Brewer (Treetops) helped our young organization with his expert writing
skills which
got us articles published in the newspaper and documents clearly worded; his frequent
advice based on his experience as a lifelong diplomat kept us from plunging into confrontational
situations and led to our letters being worded diplomatically. We know he still puts in
a good word for OPET on crucial occassions.
Cecily Selby Coles (Ransom Rd), together with John Dowling and Bill Kerfoot,
brought OPET
into being and shaped it from its loosely organized forerunner Oyster Pond Trust into the
present, well-structured, 501(c)3-incorporated organization. Cecily also was very active
in fundraising, both by giving a personal example and by approaching potential donors. We
owe a lot to her and miss her insightful presence at the Board meetings.
John Steele (Treetops): discovered that OPET was too active an organization for
him to be
able to serve on: with all his obligations on other beards and in other parts of the world,
he found himself out of town for too many of our meetings.
Jonathan Davis (Ransom Road), geneticist, Harvard University, spent his
childhood summers fishing for perch in Oyster Pond and is delighted that this summer,
for the first time again, he could teach his son how to catch perch there. Would like to
see the return of Yellow Perch to the pond.
James Ferguson (The Moors), physician and longtime summer resident on
Quonset Ave., didn't waste any tnne after his election: he right away set out to extol
OPET's mission to the Moors Association to recruit new members.
Erik Zettler, Science Coordinator at Sca Education Association (SEA), is our
liaison with SEA and its student field study program of Oyster Pond. Interested in
conservation, biology, BIG sailboats (SEA's schooners), and in being a student again -
he's going for his Ph.D. now at the Boston University Marine Program at the Marine
Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole - Erik is a welcome and youthful addition to the Board.
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