ALASKA TRAILS

Monthly Board Meeting Teleconference Minutes

March 9, 2004

 

 

  1. Call to Order
    Meeting called to order at 9:09 am.

Present are Lisa Holzapfel, Lindsay Winkler (for Kevin Murphy) , Jack Mosby, Ron Crenshaw, Bruce Friend, Dan Chagnon, replaced by John Hass (for Karl Kassel), Bruce Friend, Alison Rein, Bonnie Brewer, Kevin Keeler, Adrienne Hall

 

  1. Changes to Agenda

      Jack Mosby, change under funding to add discussion about combined federal campaign

      Kevin Keeler, add , New Business, G, discussion about registration for IMBA training

      Agenda approved by Jack Mosby, move, unanimous second

 

  1. Reading and Approval of February 10, 2004 Minutes -Jack Campbell

            Minor changes: Jack Mosby’s name listed as twice.

            Lisa moved to approve, Bruce Friend second, no objections.

February 10th meeting minutes approved, with removal of Jack’s duplicate name

 

  1. Reports from Board and Chairs:
    1. President-James King absent, due to Trail Mix Board meeting called at same time.  Lisa taking his place.  Update, James King did go to DC to try to locate alternative trail funding.  He can report to the board next month.

    2. Treasurer-Joe Westfall absent, no updated budget provided for meeting.  Lisa,   BLM $2000 membership donation in.  Bill Overbaugh will return March 15 and will submit the ARPA-Wildlands Section commitment.  Doug Whitaker will do the same for the River Management Society when he returns in a few weeks.      

    3. Secretary-Jack Campbell, absent.  Lindsay Winkler taking notes.

    4. Funding Committee-Bruce Friend.  Jack Mosby will need copies of the corrected meeting minutes (Jack Campbell), copies of PR and membership (Pat Owens/Lisa) and the final IRS 990 form (Joe Westfall) to apply for the Combined Federal Campaign.  United Way is holding training in Anchorage in late March (25-27?).  Lisa will call and verify dates for training and any cost for application, and provide information to group.   Someone will need to attend in Jack’s place to take Alaska Trails’ draft application for review.  Application is due early April (11?) Alaska Trails is eligible for inclusion on the Combined Federal Campaign this year, but the Anchorage Community Share required nonprofit status for two years.  Question, is there a cost to be a member?  Lisa will call United Way and check.   Jack, submittal of application will need Board approval or a board resolution.   Lisa will add to April agenda.  Assuming there is no cost, Jack made a motion that Alaska Trails submit the application to the Combined Federal Campaign.  Ron Crenshaw, seconds the motion.  Lisa, hearing no objection, motion passed.  Jack signed up for the training, but someone else needs to go in his place.

    5. Education Committee-Joe Westfall, absent.  Update by Lisa, Lester Lightfoot’s creator, Stacy Studebaker received notice from her attorney that the Tread Lightly attorney wants to settle the “Lightfoot” issue out of court.  It is looking like Stacy will get an agreement to allow her to use Lester Lightfoot in Alaska for educational purposes.

    6. PR/Media Committee-Pat Owens, absent.  Lisa reported from Pat’s email, she has small spurts of time to work on the Promotion piece and hopes to have a draft out for review by this Sunday.  Please return comments ASAP so she can finish it.  Initial printing and donation envelope costs, set up is $35, approximately $135 for printing 1000; PR Flyers, similar.  $200 for setup and printing.  This would make a total of approximately $300-335 for 1000 copies for distribution.  Question and clarification, this is a promotional piece that you insert the membership flyer into and it includes the envelope for return membership payment.  It’s the membership drive production pieces.  Jack Mosby moved, to approve the use of up to $400 for production and printing of at least 1000 copies for the membership flyer, stock card, and envelope.  Ron Crenshaw seconded.  Lisa, no further discussion, no objections; hearing none, motion passed.  Lisa will contact Pat about a firm she has received good printing prices from in Anchorage.  BLM agreed to fund $500 towards patches and window stickers, and possibly banners.  Lisa thanked BLM for this generous donation. Lisa has faxed a competitive bid sheet to fifteen or so companies and only two responded. She will conduct follow-up calls.  Clarification for Bruce Friend, this is for the Alaska Trails Champion patch for volunteers this summer and, if you are a member, you will get a window sticker. Additional funds will go to create a banner for Alaska Trail events.  Bruce Friend recommended contacting Ralph Johnson, 694-3333, he can print banners.  Tell Ralph Bruce recommended Lisa to call.  Lisa will come back to the board for additional funding if necessary.  (Note:  later, Jack Mosby asked if USFS could purchase volunteer patches as part of a joint field project.  Alison Rein will let the board know.)  Lisa inquired if anyone wanted to take the lead on asking Austin Helmers about an Honorary Membership since Kevin Murphy was in Palmyra Atoll until summer.  No response, tabled discussion to future meeting.  (April agenda.)

    7. Volunteer Recruitment Committee-Jack Mosby.   No report.

    8. Program Committee-Karl Kassel, John Hass, nothing to report.  Lisa, Alaska Trails has lined up IMBA for two trail crew training sessions. Fairbanks North Star Borough, June 19.  Mat-Su Borough, June 26th.   Bruce Friend described educational programs Polaris is working on with the Kenai and woman’s groups for sponsorships, BOW and WOW.   The sessions include training, safety, proper etiquette, following with where to go after training.  More are planned, one for the 20th in Homer, one for the 27th in Willow. These trainings revolve around providing hands-on experience and raising money for a cause.  These next trainings will focus on Breast Cancer, Inc.  One of the causes could be trails and trail dedication.  Lisa asked what does Alaska Trails need to do to be a partner?  These trainings share the same mission.  These would be good thing for the program committee and funding committees to meet on and discuss.  Bruce described an event at the Egan Center for the motorized community, if he could get a banner, he’d be happy to have Alaska Trails involved in any activity that he does. Lisa, this would be an excellent way to have communication between motorized and non-motorized users.

 

  1. New Business

    1. Denali National Park Planning Update-Adrienne Hall, NPS gave the board an update on the South Denali Implementation Planning efforts.  It is a collaborative effort between many agencies to provide additional recreational opportunities in the South Denali region.  They have been conducting scoping meetings and have been receiving a lot of feedback on the project’s components.  The Petersville Road will probably receive enhancements regardless of the scoping outcome.  It also includes increasing access to the park from Petersville Road, park facilities such as a nature center, and a trail system. NPS planning has been working with Kevin Keeler of RTCA.  The NPS wants to keep communication lines open.  There has been quite a bit of opposition to the project in general.  In the local community, people do want the upgrades to the Petersville Road, trailheads, trails, etc.  They do want a system that marks routes, keeps snowmachines off private land, and there seems to be unanimous support for the trails system.  The NPS is hearing that the locals want to keep the area pretty much the way it is, no big tour buses, no huge facilities.  They have also heard support for improving local level economic development.  Some of the public is still asking for building a visitor’s center on the Parks Highway.  The scoping period ends April 15th.  Go to www.southdenaliplanning.com for more information.  This is a significant project and we would like your input.  Ron Crenshaw will look at the website and draft a letter from Alaska Trails to approve at the next meeting and submit to NPS.   Kevin Keeler asked if NPS is looking for positive suggestions?  Adrienne, yes, we are looking for solutions.  Tell us what parts of the plan you like.  There are some leading questions on the website.  There is a form on the website, which she hopes is helpful.  Kevin Keeler asked if this an opportunity for dreaming too?  Adrienne said this is relatively wide open.  The project team is extremely open-minded.  There is not a predetermined agenda.  What is the funding source? NPS has received a federal appropriation for planning this year.  Bruce Friend was asked if he’d heard anything from the motorized trail users?  He said Adrienne has pretty much summed it up.   The key concern is that landowners in the area have issues with the motorized community not having good markings of private land.  People would like to have their property rights protected and clearly delineated, legal trails.  The other thing he hears is that this is a lot of people’s backyard.  Many would rather not see large development in the Peters Hills.  If there is development, then they would like to see this located along the Parks Highway Corridor, and accessible by driving.   Lisa commented that perhaps one area for Alaska Trails to help out would be in assisting with signage on trails, which is one of Alaska Trails purposes.  Adrienne said the NPS needs more information from non-motorized users and the potential conflicts that have occurred.  Kevin said it would be good for people to comment on the design of DOT roads.  Several more concerns were discussed.  Ron will get a draft letter out by the end of the month for all to review.  (April agenda.)

 

    1. Iditarod/Alaska Trails Joint Work Project proposal, National Trails Day-Alison Rein, USFS .  Alison Rein asked if Alaska Trails has any interest in coordinating with the USFS on a joint work project this summer, along the Iditarod Trail, on sections between Girdwood and Seward.  Her plans are to work with either SAGA or SCA crews to issue task order for trail construction.  Another project is building a shelter up at Berry Pass.  There are trail clearing needs along the snowmachine corridor.  Lisa asked how much volunteer time are they requesting and for what length of  trail?   Alison said the USFS will sponsor a one day event or a long-term project.  The snowmachine clearing area is approximately 12 miles along the winter trail route.  Alison offered to organize the event if Alaska Trails would co-sponsor and help find volunteers. Lisa commented that while we are still small in membership numbers, this could be a great opportunity, one more summer activity.  Bruce Friend, the motorized community might be interested in helping with this project.  Kevin Keeler noted July 15th to the 30th is the dipnet fishery on the Kenai, before or after this would be good  Motion, Ron moved (Jack seconded), to support a summer construction project on the Iditarod Trail in support of the Forest Service effort between Girdwood and Seward. Hearing no objections, the motion passed.   Bruce Friend volunteered to help coordinate this effort with Alison.

    2. Website Beta Testing-Bonnie Brewer.  No beta test site ready yet, just the list for review and discussion.  Bonnie met in Anchorage with Jack Mosby, Joe Westfall and Lisa and broke the web topics into the main units of what the website will be.  Ron commented that it looks wonderful. Under “trail bank”, are these going to be sources of grants and donations that all can receive? It could go both ways, money coming into AK Trails and out of AK Trails.  Board, this is a good approach.  Kevin suggested adding Trail Resource Bank, Lisa said some of those topics are elsewhere.  The initial intent was for this to be the source for funding information.  This site could be used to include construction materials, should this be resources available from Alaska Trails?  Lisa, it could be good to expand this then to include other materials that Alaska trails could make available to local trail clubs.  It could be a trail cache too.  How will we maintain the website so new materials will show up on the website when we find out about them?  Kevin suggested possibly contracting out the website.  Lisa, we need an executive director and more funding first.  The website will be fairly static.  One suggestion would be that working on the website and getting it ready, but not launching it until we know it will be more dynamic.  Kevin—when we have summer events, the board will find it more economical to contract out website updates. We want to this to be vibrant and provide a way for people to be engaged.  Lisa, what is Bonnie’s availability, could you pull us through with maintenance after you get the site put up, until we can hire out the service?  Bonnie would be willing to help keep it up, even as a volunteer.  Lisa and Jack felt it was important to have a site for people to learn about us, and to be able to find the membership information and volunteer project opportunities.  Jack recommended getting up parts A and B up as soon as we can, then add to it as time allows.  Comment, volunteer opportunities in two places, may need to correct this. Make sure the volunteer activities are visible and accessible.  Kevin, it could also provide connections to local organizations, how to get involved in your own backyard.   It could be a useful service to local organizations to give them visibility, potentially exclusively members.  This gives the groups an impetus to get involved with AK Trails (provides value).  Lisa pointed out that there is a spot for this information.  Membership information should be on the first page, where people can print out an application and send it in.  Getting involved also could include land managers. Lisa pointed out the agency section.  To expand upon information under each topic, as subcommittee can be formed to help Bonnie.  Is this a place for people to come to get information?  This could be a resource; it is a trails teacher.  This would be under the partnership page.  A list of FAQ may be helpful. We also need a contact page, at least three contacts, because it may be difficult to get at least one of these. Who could be listed as a contact on this page? Jack volunteered to be listed, along with James King.  We’ll see if its manageable or not.   Many thanks to Bonnie for working on this. Bonnie will get a test site up for people to look through and get comments back to her.

    3. Executive Director Grants Research-Stacy Chadwick, absent.  Lisa commented that Stacy Chadwick has had no time at all to work on this.  RTCA is trying to see if Stacey can even manage 10-20 hours a week for her detail, but she’s been swamped.  Lisa is still trying to pursue this.  The burden is now back on the board members to help locate grant funding for an executive director.

    4. Alaska Trails Membership Database and Thank you Letters-Lisa Holzapfel.  Lisa is holding these letters until the stickers come out to save on postage.  Lisa would like to give volunteers (e.g. Bonnie and Robert Gransbury, logo designer) free memberships.  Lisa moved to provide Bonnie and Robert, dedicated volunteers with a membership.  Jack seconded it.  No further discussion, no opposition, motion passes.  Robert and Bonnie are added to the membership list.

    5. 18 month Annual/Operating Plans-committee chairs?  None came in last month.  Committee Chairs, please try to submit your 18 month operating plan details to Lisa by the end of March for distribution at the April meeting.

    6. Registration for IMBA-Kevin Keeler.  Lisa said the goal is to raise funds and and encourage membership at the same time.  Alaska Trails will be cosponsoring a trails building school, two weekend events.  The last two weekends in June.  The ARPA Wildlands Section is kicking in $2000 for IMBA’s travel to the state. There can be up to 65 people at each of these workshops.  Kevin would like to set up a nominal registration fee for the workshop to recoup some of the workshop costs.  Kevin suggested approximately $10/person.  They have not decided anything on lunch.  Lisa mentioned that the Foraker Group training suggested that giving a split fee, members come for cheaper.   Nonmembers come for higher rates and gain membership as well.  If we recoup $1000 for ARPA-Wildlands, Alaska Trails will receives the remaining fees.  Kevin said there is a concern with the amount of beforehand administration for the project.  Kevin said that they don’t want to have to bring lunch, but maybe drinks and power bars.  Lisa said that the costs for non-members should be least the membership level.  Bruce, members probably joined for other reasons so you don’t need to balance the costs between existing members and the new members you are trying to reach.  This is a benefit for people coming down the road and it should be a good thing.  Bruce thinks the $15 and $30 sounds reasonable.  Jack moved, assuming one night and day, we charge a sliding fee for members at $15 and $30 for non-members and they become members for that payment.  Bruce will second this motion.  Hearing no objections, the group passed this motion.   Jack also recommends that we put this out the Wildlands group as well.  They may make these folks ARPA members as well; let’s clarify if these payments could be for ARPA and AK Trails.   Is there a way to accomplish registration prior to the event?   We need to make a way for people to pay in advance.  Lisa pointed out you could have a check yes/no box where you could indicate whether or not you want to be a member of either group on your registration form.   The group will table the conversation and talk with Bill Overbough, ARPA Wildlands about this issue, and people could be given a choice when they register.  Kevin will initiate conversations with Bill for the board.

  1. Grapevine News Heard by Board
    1. Good. 

    2. Bad

    3. Lindsay gave an update on the Tom Price issue regarding access to trails in the Caribou Hills Area Homer.  Lisa would like the information for RTCA and not for Alaska Trails.

Adjourning at 10:51 am.  The next meeting date will be April 13th at 9:00 am.