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Secretary's Report - Green Mountain Club Northeast Kingdom
(NEK) Section Business Meeting -
Saturday August 2, 2002
By MICHAEL CHERNICK
Introduction
NEK–GMC Section President Pat Aubin opened the business
meeting, which followed a varied potluck supper, by requesting
the attendees to introduce themselves.
Bald Mountain Update
During the last six months, the section has devoted special
attention to restoring the former fire tower on top of Bald
Mountain in Westmore. The tower project began in February
when a single step was removed to serve as a model for new
steps. Section member Bob Fisher volunteered his labor to
construct new steps using wood which the Vermont Department
of Forests and Parks donated for this purpose. On June 1,
a gorgeous and windy day, a contingent of over two dozen persons
including section volunteers, GMC's field operations director,
Dave Hardy, representatives of the Westmore Trails Association
and participants in the Northeast Kingdom Corps converged
at the Long Pond trailhead for the step installation project.
The group carried up 63 steps to the summit of which 58 were
installed.
Subsequently, the section's trail and shelters coordinator,
Luke O'Brien, who also serves as the Northeast Kingdom Corps
staff supervisor arranged for wood to construct five new steps
as substitutes for the five not installed earlier due to an
improper fit. He also hopes to reserve wood for new landing
platforms. Luke has discussed with the department a joint
venture to restore the summit cabins. The department has expressed
interest subject to an historic preservation review.
The section will return to Bald Mountain on Saturday August
24 to continue the tower renovations and possibly engage in
trail maintenance activities.
Main Club Annual Meeting
Unfortunately, no representative of the section was able to
attend the annual main club meeting held at Bromley Mountain
on June 9.
Membership Report
Cynthia Barber, the section's membership coordinator, reported
the NEK section currently consists of 22 family members and
49 individual members for an approximate individual total
of 100. She also reported 73 contact list inquiries were distributed.
These inquiries sought individual members’ permission
to release all or partial identification and location information
to the full membership. 37 members responded in the affirmative,
nine authorized the release of limited information and 8 replied
negatively. No response is being considered a negative reply.
Based on this information. Cynthia has prepared a contact
list to be released on request. The availability of the list,
for members’ contact purposes only, will be announced
in the upcoming issue of Northeast Passages.
Trip Information
After extensive discussion at the executive meeting, which
was reviewed at the general business meeting, it was decided
non-GMC publications and press releases will provide the date,
location, leader's name and contact information (phone, e-mail
or both) and a line to contact the leader to confirm. At the
business meeting it was also decided to include the contact
request line on section printed and electronic trip notices
even though these may contain more detailed information regarding
a trip.
Treasurer's Report
In section Treasurer's Joe Anastasia's absence, Pat presented
the following information relative to the section's finances:
Cash Balance (4/13/02)
$765.03
Receipts from Main Club
$343.50
Subtotal
$1,108.53
Post Cards & Postage
($86.42)
Newsletter
($25.17)
Cash Balance (8/3/02)
$996.94
* Note: The $100.00 the section authorized at the April 13,
2002 meeting for supplies (i.e. nails) for the Bald Mountain
Tower was not required and therefore not spent.
Monadnock Mountain Purchase
The trust for public lands, a national land trust, is attempting
to purchase the summit of Monadnock Mountain as a prelude
to possible state ownership of this peak located in Lemington
across the Connecticut River from Colebrook, New Hampshire.
In an effort to present evidence of recreational community
support for the purchase, a representative of the trust contacted
Jean Haigh, in her role as the sections' representative to
the main GMC board. After contacting Ben Rose, the executive
director of the main club, to clarify the club's position
on this proposed purchase, Jean wrote an enthusiastic letter
in support of the purchase. Ben has written a similar letter
on the main club's behalf.
As background, the summit is owned by International Paper
as the result of a purchase from the Champion International
Paper Company's real estate division. At the time of the 1999
Champion deal, this location was retained and subsequently
assigned to the company's real estate division. It was then
sold to International Paper which is interested in selling
the site. Monadnock features a tower, which the section has
visited, and is in need of repairs. This peak has the potential
to become an outstanding scenic hiking destination for both
day trips and, in future years, potentially a long-distance
trail endpoint.
Trails & Shelter Update
Luke reported the Northeast Conservation Corps members are
working on both Bald and Bluff mountains. He commented the
Mad Brook parking situation this fall should be improved in
light of a pending agreement. He noted that volunteers were
welcomed on the corps’ work outings. As noted in the
discussion on Bald Mountain, the section will return to Bald
on Saturday August 24 with the intended goal of completing
the replacement of the summit fire tower's stairs and possibly
the landing platforms. He also announced Jennifer Waite, from
the National Park Service (NPS), will lead a small group up
Sable in a continuing effort to find a suitable hiking trail
up the mountain. This project is under the auspices of an
NPS grant awarded to the main club for this purpose.
Separately, Jim Fearon commented on an existing trail off
Route 114 to the summit of Averill Mountain which Luke noted
for possible investigation.
Newsletter
Alice Robinson, the editor of the section's newsletter, Northeast
Passages, announced the next issue will be published later
in August. Jim Fearon also brought the Carter Wildlife Center's
newsletter to the section's attention as a possible source
for announcing club activities.
Section Activities Discussion
Kevin Williamson, the section's assistant trip coordinator,
solicited the membership for trip ideas for excursions not
published in a guidebook. Mary Reardon suggested Nichols Ledge
in Woodbury. Kevin will repeated his request in written form
for publication in the next issue of Northeast Passages. Luke
noted the publication of the club's new “Day Hiker Guide,”
a copy of which he exhibited for the membership to see.
The section's vice president, Daisy McCoy, is now organizing
a trip presentation for the conclusion of each quarterly meeting.
She announced the tentative scheduling of Bruce Berryman for
the fall meeting. He will present the story of Cow Mountain.
Taylor Series
Pat announced receipt from the main club of an invitation
to host a Taylor Series lecture during the 2002-2003 season.
Luke agreed to spearhead the development and submission of
a section proposal due no later than August 26. Suggested
speakers included a representative from the Conte U.S. Fish
& Wildlife Refuge's main office in Turner Falls, Massachusetts,
or alternatively, a group of local hikers who recently summited
Mount Denali in Alaska. The Burke Mountain room at Lyndon
State College was suggested as a site for the presentation.
Hosting a Taylor Series lecture can both be financially beneficial
for the section and serve as an excellent publicity vehicle
to promote the section's activities.
Activities Schedule
The following activities were scheduled for the next quarter.
Section members are encouraged to contact the trip coordinators,
Liz Kennedy (<eskennedy@kingcon.com>, 802-748-8288)
or Kevin Williamson (802-222-5951) regarding potential trip
offerings prior to the November meeting. Luke also suggested
the possibility of slide shows during the winter. Walter McNeil
will develop a series of snowshoe trips for the winter season.
Adjourn & Evening Program
The business meeting adjourned at 7:00p.m. and Stuart Farina
presented his slide show on kayaking Lake Champlain and the
Erie Canal.
Other news and events
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