Commodore Natalie Wiest called the meeting to order. Officers present were Ms. Wiest, Vice Commodore Christy Long, Fleet Captain Bruce Bodson, Purser Kent Walters, Boatswain Alice Nissen, and Recorder Frank Ohrt. Also present was Conservation Chair Tom Douglas.
Ms. Wiest announced that she had posted a note on the club Paddle Forum requesting a guide for a trip down the length of the Rio Grande. She then announced that Ms. Long would be the new Webmaster, until someone else might volunteer, and asked that we all pitch in to help her as much as possible.
She then asked for a Safety Minute for the next meeting. Mr. Ohrt suggested that he might mention eye protection on the river, and recommend the use of sunglasses, unless anyone else had a better topic. No one did, so he won by default.
Ms. Wiest suggested that we continue to meet on Zoom for the foreseeable future. Mr. Ohrt said that he would like to continue having board meetings on Zoom, but would prefer to have general club meetings in person as soon as possible.
Ms. Long announced that she had speakers for the March and April meetings, but nothing yet for May. She said that she was trying to reach the Wildlife Center of Texas for a speaker on their wildlife rehabilitation efforts. Mr. Douglas said he would get her the phone number for the director. Mr. Walters mentioned that he had a contact in the USGS who might give a talk on the details of their river level monitoring and reporting. Mr. Ohrt noted that American Whitewater had real-time river level and “paddlability” information on their website.
Ms. Long then noted that members had to register for the upcoming meeting from the website in order to get an invitation and a Zoom link. She and Ms. Wiest will split the duties of running the meeting and dealing with the Zoom details.
Mr. Bodson reported that there wasn’t much to report concerning club paddling trips, due to the recent weather. He mentioned the recent crab trap clean-up in Christmas Bay, noting that most of the dead fish he observed were exotic species, and that there were a few dead water birds. Mr. Ohrt mentioned the previous weekend’s San Marcos River clean-up. Mr. Bodson then mentioned the Jesse Jones Nature Festive coming Saturday, and Mr. Douglas suggested that the park director might be willing to give a talk on the history of the park, etc.
Ms. Nissen announced one new member, Leslie Taylor, who was also a HASK member. She then mentioned that she knew of an excellent photographer who specialized in photos of the Everglades, and who might give a presentation at a future club meeting.
Mr. Walters reported that the club’s operating fund had hit a new high, due to a virus-related reduction in expenses. (Maybe we can have catered food at the next club picnic!)
Mr. Douglas reported that the Cypress Creek Watershed partnership was preparing its final water quality protection plan for that watershed, and that the Spring Creek Watershed Partnership was preparing the first draft of its plan. He then noted that the Sierra Club meeting, April 8, would have a presentation on Harris County’s paddle trails.
Ms. Wiest asked if there was any further business and, being answered with silence, she adjourned the meeting.