NH Mushers Association

Meeting Minutes - June 17, 2003

ATTENDANCE:
Tom Dimaggio
Rhonda Hendry O'Hearn
Jim Lalla
Christine Richardson
Bill Bartlett
Bob Spoerl
Bob Heckman
Greg Barker
Josh Stevens
Pam L-Connell
Leif Erickson
Hiram Daitch
George Cook
Pete Johnson

President's Comments:
The NH A T V association is having problems with internal fighting. We need to do everything we can to avoid that.

We also need to look for other possible meeting sites as the DRED building cannot be used indefinately.

Secretary's Report:
The minutes of last month were presented and unanimously accepted.

Treasurer's Report:
Expenses for the month = $47.31 for membership mailing. Balance = $785.68

Committee Reports:
Membership: Rhonda reports that the first newsletter is due to be mailed out on July 15th.
Trails: George is preparing to gather more trail info.

OLD BUSINESS:

Website:
Greg Barker is helping Jaye with the website. Jaye has been invited to the board meeting often but hasn't come to give input and advice. We need someone here that can do that. Greg will fill that role.

Rhonda motioned that an official webmaster position be added to the bylaws. No second. Tom will put that on the agenda of the annual meeting.

Cert. Of Appreciation:
So far there are 7 votes for favored snowmobile clubs. 6 are for Stratford. We are reminded that Voting will take place through the annual meeting as the presentation isn't until the NHSA's october meeting.

Trail Information:
People need to put information into the database. We need volunteers to maintain and update the information for each trail. A note will be put in the newsletter.

Trail maps and password: Maps, parking info, use times etc. should be available to all and conditions available only to members. The password will be changed annually. Bob Heckman suggested printing it on the back of the membership card.

Publicity:
Pam L-Connell has volunteered to be our Publicity director.
Bob Heckman nominated Pam as Publicity Directory, Tom Seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Its official...THANKS PAM!

Legislation:
We still need a person to keep a watch on new bills. The person will have to be familiar with the system.

What do we need?
1. A watchdog. Someone to write a short weekly update for the web and monthly update for the newsletter. We should be interested in anything to do with trail access

Keith and Rhonda will contact Cynthia and George.

NEW BUSINESS:

Fund Raising:
1. Rhonda suggested a wool sock fundraising effort.
2. An order form for shirts is being created for the website.

Annual Meeting:
Where to hold it?
Parks cost money ... general fee = $200
Meredith Catholic Church
Chinook
Christine's House

We all chose Christine's House in Canaan, NH. Its in a different part of the state than Chinook was, is easily accessible by interstate and won't cost anything.
Details: Potluck - byob and chair
Time = 10am to 3pm Meeting starts at 10:30am

Possible Landowner guests:
Rick Evans
John Herrigan

Newsletter:
Notes for the news:
1. Rhonda wants a few sentences from each board member
2. Current trail safety issues
3. Where to put signs
4. 3 Anonymous mushers answer trail questions asked by community...can ask via website

The first issue will be a paper mailing to all with future electronic option for those who choose it.
Bi-monthly.

Yahoo List:
Rhonda would like to keep the Yahoo list to NHMA members.
Christine felt that people from other states should have access to what our organization is doing.
Bob. H doesn't feel the list is necessary as it isn't officially the NHMA's list. Pete disagrees.
Hiram believes that email is the primary and necessary communication method of our times.

There was much discussion on how necessary the email list is and if it could be moved to the bulletin board forum on the website. This would get people onto the website more. Some argue that email is easier to use.

Others worry that ideas on that list can be represented as NHMA sponsored ideas and users won't know whats real and what isn't. The web discussion board would be easier for more board members to monitor and respond to. Web board is hard to use. Website is hard for the board to control...etc. etc. To be continued...

Meeting adjourned at 9pm

Next Meeting:
July 22nd at the DRED building in Concord.

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