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Secretary's Report - Green Mountain Club Northeast Kingdom
(NEK) Section Business Meeting - Saturday April 28, 2001
By MICHAEL CHERNICK
Introduction: On Saturday, April 28, 2001, the Northeast Kingdom
Section of the Green Mountain Club conducted its first officially
designated annual business meeting at the Burke Mountain Club
House in East Burke. The meeting commenced with personal introductions
that included past Long Trail hiking experiences. Section
Director Beth Dugger promoted the upcoming Green Mountain
Club (GMC) annual club-wide meeting scheduled for the weekend
of June 8-10, 2001. The introductory phase of the meeting
concluded with the day's outing leaders, Jean Haigh and John
Armstrong, briefly describing their road walk on the Champion
Lands in the towns of Ferdinand and Brunswick. Twenty hikers
participated in this spring walk of approximately 10 miles.
Presentation of GMC Executive Director, Ben Rose: Section
Vice President, Daisy McCoy, in the absence of section President
Chris Bechard, opened the more formal portion of the meeting
by introducing GMC Executive Director, Ben Rose, who presented
a brief report on club-wide activities. Ben addressed the
GMC's mission statement, which encompasses hiking trails beyond
the Long Trail. Ben explained that the mission statement serves
as the basis for a newly broadened vision for the club. This
new vision encompasses hiking trails other than the Long Trail,
and is especially important for the new Northeast Kingdom
Section, which does not have a Long Trail maintenance responsibility.
He then explained the evolution of the GMC sections and their
role as a catalyst for local activities. The main club's present
structure, Ben stated, developed in response to the 1960s
hiking boom, and the establishment of the Long Trail Protection
Campaign in 1987. He further commented that the $7 million
campaign was now focusing on the smallest and most difficult
properties, to complete this seminal club project.
Ben concluded his remarks by noting that during the last
few years, the local sections' roles and concerns have been
reemphasized.
Election of Officers for 2001-2002: The following slate of
officers was proposed by the executive committee to lead the
section for the next year:
President: Pat Aubin
Vice President: Daisy McCoy
Treasurer: (to be determined)
Secretary Michael Chernick
Membership: Cynthia Barber
Publicity: (to be determined)
Trip Coordinators: John Armstrong and Jean Haigh
Trail & Shelters: Luke O'Brien
Web & Newsletter Editor: Jay Collier
The trip coordinators will oversee planning and reporting
of our section's outings.
Jim Fearon nominated Joe Anastasia for treasurer and Jay
Collier seconded the nomination. Judy Anastasia was then nominated
for the new publicity position, which will endeavor to provide
information related to section activities to the local print
and broadcast media. Jim Fearon then moved the entire slate
of section officers for 2001-2002, which the membership approved
unanimously.
Tools' Procurement: Trails Coordinator Luke O'Brien, reported
that the Burlington Section has generously donated to our
section a large cash gift for the purchase of tools. Burlington
has also provided us with two shovels. Luke itemized the equipment
that the section should purchase including hazel hoes and
clippers. There is now sufficient money in the section's treasury
to purchase the equipment which will cost approximately $350.00.
Luke will make inquiries concerning the best price and location
for the purchase. Michael moved and Daisy seconded a motion
to authorize Luke to proceed with the tool purchase which
was approved.
Treasurer's Report: Beth, in the absence of former treasurer
Caroline Bechard, reported that the section's financial status
is excellent. As of April 28, 2000, the Northeast Kingdom
Section's checking account stands at $722.33. GMC Executive
Director Ben Rose noted that renewal reminders will be mailed
in the next few weeks to current members. This will result
in additional remittances of 25% per member in dues to the
section.
GPS (Geographic Positioning System) Unit: Daisy will take
temporary custody of the GPS unit which has been donated to
the section. She will speak to staff at Lyndon State regarding
the viability of the unit for section purposes, such as trail
construction, and the possibility of arranging an instructional
workshop with John Deleo.
Ecology Weekend: Matteo Burani, the local field organizer
for the Northern Forest Alliance (NFA), and a NEKGMC section
member is organizing a forum on Champion Lands and Ecological
Practices for Friday-Saturday July 13-14. The main club will
cosponsor this event in coordination with the NFA. On Friday
evening July 13, Brian Aust, the group hiking specialist on
the main club's staff, will participate in a GMC-sponsored
panel entitled Observant Hiker. Brian recently completed the
Leave No Trace hiker education training program. The section's
role will be to promote the weekend's activities locally.
Friday's schedule includes a possible canoe trip or other
excursion activities, in conjunction with state officials.
Luke will investigate the availability of the Vermont Leadership
Center (VLC) in East Charleston as a site for the Friday evening
program which will include a barbeque. (Note: This weekend
program has been cancelled.)
VLC Information: Luke distributed the latest VLC newsletter
and reported on upcoming activities at the center.
Northern Passages Information Submission Date: In an effort
to coordinate better with the main club's publication, Long
Trail News, the section's newsletter, Northeast Passages,
will have an earlier closing date for the submission of information
and event schedules.
Trip Schedule: The schedule of section events as of April
28 was tentative and will be expanded in the weeks ahead.
Ben Rose suggested that the section offer diverse trips in
order to appeal to different levels of ability and interests.
The tentative schedule includes three Saturday trail work
hikes on July 14 at Bald Mountain, on August 18 at West Mountain
(which will feature a walk- through but no actual trial construction),
and on September15 at Sable Mountain. Michael Chernick, in
conjunction with the Montpelier Section, will lead a pleasure
hike to the summit of Gore Mountain on Sunday, July 9, meeting
at 9:00 A.M. at the Island Pond Depot parking lot. Luke announced
that the VLC will host a series of pleasure hikes to local
major peaks with dates to be posted on the NEKGMC Web site.
On the weekend of June 22-23, the VLC will conduct a seminar
featuring intensive instruction in Wilderness First Aid. The
National Trails' Day event that VLC has planned for Bluff
Mountain will probably be relocated owing to clear cuts that
have occurred on Bluff. Jim Fearon offered to lead a turtle
(easy-paced and family friendly) up Brousseau Mt. on a date
to be announced. Several section members offered to either
lead or co-lead trips during the next few months. A more detailed
schedule will appear in Northeast Passages and on the section's
Web site.
Trip Leaders' Handbook: Beth will obtain copies of the trip
leader's handbook for the section
Northeast Kingdom Travel & Tourism information: Jim Fearon,
both a section member and the executive director of Northeast
Kingdom Travel and Tourism, announced the publication of a
new canoe brochure featuring the Pussumpsic Valley River Way.
He will provide the section with more information regarding
this publication.
Champion Lands Update: The Former Champion Lands' Subcommittee
on Recreation has recommended to the Full Champion Lands Steering
Committee that the Green Mountain Club's (meaning the main
club) trail corridor manager proposal be submitted for public
consideration. This is the important initial step towards
the GMC's ultimate designation as the hiking trails' corridor
manager on the former Champion Lands.
Special Thanks for Section Director's Work: Ben Rose, speaking
on behalf of the main club, expressed a special appreciation
for the work of Section Director, Beth Dugger, in representing
the club in Champion Lands' matters, and for the many hours
that she has devoted to attending meetings and drafting proposals.
Next Meeting/Adjournment: The next potluck summer and business
meeting of the Northeast Kingdom Section will occur on Saturday
July 14, 2001 at the Burke Mountain Club House in East Burke
following the work hike on Bald Mountain. Michael moved an
adjournment motion at 7:00 p.m. which was approved.
Post-Adjournment Video: Following the annual meeting's adjournment,
the video entitled, North to Katahdin, which documents a through
hike on the AT, and was produced by NEKGMC member Tim Hogeboom,
was shown.
Other news and events
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