Executive Committee meeting January 10, 2018

Executive Committee meeting

Wednesday January 10, 2018

Executive Committee Minutes 1/10/18

Present:
Steve Bailey, President;; Kevin Ryan, Publicity Coordinator; John
Buddington, Webmaster; Andrew Nyquist, Trails and Shelters
Coordinator; Morgan Irons, Treasurer; Linda Trono, Membership
Coordinator; Mike Wetherell, GMC Coordinator; Ken Hertz, Web Clerk;
and Phyllis Rubenstein, Secretary. Absent: Sharon Plumb, Vice
President; Nancy Jordan, Trail
Talk Editor.

Steve
Bailey called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. at the home of Ken
Hertz.

Old
Business

Morgan
moved that we approve the minutes of the meeting held on September
27, 2017. Linda seconded the motion. The motion was passed.

President’s
Report

Steve
notified us that Sharon is feeling overwhelmed with home and family
issues. She is able to continue to coordinate trips. She cannot
perform the duties of the vice president related to organizing the
annual meeting, which is scheduled on April 28, from 5 p.m. to 8:30
p.m. Thank goodness we have Reidun’s checklist! Ken said the
treasurer is usually responsible for booking the room and Morgan
agreed to find out the cost of North Branch Nature Center (NBNC) vs.
Christ Church. Steve suggested a 4-person committee to organize the
annual meeting. Steve will be point person, tally trip counts, and
present awards. Kevin will do set up, including coffee and flowers.
Phyllis will compile committee reports and write a blurb about the
meeting for Trail Talk. Linda will do clean up. Phyllis suggested
we authorize the committee to change the venue if the fee for the
NBNC and table rental (if necessary) is more expensive than Christ
Church. Steve will ask Sharon if she wants to organize a walk along
the river at 4 p.m. Morgan will ask the NBNC if there is a
naturalist/educator who is available as a guest speaker. We also
talking about the possibility of other speakers, including Mike
DeBonis.

We
had a general discussion about changing the date of the annual
meeting in our bylaws.

The
GMC Annual meeting will be June 1 to 3, 2018. Steve encouraged the
members of the executive committee to attend as we are co-hosting the
GMC annual meeting with the Sterling section in 2019. Steve will
contact the Sterling Section about setting up a committee. Morgan
questioned why there is a fee to attend an annual meeting.

We
are hosting Susan Koch, who is speaking about her experiences in
Alaska, as part of the Taylor Series on February 22, 2018, 7 p.m. at
the Club headquarters. Morgan volunteered to organize refreshments.

On
Friday, January 19, 2018, at 7 p.m. at the T.W. Wood Gallery, we are
having a membership meeting at which Lexi Sher and her daughter
Linnea will talk about their 2017 Long Trail through hike.

Last
year”s nominating committee consisted of Jill Aspinall, Charlene
Bohl, and Cynthia Martin. Jill is not available for this year”s
committee. Andrew volunteered to be on the committee.

Steve
never set up a Montpelier Section Meet-Up Group. Instead, he went
on a hike with a Meet-Up Group called Vermont Trekkers. Over 1,000
people subscribe to the group. After hikes, which could range from a
few to 20 people, people usually go out for a drink. The organizer
will allow Steve to post an event. A discussion of leading trips
ensued.

Trail
and Shelter Coordinator”s Report

Andrew
said he is trying to organize a meeting with the Trails and Shelters
Committee and the state club’s Trail Committee, as well as others
from the state involved in trail maintenance to come up with a joint
work plan and coordinate efforts. For example, Dave Hardy told Andrew
that wooden steps should be installed at the bad spot near the
parking lot of Bamforth Ridge Trail. It is unclear where our
responsibility ends on Bamforth Ridge. We require the state to mow
along the Winooski River because we can’t do it with hand tools.
At the Notch, the new board walk dead-ends in the woods. Who is
responsible for connecting it to the Long Trail? Behind Barnes Camp,
there is a rotting bridge over a brook that the ski area uses. Dave
Hardy had said it would be replaced. The Bamforth Ridge relocation
was approved but there were no plans for action. Andrew will notify
the Executive Committee and the Trails and Shelters Committee when
the meeting will be held. The next two work sessions are on May 12
(Winooski Valley) and May 19 (Notch).

Director’s
Report

Mike
reported that the main Club held of board of director’s meeting
last Saturday, prior to the celebration of life on behalf of Dave
Hard. The Club hopes to hire a replacement by April or May. In
fiscal year 2018, finances were solid and the Club is planning for
fiscal year 2019. Bolton Camp and Bryant Camp were both completed
and are open for rentals. The club approved rebuilding Beaver Dam
Camp on Wheeler Pond. The Club has been renting a solar array on the
property and approved purchasing it. It will be revamping its
business and corporate membership structure, offer increased
education, implement the strategic plan, work with fund raising
expert. The “O” section had a bylaw change, which was approved
by the Club. There will be a new option for making automatic
monthly contributions to the club.

Publicity
Coordinator’s Report

Kevin
said there have not been a lot of events to publicize lately. He did
publicize Lexi Shear’s talk in Seven Days and the Times Argus. He
confirmed that the main Club will publicize the Taylor Series event.
Steve suggested we each subscribe to E-Blaze, a GMC email list
serve.

Webmaster’s
Report

This
item was passed over so the meeting would finish on time.

Note: Ken sent a memo earlier in the week that reports and archives can now
be searched via
gmcmontpelier.org/search.

Treasurer’s
Report

Morgan
reported a balance of $3,461 in checking, $1,670 in savings, and
$3,170 in a CD, for a total of $8,301. Our current accessible
balance is about $5,000. Morgan also provided a budget sheet from
last year’s annual meeting. We discussed how much money to give
the main Club. Ken said that the decision to keep 150% of the
operating budget on hand as accessible funds and funding a CD were
decisions made by the Executive Committee years ago. John suggested
giving the CD to the main Club as an endowment. Andrew suggested we
find out what the Club needs. Steve suggested we think about a
suitable project at the Club for the CD. Morgan will have the
proposed budget for FY19 at our next meeting.

Trail
Talk
Editor’s Report

None
provided. Nancy does a terrific job!

Membership
Coordinator’s Report

Linda
reported that 1 person rejoined, 1 person joined, 15 renewed, and 5
dropped.

New
Business:
John reported that on January 12, 2018, there will be a program at
the North Branch Nature Center about Yellowstone. He also reported
that the Fountain Land on Mt Hunger (1500 acres) is to be purchased
by the Trust for Public Land. There will be a new trail to Stowe
Pinnacle.

Next
meeting:
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at 7 p.m.
either at Mike or Andrew’s home.

Phyllis
moved to adjourn the meeting and Andrew seconded the motion. The
meeting was adjourned at about 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully
submitted on January 17, 2018,

Phyllis
Rubenstein, Secretary