The Ferrum Forward committee commenced its annual meeting Tues., Jan. 14, in Garber 221 at 6 p.m., due to the temporary closure of the Blue Ridge Mountain Institute.
The meeting began late due to the change in location.
Because of the departure of Burton White, the previous head chair, the meeting was left without a current head chair. Leading the meeting were Kat Harrison, the community development and beautification chair, and Tina Hanlon, the college relations committee chair.
One of the issues raised during the meeting was the need for a crosswalk for the sidewalk leading to Jose’s, Dairy Queen and Dollar General in order to make it easier and safer for students to cross. There was a discussion of having to talk to city planners in order to have this done, with a declaration to make said call the next day, Jan. 15.
Next on the docket was a discussion on what to do with the proceeds from the pancake event, with a unanimous decision to split the $370 into thirds and distribute it throughout the three organizations, Ferrum Lions Club, and the Crossroad Ruritans, the Ferrum Forward Committee, and with the Ruritans taking the greatest share with an additional $10.
“It wasn’t a lot of profit,” said Harrison. “But I do feel like we need to decide, since we were supposed to split it three ways evenly.”
Later, there were various discussions of different events and issues that needed to be resolved, from volunteers needed at the farmers market to the number of chairs needed in order to conduct the meetings due to a misunderstanding of the number of people needed in order to conduct voting, and an agreement to get to the issue at a later date.
Shortly after the voting discussion, there was an agreement made that members would visit different terminal patients within the Ferrum community to check on them and see what they need, from medication to general assistance, in order to make sure those people’s needs are met.
One of the last items was talk of going to different houses that need repairs and finding people to do said repairs to make sure that the citizens in Ferrum are kept safe and warm during the winter months.
The final discussion was from Harrison, asking for permission to use funds to buy more soil for community flower beds, with the offer of compost being given.
“What they call top soil around here is clay,” said Bob Pohlad, the vice chair. “You’ve gotta be careful what you ask for.”
Eventually Rebecca Saunders, fundraising and membership committee chair, offered fertilizer from her duck pen in order to help with the plants’ growth.
“Toss it in, toss it, toss it,” said Harrison, accepting the offer.
The meeting ended early with nothing more on the docket. The Ferrum Forward committee meets on the second Tuesday of every month, with the next meeting on Feb. 10.
