Villages Hiking Club – Board Meeting (Zoom) Minutes
25-March-2021
Called to Order: 9:31am by President Al Girolami
Attending Board Members:
President – Al Girolami VP Membership & Website – Jim Beyer
VP Hiking & Trails – Faye Swanson Treasurer – Sandy Petrin
VP Social – Michelle Breslin Secretary – Gordon Carbonetti
Also attending was Dan Kato
Reports
Secretary – Gordon Carbonetti
There were no questions on the 18-Feb-2021 Board minutes. Gordon made a motion for approval, which was seconded by Jim Beyer and the motion passed unanimously.
Treasurer – Sandy Petrin
February 2021 General Fund
Beginning balance as of January 31, 2021 $4,612.80
Income – Annual Membership Dues collected by the Villages $1,932.00
Balance $6,644.80
Expenses –
Reimbursement to Michelle Breslin for annual Zoom subscription. $202.95
Ending book balance as of February 28, 2021 $6,341.85
Note – no outstanding checks
February 2021 Hiking Club Hill Lands Project Fund
Beginning balance as of January 31, 2021 $2,801.82
No Income and Expenses $0.00
Ending Balance as of February 28, 2021 $2,801.82
A motion was made by Gordon to approve the preceding Financial Reports. It was seconded by Michelle and passed unanimously.
Michelle advised the zoom expense breaks down to one annual fee of approximately $145 plus about + $15/month.
Al said Peter Holmes will soon have a $25.56 expense for paper and copies related to the Trail Log Sheets he places in all trail mailboxes to track hiker trail usage.
Sunshine Committee – Sandy advised there were no reported events. Al said he was trying to get an update on how Bernie Loth is recovering from his stroke. Sandy will check with Bernie’s daughter and report back at a future meeting.
VP Membership & Website – Jim Beyer
Jim advised we have two new members (Roy Tsai, Wayne Williams) so the current membership now totals 282, but a few new members are planning to join soon, which should be reflected in next month’s report.
VP Hiking & Trails – Faye Swanson
Faye reported unsanctioned Rambler (Sy) and Rambler-lite (Bonnie) hikes continue and are going well thanks to volunteers. Additionally, Russ Glines continues to look for members to join him on Hill Lands hikes on Wed and Sat.
Faye still would like to form a hiking group below the Rambler-Lite group that will hike within the Villages. However, she is having difficulty finding a volunteer to lead this group, so this may not happen.
Faye reminded us that the Ticks are back so be aware of this and take precautions. Ticks tend to hide out in the tall grasses. Deb Siedband has written an article about ticks which Al will try to publish in the “The Villager”.
Faye reported limited trail maintenance was worked recently in small groups of volunteers. She said Garden Steps and Upper Meadow could use the most attention. The HC does have access to a few member or garden club tools. However, according to Villages management, the HC-owned tools are not accessible from our storage cage in the Villages Corporation Yard without paying a $50 fee, which we could consider paying to break through this management roadblock.
Al suggested the HC purchase two additional McLeod Fire Tool hoes (one of each handle-length), which we can store away from the control of Villages management. Faye made a motion to make such purchase, which was seconded by Sandy and it passed unanimously. Dan volunteered to make the purchase.
Faye raised the subject of dog-poop bags being left on the trail in ever increasing numbers. Faye wants a sign displayed at trailheads reminding people to pack out all poop bags. Michelle will look into printing out clearer sign photos to convey this anti-poop bag issue. Al can also add this issue into his planned Tick Article for “The Villager”.
Al distributed to the Board, Peter Homes’ quarterly report on the trail usage data for 4Q and year-end 2020. Peter reports there was a significant increase in trail usage in 2020 from previous years (4Q2020-over 70% and YE2020-over 50% compared to 2019) “which is probably due to the pandemic”. This information is presented in the attachment on page 4 of these minutes.
Faye said Wildflower hike options include Coyote Ridge, which is only offered once a year in March, with entrance/parking restrictions (spots go fast). We missed it for this year, but Faye will look for this next year. Other yearly hike options include Pinnacles, Windy Hill and other suggested hikes which Faye can add to the HC calendar.
VP Social – Michelle Breslin
Michelle showed an example of a HC T-shirt which can be sold to members. Cost per shirt would be in the $19-$35 range plus tax. A logo is in work, but Michelle would love help with this. A logo from long ago was believed to include stick figures but no one remembers details.
She presented a potential Hill Lands scavenger-hunt type activity (challenge) of “Seven Secret Spots” for advanced hikers and seven others for Rambler hikers, where all spots would be identified with some kind of marker which Russ Glines agreed to make at small cost. Deb Siedband and Dan Kato assisted Michelle in this effort. A small group of hikers would get clues (creatively developed by Dan) to locate and photograph the spots (photo to include team members and marker). Team winners could be awarded T-shirts. The idea is to not to create a competition.
Objections centered on the cost of the T-shirts for the winners which may require limiting the number in each team. Plus, there are some HC members who no longer hike (social members) so why should they subsidize free awarded shirts. A prize alternative could be a certificate, pin, hat or something less costly. The idea of the activity and prize was to get members re-engaged in the HC. Seeking membership approval on this might be prudent. The Board majority favors selling HC shirts to promote the club. It was decided to continue to think about this. At the next Gen Mem mtg Michelle will announce the activity and prize is TBD, to gauge interest in completing the contest.
Old Business
Hill Lands Committee Report – Al Girolami, Dan Kato
Al said Mary, in a March 22 email to him responding to his March 21 email to her, said she forwarded the HC proposals has been sent to the Villages club president and GM for a decision. If anyone knows a Villages Board member that can be nudged to push this approval through, that would be appreciated.
Michelle said heavy-duty QR codes for the trail maps are all made but need to be hung with possibly a drill or beefy hole-puncher.
New Business
Al reviewed a list of issues Villages Activities had him sign. (Raffles need a license, only one person can make reservations, Covid restrictions, etc.)
A late Sept or early Oct 2021 (mid-week) trip to the San Luis Obispo area (Pismo Bch/Five Cities) is still under consideration. Board OK with timing. Sandy sent around Oxford Suites hotel info/rates. Thinking of blocking 25-30 rooms by May 1st. Members can book own rooms for no penalty up until 3 days prior to arrival.
Al would like ideas for future speakers. Coyote speaker in April is out, POST may be in.
Next Meetings
March General Membership – March 29, 2021 at 7:30pm, via Zoom. Program: Lt. John Nores – California Fish & Game (retired) who will speak first, then the meeting.
April Board – April 15, 2021 at 9:30am, via Zoom
April General Membership – April 26, 2021 at 7:30pm, via Zoom
Meeting Adjourned – The meeting adjourned at 11:43am
Respectfully submitted
Gordon Carbonetti – Secretary
Log of Trail Usage Data 2014 – 2020
HIKING LOGS
2020 Q1 Q2 1st half Q3 Q4 Year Total % to Top
Top2795067854094891,68333.8%
Garden60866212704175232,210
Stable42076211827867942,762
-dups130719303237161218066,655
2019 Q1 Q2 1st half Q3 Q4 Year Total % to Top
Top3403206602582561,17438.4%
Garden3173166335753871,545
Stable3484517992984101,507
-dups100510872092113110534,276
2018 Q1 Q2 1st Half Q3 Q4 Year Total % to Top
Top2863336192302431,09226.5%
Garden:4043127162162691,201
Stable:5375171,0544324331,919
-dups1,2051,1352,3408589204,118
2017 Q1 Q2 1st Half Q3 Q4 Year Total % to Top
Top3032976002423471,18927.9%
Garden:3332535862103741,170
Stable:3035508534546001,907
-dups8419821,8238981,2904,011
2016 Q1 Q2 1st Half Q3 Q4 Year Total % to Top
Top5123868982943801,57232.1%
Garden:3312665972742841,155
Stable:5455441,0895645242,177
-dups1,3181,1712,4891,1031,1484,740
2014 Q1 Q2 1st Half Q3 Q4 Year Total % to Top
Top4155059204994091,82845.3%
Garden:4736140829484786
Stable:1554646196221801,421
-dups6171,3301,9471,4156734,035