ALASKA TRAILS

Monthly Board Meeting Teleconference

May 11, 2004.  9am-11am

Minutes

 

  1. Call to Order at 9:15AM.
    Present are Lisa Holzapfel, Jack Campbell, Jack Mosby(Chair), Ed Kamienfki, John Haas(Proxy for Karl Kassel), Joe Westfall, Bob Kaufman, Kevin Keeler

 

  1. Changes to Agenda

New Business – Add  5j Pat Owens request to discuss the Bradley Keppler Corridor

                           Add 5k Bethel ATV Teacher Training.

 

  1. Reading and Approval of April 13, 2004 Minutes -Jack Campbell

Joe moved, Lisa seconded, Minutes approved.

 

  1. Reports from Board and Chairs:
    (What’s happened on your committee since the last board meeting)

                                                               i.      President-James King – Not present

 

                                                             ii.      Treasurer-Joe Westfall – Current Balance $5486.  Corporate Filing

   for non-profits with IRS  Form 990 will be filed this week. 

 

                                                            iii.      Secretary-Jack Campbell  Recorder Discussion – Now functioning,

   Extra Cost of $34.08 donated.

 

                                                           iv.      Funding Committee-Bruce Friend – Not present.

 

                                                             v.      Education Committee-Joe Westfall – No Report

 

                                                           vi.      PR/Media Committee-Pat Owens -  Lisa read printing costs.  Color for the PR Media piece alone is over $1,000.  PR Media piece will cost $256 in Black and White; Remittance Envelopes $205.  Joe moved to print the PR media piece in color.  Discussion regarding board’s desire to put 1/5 of budget into on-the-ground projects.  Vote.  Did not pass.  Joe then moved to print the Annual Report in Black and White for $90.  John Haas seconded.  Approved.  Joe then moved to print the PR media piece and Remittance Envelopes in black and white, not to exceed $470.  John seconded.  Approved.

 

                                                          vii.      Volunteer Recruitment Committee-Jack Mosby  No progress, effort continuing.

 

                                                        viii.      Program Committee-Karl Kassel – No report.

 

  1. New Business
    1. Shared Trail Mapping and Website information-Bob Kaufman, Alaska Channel.  Suggested linking trail mapping information to their website.  Concentrating on the more heavily used trails.  Lisa suggested that we form a working group to examine this idea.  We could apply to RTCA for website mapping development for technical assistance.

Bob Kaufman will contact State Parks and other agencies to see if there is any interest.

Kevin Keeler will contact the person in Anchorage who has the new trail website and email the address contact to everyone on the board and Bob.

 

       b.  Website review, alaska-trails.org update-Bonnie Brewer

                                                               i.      Procedures for “Contact Us” Joe Westfall will take care of forwarded mail, etc.  Joe to talk to Bonnie about developing.

                                                             ii.      Membership Form Revisions – Bonnie is working on a revised form to reduce the download time.

                                                            iii.      We need to have better access to updating the website for current events.   Joe Westfall and Jack to contact Bonnie for discussion.

                                                           iv.      The Board asks Lisa to thank Bonnie for her great work to date.  They are pleased with the design and concept!

 

c.   Volunteer Commitment, Bob Gorman (786-6323, ffrfg@uaf.edu) – Bob has offered to volunteer some time to Alaska Trails.  Someone should contact him.  Joe, as Education Committee chair will talk with Bob.  Bob may also be interested in getting involved in trail info on the website.

 

d.       IMBA Trail Care Crew Schools update-Kevin Keeler  Coast Magazine has offered to put information in their magazine.  Joe moved, John seconded.  Approved placement of the PR Media Piece (registration form), IMBA Training Flyer, and the IMBA Registration Form in the magazine.  Kevin will be meeting with the Alaska Ski Club to get board approval for an IMBA presentation at Alpenglow Ski Area on June 24.  Kevin asked if the board was willing to help pay for cleaning the facility in lieu of user fees, approximately $1-200.  The board asked Kevin to bring back the exact figures to the next meeting for more discussion and possible approval.

 

e.   Iditarod Summer Trail Work Project-Alison Rein/Bruce Friend - No Report

 

f.    Voice Mail Box Discussion-Joe Westfall The best deal is $116 for 16 months.  We need this for the CFC.   No need at this time, no motion to approve now.

 

g.   CFC Application Process-Jack Mosby  We were accepted in Juneau.  Main reason for denial in SC and Northern region was that Alaska Trails needs an executive director with a staff and office (dedicated phone).  Jack will find out exactly why we were rejected and report back to the board.

h.  Non-profit Postage-Jack Mosby   Expensive.  $6-700/year.  Currently do not have the funds to handle this.   Lisa mentioned that we can do bulk mailing through printing companies as part of a print job at a cheaper rate.

 

i.         Any other Alaska Trail or National Trails Day project updates?  WOMBATS is working on the Black Bear Trail at Campbell Tract, RTCA and Alaska Trails supported in Anchorage.  BLM asked if Alaska Trails could help buy pizza for the program.  Discussion, BLM provided Alaska Trails with $2,500 this year and $600 last year.  Joe moved and John seconded to provide $100 to BLM.  Approved by the board.

j.        Keppler Bradley Utility Corridor Project Discussion –Alaska Trails cannot directly lobby a lawmaking body; cannot lobby to change rules or regulations.  We should take a leading role to facilitate for trails and help put trails at a higher profile.  Someone should go to the meetings and be sure the trail interests are represented.  Pat Owens should ask to have Alaska Trails put on the project mailing/emailing list.  Anyone can participate on their own time to represent their own interests.  If there’s an opportunity for public comment, the board can submit a letter if approved by the board.  We need to coordinate with other organizations to work with trail users.

 

k.      Bethel ATV Train the Teacher Program – US Fish & Wildlife Service is developing an education program for teachers in the Yukon Delta region to help teach about the impacts of ATV trail use in wetlands and to emphasize trail riding safety.   This is an opportunity for Alaska Trails to get involved in the education outreach process.  Joe to contact Randy Goodwin at BLM to pursue this.  Kevin to provide a the draft RTCA/UAF Coopt Extension Service curriculum and Lisa to forward to Bethel.  This could be a pilot for a statewide program and possible Alaska Trails, UAF, USFWS, BLM, Bethel community wide project for next year.  Lester Lightfoot could come to life in an educational curriculum.

 

l.         Lester Lightfoot – Stacy Studebaker has nearly reached an out-of-court settlement.   Stacy has been asked to allow Tread Lightly to be able to trademark their squirrel.  Once settled, Lester will be free to be our educational mascot.

 

m.     Patches, Stickers, and Banners -  BLM is paying $500, which will cover the patches and stickers.  John moved to approve Alaska Trails expense up to $500 for the 3 banners, plus shipping.  Lisa seconded.  Approved by the board.


6.  Grapevine News Heard by Board-


      a. Good -  BLM has issued a Eastern Alaska Management Plan.  Jack Campbell to    
          review this plan. 


      b. Bad – Nothing Meeting adjourned at 11:15AM

 

Respectfully  submitted,


Jack Campbell, Secretary

 

 




 


7.  Action Items:

Joe Westfall to file IRS form 990 next week.

Bob Kaufman contact State Parks and other agencies to see if there is any interest in a joint agency trail website/source

Kevin Keeler will contact the person in Anchorage who has the trail website, pass it to Lisa for board distribution.

Kevin Keeler will forward the IMBA flyer and registration form to Lisa for board distribution. 

Lisa to contact Pat Owens about our participation in the Kepler Bradley lakes power line project.

Lisa will provide Bob Kaufman with Pete Panarese, Bill Overbaugh and Marty Marshall contact information.

Joe Westfall will contact Bonnie for discussion on providing Joe and Jack with access to load information onto the website.

Lisa and Joe Westfall will contact Bob Gorman regarding possible education committee volunteer work and the Bethel ATV teacher training.

Jack Mosby to find out exactly why we were rejected by CFC in SC and Northern regions.

Joe Westfall to contact Randy Goodwin re Bethel ATV teacher training.

Jack Campbell to review BLM plan.