Executive Committee meeting April 3, 2019

Executive Committee meeting

Wednesday April 03 2019

EC Meeting 4/3/2019

Green Mountain Club

MONTPELIER SECTION

Executive Committee Minutes

April 3, 2019

Present: Steve Bailey, President; Ken Hertz, Vice President; Morgan Irons, Treasurer;

Kevin Ryan, Publicity Coordinator; John Buddington, Webmaster; George Longenecker, GMC Director; Andrew Nuquist, alternate GMC Director; Alan Paschell, Trails and Shelters Coordinator; Phyllis Rubenstein, Secretary.

Absent: Webmaster; Linda Trono, Membership Coordinator; Nancy Jordan, Trail Talk Editor.

Steve called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. at his home. Plans to have dinner and meet at Ken’s home were thwarted by a power outage.

Old Business

Morgan moved that we approve the minutes of the meeting held on January 9, 2019. George seconded the motion, and it passed.

Annual Meeting Committee Report

Steve reviewed the list of people leading various outings at the annual meeting. Andrew suggested that we notice the Blueberry Lake swim as “on your own and at your own risk.” Morgan suggested swimmers have a buddy system.

We need volunteers for parking, registration, the silent auction, and clean up after each evening and at check out time. Registration begins on Friday at 4:30 p.m. There is a welcoming reception at 6 p.m. Registration continues and dinner runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday there is registration and breakfast from 8 to 9 a.m. Two people have volunteered so far. George suggested we send out an email, asking for volunteers. Since Steve will be away the week before the annual meeting, Phyllis suggested we have a volunteer coordinator. Ken offered to be volunteer coordinator.

Steve created google doc documents to be used with soliciting and confirming silent auction items. He is not sure Linda will be able to coordinate because she currently isn’t well. Ken, Morgan, Steve, Linda and Heather (by Steve), and Phyllis volunteered to meet to brainstorm silent auction items. Morgan suggested we request ideas from the general membership for silent auction items.

President’s Report

August 3, 2019, is Long Trail Day. People and groups are invited to hike segments of the Long Trail on that day so that the entire trail is hiked by someone. It is also a fundraising event and people can sponsor hikers. The section plans to provide trail magic.

Zack Porter presented a slide show on the Northern Rockies at our membership meeting on January 17. Andrew presented a slide show about his European cruise on March 13,. Both programs were well attended. Phyllis suggested that at the next membership meeting there be a sign in sheet where people list name, whether or not a member, whether they want to be added to the weekly email list, and how they heard about the event.

Vice President’s Report

Ken reported that the annual section meeting on Saturday, May 4, 2019, has been moved from North Branch Nature Center to Christ Church because of a scheduling problem which Ken luckily noticed. NBNC offered that we use their barn, which holds 20 people on 5/4, or use the main building on 5/5. Since neither option was acceptable, Ken worked quickly to reserve Christ Church, update the copy of Trail Talks on the website and notify the membership by email. We will use the section’s projector. There is a screen at the church. Kevin volunteered that he and Christy will get flowers and coffee. We need a sign in sheet, name tags, table cloths, and back up paperware. Look at Reidun’s to-do-list.

We discussed the issue of awarding prizes to officers. It is within the direction of the vice president. We agreed that those who led the most trips or participated in the most trips should be recognized and prizes given to non-officers. Ken has already purchased GMC hats as prizes.

Ken needs the reports for the annual meeting by 4/20. Morgan won’t be present but will provide a Treasurer’s Report.

Trail and Shelter Coordinator’s Report

Alan reported that the two work hikes are on the second and third weekends in May. Reblazing needs to be done on the Smuggler’s Notch trail from the junction to the pond. At Bamford Ridge, the area above the shelter needs to be cleaned out with ladders and steps. The job may require a separate work day.

Andrew mentioned the problems on Bamforth Ridge are not a priority with the main club. Andrew moved that the Executive Committee request that George report to the GMC the sections’ concern for the problem area about 100 yards south of the River Road that continues to deteriorate and hopes that the GMC Headquarters and section can cooperate to agree on a solution and make the recommended repairs. The motion was seconded and passed.

Morgan is the new adopter of the Bamforth Ridge Trail.

Director’s Report

George reported that the meeting scheduled for March 23 was postponed due to a storm. He and Andrew met with the Trail Management Director.

The Berlin Mall Long Trail event is going well. In 2017, the mall donated $5280 to the GMC for miles walked by participants. In 2018, the mall donated $10,000 to the GMC, although there were fewer people.

The North Country Trail, from North Dakota to Vermont is planned to cross the Crown Point Bridge and connect to the Long Trail in Middlebury via a not-yet-developed trail. It will then connect to the Appalachian Trail.

There are 274 adoptable trails and shelters, some of which still have vacancies. Interested volunteers can call the main club. There will be hazard tree training to address trees likely to fall on a place where people stop. The Vermont Land Trust has acquired land on Hunger Mountain and in Stowe. Trails will be developed and parking improved at the Middlesex trailhead.

Publicity Coordinator’s Report

Kevin reviewed that he sends a listing of our events to the Bridge, the World, Vermont Sports, Stowe Reporter, and the Waterbury paper. He has been sending individual submissions to the Times Argus. He publicizes work hikes and special events in the Burlington Free Press, and Seven Days. Steve posts on Montpelier Front Porch Forum and others post in other towns.

Phyllis suggested that only one email be sent out to the membership per week. Kevin and/or Ken explained that Kevin emails 80 people while Ken has email addresses for 350 people.

Webmaster’s Report

John created a link so that Steve can link to the main club google calendar.

Treasurer’s Report – Morgan said the total balance is $7,613. We agreed to give the main club $4000: $2000 for annual meeting and $2000 general.

Trail Talk Editor’s Report

Nancy was not present. The deadline for the next issue is April 20, 2019.

Membership Coordinator’s Report

Steve reported on behalf of Linda that in the last three months 12 members joined, 59 renewed, 7 rejoined , and 9 dropped.

New Business: None.

Next meeting: The next section meeting will be on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at 7 p.m. at the home of Linda Trono.

The meeting was adjourned at about 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted on April 22, 2019,

Phyllis Rubenstein, Secretary

Respectfully submitted, Phyllis Rubenstein, secretary