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Secretary’s Report - Green Mountain Club Northeast Kingdom
(NEK) Section Business Meeting - Saturday October 28, 2000
By MICHAEL CHERNICK
Introduction: On Saturday October 28, 2000, following an
invigorating hike along the Lewis Pond Road in the U.S. Fish
& Wild Life Service’s Conte Refuge, the eight hikers,
and other trail enthusiasts who constitute the Green Mountain
Club’s Northeast Kingdom Section, gathered at the Burke
Mountain Club House in East Burke, a congenial locale, for
their third potluck supper and general business meeting. Attendees
present as GMC- NEK Section President Chris Bechard called
the meeting to order at 6:P.M, following. a scrumptious pot
luck supper, included Joe and Judy Anastasia, John Armstrong,
Gary and Pat Aubin, Cynthia Barber and her husband John Day,
Chris and Caroline Bechard, Michael Chernick, Jay Collier,
Barbara Crowe, Beth Dugger, Jim Fearon, Jean Haigh, Daisy
McCoy, Mary Ann Riggie, Robby Robinson and Ann Slayton. Chris
opened the session with introductions by members, and a brief
report on the day’s enjoyable outing, including the
freak, near-blizzard conditions the hikers had witnessed on
Lewis Pond. Prior to calling the meeting to order, everyone
viewed the selection of digital photos Chris had shot during
the hike.
Champion Realty Holdings: Champion Realty, which was recently
sold to the International Paper Company, owns two significant
Vermont parcels of interest to hikers. The first, Mount Monadnock
in Lemington, which the section climbed this past August,
has been cleared of the unsightly summit glass debris. A second
parcel consists of 700 acres in Granby that includes Nurse
Mountain. Chris recently met, in N.H., with a local Champion
Realty official who indicated that the company is not interested
in entering into long-term trail maintenance commitments related
to either site. Both sites appear headed for sale. The actual
sale agent is in Dallas. The town of Lemington has now rejected
a proposal to purchase Mount Monadnock. In the interim, Monadnock’s
trail is available for hiking.
Meeting with Dave Willard: On November 7, 2000 Chris, Beth
and Luke O’Brien, the section’s trails and shelters
coordinator who was unable to attend this evening’s
meeting due to a commitment at the Vermont Leadership Center,
will meet with Vermont Forest & Park’s St. Johnsbury
ranger Dave Willard. This session will focus on trail maintenance
opportunities on existing trails, and a discussion of the
club’s possible future role on the former Champion Lands.
Burlington Section Gift: Burlington Section President Mary
Lou Recor has informed Beth that a financial grant will be
made to enable the Northeast Kingdom Section to purchase trail
maintenance equipment. Expressions of appreciation for this
generous and warm welcome to the club were extended to our
co-club members from the Champlain Valley.
Trail Mission: Chris discussed the section’s possible
trail mission and duties given that we, unlike other GMC sections,
will not maintain an assigned segment of the Long Trail. The
upcoming meeting with Dave Willard will contribute to this
discussion. We may also make visits to other sections’
work hikes both to learn trail maintenance techniques and
to be good GMC neighbors.
Land & Water Associates: Land & Water Associates,
the Maine based consulting firm that is facilitating the former
Champion Lands planning process for the Agency of Natural
Resources has been conducting a series of informational gathering
and assessment sessions with the various interest groups.
A recent session held at the Island Pond American Legion Hall
focused on nonmotorized recreation. GMC Executive Director,
Ben Rose, addressed the group, many of whom were local camp
owners, back country guides and hunters. He sought to emphasize
the fluidity of the club’s proposals for trail development
on the former Champion Lands, and to dispel the notion that
the GMC sought to radically alter the outdoor culture in the
area. Future meetings in th e Land & Water series include
a November 1 session focusing on group activities Beth will
attend, followed by a November 2 interchange on snowmobiling
and concluding with a November 16 forum on hunting.
Keeping Track Presentation: On December 7, 2000, the section,
in conjunction with main club will sponsor a special evening’s
presentation by Sue Morse of the Keeping Track organization.
Sue will present both exhibits, and a lecture, on the wonders
and intricacies of tracking animals through the woods. The
program will be held in the auditorium of the Lyndon Institute
from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Admission for club members will be $5.00,
$7.00 for non club members, and children age 12 and under
will be admitted with no charge. This is a wonderful opportunity
to promote the GMC in the NEK. An associated second event,
a field excursion that Sue Morse will lead, is scheduled to
occur in January at a date and location to be determined.
the charge for that hike will be $30.00. Main club is assuming
the financial support for this event. Refreshments will be
sold at the event. Caroline is in need of volunteers both
to bake contributions and help with admission at the event.
She can be contacted at info@prbandb.com or 1-802-626-5663.
Finances: Caroline, our section’s treasurer, announced
receipt of a most welcomed grant in the amount of $250.00
from main club to enable the section to open a bank account
and begin to meet its financial obligations. To date Caroline
has reimbursed club members for approximately $80.00 of expenses
for services rendered, including postal and printing costs.
In order to limit these costs in the future, Beth announced
that an effort is underway to maximize the section’s
reliance on electronic communications. This may entail elimination
of a paper copy newsletter.
Membership Update: Cynthia, our section’s membership
coordinator, reported that we now have 19 memberships and
26 actual members. Jay reminded everyone that current at large
members, or members of other sections, can transfer into the
Northeast Kingdom Section with no additional charge.
Future Outings: On Saturday January 6, 2001, Michael Chernick
will lead a snowshoe hike on Mount Gore. Meet at 9:30 A.M.
at the Island Pond Depot parking lot. Dave Hardy will lead
a snowshoe hike on Mt. Bald on February 17, 2001 meeting at
the trail head at 10:A.M.
Dewey Contribution: Chris collected donations for Dewey who
maintains the Burke Mountain Club House.
General Discussion: The assembled members engaged in a discussion
of issues relevant to the club in the NEK. Beth assured Jim
that it was the intention of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service that the Conte Refuge be devoted to wildlife related
activities. She explained that while the Conte Refuge is subject
to a 5 year federal planning process, and the other Champion
Lands (West Mountain & Essex Timber) are under a 2 year
state process, that efforts to coordinate the 2 processes
are occurring. Beth elaborated on Chris’ earlier comments
regarding both GMC’s and the Trail Work Group's (of
which GMC is a member) participation in the Land & Water
Associates moderated discussion on the relation between nonmotorized
recreationalists and hunters. In response to an inquiry concerning
the club’s relationship to Kingdom Trails, it was explained
that the GMC, through the Trails Work Group , and outside
that framework, had developed a cooperative and good working
relationship with Kingdom Trails. Kingdom Trails has applied
to be the mountain bike corridor manager for the former Champion
Lands and promotes activities that are parallel to, but distinct,
from those of the GMC.
Education Task Force: Mary Ann and Ann will meet with Beth
to develop a n education plan. Hiker, and general outdoor,
education are becoming increasingly significant activities
for the GMC.
Next Meetings: The Green Mountain Club’s Northeast
Kingdom Section's Executive Committee will convene for a meeting
on Saturday January 6, 2001 at 4:30 at the Burke Mountain
Club House in East Burke. This will be followed by a 5:00
p.m. potluck for the entire membership and a 6:00 p.m. general
business meeting.
Adjournment: Having concluded its business for the day, the
meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
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