Meeting Minutes
January 9, 2011
Opening:
The first Vermont Horse Council meeting of 2011 was
called to order at 1:20 PM on January 9, 2011 in UVM Extension Meeting
Room, Berlin, Vermont by Mike Benoit, President. 16 members were
present at the meeting
A. Approval of Agenda
The
agenda was reviewed.
- Minutes from
the September Meeting
- Old Business
(Committee Reports)
- New Business
(Direction of VHC, Nominating Committee, ACTHA review, Booth for
Everything Equine, Combination of VHC accounts, VHC Logo, By-Law
review, Donations)
B. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the previous meeting of September,
2010 were read and accepted.
Treasurer’s Report attached was unanimously
approved. Terry Rose brought a request forward to move all of the
separate VHC accounts into one account, but to continue to report funds
as separate line items. Motion made, seconded and approved
unanimously to move VHC money to one account but continue to maintain
line item accountability for funds.
C.
Committee Reports and Agenda Items
Membership - There currently are 242
members.
AHC – no report. Terry Rose brought forward
that membership dues to American Horse Council is due. Motion made to
renew membership – unanimously passed.
NEKET – A workday at the end of May will be
scheduled. It will be a one day event to help mark the trails. Look at
the web page for updates. There was discussion among the membership
present regarding slipperiness of wooden bridges. No resolution was
made. The fall ride at NEKET will be held September 9-11, 2011.
Discussion was held regarding whether or not to have the fall VHC
meeting at this ride. No resolution was made. Martha requested help
with riding and mapping trails. (ACTION ITEM)Jeannette offered to
contact Heidi to see if she might be interested in co leading this
effort in the spring.
Collaborative Trail Initiative – Visit
www.uvm.edu/tourismresearch/trails for more information.
Upcoming meetings: Vermont Trail Collaborative, Monday, May 2,
2011 Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce in Berlin.
Steering Committee: The steering committee has monthly
conference calls and everyone is welcome to join the call. Please let me
know in advance if you'd like to join so I can send you the call-in info
and make sure we have enough open phone lines. The next call will be
Tuesday, February 1 at 1:00 p.m.
Greenway’s Council – no report
Annual Ride – To be held in Tunbridge,
Vermont on September 23-25, 2011. There may need to be an increase in
ride cost, because the fairgrounds are increasing rental for Gilman Hall
and also electricity hook-up.
Safety – Many copies of the posters are
still available. Contact Mike Benoit at benoit.martha@yahoo.com
By-Laws – Morris Lasell will be reviewing
the by-laws and making recommended changes to the membership at the
annual meeting in March 2011.
Trail Maintenance – nothing to report
Scholarship Fund – Five applications were
received and two scholarships were awarded. Thank you notes were
received from the recipients. Request to change the web page to reflect
Sue Altland’s name and address as scholarship chair (COMPLETED).
Farm Bureau – No report. Morris reminded
everyone about the Farm Show in Barre from Jan 25-27, 2011. Volunteers
were solicited for covering the Vermont Horse Council Booth.
Groton State Forest – Permission to increase
the size of the corrals was granted, but not completed in 2010. State
is working on making a loop from the Telephone Line Trail, to Cold Water
Brook trail, through the sand lot and back to Boulder Beach Road.
Bridge funding is needed to cross Cold Water Brook. Jeannette Cole will
be submitting a grant request to VHC to help in this project.
VHC Website - Jeannette will continue to do
web content for the VHC web page. Please forward any information to her
at
jkcole@trans-video.net Members discussed freshening up the site –
some different ideas were generated.
LATR – Cindy reported on the Colchester, VT
rescue. All of the grant money donated by VHC has been spent. The next
training is scheduled for May 21st in the Northeast Kingdom.
More details to follow when they are available.
Lamoille Valley Rail to Trail- No report
Newsletter – No report
Parade Group - Discussion regarding
participation in parades. Deb Martin offered to help any member's horse
that might need training so they could participate in upcoming parades.
Motion made to allow for any member of VHC who is participating in a
parade to be able to use VHC equipment and to be covered by VHC
insurance or an additional waiver. Motion seconded and passed
unanimously. (ACTION ITEM) Mike Benoit will contact Jody Barna
regarding this motion and to determine if she would like the assistance
of Deb Martin and Karen Blow in coordinating parade requests.
Riding and Driving Program – Brenda Lasell
gave a detailed report. Discussion followed on members’ verses horses
being tracked separately. (ACTION ITEM) Sue Altland will bring a
recommendation forward at the March meeting to membership on several
options for modification to the current program.
Everything Equine- Discussion regarding
professionalism and reflection of VHC mission for the 2011 booth.
(ACTION ITEM) Jeannette and Jyl to meet off line to bring
recommendations to the group for the March meeting. The VHC has not
received any funds from their help last year at the Horsin’ Around
Event. (ACTION ITEM) Terry Rose to contact Everything Equine directors
to request a different place for the VHC table this year.
D. New Business
Nomination & Election of Officers – Morris
Lasell to chair committee and to bring slate of candidates to the March
meeting.
VHC Logo – Discussion around refreshing the
logo, but no resolution was made.
ACTHA – Jyl presented American Competitive
Trail Horse Association overview. It is a 6-10 mile trail ride with 6
or more judged obstacles. Mid State Riding Club sponsored an event in
2010. Discussion regarding other venues within Vermont; perhaps NEKET
were held. A suggestion to contact Eddy Brook Farm in Middlebury was
given. The Mid State ACTHA ride will be held on July 16 and 17, 2011.
Donations Requests – VHC has received
several. Members discussed the intent of donations from the club to be
for individuals who are one time need. Club finances do not allow for
fielding on-going non profits support.
Next Meeting – March 13 from 1-4 pm.
(ACTION ITEM) Jeannette Cole to request Berlin Extension Office space
for this meeting.
Adjournment:
Meeting was adjourned at 4:30 PM by Mike Benoit.
Minutes submitted by:
Jeannette K Cole, Secretary – stand in
