MINUTES
Officers
President: Anne Squire
Vice President: Mary Smith
Secretary: (absent)
Treasurer: Al Peters
Past President : (absent)
Group Representatives
Amblers: M Thompson (absent)
Marianna Tubman
Ramblers: Toni Edgar (Absent)
Harriet Schtwartz
Trekkers: Judy Bentley
Rich Kinsey
Scramblers: Marcelle Welch
Lori Wong (absent)
Membership Support
Hike Leader Training: Harriet Schwartz
Calendar Coordinator: Rich Kinsey*
Event Coordinators: Molly Clopp
Kathy Devine
Membership Coordinator: (vacant)
Publicity Coordinator: Ellen Gilman
Registrar: Joanie Boyle
Technology Coordinator: Diane Hinds
Trail Steward: Larry Barclay
Committee Chairs
Rossmoor Trails Committee:
Larry Barclay
Technology Committee:
Anne Squire, Diane Hinds, Molly Clopp
trailsclubofrossmoor.com is your best source for information about the Club activities, events, hiking information, etc.
Next Meeting:
Jan 8, 2025
Roll call: Anne called the meeting together at 4.00 pm. A quorum was present.
Review of Agenda: Anne
Approval of minutes of September meeting: Approved by Judy Bentley & Seconded by Al Peters.Motion carried.
Club membership report - Joanie Boyle
As of November 13, 2024 there are 411 members -
1 in the last 7 days
10 in the last 30 days
Comprised of 9 Amblers and 1 Social
In 2024 there were 97 new members
Actual groups counts are skewed due to group overlaps where people sign up for more than one group.
Percentages are as follows -
34% are Amblers
41% are Ramblers
15% are Trekkers and
10% are Scramblers.
Trail Steward report given by Kathy Devine for Larry Barclay -
85% of the new trail names have been approved
Past events: Kathy Devine
At the October Potluck, Pumpkin Contest and Annual Meeting there were 142 signups
Upcoming events: Kathy Devine
Notable Volunteers Brunch - November 14
Holiday Party - December 12
105 signups as of November 13. Signup deadline Dec 1.
Catered by Classic Catering
DJ will play 60s, 70s and 80s classics.
The party theme will be Take a Holiday from the Holidays.
Alcohol policy to be determined. BYOB may not be legal any longer. Further discussion and clarification will be needed. ABC licenses may be needed if alcohol changing hands.
Come early to claim your seating at tables of 10.
Chili Fest - January 1, 2025
Safari report: Anne
Asilomar, October 2024. 36 participants
Chico, April 2025. Registration begins January 1, 2025.
Sisters, OR. July 2025. Full.
Joshua Tree. November 2025. Full.
Anne asked members to think of other Safari destinations during the year - Pinnacles or Yosemite for example. A Safari a month is possible. We just need members to step up.
Members’ Forum: Anne
Marcelle asked if Board Meetings could accommodate hikers who are away all day so have no time to prepare for meetings.
Maybe choose a non-hiking day which would not clash with members’ other commitments or
Start hikes an hour earlier that day if needed.
Old Business:Anne -
The new Trails Club Board for 2025 was approved at the October General Meeting, as follows:
President - Mary Smith
Vice-President - Don Barber
Secretary - Bobbie Berkman
Treasurer - Al Peters
Ambler Reps - Lena Birch(2), Carol Evans(2)
Rambler Reps - Harriet Schwartz(1), Nancy Verner(2)
Trekker Reps - Rich KInsey(1), Bill Patten(2)
Scrambler Reps - Slava Tetelbaum(2), Marcelle Welch(1)
Membership voted to adopt the amendment required by GRF to reserve rooms for 2025.
Article III of our by-laws has been updated to read: Membership is open to any Rossmoor resident interested in the above purpose and willing to observe the rules of the club. The rules, policies and procedures of the Golden Rain Foundation of Walnut Creek, including the GRF Guest Policy, are hereby incorporated by reference in to the rules for membership in this Organization and compliance therewith is expressly made a requirement for membership.
New Business: Anne
Memberships:
Half year membership offer will expire December 1 with new members enrollment valid for 2025.
Annual dues due through February 2025.
Memberships drop off at the beginning of the year but pick up as the year progresses.
State of the Club
Positives
Membership continues to grow and the Club remains financially secure.
New support volunteers have jumped right in to their roles -
Joanie Boyle-Registrar
Molly Clopp and Kathy Devine - Event coordinators
Ellen Gilman-Rossmoor News and Publicity liaison
Rich KInsey -Calendar coordinator
Lori Miller-Klein-Will take on New Member Coordinator role in January
A strong leadership team has been elected for 2025
Safaris and social events continue to be popular
We now have a new sign/notice on the corner of our meeting place, with days and times for our walks. The bulletin board could be more informative.
Concerns:
There are indications of the need to reshuffle our groups -
The number of Amblers has increased as people encounter agility and mobility issues, with drivers needed and flatter hikes available - maybe a sub-group for flatter hikes.
Trekkers are still struggling.
Doug LIns led 40+ hikes as of early October.
Experienced hike leaders are aging.
Web-site and data-collection initiatives have stalled.
No ability to send texts from our web-site.
No method for easily quantifying hike leaders and destinations.
No searchable hike data-base, other than All Trails.
Events continue to take disproportionate time and resources.
Our cash surplus could be used to reimburse hike and Safari leaders for scouting trips - accommodation and mileage.
Training in agility, pole use, footwear and map-use would be useful.
Anne handed off the gavel to Mary.
The meeting closed at 5.30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary A. Smith for Bobbie Berkman