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 Newsletter Editor John Rich. Also present were Webmaster Harmon Everett, Conservation Chair Tom Douglas, and Sergeant-at-Arms Ann Derby. Mr. Ohrt being absent, Ms. Nissen took minutes.
Ms. Wiest announced that, for the foreseeable future, meetings would continue to be held via Zoom. She then noted Mr. Ohrt’s listing of a Christmas Day paddle, location to be decided.
Ms, Nissen talked about the plan for the Holiday Picnic and paddle, Sunday, Dec. 20, 1:00-5:00 PM, at Cedar Hill Park on Lake Charlotte. She described the facilities and regulations for the park. She noted that, in case of rain or high wind, the party would be cancelled.
Mr. Bodson gave the Fleet Captain’s report. There have been 7 trips, for a total of 75 miles, in the past month. Trips, and their leaders, include:
Oct. 17: Champion Lake, Kent Walters;
Oct. 22-26: Sta. Elena Canyon, Big Bend, Christy Long;
Oct. 24: Trinity River (annual butterfly count), Bruce Bodson;
Oct. 24: Horse Pen Bayou (annual alligator count (?), Kent Walters;
Oct. 31: White’s/Turtle Bayou, Kent Walters;
Oct. 31: Brazos River, FM 60 - Hope Creek Rd., Bruce Bodson;
Nov. 7: Stubblefield Lake, West Fork San Jacinto River, Kent Walters.
There have been 26 trips in 2020, for a total of 442 miles. Six members have at least 100 miles paddled: Bruce Bodson, Brent Hwang, David Portz, Kent Walters, Constantin Platon, and Christy Long. Ms. Wiest noted that Champion Lake would be closed to paddlers for the remainder of duck season, and Tom Douglas reported a scouting trip by a group of conservationists and HCC members, to look at the condition of the various paddler access points along the Buffalo Bayou Paddling Trail.
Upcoming trips announced were:
Nov. 14: Brazos River, Hope Creek Rd. to FM 50, Bruce Bodson.
Dec. 17: Old River CBC, Bruce Bodson;
Dec. 24: Trinity River CBC, Bruce Bodson;
Jan. 2: San Jacinto River CBC, Bruce Bodson.
Mr. Walters gave the Purser’s report. The club is $100.00 in the black for the month, and $300.00 ahead of budget for the year. (Plus ~ $0.50 in interest on our CD!!!)
Ms. Nissen gave the Boatswain’s report. There are three new members: Jenifer Robinson, Bob Fay, and Tim Brooking (who was present for the meeting - welcome, Tim!).
Ms. Wiest thanked Mr. Rich for his continuing excellent work on the Newsletter, as do we all.
Recorder Frank Ohrt finally woke up, spoke some bad words, joined the meeting, and took over from Ms. Nissen.
Mr. Douglas reminded the members to add their comments to the Corps of Engineers about the Bayou Resiliency Report. Mr. Walters added that all the various proposals would be expensive, and Ms. Derby pointed out that lining Braes Bayou with concrete had not exactly prevented flooding along its banks.
Bob Naeger gave the officers nominating committee report. He reviewed the nominating and voting procedures, adding that at least 10% of the membership was needed for a valid election. He then presented the nominations, noting that all the current officers had agreed to serve for another year. There were no nominations from the floor. It was moved to accept the entire slate, it was seconded, and the motion was approved by acclamation.
Ms. Wiest proposed a change in the language of the constitution concerning the position of the most recent ex-Commodore, so that the language would reflect actual practice. She then said that the members would vote on the change at the January meeting.
Ms. Long introduced the evening’s speaker, Steve Krase, who described his adventures living on and paddling the west coast of Baja California del Norte, south of Ensenada. It was an interesting talk, and the coast looked lovely. There were a number of questions, and, there being no further business, Ms. Wiest adjourned the meeting.
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Houston Canoe Club
Board Meeting
Month Day, 2020
Bayland Park Community Center
Recorder: Frank Ohrt
Commodore Natalie Wiest called the meeting to order. Officers present were Ms. Wiest, Vice Commodore Christy Long, Purser Kent Walters, Fleet Captain Bruce Bodson, Boatswain Alice Nissen, Newsletter Editor John Rich, and Recorder Frank Ohrt. Also attending was Conservation Chair Tom Douglas.
Ms. Wiest and Ms. Long discussed the possibility of continuing to have speakers present via Zoom at future in-person meetings.
Mr. Bodson stated that he would like to confer with Mr. Walters about the trip leader protocols, but had nothing more to report. Ms. Long said that the trip she recently led to Big Bend was a great success, with good weather and high water.
Ms. Nissen announced that she had reserved the pavilion at Cedar Hill Park on Lake Charlotte for the Holiday Party, and that it would pre-empt the December meeting. She reported three new members in October. There was much discussion of how to get ClubExpress to stop indicating that our website was “Not Secure”. Ms. Wiest and Ms. Long offered to try to clear things up.
Mr. Walters said that the club is $150.00 ahead of budget for the month, and that all is well. Ho, hum.
Unless he be lyin’.
Ms. Long noted that she was recording the meeting.
Ms. Wiest said that the officers nominating committee was proceeding according to club rules.
Mr. Douglas then spoke about the Army Corps of Engineers’ plans for Buffalo Bayou, and asked members to offer their comments. He noted that Bayou City Waterkeepers had a useful link for making comments. He then said that he and Bob Naeger would work out the process of taking a vote on next year’s officers at the next week’s Zoom meeting.
Ms. Nissen reported a good club paddle on the San Bernard River with Mr. Douglas and others.
Ms. Wiest asked if anyone had a Safety Minute, but no one did. Mr. Ohrt apologized for getting over-excited and giving both last month’s Safety Minute, and this month’s, at the previous month’s meeting.
Ms. Wiest noted that there would be a vote at the upcoming meeting on the constitutional amendment clarifying the wording of the officers’ positions . She then adjourned the meeting.
Zoom Board Meeting
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Recorder,
Frank Ohrt
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