Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club
April 15, 2008
South Fork Community Building
Club Minutes
The meeting was called to order by President George Powell at 7:08 pm at the South Fork Community Building after a pot luck dinner.
George welcomed everyone, 29 members present, 2 guests.
George asked if everyone had a chance to read the March club minutes. There had been some question as to whether the minutes actually reached everyone by email, so George made hard copies available for review. Motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes. Motion carried.
Financial Report: Both Lloyd and Bill were out of town, so George gave the report. Club finances are in good shape. Our final grooming checks for the session have been received.
George has gotten conflicting reports on the amount of the grant we’ve received through CSA to put toward a new/ used truck for the snow cat. The amount will be between $10750 and $10910.
Our current truck is for sale and is on display on Hwy 160 near the DeGrado house. It was cleaned and polished and looks like new.
President’s Report: The Helping Hand Award is to be presented in June. Dwayne and Edna will chair the committee, with Roy and Connie assisting.
ATV rides will be on Tuesday and Thursday (or Friday) this year. One weekly ride will be a work day and the other just for fun. The start date is 4/29. Meet at the visitor’s center at 9:00.
Hiking will be on Monday and Tuesday, giving hikers who also ATV on Tuesday a chance for a weekly trek.
Hiking Report: Doug reported 11 hikers participated on Tuesday for a trek in the Lime Kiln area. He hopes to organize an "extreme" hike for seriously hardy souls this year.
Social Report: Joe and Joyce graciously helped Harolena clean the snow cat for storage until next season.
Forest Service: Dennis Vincent reminds everyone to get current stickers for their ATVs. He reports the club in Creede applied for and has received a grant of $130,000 for maintenance of two trails. He suggests our club might want to apply for a similar grant to rework trails like Tewksbury which need some serious maintenance. The application would have to be in by May 15 and include an estimate of projected costs. Other trails needing serious work would include West Beaver, Middle Alder, Embargo and Burrow. Dennis thanked club members who have worked so hard to clear trials.
Old Business: After discussion concerning CSA, George reported that the board has voted to keep the club intact by raising everyone’s dues to $45 per family per year, which includes the mandatory monies now required by CSA.
Elizabeth attended the Town Council work group meeting to request the club be allowed to hold our annual Potato Bake at the Community Building to coincide with the Home Tour. Apparently the council agreed only if the club set up everything to move the council meeting to the library for that one meeting. It was also made clear that the club need not ask for this next year, as the council promises to turn down the request.
New Business: In his absence, Royce requested that George read aloud the letter Royce wrote after the Town Council work group meeting. Royce withdrew his offer to donate money for the community building upgrades so long as the current council is in office. Royce and other club members have not appreciated the way the council has reacted to the club’s request to use the community building.
Hwy 160 clean up will take place Friday 4/25. Volunteers will meet at the visitor’s center at 10:00, and there will be a cook out at the Powell’s afterwards.
Randy Young requested to speak to the club to ask us to join her and others in opposing the proposed 10 year lease of 100,000+ BLM acres in Rio Grande County and the Rio Grande National Forest. The leases are for the proposed drilling of oil and natural gas wells. Affected areas that are now pristine include Pool Table Mountain, Beaver Mountain, Del Norte Peak, above Upper Alpine and more. Randy stated this drilling would not only blight our views of this beautiful country, but also seriously affect watersheds and wildlife. The auction is set for May 8 unless the county commissioners request a 6 month moratorium to delay the auction. Protest letters must be received at BLM by April 23. She further requests that club members attend the Rio Grande County Commissioners meeting tomorrow in Del Norte to show solidarity in opposing the auction.
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally Towns