HOUSTON CANOE CLUB GENERAL MEETING
November 9th, 2011
Bayland Park Community Center
Recorder: John Ohrt

Commodore Ken McDowell called the meeting to order, welcomed everyone, and introduced the officers.

Boatswain Honey Leveen introduced and welcomed guests and new members. She needs volunteers to help her with the club Holiday party on December 17th.

Fraser Baker gave a Safety Minute with a video of John and Anne Olden demonstrating tandem whitewater canoe moves on the Upper Guadalupe.

Fleet Captain Paul Woodcock gave the trip report. Past trips included Double Bayou, a fishing trip to Armand Bayou, a report from Tim Garber on the International Dragon Boat Festival and the first class booth manned by HCC volunteers - the HCC would need 25 members to have its own dragon boat team, Harmon Everett reported on the Corpus Christi paddlefest which had about 100 people attend, and Robert Langley gave a report on the week long trip to the Great Unknown section of the Rio Grande.

Upcoming trips include the Dickinson Festival of Lights on December 3rd, a Clear Creek paddle with the Sierra Club, the Holiday Party on December 17th and a Lake Charlotte paddle.

The meeting was turned over to John Bartos who announced the death of Bob Arthur. Bob, who joined the club in the early 1980's, had served as club Commodore and had come up with the idea which became the Southwest Canoe Rendezvous which was held for thirteen years. Bob had also served on the national board of the American Canoe Association, the Texas Rivers Advisory Board, and the board of the Bayou Preservation Association. He instigated the creation of the Buffalo Bayou paddle trail which is the longest TPWD paddle trail in Texas.

John Bartos made a motion that the HCC cooperate with the Bayou Preservation Association in dedicating the boat launch at Briar Bend Park on Buffalo Bayou to Bob Arthur, and placing a memorial to him at that site. The HCC would allocate up to $500.00 for the project. The motion was seconded and it passed with no negative votes.

Recorder John Ohrt read the minutes of the last general meeting. A motion was made and seconded to accept them as read. The motion passed.

Purser Harmon Everett gave the financial report.

Boatswain Honey Leveen reported that there are 144 members with 2 new members joining at the meeting

Newsletter Editor John Rich asks that if you have any photos or rememberances of Bob Arthur to send them to him for an article in Bob’s memory.

The Holiday Party will be on December 17th from about 7pm to 9pm at the Citizens Environmental Coalition building located at 6420 Richmond and Eastside - the same location of the last few years. The club will purchase some meat, but please bring a side dish and whatever you wish to drink.

Ken KcDowell turned the meeting over to John Bartos to hold the annual election.. The proposed slate of officers are:

There were no nominations from the floor.

Ann Derby made a motion to accept the officers by acclamation. It was seconded and passed unanimously.

Note: There is no general meeting at Bayland in December; the Christmas party takes its place. Watch the newsletter and web site for details.

Joe Coker introduced the guest speaker: Jill Bouillon of the Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition. She gave an interesting power point on the ambitious plans for Greens Bayou including boat launching sites.

The meeting was adjourned.

Recorder, John Ohrt