SPW Chapter NCTA Executive Committee Minutes of 1/9/03

Members Present: Joan Young, Rich Krieger, Deb Krieger, Ramona Venegas

Begin 7 pm

Government Issues:

• Next training for chainsaw is June sometime Stake to mark boundary at N end of forest is needed
• We have permission to cross the Tribal Lands at Blacksmith and Tippy Signs will be posted
• There is another section near Baldwin that is on private land that is under negotiation.
• Wilde property east of boardwalk will need to be relocated because he doesn't want anyone on his land during hunting seasons.
• Intern from GVSU will be doing an exit survey concerning use and experiences, 2003 Nordhouse, 2004 NCT
• If there is extra money there may be a request for toilet and well at Upper River Rd, and at Freesoil.
• Some tree removal done at Udell- it doesn't show very much
• 2 trailhead maps taken- at Upper River Rd and Freesoil, plexiglas broken-- will not replace with colored maps again

Ramona received Conservationist of the Year award from SPW Conservation Club She has also changed jobs to Outdoor Recreation Planner, and her role with the chapter will change quite a bit. She will work Monday through Friday. Continue to call her with NCT issues.

Secretary

• Minutes of last meeting not available
• Award Criteria for Chapter
• Lots of various ways to set criteria, catgories, levels
• General consensus was to have a certificate for a set number of hours- 200 ?
• And have members vote on a few people nominated by the Exec Com for "Trail Champion of the Year"
• Idea- Certificate with footprints around the edge add a print for every 100 hours.

NTD

• Don Stroup may be able to come to talk about "Sawdust Pile"
• Joan has contacts for logging re-enactors- will continue to work on it
• Pine Creek Livery might work with us again- only one permitted for canoes on Little Manistee in Wild and Scenic area
• Next planning meeting tentatively Feb 26, 7 pm- at Ramona's, 705 Locust St

Winter Backpacking

• Will need to have passes- there is a self pay station there Right now 6 people going

Mythical mile posts are no longer accurate. They were originally miles from the trailheads. Let's see if we can have permission to remove them.

TA Manual

• Made copies of all pages we have. With final approval from the Eds we may be able to issue version 1
• Deb will look for soft binders on sale

Rich gave Treasurers report - Mary not here. Balance is $2241.30 in general fund
Membership at 79, overall NCTA also up
Joan will be getting out postcard to all members and updated member list

Beth Heckman has been contacted. Rich explained to her the complications of working with all the agencies. She understood. She agreed to meet with people if it seems important. Rich will start making contacts with Baldwin again at the end of January. Dave Jaunese or Kathy Bietau are the ones to contact

Brochure idea

• Ed Morse would like to see us do one like TC's.
• Joan- several chapters have them- they are very good for local PR Issue came up at Annual Conference- Tom Gilbert might have some boilerplate text for general info
• We are potentially interested.

Should we be contacting legislators?

• Sure.
• Have a contest to see whose boots (Repub, Dem or Green party) are more worn. Winner gets??

Don't know about a speaker for February yet. Joan and Ramona will be gone.

Joan drew picture of Traverse City's major road crossing signs- everyone likes.

Finished at 9 pm

minutes taken by Joan Young, secretary