Projected 2002 Budget

• New monies separated on back page
• Through lobbying, increased funding by $150K
  • next year might not increase
  • Next year we might have more trouble to match funding
  • we asked for $350K for 4 regional offices,
• Need to discuss 2003 possibilities
• Lucas- what is $1400 video?
  • Grand Valley students making video for working with landowners
• Blount moved to approve 2002 exisiting money, Lucas seconded
• Yost- are 5% staff increases appropriate? No contest
• Approved

2002 Budget- New Money

• Exec Com recommends two regions: ND-MI, OH-NY as phase one- try to get further funding to break those down again- maybe from states
• Assumes regular pay increases from 2002- 2003
• West region person in March 1, East May 1
• Other increases in 2003 because 2002 is partial year
• No cookie-cutter job descriptions because of variety in states- affiliates, etc
• See organizational chart, version B is existing structure- everyone reports to Papp. Version A more healthy solution- sets one Regional Dir as Dir of Trail Services
• Lucas- from Pres meeting- don't want more administration- she suggests putting a person in states where most needed
• Papp- that was where the discussion started, but then many states are totally left out
  • Papp- this leads to less leverage with Congress- states who have Dir have no incentive to support
  • Need to think ahead for where to place people, so we don't move them around
• Lucas- can one person learn enough to cover several states?
  • Yost- good question, but we must start somewhere
  • Williamson- where do these people fit with the NPS staff?
  • Blount- hard to keep track of what is going on at very local level- Whatever we do will be an improvement
  • Young- we have a goal for the 4 Regional Offices- the problem is the intermediate
  • Gilbert- responses to NPS ??
    • NPS staff could be better used for bigger plan,
    • Political issues, Partnerships, Planning (Adirondacks?)
    • He sees Regional offices as a wonderful step
    • Ice Age is 1/4 of length, has 4 very busy regional offices
    • There will be no conflict of job descriptions
  • Yost- 2 years ago the Trail Councils were created and hoped to take some of these details from the office, but it has not worked as well as had hoped. Regional directors may be able to get this going
  • Williamson- between 2003-2005 how will they be paid for?
    • Papp- by whatever means- they will become part of general budget
    • Maybe grants from states
    • Yost- need to continue to lobby and if don't get federal funds, must get private
  • Papp- Organizational plan B reflects budget as presented; Plan A might push one salary up a bit, one more down
  • Tait- How does East Coord work with FLTC and BTA
    • Papp- BTA/NCTA members very interested, but need to pass BTA board
    • Need to adapt job description to the needs
  • Blount- any job description will need to be dynamic
  • Papp- will need to agressively move toward fulfilling dream for paid State Coord
  • Yost- existing volunteers will need to help new staff learn what needs to be done
  • Lucas- how do these work with Trail Councils?
    • Yost- TC's represent volunteers on the trail
    • Regional Staff will help energize the TC's
    • Gilbert- NPS needs to interact better with some states
    • To have staff there to interact will help improve this
    • More cost and politically effective to have the new staff people belong to the NCTA rather than the NPS
  • Blount- daytime staff can attend meetings, make contacts with agencies, etc
  • Beye- supports Regional offices, duties will vary in states
  • Szabo- staff can implement good ideas

2002 Budget- One-Time Surplus Money

• Carryover from 2001 and phase-in of Regional Coordinators
• Proposed uses, and other potential ones listed in board packet
• Williamson- how often do we need audit?
  • Papp- there is threshold of federal money which requires audit- we are close
  • Yost- will need to show this to pursue some grants and other funding
  • Papp- big difference between financial review and an audit
• Tait- comments on PA assistance with SCA to free up his time for more admin tasks
  • Papp- interesting prototype for other states
• Young- Michigan Info centers would like more brochures
  • many comments that they don't work
  • Szarka- maybe add regional map segments
  • Young- don't care where they go.... just need more of them
• Papp- why Accounting Software needs upgrading again
  • Started with MIP Accounting, switched to Peachtree, reports not adequate
  • Going back to MIP with payroll module
• Papp- Donor software also needs upgrading
• Blount- may be able to get Map Plotter donated... if so, would like to put excess to brochures
• Williamson- potential use- generic business cards
  • Papp- already going to printer- push order to 2500
• Szabo- Motion Proposed are lines 98, 99,100, (106 at $3000, 107 as most favored), 102 as flexible with $20K minumum, with Exec Com to choose priorites, version A Organizational chart and adjusted salaries, and all new fund budgets accepted.
• Second- Williamson
• Approved

State Level MOUs- Bob Tait

• Visited PA Congressmen- they didn't know much about the trail
• Then learned of MOU that AT has with PA, and all states along AT
• Would like to see NCT develop one with its states to set standards
• Blount- Regional Coordinators should work on this
• Yost- also trying to get WI to designate NCT as state scenic trail
• Szabo- word of caution- places great demands on local management authorities
• Yost- maybe use PA as a test case
• Blount- use AT agreement as a template
• Gilbert- would like NPS to help draft that; work with Bob P and Bob T to have draft by April board meeting
• Blount- don't be too conservative about our goals
• Tait- motion to develop a MOU prototype
• Blount- second
• Approved

• added 100% board participation in contribution

• adaptation of template from BTA
• Exec Com will use information to decide on when to support a common cause
• Form is not a requirement, but is a tool
• Szabo- will this discern groups who have partial policies we don't agree with
• Blount- the form will be a starting point
• Szarka- add question: "What are your principal funding sources?"
• Blount- add question: "Who are your other present common cause supporters?"
• Blount- Motion to give Exec Com power to act on requests for SCC's
• Williamson- second
• Approved

By-Laws Updates- Rich Harris

• Some of language still represents format without Trail Councils
• Still in process- should have draft revision by April.
• Willimason- should have a monitor of minutes to pull by-laws changes issues
• Harris, Blount volunteered to do this
• Szabo- also issues wtih policies regarding meetings and conferences
• Blount volunteered to review policies
• Papp- timber harvest policy needs to be reviewed
• Yost- Board notebooks need to be updated too

Annual election method-Papp

• put ballot in North Star
• Papp- Cornell checked on legality- it is ok to do
• costs much less for voting
• One vote per membership (one per household)
• Blount- keep simple, but want response
• security issues for on-line option
• Beye- By-Laws say ballot should be signed
• Lucas- Move to accept as proposed
• Blount- second
• Approved

Chapter Charter Renewals- Papp

• Blount- 5-year renewal was set to see if revisions were needed
• Tait- add requirement that they have By-Laws before permanent Charter Granted
• Blount- Motion to approve with by-laws requirement added
• Harris- seconded
• Approved

Ten Greatest Sights Proposal- by Sharon Froeligh for Werner Veit

• Will be suggested, then voted on, then put in book
  • Young- has problem picking 10 Greatest sites- objections to philosophy and to a number
  • Gilbert- maybe change to calling it just great sites
• Lucas- increased use can lead to management problems
• Tait- PA photographer is doing beautiful places along the NCT in state
• Yost- let's string out the great sights along the trail
• take this info back to Werner
• Board concesus that it not be the "Ten Best" but just a collection of "Great Sites"

Break for lunch 11:30

Development Plans- Rich Harris

• Timeline plan worked on with Papp
• Papp- Exec Com approved initial timeline- already behind
• First will contract with consultant to create development plan
• Need to find a person committed to your project- balance with experience
• Hope to have real staff person by Fall 2003
• Need Strategic Outline first to give to consultant
  • Staffing Preferences survey was preliminary to that
  • Young- should look at categories of desires
• Strategic Outline will reflect where the organization wants to go
• Strategic Outline page should relplace goals and objectives list

Advocacy Request 2003- Papp

• Graphs of items which will not be funded without an increase in Base Funding
• Papp is meeting with Craig Crutchfield and Debbie Weatherbee in D.C this week
  • Will be trying to use LWCF Funds to begin acquiring land for the trail
  • 50% match in funds needed
• Gilbert- how money can be used is more flexible than expected

Annual Conference- Margie Kindel

• August 15-18, 2002- note change from previously published dates
• will be at Valley City State University North Dakota

Mountain Bike Issues- Papp

• August- NCTA sent letter to IMBA in response to their paper on biking on the NCT
• "Statement of Support" being developed in conjunction with American Hiking Society is a defensive measure in case it is needed
• Wants to go down two-pronged path
  • One- don't argue on trail impacts or conflicts, but on the appropriateness to preserve some single-use trails within the trail system
  • Two- if our vision is implemented, ultimately we will displace some users, so we have the responsibility of helping them find or develop other nearby places to recreate
• We must develop trust between the organizations
• Met with MMBA Executive Director this week. MMBA is largest single state BA and is viewed as a trendsetter
• Have agreed to work with them to craft some kind of understanding, if possible. We will not cross our vision statement, but will seek ways to work with them to ensure adequate biking opportunities exist within the vicinity of the NCT.
• Tait- is already working with PA bike group to help them build places to bike
• Papp- maybe help print brochures of biking opportunities, joint grant applications for trail systems, shared training, cooperative advocacy, etc
• if MOU is written the board will be in control of it
• maybe first step is just to agree to talk
• Young- SPW is developing brochure of other trails available
• Lucas- Local group staged race on other trail- drew interest there
• Papp- a shift in paradigm... new thinking
• Consensus of board to keep pursuing this and that the approach is "brave, diligent and wise"

Future Meeting Dates- Yost

• Board Meetings
  • BTA is 3rd wknd in April
  • SHTA is 1st in May
  • FLTC 40th Anniversary is April 27-
  • Let's all just go to NY for board meeting. Consensus
• 2003 Annual Conference
  • If UP is separate then in UP,
  • If not then it is Wisconsin
  • Go to UP if NCT Hikers are interested, otherwise WI
• Williamson- need schedule out to 2005
• Blount- PNTS will now probably have annual conf- Ft Smith, Ark, Oct 17-21, 2002

Baker Trail-Long Term Considerations- Tait

• We share about 20 of 120 miles
• maintained by AYH
• manager is "retiring"- wants us to take over the trail
• Baker Trail may just disappear when Jim Ritchie retires
• Blount- they could contact AHS to find someone to help
• we may get official request as to what they would like NCTA to do

Chainsaw Training- Tait, Papp

• At TRIAD meeting- the change that was announced was only that NPS training would be accepted
• Current training is 40 hours, First Aid, CPR and refresher annually
• Lucas- John Romanowski is now offering some other class w/8 hour training for trail work
  • maybe "Fire Chain Saw Certification"
  • Or an new category
• Yost- let's check on that to make it available elsewhere
• Tait- would like list of requirements across states and agencies
• Young- follow up with Romanowski- make goal to include in state MOU agreements
• Szarka- work through National Fire Center use their standards- he will follow up
• Lucas- she will explore possibilities
• Tait- AT has a person working with Romanowski- should parallel their program

Director's Report- Papp

• see written report
• Willing seller- hearing will be held in February... may be carved up because some states want to pull out
  • Tait- should we focus more on easements?
  • Gilbert- it costs 90% of purchase value just to get the easement
  • Papp- you are obliged to monitor it for violations
• Blount- ownership can be re-leased for farming etc if owned by NCTA (not NPS)
• Tait- what can we do?
• Papp- not much till after hearing- Western states are having the most difficulties

Cartography- Halfmann

• Two new maps- Lowell, Minnesota, N Lower MI in the works
• Counting MN, 7 maps about 500 miles
• There will be annual inventory from chapters, Afilliates to get updates
• National Geographic wants to work with us to put our trail in their mapping program
• Map sales- steady
• Two generations- new format uses vector data vs. Raster data. Lots more control
• New maps will show public vs. Private land
• Certified & non-certified will have different symbols
• Yost- Arden Johnson has been trying to collate the info about certified & non; will send to Tiffany
• Yost- is there a need for a sales packet?
  • Meyer- she has sent several- has had NO response

Trail Foreman Report- Menke

• written report
• Gilbert- has kept office work going until Fred's hiring, working with Ken Howell, provides continuity and coordination LI>Papp- Regional Offices will be mentored by Bill- institutional memory to tap into

NPS Report- Gilbert

• Welcome to Fred Szarka
• Listing of priorities:
• #1 is the Arrowhead Re-route
  • Good progress on blazing standards with SHTA
  • Began to work with Superior National Forest
  • New policy for ATV's with trail work:
• Gary Werner made sure that CCS fund money was earmarked
• New funds from Cyclic Maintenance Fund
• Yost- when will there be Eastern Wisconsin Planning continuation?
  • Gilbert- After Arrowhead
  • Papp- question of balance of planning with implementation
• When we get Willing Seller- we may need to spend all money in areas where Planning is done
• Szarka- has experience in land acquisition issues, historic preservation
• Continuation of commitment to funnel new money mostly to NCTA, but if there are increased requirements of Planning, they may have to go that way

Website Report- Young

• Use holding steady at about 560 hits per day, after a drop in September (due to 9-11 crisis)
• priorities- redesign of site, searchable calendar, NPS manual
• problem with forms... server is working on it
• upgrade of trail shop coming due to upgrade of package with server- better security

Report on Partnership for NTS- Blount

• We are a member
• PNTS is finally incorporated
• at pleasure of board he will continue to serve on Leadership Council of PNTS
• on NPS website- "Rethinking the National Parks for the 21st Century"
• Yost- PNTS gives us a lot more clout in fundraising

Training with AHS for Crew Leaders- Tait

• Held this spring in PA- also in many other places
• Good way to train NCT leaders
• One coming up April 2002- help get people to this
• For all kinds of trails- not just hiking

Committees- Yost

• Awards- Coyne, Blount, Lucas, Young
• Nominating- Williamson, Tait, Szabo, Cornell
• Field Grants- Harris, Leinen, Yost, Lynda Rummel
• Legislative- Blount, Tait
• Development- Cornell, Harris, Leinen, Veit
• Land Trust- Pat Allen, Leinen, Yost, Howell (ex officio), Szabo

Meeting was adjourned at 3:50pm