News

Accomplishments

There are currently no scheduled meetings.

This map may be helpful if you wish to come to a meeting and you don't know Waterbury. Be advised that neither Google Maps nor Mapquest show the right location for Stanley Hall.

In attendance were Red Goodman, Gail Breslauer, Ken Haggett, Emilie Inoue, and Joan Neely

Meeting was called to order at 6:10 pm.

Reports:

Minutes from last meeting: Joan will send corrected minutes. Ken will post to the website. Gail moved that we accept the minutes as corrected. Ken seconded. Motion passed

Membership: Gail reported that we have 3 new, paid-up members. Next meeting we will address the possibilities of sending notices to past members.

Treasurer's Report: Gail reported that we now have $995.00 in the account due to the 3 new members. Emilie moved to accept the reports and Red seconded.

Dogs Across America: Ken reported that Vermont dogs ran about 150 miles on the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail but that the final results were not in yet. There was discussion as to whether to expand that section of the MVRT by connecting with other trails as more information becomes available. Ken will write a discription of the trail and get back to the Board.

Student Mapping: Red will attempt to get together with the students and discuss details.

Links: We are now listed on sleddogcentral. This should help make more people aware of VTMA and attract members. Red will make a web page listing groups to add to SDC. At the next meeting we will bring additional sites to be added.

Lamoille Valley Rail Trail: Red will forward comments of management plans to the committee.

Accident: Do we want to survey members to see of they want to purchase signs indicating that there are sleddogs on the trail? Also do we want to dialog with mushers as to how to handle loose dogs and dog fights. Do we want 2 safety brochures - one for the public and one for mushers. Red will get quotes for this and Emilie will examine funding.

Logo: The logo is looking better and better all the time. We will look into decals for the dog boxes.

Next meeting is Monday, January 8th.

Meeting adjourned at 8:35 pm

Respectfully submitted,
JoanNeely

The meeting was called to order at 6:15 pm. In attendance were Gail Breslauer, Red Goodman, Ken Haggett, Amanda Poquette, and Joan Neely.

Reports: Minutes from the October meeting were approved as corrected.

Treasurer's Report:
Gail reported that there is $965.00 in the checking account at present. Written reports were passed out by Gail, read and approved.

Membership: Gail volunteered to do a reminder mailing to past members to renew membership. Ken made a motion to to have the club allocate money for this mailing. Joan seconded. Motion carried.

Dogs Across America: Ken reported that eight people had signed up at present. A local Waitsfield cable station (WMRV-TV, channel 44) will run an ad promoting the event.

Brochures: Emilie and Gail will explore grant options to get money for safety brochures.

Middlebury Student GIS Mapping: Suggestions for the maps that would be beneficial to mushers were as follows: accessability, staging areas, parking , access to National Forest Service trails, loops, gates, low traffic. Gail motioned to have Red and Ken follow up with the students on these suggestions by email. Ken seconded. Motion passed.

Lamoille Valley Rail Trail: Regarding the current and proposed trail management plan. Let's get information back to Red with problems for mushers. There will be a Vermont Interactive TV meeting about this on November 28.

Ken reported that Walter Opuszynski of Seyon Ranch took him on a 2 mile trail walk down an old power line to check suitability for our use. The trail is very rocky but available for non motorized use. It may work into a run of 15 miles or so.

Next meeting: Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Joan Neely

Meeting was called to order at 6:20 pm. Present were Red Goodman, Gail Breslauer, Ken Haggett, Emilie Inoue, Amanda Poquette, Joan Neely.

The September minutes were accepted pending corrections. Emilie moved to accept. Joan seconded. Motion passed.

There was no membership report.

Treasurer's Report: Presently we have $645.00 in our account. Gail has some deposits, and there are still outstanding bills.

Shelburne Museum Goes to the Dogs: Ken, Lise LaPorte, and Ed Bleckner attended that event on Sept. 17th. Ken reported that it was hot but well attended. There was a record-breaking number of people there - 3,238 in all and 1000 dogs. Lise did a scootering demo, and Ed did some carting. We needed handouts with the website information, but it was still a good opportunity to be ambassadors for the sport. Perhaps we should make another brochure to hand out in these situations, although the safety brochures are still good advertising. Gail motioned that we should do so, and Joan seconded. Motion carried.

Dogs Across America: Gail has a large contact list for advertising this event. She will send press releases to clarify rules about registration. On November 5th she will send out a follow-up notice which will be sent to the print and broadcast media.

Brochures: Perhaps Federal funds could be obtained for brochures on dog sledding. Already in existence are brochures aimed at safety for bike riders and other sports. Emilie and Gail will investigate.

Discussion: There was discussion about placing signs on trails that we frequent most. We might be able to do a lump order for signs through VTMA and sell them to the membership. Joan will pursue the Kingdom Trails.

Logoware: Discussed were signs for our trucks indicating membership in VTMA. Ken has a lead on t-shirts in Morrisville. Amanda will get some logo ideas down on paper. There is still good potential for trails at Seyon Ranch. We now have a map of this area.

New Business: We received an email from Kevin Russell concerning washouts and damage on the Lamoille Valley Rails to Trails. Hopefully they can get a map together for limited use of the trail.

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Joan Neely

Minutes to come.

Minutes to come.

Minutes to come.

Minutes to come.

Meeting cancelled.

Meeting cancelled.

Meeting was called to order at 6:10 pm. Present were Red Goodman, Ken Haggett, and Joan Neely.

Make a Wish: Ken and Red attended the event on February 18th as well as Reg and Jo Guertin. Anne Shangraw sent a thank you note. Maybe they will include us sooner in their plans for next year, and perhaps they will talk to NESDC about having a race. We will continue to work with VAST on Make a Wish. Let us all keep trying during the warm months to see trails, including the Champion Lands, Jay area, Peter Lussier and his area. Red will redo the website and add a trails page.

LVRT: Friends of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is a non- motorized group involved in the project, and we will join this group. The consensus of the Board of Directors is to lobby against ATV's or for earmarked money to go through AOT and not ANR.

Discussion was had on how we would like the trail to be. Suggestions were made to check on bike and pedestrial manuals and see how we can add to this. Road crossings and parking are important.

Homeowner's Insurance in the House prohibits insurance companies form blanket discrimination against dog owners????

Annual Meeting: Jim Blair's place was suggested.

Perhaps we can meet with VAST later in the summer to discuss how the landowner's letter is coming along and what we can do to get on the map.

Ken motioned to adjourn the meeting. Joan seconded

Meeting adjourned at 8:00pm

Respectfully submitted,
Joan Neely

Meeting cancelled.

Meeting was called to order at 6:10 pm.  Present were Gail Breslauer. Red Goodman, Ken Haggett and Joan Neely

Gail motioned to accept the previous minutes as corrected.  Ken seconded.  Motion carried.

Treasurer's Report:  Gail reported that we have $702.54.  Joan moved to accept the report.  Ken seconded.  Motion carried.

Make-A-Wish:  Bryant Watson needs to clarify some of the details for the newspaper ads. 

Some board members will continue to participate in the forming of the non-motorized friends of LVRT. 

Trail Design:  The Board feels it should make guidelines for safe dog sledding for  all the trails with which it will be involved.   The Trails and Greenways Council already has such guidelines in place. 

We are getting hits on the website.  If information is posted on the BBoard, it will be moved to the trails page.

There was brief discussion as to whether we should meet every other month.  Also about what to bring to the fundraiser - chairs, tables, cones, brchures, etc. 

Ken moved to adjourn the meeting. Gail seconded.  Motion carried.  Meetong adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Joan Neely

BOARD MEETING DECEMBER 13, 2005

The meeting was called to order at 6:15 pm.  Present were Gail Breslauer, Red Goodman,, Ken Haggett, and Joan Neely.  Gail moved that we pass the minutes for the last meeting.  Ken seconded.  Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report:  We presently have a balance of $702.54.  Follow up calls will be made to people who have expressed interest  in the club.  Ken moved that we accept the report.
.Joan seconded.  Motion carried.

Website:  Gail moved that we limit the VTMA Bulletin Board to messages of interest to Vermont mushers.  Please no classified ads or dog sales.  They will not be accepted.  Joan seconded.  Motion carried.

Rob’s resignation:  Rob Farley’s letter was read.  Red will formally accept the resignation from the Board in letter  form and thank him for his service.  We will try to find a  replacement for him.  Ken moved we accept the letter.Gail seconded.  Motion carried.

Make a Wish:  Discussion of logistics. We will meet with Bryant Watson before the fundraiser .  Gail was told by her local snowmobile club that the Trail Safely flyer was well received by the VAST Washington County  members at their meeting. 

Joan moved we adjourn the meeting.  Gail seconded.  Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 8:10 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Joan Neely

BOARD MEETING NOV. 3RD, 2005

Meeting called to order at 6:30 pm.  In attendance were Red Goodman, Gail Breslauer, Ken Haggett and Joan Neely.

Ken moved to accept the previous meeting minutes.  Gail seconded.  Motion carried. 

The minutes for the August 23rd meeting are missing.

Ken moved that we accept the minutes for the Annual Meeting as corrected.  Gail seconded.  Motion carried.

Membership and Treasurer's Report:  Since the October meeting we have three new members. Joan moved to accept the report.  Ken seconded.  Motion carried. 

Make a Wish:  A small group ot VTMA members will participate in the event.  Saturday is the preferred day.  There were errors in the VAST newsletter concerning our part in the event.  Red will talk to VAST about this and hope to resolve the matter.  Maybe VAST will consider talking to NESDC about the possibilities of NESDC organizing a race in the future.

Logistics:  Red said he would talk to VAST about the following:  Will our rides be auctioned off to raise money and will VAST do this for us?  Should we have everyone sign a waiver before taking a ride?  Would it be all right for us to give rides from about 10:00 to 2:00? 

Ken moved to adjourn the meeting.  Gail seconded.  Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm. 

Respectfully submitted,
Joan Neely

Board Meeting October 11, 2005

In attendance were:  Red Goodman,Gail Breslauer, Rob Farley, Ken Haggett, and Joan Neely

Meeting began at 6:10 pm

Officers Report:  There were no minutes from the last meeting

Membership and Treasurer:  Rob will check with Melissa and Bruce concerning the 50/50 raffle, payment for food, etc. Was everyone properly reimbursed.

Rob moved to reimburse Red and Gail for expenses made for VTMA. Ken seconded.  Motion carried

Ken moved to accept the Treasurer's report.  Rob seconded.  Motion carried.

Committee Reports: 
NESDC meeting on Sept. 18 was sparsely attended. We joined as a group for $50.

Kingdom trails in East Burke would like VTMA members to use their trails.

Make a Wish Fundraiser:  Much discussion about what might be done and who would do what.  Rob will formalize a letter to mushers asking for help.

Website:  VT Mushers.org.  Members may have individual email addresses here.

Rob expressed an interest in having more responsibility.  There was much discussion on the subject.  Hopefully it will resolve itself in the near future.

Ken moved that we adjourn.  Gail seconded.  Meeting adjourned at 8:30

Respectfully submitted,
Joan Neely

2nd ANNUAL MEETING
VERMONT MUSHERS ASSOCIATION
September 11, 2005
Eden Mountain Lodge, Eden, VT

Pot Luck & Barbecue 11: -12:30, followed by Annual Meeting, 50/50 Drawing and Raffle

Meeting called to order at 1:15 pm

In attendance: Ken Haggett, Rob Farley, Bruce Linton, Melissa Stavola, Red Goodman, Peter and Nick Lussier, Susan and David Gallagher, Ingrid Bower, Joe St Marie, Amanda Poquette, Laura and Jeremy Bedortha, Lise La Porte, Emily Inoue, Steve Long, James Calloway.

Red asked for someone to move to accept the minutes from the last annual meeting a motion was made that we accept the minutes and was seconded.  Motion carried

Red spoke of the accomplishments of the Board of Directors: Need more members just to have a voice.

We published flyers for safety. We joined VT Trails and Greenways federal grant money must go to multi-user projects of forest, parks, and recreation and from there get dispersed, Trails on private lands may apply. We need to lobby for our use.

On the Rails to Project: Bernie Sanders says he has no longer a say. However we need to work on access for us. So far there is not enough money for much development. We need more voices so there well be more money. There are concerns about width of rail bed and roughness of surface. Vast hopefully will take the lead here.

Home Owners Insurance: Some do not discriminate if you have lots of dogs.

Report of the Secretary: We have 26 Vermont members, 4 out of state and two groups (NH Mushers Association and NESDC). The report was presented by Red
in Gail's absence. A motion was made and carried.

Sept 30th is the end of the 2004 - 2005 membership year. The 2005 - 2006 membership year begins on Oct 1. Renewals and new memberships will be accepted at any time.

Treasurer's Report: We have $305 as of now with some outstanding bills. At the end of the month, we will have $240 after disbursements are made, plus income from
new and renewal of memberships. The report was presented by Red in Gail's absence.  A motion was made and passed moved and seconded passed.

Trail Committee Report: Ken Haggett, Chairperson: "Where do you run?" Ken provided a map for people to mark their trails; His projects include VASA meetings, mapping, conservation land in Elmore, Lamoille Rails to Trails project, joining the steering committee if he can, carriage roads. Real estate developers do not want this. Ingrid has access to old maps that may prove helpful in conserving these roads for recreational purposes. Becca suggested we contact Agency of Transportation re: land lease rules. A public meeting of Lamoille Rails to Trails Sept 29th, at Hillary's Restaurant, Morrisville, 7-9 pm.

Database for trails Rob: Equestrian Association access in Hinesburg and Groton. Mountain biking also. Ken contacted Catamount trails - can we use these trails that are not used by others?

VASA's use of trails for ATV mushers. Can we use their trails in winter?

Adoption of bylaws: Motion carried: Who made the motion, Who seconded, discussion, corrections - passed, etc.

Election of Officers: The board of Directors presented the following slate of officers: President - Red Goodman, Vice President - Ken Haggett, Treasurer, Rob Farley, Corresponding Secretary - Gail Breslauer, Recording secretary - Joan Neely Motion carried unanimously. etc.

New Business:

Weight pull at the Three Stallion Inn in Randolph, VT Nov 12 $ 13th Sept 18th Shelburne Museum Goes to the dogs at Shelburne Museum. Craftsbury Race on Jan 21, 2006 needs people to help out. Ingrid asked for volunteers for positions of responsibility.

Thanks to Jim Blair for the use of his place for our Annual Meeting.

Meeting was moved to adjourn and was seconded---
Meeting adjourned at 3:30 pm

Respectfully submitted,
Joan Neely