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Meeting Minutes - March 25, 2004
TREASURER'S REPORT:
Expenses: $253.50 (due to flyer printing and website hosting)
Balance: $892.99
Membership: 78 members
OLD BUSINESS:
Newsletter and Web Update:
A newsletter will be sent out in late May to all members
The website is coming along but must be updated more often.
The Trails database is a good start. We need an icon on the homepage for it for easy access and possibly maps for each trail.
Trails:
We also need signs on more trails next year.
Bob Spoerl mentioned that the NHSA's trails master's meeting in Oct 12-15 this year. He suggests we attend to distribute signs and make our mission and presence known.
Signs should be taken down in the spring and accounted for by someone willing to take responsibility for that trail.
The thought was discussed to make the trail info available to everyone on the web, but have trail conditions accessible to only members. BUT this means we need to be more responsible for updates.
Thoughts for that included having regional reports.
It was left that we should each think about which trails we could commit to updating REGULARLY and be responsible for.
Brochures:
Tom suggests to have at least a few hundred of each made up. (General brochure and snowmobilers brochure prepared last winter by Pete) The question is should we, which started discussion on how and where to advertise.
Rhonda O. motioned to hold off on publishing brochures until we find out how much it would cost to buy an
ad spot on next years NHSA trail map. Greg Barker seconded the motion....vote carries the motion.
We will wait and Tom D will find out.
Bill Bartlett had a great NHMA banner made and spent $70. We will reimburse him.
Patches and Decals:
The Patch logo has been significantly improved and can be used for decals too.
Rhonda will check prices for production.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mailing to membership:
Cover letter with Logo along with the safety/etiquette documents
Bob H and Tom D will draft the letter for approval at the next meeting.
Snowmobile club appreciation letter(s):
Tom brought up the idea of having one award letter for an outstanding club but many thought that multiple appreciation "awards" should go out. Discussion followed
Jim Lalla motioned for multiple certificates be presented to multiple clubs who have helped and supported mushers.
Bob H seconds. Greg Barker amends for nomination process with criteria to be determined at the next meeting.
All in Favor, motion passed.
General membership will be asked for input on clubs who have helped them.
NHSA:
Should we require members to be members of the NHSA? Pete and Rhonda suggest that we might add the NHSA dues and a local club dues to our own.
Greg B points out that it is not our mandate.
Rhonda motioned that membership include a donation to the NHSA
No seconds - Dead motion
Pete motioned that we must require our members to be members of a local snowmobile club
No seconds - Dead motion
Hill Village:
Greg Barker is coordinating with the Army Corps of Engineers to help establish new trails at Hill Village.
The Corps wants to develop a non-motorized trail for winter use. Greg wants to know if we will be involved and if so, what type of trail will mushers need so the plan can be accommodating. We talked about which side of the river, etc and then Tom D asks...do we want to do this?
Issues to consider:
- dog clubs don't groom
- Pete suggests that it might not be a good political move for us to promote restricted trails.
- Is it possible for mushers to do work on the multiple use trails that exist to make them better for everyone ? Good PR with the Corps of engineers?
Pete motioned to not support separate trails. Jim Lalla seconded.
The worry of all is that once a non-motorized trail is put in that mushers will be restricted to those trails!
Question presented by Pete: Resolution to never support restricted trails. Not many voted...still a confusing issue and too important to not think through carefully so discussion was tabled until the next meeting.
Equine Study:
Hampshire horse owners participated in a survey documenting the economic contribution that horses make to NH agriculture. A 77 page report resulted which was compiled through the joint effort of the NH horse Council Inc. and the NH Farm Bureau Federation.
Tom suggested that we need to do a similar study as most large trail use groups have such a thing and it
would give the mushing community some pull politically. This particular study was coordinated by UNH.
Christine motioned to go forward and investigate the feasibility of doing this sort of study. Bob H seconded. Motion passed.
Christine will look into it and make some contacts.
Legislature:
Tom would like to have legislation introduced for standing access ATV trail permission for all NHMA members.
We need to identify legislators who are favorable to dog mushers.
Think about who we know so a list of contacts can be compiled. We need to poll the membership for this information as well and ask for volunteers interested in this sort of politics as we are not experienced.
Greg B asked if there are initiatives in the legislature now that may affect us presently. Bob Spoerl says not
at the moment and that's something that he keeps an eye on for all trail users.
An example of something of interest would be when a bill lists trail users, we need to make sure mushers are included.
We might include a legislative watch column in the newsletter.
Next Meeting:
Tentatively April 22nd at 7pm in Concord. Post on the web that its an OPEN MEETING FOR ALL interested parties. Also post the Agenda.
End of Business...meeting was adjourned at 9pm
Respectfully submitted by Christine Richardson, secretary.
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