Dear BICO Enthusiasts,

I would like to thank everyone whom attended the March 10, 2008 BICO General Meeting.  Also, I would like to thank Bob Burchard for hosting the meeting.  As usual, it was a good time for us to get together face-to-face to share updates on activities, exchange thoughts and ideas, and to plan upcoming outings.  All of these activities are reflected in these meeting minutes.

The next BICO General Meeting is planned for early May or June ... details to follow.

Sincerely,

Bob Iacovazzi, Jr.
BICO Chair


BICO General Meeting Minutes   March 10, 2008

INTRODUCTIONS


RECENT ACTIVITIES
--->  Thank you BICO Volunteers for planning and executing January and February '08 outings!

---> Taryn Zlatin is now a new Certified Leader.  Congratualtions Taryn!

---> Gwen Bergen is leaving BICO.  Gwen Bergen has been an active and faithful member of BICO for many years.  Together with Bob and Jeannie Iacovazzi, she was a certified leader for the Learning, Inc. team in 2003-2004.  In March 2004 she offered to help Bill Robers and Liz DeVoss, when they established a new partnership with the YMCA to take the boys and girls who attend the after-school program at the College Gardens Community Center on outings.  In the five years since she joined the College Gardens team, she has attended all but a few of its outings and has led more outings than any of the other certified leaders on the team.  In addition, she has served as the BICO Training Coordinator for many years.   Thank You and Best Wishes Gwen!

---> On February 9, nine people attended the Leadership Training planned by Gwen Bergen and given by Bob and Jeannie Iacovazzi.  Thank you Gwen, Jeannie, and Bob!   Also, on February 10, six people attended a First Aid/CPR course given by UMBC.  

---> Joanna Lemmon and Bob Burchard attended the Greater Baltimore Children & Nature Conference on February 20, 2008.  They were amongst 180 community leaders that came together to discuss the importance of exposing children to our natural environment.  Thank you Joanna and Bob.

---> Jeannie Iacovazzi and Bob Burchard have been posting ads for volunteer help on web sites that get a great deal of exposure.  Thank you Bob and Jeannie!

--->  Shriver van insurance issue clarified for Maryland trips!  Thank you Joby Taylor of UMBC and Bob1, Bill, and Bob3 of BICO for their questions and persistence with this issue.

---> Lindsay Major Ringgold and Bob Iacovazzi completed the Annual ICO Financial Report.  Thank you Lindsay and Bob!

---> There is an offer from National ICO to distribute fishing rods from a donor to the program.  We are interested, but need to fill out the application, which is due April 7.

---> The vendor of our T-shirts has been found.  Looking for a volunteer to follow through with this project!


UPCOMING EVENTS
---> BICO Gear Shed Inventory and Cleanup We Need Volunteers to Help!  The cleanup is to be held March 29 from about 9 am to 2 pm.  Please E-Mail Nicole Veltre at NVeltre@bcps.k12.md.us for more details.

---> Baltimore Green Week is from April 26 to May 2, 2008.  If you are interested in volunteering for this event on behalf of BICO, please contact Bob Iacovazzi at bicobob3@copper.net.

---> ICO Chair Training - Bob Iacovazzi and Lindsay Major Ringgold plan to attend the ICO Chair Training to be held near San Francisco, CA from March 13-16, 2008.  Of particular relevance to BICO are sessions on effective use of publicity, quality improvement process, and program assessment.

----> All four teams have a full roster of outings planned.  Please check our web site: http://ico.sierraclub.org/baltimore for more information.


GENERAL NEWS
General Reminders
---> Please send your trip reports from your most recent team outings to Bob Iacovazzi at bicobob3@copper.net and Lindsay Major Ringgold at lindsaymajorringgold@gmail.com.

Why do we complete trip reports after our outings:
1) Need detailed information to fill out quarterly insurance reports for ICO National
2) BICO fundraising
3) Establish an archive of BICO activities
4) Share information (eventually they can end up as a wealth of information for the group)

---> Current and prospective Certified Leaders: Please renew your Sierra Club memberships when they come due.  It is important for BICO (you) to be covered by the Sierra Club insurance.  If you do not have a current Sierra Club Membership, BICO (you) are not insured during an outing by the Sierra Club.

---> Please inform Bob Iacovazzi of your van reservation requests early for the spring outings, to ensure that you get a van.

---> Please tag, and make the Gear Master aware of, gear that is broken.  Nicole Veltre is our current Gear Master.

GROUP  BREAKOUTS

HELP WANTED
---> Certified Leaders and Volunteers to support the BICO Dickey Hill Elementary School (DHILL) Team.  After the first of the year, this team may not be able to go on outings because there are not enough Certified Leaders and Volunteers.  If interested, please contact Brian Green (bgreen20@yahoo.com) or Dave Barry (manhat@verizon.net).

---> BICO Publicity Coordinator.  The duties of the Publicity Coordinator include 1)  Developing and coordinating all BICO articles and promotional pieces and distributing them to local media, and 2) Liaison to and providing articles and information for the Maryland Chapter, Greater Baltimore and Howard County Sierra Club publications, and others as determined to be necessary.  If interested, please contact Bob Iacovazzi at bicobob3@copper.net.

---> Assistant BICO Leadership Development Coordinator.  The duties of the Assistant Leadership Development Coordinator include helping the Coordinator to 1) Supervising the leader training programs; 2) Ensure that BICO leadership training meets the standards of the Sierra Club and the ICO National Subcommittee; 3) Provide guidance and support to all leaders as needed; 4) Attend outings to support leaders and giving feedback on leadership issues; and 5) Help to identify appropriate training resources (i.e., leadership, first aid, etc.) If interested, please contact Gwen Bergen at gbergen@gmail.com.

NEXT MEETING  
TBD