Houston Canoe Club

Board Meeting Minutes

March 4, 2026

Officers in attendance were Natalie Wiest, Commodore; Christy Long, Vice Commodore and Website Master; Tyrone White, Boatswain; Harmon Everett, Newsletter Editor; Bruce Bodson, Fleet Captain; Tracy Caldwell Becker, Purser; Mike Grove, Recorder (came into the Zoom meeting about 5 minutes late); and Tom Douglas, Conservation Chairman  

No Officers were absent.

Natalie Wiest called the Zoom meeting to order at 7:03 pm.

• With Mike Grove’s initial absence from the meeting, Natalie began by presenting for Board approval the February Board Meeting Minutes, which were posted in the March Newsletter. All present approved the Minutes and Mike was able to log in to the Zoom meeting as they were approved.
• Natalie next asked the other officers to give their reports.

Bruce Bodson made his Fleet Captain’s report:

• Bruce reported that he has updated the milage on everything, and that approximately 31.8 miles were added during February. He said that mileage for the San Marcos River cleanup was still to be determined. Christy provided details regarding plans for the HCC members who are participating in the San Marcos Reiver cleanup, including details regarding the campsite.

Tyrone White next made his Boatswains report:

• Tyrone reported that there were no new members added during February, but that there were 8 renewing members, resulting in 120 current active members. There are also 1071 Facebook followers.
• Tyrone also reported that due to a pre-existing commitment during the Buffalo Bayou Regatta on March 21^st, he would be unable to man a booth representing HCC at the Regatta. He is going to solicit volunteers to do so, and if anyone is able to volunteer, he will provide the equipment – tent, brochures, tablecloth, etc. – for the HCC setup at the Regatta.

Tracy Caldwell Becker next gave her Purser’s report.

• The detailed financial report was posted on the Zoom screen for review by the Board. Tracy reviewed the details with the Board and explained timing issues of some annual expenditures. She noted that there were no atypical expenditures, and that the club’s financial status is fine.

Christy Long gave her Vice Commodore’s Report:

• At the beginning of Christy’s report, Natalie said that she had received a call from Bayland Community Center notifying her that they need to change the assigned room for the Club’s general membership meeting in April from rooms 6,7, and 8 to instead be in the Art Room. Christy said that she would make the necessary changes to what had previously been reported on the Website. Natalie said that she would double check to ensure that the meeting room move is for April and not March, and that she would get back to Christy.
• Christy next reported that she has been looking for appropriate giveaway items on behalf of HCC. To date she has found the following items: 20 cups with the HCC logo to be used as gifts for Trip Coordinators, possibly for speakers, and some that might be used by Christy or Tyrone for other appropriate recipients; writing pens that have “Houston Canoe Club” in lights up on the side, which light up when a button is pushed, to perhaps be used by Tyrone as a giveaway to appropriate folks; and T-Shirts from Logo Express to be used as recognition gifts for Club 100 milers. The plan is to present those shirts in April, but if they are delivered early, they can be presented earlier than April. All present approved that Christy will submit receipts for reimbursement of the cost of those giveaway items.
• Christy next reported that for the Club’s general membership meeting in May she plans to have a gear exchange or sale and to have trays of vegetables and fruits for refreshments, and to have the meeting be a social event.

Harmon Everett next gave his Newsletter Editor report:

• The March Newsletter included a report about a group leader, who was in the sweep boat, drowning in the Grand Canyon after members of the group successfully passed through some rapids, which he then followed on the same line, but drowned nevertheless after getting caught in a hole under a rock. The point of the report was that critical accidents can happen to experienced people, so you always need to stay sharp and alert.
• The Newsletter also included an additional article from Ken Anderson about paddling in the northwest.
• Harmon mentioned that he has been remiss in updating the trip report resources on the HCC Website due to challenges he has been encountering with the Club Express software. Christy and Harmon then talked through some tips that Christy can provide to avoid some of the difficulties. Others agreed to provide their trip report input to Harmon in pdf format, which has been easier for Harmon to post. But Harmon also agreed that Word documents will continue to work for him, provided that they don’t include complicated background graphics and multiple pictures on a page.
• Harmon also noted that Club Express has sent him a note saying that they are changing a lot of their formatting and software, and that on March 18^th there will be a webinar by Club Express to train people regarding the changes.

Christy Long gave her report as Webmaster:

• On the Website, when a trip is announced on the Event Calendar, you are now able to attach your event album, and you are also going to be able to attached the trip report itself.

Tom Douglas next gave his Conservation Chairman report:

• Tom posted his report on the Zoom screen. He covered several upcoming events, including the Texas Plastic Pollution Symposium at Texas A&M Galveston and March 25; the Texas General Land Office Annual Coastal Roundup on the East end of Galveston on April 18; Earth Day at Discovery Green on April 25; and 3 upcoming river cleanups. Tom mentioned that many organizations hold events as part of the Earth Day activities, and Tyrone said that he would look at the date and see whether he might be available or whether there might be volunteers who would be able to work a tent for the Club.

Old and New Business.

• There being no more old or new business, upon motion made, seconded, and carried by vote of the Board, Natalie adjourned the meeting at 7:42 PM.

Recorder,

Mike Grove

Houston Canoe Club

Minutes of General Membership Meeting

March 11, 2026

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm by Commodore, Natalie Wiest, and Zoom access was granted to members who chose to meet virtually.

Officers in attendance: Natalie Wiest, Commodore; Christy Long, Vice Commodore and Website Master; Tracy Caldwell Becker, Purser; Tyrone White, Boatswain; Harmon Everett, Newsletter Editor (via Zoom); Bruce Bodson, Fleet Captain; Mike Grove, Recorder; and Tom Douglas, Conservation Chairman 

Meeting attendance: 16 members present in person, and 6 members present via Zoom.

Commodore’s Report: Natalie welcomed everyone to the meeting. She next introduced each Club Officer and special Committee Chairperson, each of whom identified themselves to those in attendance. Natalie then called on the Club’s officers to give their respective reports.

Recorder’s Report: Mike noted that the draft minutes of the Club’s February 11, 2026, general membership meeting have been posted for members’ review in the March Newsletter. He then asked for a motion to approve those minutes. A motion for approval of the minutes was made and seconded, and the motion was carried by vote of those in attendance.

Fleet Captain Report:

• Bruce first reported regarding Club statistics. The Club has had 4 events since the last monthly meeting, accounting for 31.8 available paddling miles. That results in a total of 16 events so far during 2026. Through January there had been 28 member participants, but as of the date of this meeting, we have now had 37 member participants, mostly as a result of the San Marcos River Cleanup and the Sheldon Lake trip led by Christy Long. Bruce also noted that we have had 5 non-member participants in one or more trips. If someone had participated in every club event available so far this year, they could have accumulated 120.84 paddling miles.
• Bruce then reported that he has led 6 trips, Kent Walters and Christy have each led 4 trips, and Joe Coker and Natalie have each led 1 trip.
• Bruce provided details regarding the 16.95 mile trip he led on the Colorado River. At Bruce’s request: Kent provided details regarding the trip that he led on Gray Lake in Arkansas, Christy provided details of the trip that she led on Sheldon Lake as well as details of the group that she led on the San Marcos River Cleanup, Natalie provided details of the group that she paddled with upstream of Christy’s group on the San Marcos River Cleanup, and Tom provided details of the group led by Susan Eda over a separate section of the San Marcos River.
• Bruce then made announcements regarding the upcoming 54^th Annual Buffalo Bayou Regatta, which is scheduled for March 21^st. He noted that there will be a few Club members doing sweep and safety duties, and that he has not yet heard of any Club members who have registered to participate in the Regatta.
• Bruce then asked Kent to report on the upcoming Buffalo River trip in Arkansas. Kent reported that March 22 would be a travel day, paddlers would get on the water on March 23^rd and would get out on the 27^th or 28^th. He reported that the group would cover 50-60 miles and go either from Ponca to Wollum or from Tyler Bend to Rush Landing and then come back and do a part of the Upper Buffalo. Kent said that it was too early to have a reliable weather report, but that leading up to the start of the trip it looks like weather will be in the high 80s.
• Bruce then asked Tom to report on the upcoming Armand Bayou Trash Bash on March 28^th. Tom reported that members can sign up on the Club calendar to participate in the Trash Bash, and that on the day of the event participants would meet up at 8 am and finish in time to join the whole Trash Bash cleanup group for lunch.
• Bruce then asked Christy to report on her upcoming “first of the month paddle.” Christy reported that this trip would occur on April 1^st at Armand Bayou, and that the group would go upstream after put-in. She said that she is hoping that the group will see birds and alligators (to which Joe chimed in and said “Oh, you will indeed!).
• Bruce said he is not addressing any trips beyond April 1^st at this meeting, but he did want to remind the Club that on April 25^th, which is the Saturday after Earth Day, Christmas Bay Foundation, Brazoria County Parks, and TPWD are going to go out and restore all the signage on the 19.1-mile Christmas Bay Paddling Trail. He said that if anyone is looking for something to do, where they won’t have to paddle a boat, the organizers are going to take big boats out with water pumps so they can jet new PVC to remount new signs. He said that if anyone wants to sign up, they should let him know, because he is acting as a go-between with Christmas Base Foundation and EWD and A&M.

Boatswain’s Report: Tyrone reported that during February 2026, no new Club members were added, 8 members renewed, and as of the end of February there were 120 active members. He reported that there are also 1067 Facebook followers. Tyrone also reported that he is not available to man a Club tent at the upcoming Buffalo Bayou Regatta, but that if anyone is willing to volunteer to work the Club tent, he would ensure that we would register with the Regatta management to have a tent at the event, and he would provide the Club tent, table, tablecloth and brochures to the volunteers who agree to work the tent.

Purser’s Report: Tracy presented cash flow and balance reports stating the financial condition of the Club, which is sound. In accordance with the Club’s Constitution and Bylaws, Tracy also presented a written, detailed and complete annual financial statement of all Club activities for the prior calendar year and made copies of that report available for review by all members in attendance.

Newsletter Editor’s Report: Harmon, who attended by Zoom, reported that the March Newsletter came out fairly well this month. He noted the following items:

• As a Safety Minute for this meeting, Harmon noted that in the March Newsletter he included a discussion about paddling alone. He referenced an article in Paddling Magazine in which the author, who is also a paddling instructor, had spoken to several other experts who always caution people to never paddle alone. Yet at the same time, the author admitted that she often paddles alone. For those who insist on ignoring the caution to “never paddle alone,” Harmon advised that you must always tell people where you are going and when, what time they should expect you back, and how they can contact you, and then still think twice about whether you are going to go alone.
• The Newsletter also included a report about a group leader, who was in the sweep boat, having drowned in the Grand Canyon after members of the group successfully passed through some rapids, which he then followed on the same line, but drowned nevertheless after getting caught in a hole under a rock. The point of the report was that critical accidents can happen to even very experienced people, so you always need to stay sharp and alert.
• Harmon also included as a part of his Safety Minute that perhaps the most dangerous part of any paddle trip is not on the water, but driving to the launch site, driving between the launch site and the takeout for shuttles, and driving home from the takeout at the end of the day. Harmon recommended that while we are on the road thinking about the paddling trip we are going on or that we just completed, we should remember to keep our minds on the road and not be distracted.

Conservation Chairman Report:

• Tom gave a Power Point presentation of his March Conservation Report, which covered 5 different conservation-oriented activities occurring over approximately the next 3 months, including: Texas Plastic Pollution Symposium – Mar 25; Free Admission to all High Island Sanctuaries – April 4; Texas Coastal Roundup – Apr 18; Earth Day at Discovery Green – Apr 25; Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day – May 15. Tom’s report also included 2 upcoming river cleanups: the Trash Bash at Armand Bayou – Mar 28; and the Greens Bayou Cleanup – a date to be determined in May. The report also included reference to an article by Susie Hairston entitled Dog Poop Threatens the Health of Local Waterways, Wildlife, and Us.
• Tom’s complete Conservation Report can be reviewed in the Club’s March WaterLine newsletter at the following link:

https://thcc.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=496051&module_id=771173

Vice Commodore’s Report: Christy introduced the Club’s principal speaker for the month, “a man who needs no introduction,” our own Joe Coker, speaking on “Alligators – Why Bite?!”

Principal Speaker: Joe began his presentation by displaying on the projection screen and the Zoom screen a picture he took of a huge, 14 foot (+ or -) bull alligator, poised on the bank and pointed at Joe’s boat. Joe said that this alligator was encountered just a few days earlier on Armand Bayou. Joe previewed that he would be talking more about this gator and showing more pictures, but that the topic of his presentation is “why do alligators bite?”

Joe first set the stage for when he encountered this gator. It was right at the end of alligator brumation, which is a reptilian parallel to hibernation. Joe explained that although hibernation and brumation both involve a significant reduction in metabolism, body temperature, and activity, brumation differs because the gators remain semi-active and do not fall into a deep, uninterrupted sleep. Instead, during brumation the gators might sleep a bit, get up, walk around a bit, and go back to bed, but when brumation is over (as it is now) the gators fully wake up, come out of their dens and burrows, start to get warm as the temperature rises above the magic number of 70 degrees, and the gators are then in their transition period when they are a little bit edgy, they’re hungry, and courtship in advance of mating season will soon be starting.

Joe referred to the post-brumation date of March 3^rd, which was the one-year anniversary of a tragic event at Lake Kissimmee, when a lot of tourists were moving up a channel in fast boats, sea kayaks, etc., and moving at a fairly good clip. They came upon a pod of two or three female gators that were just sunning themselves, but those in the kayak flotilla failed to see the gators and totally spooked them when they got close. The gators “went ballistic” and began trying to bite anything in sight and anything moving, and one of the gators bit a woman on her right elbow, requiring numerous surgeries and lots of physical therapy. Joe reported that the lady has still not regained the full range of movement in her arm, but she is otherwise okay. Joe gave other examples, some of which involved club members, in which alligators were also encountered at about this post-brumation time of year, in situations where the gators were hard to see upon approaching them, resulting in the gators being spooked and reacting with wild biting efforts on instinct. Joe emphasized that in order to be safe you really have to be careful that you watch the water, so that you don’t inadvertently come upon any alligators that are almost totally submerged or otherwise difficult to see, resulting in both you and the alligators being mutually surprised. Joe emphasized several times: “watch out . . . and look closely . . .!”

Joe spent time describing the differences in behavior and appearance between male gators and females. The females are smaller, 6 feet or so, and never much bigger than 7-8 feet, and they are sociable among one another but also quite aggressive when defending a nest or when surprised. The males can get to 12,13,14, or 15 feet. The males are much heavier, some going 1000 lbs., and they are much more jowly. They are also very solitary and can be extremely aggressive when approached too closely, such as when encountering them close to reeds or shorelines where they are laying hidden, or when cutting corners too sharply or getting too close to the shallows. Joe further mentioned that from now and continuing all through the mating season all the way to October and November, the gators will be amped with hormones preparing them for the mating cycle. And then when the baby gators are born, the female gators become super protective, while the predatory instinct of the male gators “goes through the roof,” because they will eat the baby gators. Joe summarized that gators will bite due to human confrontational issues, surprise contacts, accidental encounters, traffic issues, and perceived threat issues. As Joe said, “the main thing is just to keep your eyes on the water.”

Joe wrapped up his presentation by showing pictures of alligators in positions where they might have been hard to see in advance, resulting in the potential for chance or surprise encounters, triggering aggression, which could be avoided by being watchful and attentive regarding where you are going. He reminded us that gators, especially the male alligators in general and females around their nests, are territorial, and they will guard their territory. He also showed pictures of various lakes and waterways where different types of vegetation were prevalent, such as duckweed, gator weed, hyacinth, and lotus, and he described how the alligators react to such various types of vegetation and are often in the midst of it or around it, so that when paddling you have to go slowly, watch what you’re doing, and really watch the water because there are gators in there.

Joe’s presentation included much more detail and advice based on his extensive experience. These minutes are just an attempt to summarize a few of the high points of his presentation. For members who might read this summary and be interested in what more you might have learned from Joe, the Club encourages you to consider attendance at future meetings either in person or via Zoom, because our monthly speakers are always experienced, knowledgeable, insightful, and entertaining regarding the topics that they present.

Conclusion and Adjournment: At the conclusion of Joe’s outstanding presentation, all present showed appreciation with applause and individual comments of thanks to Joe.

There being no further business, Natalie adjourned the meeting at 8:50 pm.

Recorder,

Mike Grove