Executive Committee Meeting – Saturday May 04 2019
Other
Saturday May 04 2019
Minutes of the Montpelier Section Annual Meeting
MINUTES OF THE
MONTPELIER SECTION ANNUAL MEETING
MAY 4, 2019
The Montpelier Section of the Green Mountain Club held its 64th annual meeting on May 4, 2019, at Christ Church in Montpelier. Before the meeting, Charlene Bohn and Phyllis Rubenstein hiked on the trail behind the Statehouse to the tower in Hubbard Park.
Following a social time and potluck dinner, Section President Steven Bailey called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. in traditional fashion by banging a wooden spoon on the old camp coffee pot. Steve welcomed 36 members and special guests Thomas Condon, GMC President, and Michael DeBonis, GMC Executive Director.
Tom reported that the club’s finances are in good shape, and thanked Montpelier section member and GMC treasurer, Steve Klein. He also thanked the Montpelier section for hosting the Main Club annual meeting, noting that Nancy Thomas will be joining the board.
He recognized the efforts of Doris Washburn and Ken Hertz, volunteers, George Longenecker, GMC Director, and trail maintainers.
Mike reported that the Club is ready for the field season, with a staff of caretakers and Long Trail patrol crews. The big focus this year will be on converting pit privies to moldering or compost privies. Mike thanked Andrew Nuquist for his efforts in finishing the “Big Dig,” and noted that the boardwalk in Smuggler’s Notch was completed. The crew will continue to work on the Sterling Pond Trail. Other projects include implementing the strategic plan and starting the the capital campaign, improving trail conditions north of Route 15, trying to acquire a one-third mile tract in Johnson, and implementing a plan for a new headquarters. One of the events at the Ann Meeting will be storytelling from former caretakers, as this is the 50th anniversary of the caretaker program. Mike also reported that August 3rd will be the second annual Long Trail Days, during which individuals will hike sections of the Long Trail so that the entire trail will be hiked on one day.
Old Business
1. Ken Hertz moved to approve the minutes of the 2018 meeting. Heather Bailey seconded the motion. The motion was passed.
2. Steve Bailey in his president’s report, highlighted events of the past year, including three well-attended membership meetings, whose speakers were Phyllis Rubenstein, Zack Porter, and Andrew Nuquist. Steve thanked everyone who participated in work hikes and acknowledged the work of the officers and committee chairpersons. Notably, Nancy Jordan has been editor of the Long Trail News for 20 year, Kevin Ryan has served as publicity chairperson for 10 years, and John Buddington has worked on the website since 2003. Our section is hosting the 109th Annual Meeting of the Main Club from Friday, May 31, to Sunday, June 2 at Windridge Camp in Roxbury. We need volunteers Friday late afternoon to early evening and Saturday. Most of the activities have trip leaders. Sue Morse will be the guest speaker on Saturday night. Thanks to a donation from a member and negotiations with the Main Club, the lunch and meeting are free to members. You can register online.
3. Steve reported on behalf of Treasurer Morgan Irons that we have a little more income from dues and lower expenses than budgeted. We are in good financial health and have more than 150% of our operating budget on hand. The budget proposes donating $4000 to the Main Club. Nancy Thomas moved to accept the Treasurer’s report. Doris Washburn seconded the motion, and it passed.
4. Alan Paschell, Trails and Shelters Coordinator, thanked Steve Bailey and John Buddington for participating in all 4 work hikes. He also thanked Nancy Thomas and Dana Lawrence, who are Bamforth Shelter adopters. Morgan Irons is the new adopter of the Bamforth Ridge Trail and Mary Trafton, is the new adopter of the trail north of Barnes Camp. Alan noted that Andrew scouted the trail along the river and he plans to scout other sections of the trails we maintain. Reblazing needs to be done on both trails and ladders north of the Bamforth Ridge Shelter need to be cleaned out. There will be 2 work hikes in May.
5. Webmaster John Buddington reported that 71 trip reports were written last year and a couple hundred photographs were submitted. He and Ken post the reports and photographs. Each night, there is a random selection of photographs for the website. John reported that the website has been updated and can be accessed at gmcmontpelier.org
6. Membership Coordinator Linda Trono reported that the membership is up a bit with 349 memberships and 498 voting members.
7. Ken Hertz had available Long Trail stickers with our website on the back, which we can hand out on the trail. The most active trip leaders were George Plumb, Mary Garcia, Phyllis Rubenstein, Steve Bailey, and Heather Bailey. Denise Bergeron and Bill Franz were the most active participants. Ken presented GMC club hats to the most active trip leaders and other gifts he accumulated over the years to all trip leaders. He presented Steve Bailey, outgoing president, with a Seattle Sombrero. Ken encouraged people to volunteer to lead a trip.
New Business
1. John Buddington reported for the Nomination Committee (consisting of John, Charlene Bohl, and Kathryn Gohl), and presented the following slate of officers: President, Andrew Nuquist; Vice president, Ken Hertz; Membership Coordinator, Linda Trono; Treasurer, Steve Bailey; Secretary, Phyllis Rubenstein; Trails and Shelter Coordinator, Alan Paschell; GMC Director, and George Longenecker There were no nominations from the floor. Ann Burcroft moved to approve the slate. Doris Washburn second the motion, and it passed. As no one was nominated for the position of Alternate GMC Director, Andrew Nuquist agreed to continue to serve in that position. Andrew explained that until he moves to his new home in July, he will be relying on the existing officers to continue their efforts. Steve replied that the Annual Meeting Committee will continue to operate.
2. George Longenecker moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Michael Chernick. The meeting was adjourned about 7:50 p.m.
Following adjournment, Zack Porter from Northeast Wilderness Trust, presented a fascinating program about his work conserving woodlands (areas which are managed for timber, recreational uses, etc) and wildlands (“forever wild,” no resource extraction, and which are managed for biodiversity and recreation). One percent or less of our forests are old growth. Twenty five percent of the northeast is in some kind of conservation status. Three percent of the northeast is conserved as wilderness. One vision for 2060 provides that 90% of the forests be preserved as woodlands and 10% for wildlands. A recent acquisition in Vermont is a tract of 5000 acres from Belvidere Pond to Hazen’s Notch on the west side of the Long Trail.
Respectfully submitted on May 6, 2019,
Phyllis Rubenstein, Secretary
Submitted by Phyllis Rubenstein