Sept 2023 Last Meeting Minute - Houston Canoe Club

Last Meeting Minutes

by Alice Nissen

Houston Canoe Club

Board Meeting Minutes

August 2, 2023

Recorder: Alice Nissen

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. via Zoom. Officers in attendance were Brent Hwang, Commodore; Greg Fan, Vice Commodore; Tim Brooking, Boatswain; Bob Nager, Purser; Bruce Bodson, Fleet Captain; Christy Long, Newsletter Editor; Alice Nissen, Recorder. Tom Douglas, Conservation Chairman, and Natalie Wiest, Ex-officio, were also in attendance. The last board meeting minutes were approved with one correction.

Tim gave the boatswain report and stated we gained four new members in July, 12 renewing members, for a total membership of 148. Facebook has 953 members. Christy stated she removed a Facebook member who advertised.

Bob gave the purser report and stated income as of July 31 was $1700, expenses $1655, for a balance of $7700. He renewed our software license and website. Christy stated the catering bill for the July picnic was $230 and $30 snacks. She stated the turnout of 17 attendees was very good for such a sweltering hot day.

Christy stated that the Newsletter is going well. She received lots of reports this month.

Bruce stated we had 11 events in July: seven were in Arkansas and a few long river trips. Upcoming trips include Buffalo Bayou, Neches River Race, a week in San Marcos Parks and Wildlife Mussel Education School, Colorado River, San Marcos River campout and paddle, and Brazos River. Missouri River 340 race was cancelled due to debris.

Greg gave the vice commodore report and stated that Bruce Bodson will talk about the Brazos River at our next meeting and Joe Coker will talk about alligators and snakes in September. He stated we are in good shape for the year. Christy suggested that Pharr Smith could speak about a recent whitewater trip.

Tom reviewed the topics he will discuss at the next general meeting. He wrote a letter for the Galveston Bay Estuary Program in support of their obtaining a grant; Brent signed it, and the board unanimously approved sending it.

Brent would like HCC to schedule more trips: aim for 1-2 per month. We need more leaders. A list of people who have led trips would be helpful. Christy stated the website has forms on how to coordinate trips. Brent suggested that we need to look at water gage, temperature, wind speed, condition of launch sites before trips. Tom suggested leaders scout trips and have a float plan. Brent suggested that we find more trip leaders (via email?) and include training as co-leaders.

Bob stated we need to create a nominating committee for the two positions up for election: boatswain and purser. Slate should be prepared by October. Bob will lead the committee and include two others who are not on the board.

Brent asked about the anniversary celebration next year. Christy stated she has not put anything together yet. She stated the first step will be to request, via email, 20 people to be on the committee. Brent asked that we inform attendees at the next general meeting about the anniversary party and that Bob share information about the election nominating committee. Brent will speak about the opportunity for trip leader training.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45.

Houston Canoe Club

General Meeting
August 9, 2023

The meeting at Bayland Community Center was called to order at 7:05. Officers in attendance were Brent Hwang, Commodore; Greg Fan, Vice Commodore; Bob Naeger, Purser; Bruce Bodson, Fleet Captain; Christy Long, Newsletter Editor; Alice Nissen, Recorder; Natalie Wiest, Ex-officio. Tom Douglas, Conservation Chairman, attended via Zoom. Sixteen attendees in person and seven via Zoom. Last month’s general meeting minutes were approved.

Bob gave the purser report and stated as of the end of July income was $1700 and expenses were $1655 ($590 insurance, $250 events, $400 website, and $200 post office box), for a balance of $7700. He stated we are very stable financially.

Boatswain reported four new members in July, 12 renewing members, for a total membership of 148. Facebook has 953 members. New attending members were introduced.

Bob talked about the purser and boatswain positions that are coming up for election in November. He is heading a nominating committee which includes Tyrone White and Constantin Platon.

Christy stated the newsletter is going well and thanked contributors.

Brent stated we need more trip leaders and will be asking trip leaders to assign co-trip leaders for training on how to lead. Club members who log in on our website can access “How to Coordinate a Trip.”

Tom gave the conservation report and stated that the Watershed Planning Works had a webinar on July 20, which can be streamed. The board approved sending a letter of support for a grant for the conservation project on Clear Creek. Next meeting for the East Fork San Jacinto River Watershed Partnership, August 30. Bayou Preservation annual symposium, September 20 and 21 via Zoom. Field trip on September 19 along Sims Bayou. October 7, “Walk for the Wild” at Champion Lake. October 7, Greens Bayou Regatta. October 31, Bacteria Implementation Group. For detailed information on these events, see Tom’s Conservation Forum and his conservation report in the newsletter.

Bruce gave the fleet captain’s report. Since the last meeting there have been 11 events with 28 participants, for a total of 448 miles year-to-date. Some upcoming trips are the Ouachita River, the Colorado River, the San Marcos River Camp and Paddle and the Brazos River, Sugar Land to FM 1482. For detailed information, see Bruce’s Fleet Captain report in the August newsletter.

Bruce Bodson is our speaker tonight. Bruce is an environmental attorney, teacher, founder and leader of the Lower Brazos River Watch, and long-time member of HCC. He has been kayaking on the Brazos for 30 years. The Brazos is the longest river in Texas. The source of the river is Double Mountain Fork in New Mexico and is 1280 miles long. The Spanish referred to the river as “Rio de los Brazos de Dios.” Roughly 425 miles of the river is without a dam from Waco to the Gulf. The riffles in the river are formed by limestone sills. There are 85 species of fish, 25 species of mussels at one time and presently 15. Wildlife can be seen along the river and includes river otters, hognose snakes, turtles, bald eagles, shore birds, and feral hogs. One of the earliest settlements along the river was established in 1822. The lower Brazos is essentially a wilderness corridor because launch sites and landings are between 15 to 40 miles apart. There are three state parks along the river. There are many problems facing the Brazos: abandoned pipelines, abandoned wells, poorly maintained pipelines, illegal dumping, dead cows, and poor sediment control. Bruce’s informative presentation was accompanied by beautiful slides. Many thanks to Bruce for leading so many trips on this beautiful and historical river and for a great presentation.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

Recorder, Alice Nissen