Villages Hiking Club – General Membership Meeting Minutes (via Zoom) 28-June-2021
1. Called to Order: 7:39pm by President Al Girolami
2. Attending Board Members and total membership:
President – Al Girolami
VP Hiking & Trails – Faye Swanson
VP Social – Michelle Breslin
VP Membership & Website – Jim Beyer
Treasurer – Sandy Petrin
Secretary – Gordon Carbonetti
Total members attending (including Board): 22 including 18 individuals plus 2 couples
3. Guest Speakers – Midpeninsula (Midpen) Regional Open Space
· Christine Llobregat – Public Affairs Specialist; Cori Skinner – Public Affairs Mgr
· 2022 represents the 50thanniversary of Midpen Regional Open Space.
· Mission is “To acquire a regional greenbelt of open space land in perpetuity, protect and restore the natural environment, and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education”.
· 26 Preserves in Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties with 65,000 acres and 250 miles of trails. The Sierra Azul Preserve Open Space is the closest Midpen preserve to the Villages.
· There were no significant fires in Midpen areas last year.
· Subscribe to E-newsletter through their Website: www.openspace.org
4. Reports
President – Al Girolami
· Dog poop issue – full poop bags left next to the trails are a problem. New posted signs and articles in the Villager are helping to resolve the issue.
· Ticks are still a concern, so please be alert when you hike. Some ticks may be dropping from the trees above.
· Hill Land Proposals – a) Picnic table to be installed at NE corner of our property. VGCC has been sitting on this decision for 18 months, so a decision is TBD. b) Garden Steps – plan is to eliminate these steps and put in a lesser-gradient diagonal trail for $2-3K. Tim said we needed a permit from the City of San Jose, so there is a delay on this.
· As it appears things are approaching pre-Covid times, Wate suggested adding more long hikes on Saturdays for Members who work. Al said more hike leaders would be needed for long-hikers looking to go outside VGCC.
· Al said hikes can now meet and start at the Cribari Bell if needed.
Secretary – Gordon Carbonetti
· Gordon advised the minutes from the April 26, 2021 General Membership Meeting are posted on the HC website. Cheryl Allmen made a motion to approve the minutes. Sandy seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Treasurer – Sandy Petrin
April 2021 Hiking Club General Fund
Beginning balance as of March 31, 2021 $6,362.85
Income – Membership Dues (Diemmy Ly-Henderson). $7.00
Expense – Trail Tools – 2 Rogue Hoe Rakes (Faye Swanson) ($177.54)
Expenses – Paper for Trail Maps (Peter Holmes) ($25.56)
Ending balance as of April 30, 2021 $6,166.75
April 2021 Hiking Club Hill Lands Project Fund
Beginning balance as of March 31, 2021. $2,801.82
No Income $0.00
No Expenses $0.00
Ending Balance as of April 30, 2021 $2,801.82
May 2021 Hiking Club General Fund
Beginning balance as of April 30, 20201 $6,166.75
Income – Membership Dues (May DeLucchi, Bernice Capitano, $63.00
Gerhard Ringel, Mary Ringel, Andrea Alvarez, Sam Harper,
Elsie Dean, Julia Barraza, Kim Silverman)
Balance $6,229.75
Expenses –
Ck#1675 Michelle Breslin (Secret Challenge supplies) ($44.60)
Ending balance as of May 31, 2021. $6,185.15
Note – Book balance is $6,229.75 as Ck 1675 is outstanding.
May 2021 Hiking Club Hill Lands Project Fund
Beginning balance as of April 30, 2021 $2,801.82
No Income and Expenses $0.00
Ending Balance as of May 31, 2021. $2,801.82
· The preceding Financial Report was approved by a motion made by Cheryl, and seconded by Wate, and it passed unanimously.
Sunshine Committee – Sandy reported ‘Terri Vivoli’ cards are going to Bonnie Preston who is recovering from pneumonia, and to Dot (Dorothy) Armbruster who is recovering from shoulder surgery. After a request by Al, no one had an update on Bernie Loth. Cheryl Allmen said Rose (ex-Treasurer) is back hiking after recovering from injuries suffered many months ago.
VP Membership & Website – Jim Beyer
· Jim advised 15 new members were added to the HC, and current membership now stands at 297. There were no new members attending the meeting.
· Jim reports Mary Tatum is saying all VGCC facilities are now open.
· Jim has resumed posting to the HC website information on planned/completed hikes and other club activities. So please send him information and pictures covering those events.
· Jim is posting information on a new Monday morning hike around the Villages Golf Course. It is being led by Cheryl Allmen and departs promptly from the Clubhouse parking lot at 8:30am.
· Hike-leader responsibilities are listed in the rules found on the HC website.
VP Hiking & Trails – Faye Swanson
· Faye is still having trouble finding hike leaders especially for long hikes outside VGCC. If she finds leaders, she will keep Saturday long hikes. However, she is considering changing the Saturday long-hikes to possibly Friday or another weekday. Also, when long-hikes are planned, some member participation has been low, presumably due to lingering Covid concerns, and aging members. Consensus is to wait a few months under the current hike plans to update our thinking.
· Hikes can now start in front of Cribari Center.
VP Social – Michelle Breslin
· Michelle said all markers for the Seven Secret Spots Challenge have been pulled. Since this activity was well-received, a new edition may be considered for next year. However, the Witch may make a special reappearance sometime around the end of October for scary Halloween purposes.
· Michelle reported the BBQ picnic is July 10, and to date 74 people have signed up to attend. It will be held at the Gazebo Area with a live musician. The dinner will be Greek-themed, and BYOB and BYO plates/utensils.
· Pismo Beach trip – there are only two rooms available. September 3rd is the sign-up deadline. Michelle has narrowed the dinner choices to two restaurants, and a decision will be made shortly.
5. Next Meeting
· General Membership – August 30, 2021 at 7:30pm, with meeting details to follow. Program: TBD
· Next Board Meeting – August 26, 2021 at 9:30am, with meeting details to follow.
6. Meeting Adjourned – The meeting adjourned at 9:18pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Gordon Carbonetti – Secretary