Villages Hiking Club – Board Meeting Minutes
Thursday, November 16, 2023, Cribari Patio Rm
Call to Order Meeting was called to order at 9:30am by President Bob. Attending Board
Members and other leaders included: President – Bob Bogdanoff; VPs Social –Linda Arbaugh
(transitioning into the role after the resignation of Carmel Smith due to health reasons); VP
Membership & Website – Jim Beyer; Treasurer – Gordon Carbonetti; and VP Hiking & Trails –
John Petrin. Absent and preparing minutes via recording: Secretary – Cheryl Allmen. Guests
included: Jim Ware, Bert Tang and Michelle Breslin.
Report–Secretary – Bob, substituting for Cheryl, indicated she had emailed the previous
10/30/23 Hiking Club General meeting minutes and 10/26/23 Board meeting minutes to all the
Board Members for review and will be given a recording of this November 16 th Board Meeting to
prepare today’s minutes. After indicating a typo, Gordon moved to approve the updated 10/26/23
Board Meeting minutes, and John seconded. Motion approved.
Treasurer – Gordon shared that the October 2023 statements indicate that the Hill Account
remains static: $2715.89. The General Account started with $4667.42 after a new member
registration, payment for recent Pt Reyes dinner and $50 donation for memory of Peter Holmes
ending in a balance of $3158.33. Board members were reminded to submit any of their expense
bills before the end of the year.
Bob also indicated that during COVID we hadn’t developed any budget since activities were on
hold and most everything planned was “self-funded”. Currently he advised it would be wise for
the Board to develop a budget in January 2024 so leaders such as the Social VP’s could plan
accordingly. Next, a motion was made by Gordon and seconded by John to add the Sierra Club
to the donation list of 11 other organizations that the Club gives an annual donation, totaling
$1200 for 12 organizations. Motion passed. Next, a Motion was moved by John and seconded
by Bob to approve the fiscal accounts reports. Motion approved.
As a result of Linda’s question about raising the cost of the Club’s membership dues ( since
inflation has risen and costs are higher ), Bob indicated he would include that item in the next
Club opinion survey. Gordon announced that a request has been made to possibly add a bench
in the memory of Peter Holmes and that funds could be raised to cover its cost with the possibility
of the Club adding funds if needed.
VP Membership & Website – Jim announced that our club membership now totals 338
individuals with the following addition of new members: Sheila Robinson, Steve Guggman,
Lorellie Garcia, Joel Pollack and David Kroger. He is planning on sending out an email to the
membership advising them of the $7 for 2024 club membership dues and the announcement of
the January lst 8:30am-2:30pm hike up to the top of the hill. Foothill has been reserved for
refreshments in case there’s a weather backup change. He also mentioned the Website is
operating well.
VP Hiking & Trails – John shared all Wednesday hikes are planned except December 27 th
(which might be skipped if no leader is available). Guy, Sy, and Katie will continue supporting
Gordon during 2024. Saturday & Wednesday Hill hikes continue with Bob and Gordon and soon
Russ will be back coordinating these hikes. Spring outing needs to be researched…one idea to
consider is Old Sacramento.
New Business-Club Leaders:
Hill Signs Preservation. Since some of hills signs have been bent and broken, Jim Ware shared
some examples of how to preserve and stiffen our hill signs. He recommended the Club Board
approve some prototypes such as brackets to have affordable ways to help support the hill signs.
A motion was made, approved and amended authorizing Jim to be our Club liaison to work
with the various Villages contacts to head up a team to find the most favorable way to preserve
the signs with a budget of up to $1000 available from the Hill Lands Account.
Hill Lands Grazing Project. Michelle Breslin shared photos and announced that 50 cows and l
bull (totaling 51 cattle will be added to the hill area for a season by Rancher Richie around
December 15 th but she hasn’t gotten an official report yet from the Villages. She’ll advise Bob if a
further report with more information will be added to the next General meeting agenda so the
membership is updated on the progress of this project.
VP Social – Linda shared we already have 10 confirmed reservations for the Club Holiday Party,
scheduled for Thursday, 12/14/23, from 5:30 – 8:30pm in the Cribari Auditorium and cleaned up
by 10pm. She thanked Jim for emailing the announcement so quickly and indicated all the details
and planning are going well. An announcement will be in the Villages newspaper soon. Holiday
Lights Walk scheduled for Friday, December 22 nd from 6:00-9:00pm. All will be meeting at and
returning to the Vineyard with cocoa and yummy refreshments available afterwards. It’s a family
event with children and grandchildren joining in on the fun.
President – Bob shared the list of 2024 Hiking Club Officers that were nominated at the
October 27, 2023 General meeting for the upcoming November 27, 2023 elections. This includes
President – Bob Bogdanoff ( Michelle is a 2025 possibility ); VPs Social – Bibi Bruce & Linda
Arbaugh; VP Membership & Website – Jim Beyer; Treasurer – Bert Tang; Secretary – Cheryl
Allmen; and, VP Hiking & Trails – Gordon Carbonetti. Jim indicated that our standing rules
indicate l officer is allowed per position and as a result, it was suggested that the Board consider
reviewing and updating our guidelines in 2024.
At the recent New Resident Orientation, Lucy and Bob, enrolled several new members. He also
indicated he will send out a draft of the 2024 survey to the Board members before the December
holidays, asking for input with the goal of sending the final survey out to the membership
afterwards.
Next Meetings : General Meetings: Monday, November 27th, 7:30pm- Foothill Center, Bob
Bogdanoff, Big Bend NP Road Trip; Monday January 29, 2024, 7pm (new start time) -Foothill
Center, Live to 100 – Jane Ruona; Monday February 26, 2024, 7pm Foothill Center, Andrea
MacKenzie, GM, Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve; and Monday March
25, 7pm Foothill Center, Nancy Hooton, Helicopter Hiking. Board Meeting: Thursday, January
25, 2024 9:30am-10:30am, Forum Room in Cribari.
Meeting Adjourned at 10:54am.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Allmen
Cheryl Allmen, Secretary