The Houston Canoe Club
is a Paddlesports Risk Management Club Sign the Waiver HCC
Due to meeting cancellation, there are no General Meeting minutes for June.
The HCC board of officers met by Zoom. Officers present were Commodore Natalie Wiest, Vice Commodore Christy Long, Fleet Captain Bruce Bodson, Purser Kent Walters, Newsletter Editor John Rich, and Recorder Frank Ohrt. Also present were Sergeant-at-Arms Ann Derby and Conservation Chair Tom Douglas. Ms. Wiest called the meeting to order. Mr. Walters said he would reimburse Mr. Ohrt for the P.O. box rent for the coming year. Mr. Rich said that the July newsletter was proceeding well. Ms. Wiest asked that the last meeting’s minutes be approved as written, and they were. Mr. Douglas spoke about how rangers of the Wallisville Lake project had asked HCC members for input on paddling policy for Lake Charlotte. He then reported on a plan to improve the water quality of Spring Creek, which has unacceptable levels of bacterial content. He also said that he made a scouting trip on the creek in April with Precinct 4 personnel. Ms. Derby reported that all was fine with the audio-visual equipment. Ms. Long announced that Celeste Silling, of the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, would speak at the July 8 general meeting, by Zoom, on the topic of finding birds by watercraft. She added that the August presentation would be club members talking about past paddling trips. Mr. Walters gave the usual Purser’s report. Either the club is in fine shape, or he’s lying. Mr. Bodson gave the Fleet Captain’s report. There have been eight club trips so far this year, and one member is already over 100 miles. There are two who are close, and several with 60 miles or so. Ms. Wiest asked about whether participants in “official” club paddles should be made to sign the new Covid-19 waivers, and Mr. Ohrt asked if they should be required to wear masks until on the water. Mr. Bodson agreed with both questions. Ms. Long asked who would keep them, and Mr. Walters said the trip leaders would, and then mail them to him, like the regular ACA liability waivers. It was generally agreed that the club should begin to offer official club trips under the new conditions. Ms. Wiest asked whether the club should meet by Zoom in August. In the absence of sufficient information, it was agreed to postpone the decision. She then asked if there was anything else to discuss. No one had anything to add, and she adjourned the meeting. Commodore Natalie Wiest Boatswain Bruce Bodson Zoom meeting screen snapshots