Executive Committee meeting September 30, 2015
Executive Committee meeting
Wednesday September 30, 2015
Officers Present: Reidun Nuquist, President; Kathy Gohl, Vice-president; Ken Hertz, Treasurer; Christie Carter, Membership Coordinator; Kevin Ryan, Publicity Coordinator; Steve Bailey, Trails and Shelters Coordinator; John Buddington, Webmaster; Nancy Jordan, Trail Talk Editor.
Absent: Mike Wetherell, GMC Director; Eric Seidel, Alternate Director; Steve Lightholder, Secretary.
The Executive Committee meeting was called to order at the home of the president at 7:15 pm.
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The minutes of the June 3, 2015, meeting were accepted without change.
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Vice President’s report.
Kathy announced the deadline for winter events as October 15.
20 reports for summer events were received. The mean attendance for reported events was 6 persons. A short discussion reached no conclusions whether this number represented a decline. It was noted that the attendance is comfortably below the GMC recommendation of a group hike maximum of 10. Competing events, such as those sponsored by the Montpelier Senior Center and ‘meet-ups,’ were considered. Steve will find out about ‘meet-ups’ and how they work.
GMC asked the section to nominate trail workers for recognition at the September volunteer appreciation picnic. The active trail workers are fully recognized and receive 5- and 10-year pins as appropriate. Discussion continued to our event leaders, who may not be honored, such as Mary Garcia and Mary Smith.
The Annual Meeting as proposed as Friday April 8, with the caveat that we should avoid a night when there is dancing upstairs at Christ Church.
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Trails and Shelter Coordinator’s report.
Steve and others scouted the new relocation of the Long Trail to avoid a road walk. The relocation runs from the Winooski River footbridge east for a mile between the river and the road. Preseton Brook, from Honey Hollow, will be a rock-hop, although a high-water bypass will allow crossing at Duxbury Road.
The Long Trail relocation between Barnes Camp and the (soon to be spur) to Elephants Head Picnic Area is not yet open.
Heather and Steve Bailey have adopted the Long Trail from Sterling Pond to Chilcoot Pass. Petra Halsema and Ben Lange had adopted the Sterling Pond Trao;.
The October 24 work hike to Smugglers Notch may include a University of Vermont group. The ladder down to Notch Brook from the Elephants Head Picnic Area and the associated crossing will be improved, with the expectation the GMC will recommend that the spur will become a blue-blaze.
The October 31 work hike to Bamforth Ridge will continue to clean the ‘Big Ditch’ since the relocation along Gleason Brook is not yet official.
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Treasurer’s report.
Ken presented our current assets and expenses. The Training allotment, intended for the SOLO (or WFA) first aid, has not been spent. Kevin will sign up for a course.
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Director’s report.
Mike’s report will be sent via email.
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Membership Coordinator’s report.
Christie reported that membership is stable. At GMC Jill Haas has been succeeded by Meredith Naughton. In the transition, reports have been delayed and thus telephone calls to new section members.
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Webmaster’s report.
Ken will remove Executive Committee agendas once the meeting has taken place.
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Editor’s report.
21 section members asked Nancy to cease mailing their copies of Trail Talk to them.
Nancy will maintain this list and send it to Meredith Naughton at GMC when she requests mailing labels for Trail Talk.
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President’s report.
Reidun reminded us of future events: November 6 membership meeting (location as yet undetermined) and reported on Trail Magic Day and Independence Day Parade in Montpelier.
The Farmers’ Market table was superceded by Youth Day.
Possible winter events: All Star Show (like last winter) by Mike; a membership meeting.
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New Business
No changes to the bylaws were recommended.
Ken has digitized the Long Trail News 1922-2001. He cannot locate some copies.
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Next meeting: January 6, 2016, 7pm at Christie and Kevin’s home.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 pm.
Respectfully submitted, John Buddington