Financial report was briefly reviewed.

Old business:

Building transfer to NHFD is (still) under active discussion.

Building maintenance – will need a new well which will cost about $15,000. We have shared the cost of such expenses with the NHFD in the past.

NHFD has also offered us a generator for emergency backup use. There are associated costs for this which NHIA would need to fund. 

New business:

Election for NHIA officers and Board will be held at our Dec 2 meeting. Current officers and Board members are willing to continue for 2027. No new nominations (or volunteers) were given by those present but can still be made on-line at nhiarental@gmail.com.

Current officers are Walter Fowler (Pres), Sue Andresen (Vice Pres), Ed Tostanoski (Treasurer). Secretary is currently vacant. Current at large Board members are Shannon Tostanoski, Steve Herman, Amelia Drake, Deana Nelkin, Isabel Reddy.

Events. We have had an active year so far and hope to continue the pace. Our next event is the Whitfield Road Cleanup on Sat Sept 26. Meet at 8:30 am at the NHIA building. We’ll have supplies and water.

The December Membership meeting and election is scheduled for Weds Dec 2 at 6:30 PM. Tom Driscoll (New Hope Audubon) will give a talk at 7pm.  The topic – “Close Encounters of the Avian Kind.”

New Hope Improvement Association

NHIA Board Meeting Minutes

President: Walter Fowler

Vice President: Sue Andersen

Secretary: Craig Drake

Treasurer:  Shannon Tostanoski (for 2025)

BOARD MEMBERS

Walter Fowler, Sue Andersen, Cliff Carroll, Amelia Drake, Craig Drake, Steve Herman, Deana Nelkin, Ed Tostanoski, Shannon Tostanoski

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Item #1: Building Maintenance

Details: Discussion concerning building path and planting ground cover

Item #2: Drainage

Details: Plan for outdoor drainage to be developed with Fire Dept.

Item #3: Emergency Shelter Designation

Details: New Hope Fire Department will partner with NHIA to develop next steps on creating this designation and implementing said steps

Item #4: Building Transfer to New Hope Fire Department (NHFD)

Details: NHFD to draft agreement for transfer.  Will circulate to Board and discuss at next Board meeting (Feb. 4).  Consider vote by NHIA membership to finalize.

Item #5: Rental Policy

Details: General agreement that current Policy is working as planned

Item #6: Pruitt Health Care

Details: NHIA members will continue involvement if a point person can be identified

NEW BUSINESS

Item #1: NHIA Website

Details: Board agreed that Lindsay Carroll is managing website effectively. No action needed

Item #2: Shannon T. presented Treasurer’s Report; Ed T. will be Treasurer for 2026

Item #3: Social Media

Details: Discussion around the need to create more of a web presence. Facebook account exists and needs to be maintained – will check with current sponsors Gail Boyarsky and Meg McCann about transferring to Shannon T.  Need a knowledgeable volunteer to set up Instagram account

Item #4: Membership Renewals, Drive

Details: NHIA events will be used to drive membership.  Sue and Shannon are sending membership dues notices

Item #5: 2026 NHIA Events –  need point person in charge of each event (volunteers needed)

Details: Events under consideration:

– Duke Forest presentation (Walter F. will organize)

– Fire Safety presentation (Cliff Carroll will organize)

– Local history, nature presentation – Wildflower Hike with Dr. Bob Peet already set for Apr. 11

– NC DOT presentation

– Building Workday (Steve H. will organize)

– Ice Cream Social (Ed T. and Shannon T. will organize)

– Whitfield Road Clean Up

– Hollow Rock Store Talk and Fundraiser (Gail Boyarsky and Judd Edeburn to organize)

– Game Nights (Deanna to organize)

– Floral Arrangement Workshop – Fall event, may require honorarium to cover cost of materials.  (Amelia Drake to organize)

Item #6: Board Meeting

Details: Board prefers in-person meetings

Item #7: Membership Meeting

Details: Next Membership Meeting: March 4th

Item #8: Next Board Meeting

Details: Next Board Meeting: February 4th

Item #9: Work Day

Details: Work day to be scheduled (Steve Herman)

NHIA member meeting and election  11/18/2025

There was a “social hour” with pizza prior to the meeting.

The meeting was called to order by the president, Ed Tostanoski.  Vice President Walter Fowler and Treasurer Shannon Tostanoski were also present and there were about 10 members and Interested public who attended.

Finances were briefly reviewed by Shannon and “we are in good shape.”

Ed Tostanoski presented a brief history and recent accomplishments of NHIA.

Walter Fowler presented the following slate of candidates:

            Steve Herman

            Deana Nelkin

            Shannon Tostanoski

            Isabel Reddy

            Amelia Drake

            Cliff Carroll (Fire Dept Liason)

There were no nominations from the floor and the slate above was accepted for 2026.

Walter Fowler presented a “2025 Year in Review” slide show which included these events:

            May 6 – Wildflower hike led by Dr. Robert Peet

            June 9 – Raptor Insight with live raptors

            July 6 – Tropical Chantal flood (unscheduled) repercussions

            Aug 10 – Ice Cream Social/Fire Trucks.

We also reviewed some photos of the new bridge in Duke Forest replacing “concrete bridge.”

There is no definite plan in place for the Pruitt Health Christmas fundraiser.

Walter plans to work to modernize the NHIA website and “keep it current.” We plan on meeting in January to discuss events and projects for 2026.  The meeting was adjourned.

2017-05-16 NHIA Members Meeting Minutes

2017-04-18 NHIA Board Meeting Minutes