Mintues of Annual Meeting, April 28, 2018 – Thursday December 20 2018
Minutes of Annual Meeting, April 28, 2018
MINUTES OF THE
MONTPELIER SECTION ANNUAL MEETING
APRIL 28, 2018
The Montpelier Section of the Green Mountain Club held its 63rd annual meeting on April 28, 2018, at the North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier. Six people went on a trail walk with Phyllis Rubenstein before the meeting.
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 Michael DeBonis, GMC Executive Director, and John Page, GMC President and Montpelier Section Member.
John said he will be leaving the club in great shape when he steps down in June. The board is streamlined and operating more efficiently. Last year the board developed a Five-Year Strategic Plan, which includes raising money to upgrade the northern section of the trail, replace older shelters, reach out to hikers under 30, and develop a GPS-based Long Trail interactive guide, which would provide a social media forum, allow communication between trail maintainers and staff, and allow hikers to report problems. The plan also provides for a major capital campaign as there has not been one in 10 years (except for building the Winooski Bridge). The club wants to boost its endowment by adding 2 ½ to 3 million dollars to the existing 4.6 million dollar fund.
John also remembered Dave Hardy, the Director of Trail Programs, who passed away in November, calling him the mastermind of the trails. Keegan Tierney has been hired to fill the vacant position.
Old Business
1. Ken Hertz moved to approve the minutes of the 2017 meeting. Doris Washburn seconded the motion. The motion passed.
2. Steve Bailey, in his president’s report, highlighted events of the past year, including two successful membership meetings. The first meeting featured several club members who spoke about the best and worst trails in the U.S. and abroad. At the second meeting, Lexi Shear and her daughter Linnaea, talked about their Long Trail End-to-End hike in the summer of 2017. We also hosted Susan Koch’s presentation at the Taylor Series of her trip to the Arctic Circle. Steve noted the publication of Reidun Nuquist’s Century of Long Trail Guidebooks: A Retrospective; thanked everyone who participated in work hikes, one of which had a record number of 14 participants; acknowledged the work of the officers and committee chairpersons; encouraged members to volunteer to lead trips; and noted that the Annual Main Club Meeting will be June 1 to 3 at the Hulburt Outdoor Center in Fairlee. Next year our section is co-hosting the meeting with the Sterling Section so by attending this year, we’ll learn what we need to do as hosts next year. Steve also reported that the section has been trying to attract younger people. He has posted his hikes on the Vermont Trail Trekkers Meet-Up group, resulting in several non-members attending his events.
Mike Debonis told us that over 900 people “hiked” the Long Trail at the Berlin Mall this year, and the mall has donated $10,000 to the Club! The Mall will sponsor this event again next year.
3. Treasurer Morgan Irons reported that we have greater income and lower expenses than expected. Our funds are in a checking account, savings account, and CD. The Executive Committee decided we did not need to keep the money in the CD as we also keep 150% of our projected operating expenses on hand. Using the funds from the CD and about $800 from the checking account, we can contribute $4000 to the Club this year. We will also keep some money for expenses for the Club Annual Meeting next year. Dana Lawrence asked what costs a host may incur. Mike DeBonis said that a host typically makes a donation of $500 to $1000 and may provide the Friday evening dinner. Morgan noted that there is a $21 penalty for early cash in of the CD. Nancy Thomas moved to accept the Treasurer’s report. Michael Chernick seconded the motion, and it passed.
4. Steve reported that Trails and Shelters Coordinator Andrew Nuquist is home after hip replacement surgery, but he submitted a report. On his behalf Steve thanked the people who participated in work hikes and served as trail and shelter adopters. Steve reported that there will be a work hike on May 19 with the Burlington Section to relocate the trail near Barnes Camp. He also reported that there will be a work hike on May 12 to re-route around the “big dig,” a ditch which needs to be shoveled out every year, on the Bamforth Ridge Trail.
5. Webmaster John Buddington reported that 15 years ago, at the home of Fred and Nancy Jordan, members started talking about developing the section website originated by Ed Loewenton. Dave Blumenthal contributed to the design of the website. Ken Hertz has put old reports on line. Now we can access reports and photos and even search reports using keywords. John Page noted that Ken also scanned all the Long Trail News for the Main Club. John Buddington reported that Kevin Ryan, Publicity Coordinator, sends out weekly schedules of section events. Steve noted that our section events are available on the Main Club calendar and if you subscribe to google calendar, they will pop up. Ken reported that we can locate all editions of the Long Trail News and the Long Trail Guides on our website at gmcmontpelier.org/Archive_Publications/index.htm.
6. Membership Coordinator Linda Trono reported that the membership is down a bit with 320 memberships and 478 voting members, mainly due to lapsed memberships.
7. Steve reported that last year, we had a total of 53 trips and 123 participants. Prizes were awarded to John Buddington, Ken Hertz, Andrew Nuquist, and Alan Paschell, who went on all four work hikes; George Plumb who participated in the most trips and was the most active trip leader; Phyllis Rubenstein (as a runner up as an active trip leader?), and Steve and Heather Bailey who led the most popular trip. Inadvertently omitted from the list of trip leaders in the Outings Report were George Plumb and co-leader Charlene Bohl. Nancy Thomas won the door prize. Steve encouraged people to volunteer to lead a trip.
New Business
1. Steve reported for the Nomination Committee (consisting of Charlene Bohl, Cynthia Martin, and Andrew Nuquist), and presented the following slate of officers: President, Steve Bailey; Vice president, Ken Hertz; Membership Coordinator, Linda Trono; Treasurer, Morgan Irons; Secretary, Phyllis Rubenstein; Trails and Shelter Coordinator, Alan Paschell; GMC Director, George Longenecker; and Alternate GMC Director, Andrew Nuquist. There were no nominations from the floor. Ann Burcroff moved to approve the slate. Michael Chernick second the motion, and it passed.
2. Steve reported that the Executive Committee has recommended that the bylaws be changed to allow the annual meeting to occur in April or May (rather than solely in April). Michael Chernick moved to approve the bylaw change. Nancy Thomas seconded the motion, and it passed.
3. The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m.
Following adjournment, Michael DeBonis presented a program about his retro hike on the Long Trail in June 2017, entertaining us with stories and slides about his two-week hike from the Massachusetts border to Johnson, the northern terminus in 1917. He made his pack; wore wool clothes, leather shoes, and leather hat; slept under a waterproof cotton tarp in a wool blanket; carried water in a canteen; and ate a lot of bread, cheese, meats, and canned anchovies. He said he’d do a retro hike again!
Respectfully submitted on April 30, 2018,
Phyllis Rubenstein, Secretary
Submitted by Phyllis Rubenstein