The Commodore called the meeting to order, and welcomed visitors from the Sierra Club and HASK. She then introduced the officers. Present were Commodore Honey Leveen, Vice-commodore Ann Derby, Fleet Captain Natalie Wiest, Newsletter editor John Rich, Boatswain Paul Woodcock, Purser Kent Walters, Webmaster Harmon Everrett, Conservation Chair John Bartos, and Recorder Frank Ohrt. The Commodore noted the pre-meeting dinner at Thai Cottage, and the post-meeting meet-up at Jax’s.
She then announced that the club had reserved the meeting hall at St. Andrews church for the Holiday Party, December 16th.
She moved to accept the minutes of the previous meeting. The motion was seconded and approved.
The Purser gave his usual detailed financial report. We have a little more money than last month. Hooray!
The Boatswain gave the membership report. We have three new members, and one returning member, Tim Garber, for a total of 156.
The Fleet Captain gave her report on recent and upcoming club trips:
Boquillas Canyon, Feb. 17-20, Kent Walters and Joe Coker,
Anahuac annual crab trap removal, Feb. 19, Chris Arceneaux,
San Marcos River Clean-up, March 4, Robert Langley.
She noted the upcoming NOLS wilderness first aid courses. Up-coming trips and leaders were announced:
Buffalo Bayou Regatta, March 11, Kent Walters and Terry Herdlicka,
Bayou LaFourche, LA, March 23-26, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program,
Armand Bayou Trash Bash, March 25, Christy Long,
Limestone Paddle Trail, Fort Parker State Park, March 31-April 2, Julie Hammond,
ACK Demo Days, April 8-9,
Buffalo River, AR, May 18-27, Tim Garber,
Colorado River Camp-out, May 27-29, Christy Long.
The total miles padded by club members to date in 2017 is 582 miles on four trips.
Tom Douglas announced that the Spring Woods Canoe Group was holding canoeing classes in April and May.
The Conservation Chair reported on HB 352, creating loopholes in the definition of “navigable stream”. He suggested that club members contact the members of the House Natural Resources Committee. He also noted the pending Bolivar Peninsula Nature Trail.
The Commodore announced that the Vice-commodore was going to introduce the evening’s speaker, Beth Johnson. The Vice-commodore then did so.
Ms. Johnson gave a talk about her 1982 all-woman trip down the Yukon River.