The Houston Canoe Club
is a Paddlesports Risk Management Club Sign the Waiver HCC
Commodore Natalie Wiest called the meeting to order, and introduced the officers present. They were Vice Commodore Christy Long, Boatswain Alice Nissen, Newsletter Editor John Rich, Fleet Captain Bruce Bodson, Purser Kent Walters, and Recorder Frank Ohrt. Also present were Webmaster Emeritus Harmon Everett and Conservation Chair Tom Douglas. Sergeant-at-Arms Ann Derby was at home, nursing a dislocated finger and a pair of world-class shiners. Mr. Walters gave the Purser’s report. We’re fine, and reasonably within our budget. Mr. Ohrt gave the Safety Minute, on how to properly adjust your PFD. Mr. Walters helped by sneaking up behind him, yanking up on his PFD straps to show if it was well adjusted, and scaring the pooty out of Mr. Ohrt. Mr. Bodson gave the Fleet Captain’s report. Recent trips and trip leaders were: Feb. 16: Marshall Lake, Kent Walters; Feb. 22: Champions Lake, Natalie Wiest; March 7: Buffalo Bayou Regatta safety boat brigade, Kent Walters. There have been 8 trips so far in 2020, with a total of 136.5 miles paddled. Kent on finances Frank on PFD's Bruce on trip reports Upcoming trips are: March 14-21: Pecos River, Christy Long; March 15: Brazos River (Miles and Mussels #21), Bruce Bodson; April 14-19: Buffalo River, AR, Kent Walters. Ms. Nissen gave the Boatswain’s report. We have four new members: Nancy Clark, Helena Finley, Ingrid Kooda, and Gary Tupa. xxx Tom Douglas Mr. Douglas gave the Conservation report. He asked Mr. Ohrt to speak about two bills before Congress that directly affect paddle sports and National Park funding. Mr. Douglas announced public comment sessions on planning for the future of Cypress Creek. Mr. Ohrt and Ms. Long announced two local sites for participation in the annual Trash Bash; Kuhlman Gully and Armand Bayou. Patti Carothers announced that Tom Goynes was retiring from the the presidency of the TRPA. What’s this world coming to? Ms. Long introduced the evening’s speaker, our own Natalie Wiest, who gave a presentation, with photos, on her adventures kayaking the Grand Canyon in 1974 and 2015. Several showed herself in very big water, using what she described as “some very bad language”. Christy introduces Natalie presents After her talk, Ms. Wiest adjourned the meeting.
Commodore Natalie Wiest called the meeting to order. Present were Ms. Wiest, Fleet Captain Christy Long, Boatswain Alice Nissen, Newsletter Editor John Rich, and Recorder Frank Ohrt. Purser Kent Walters attended by phone. Ms. Wiest asked if there were any topics to discuss that were not in the meeting agenda. Ms. Long stated that she had taken the club computer home, and that it seemed to be working fine with all formats she tried on it. She added that presentations had been arranged through July. Ms. Wiest asked if we thought a club picnic in June was a good idea. Most felt that it was not. Ms. Long asked someone to find a site for the pre-meeting dinner for the next week’s meeting, and Mr. Ohrt said he would. Ms. Nissen said that she would set up a pop-up canopy and represent HCC at the Buffalo Bayou Regatta take-out, and asked for others to join her. There was discussion about whether HCC had a “code of ethics", or needed one, as a member had referred to such a code on his website. Mr. Ohrt volunteered to write one up, and keep it brief. Ms. Wiest said that Sergeant-at-Arms Ann Derby would report on whether we need a new projector, for perhaps as much as $400.00. It was agreed that we need one, and should buy one. Mr. Walters and Ms. Wiest discussed changing the Commodore’s name on our bank account to reflect that Ms. Wiest had succeeded Bob Naeger in that position, and to get her listed as signatory on the account’s debit card. Ms. Wiest asked if there should be a club picnic in the fall. All agreed that we should. She then asked what we could do to upgrade the club website. Mr. Ohrt suggested that a few officers, including Ms. Derby, could meet with a website designer and get it done. There was discussion about how to find an affordable designer, or whether we should use Club Express to do it. Ms. Nissen said that she would not be at the April general meeting, and Ms. Long offered to give the Boatswain’s report then. (Little did they know!) Ms. Wiest announced that Tom Douglas had agreed to serve as Conservation Chair for the coming year. Good for you, Tom. Ms. Wiest and Mr. Walters discussed the budget for 2020, and the 2019 budget versus the timing of various incomes and expenses. This Recorder didn’t follow it all, but they figured it out, and all is well. Or so they claim. Ms. Wiest asked if there was any other business. There was silence, and the meeting was adjourned.