SPW Chapter NCTA Executive Committee Minutes of 10/18/01

Members Present: Mary Soule, Ed Chappel, Ed Morse, Joan Young

Meeting started at 5:15 at the Manistee China Buffet. Members present were Joan, Mary, Ed C. and Ed M.

Discussion and review of trail projects. Part of the project for 2000 was to complete the blazing of our section of the trail. The section from North of Coates Road to Beers Road still needs to be finished. We can use the money from the 2001 bridge projects to do the routed signs and finish the blazing form 2000. There are no budget deadline problems with this money. Items that are to be purchased from the NPS have a deadline with their budget fiscal year. We will use money from the bridge projects to buy Carsonite posts and wood sign posts and cedar for the routed signs.

Joan has talked with several chapters about material and methods for making the routed wood signs. She has also called Wolohans about sizes and prices of stock materials.

Next work day is re-scheduled for 11/10/01 at Joan's house.

Joan reviewed some of the items that were discussed at the recent Triad meeting. Chad (USFS Trail coordinator from the Baldwin District) has an idea that he is promoting. The West Michigan Chapter is going the pay for a USFS intern to work with them next summer on their specific trail projects. Chad is pushing for our chapter to do the same. We discussed this issue and all agreed that while it would be a nice move, our chapter is not ready for this.

There were 25 to 30 people at the Triad meeting, 8 from NCTA, the rest from USFS and NPS. The first presentation was the USFS discussing the desired future condition of the trail and using the Manistee District as the first example.

Chain saw training was discussed. The USFS has agreed that the NPS training will also be good for trail work in USFS areas. Limited chainsaw training will be considered.

We decided to set the 3rd Saturday of each month, May through September, as a workday.

Ed Chappel presented a list of potential work projects for 2002. Some are small projects which can be given to Scouts and other groups which want to help.

The Traverse City Chapter has requested that they be allowed to take charge of the trail north of Marilla Trailhead, since the Forest Boundary is hard to identify as a dividing line. We will refer this question to the members as it will require a change in the wording of our charter.

We need more defined "job descriptions" for chapter officers. We agreed that each of us will write their "job description" and these descriptions will later be reviewed by all.

Joan talked about volunteers to work on trail projects in the Hiawatha National Forest in the UP next summer. There is a bridge just north of Brevoort Lake that needs to be replaced. There is interest in our chapter in volunteer work in the UP.