Leader: Jeff Churchill

Leader: Craig Gwydir

Leader: Rebecca

 

Leader: John Koger

Leader: Bruce Seymour

Leader: Paul Cutter

Leader: Paul Cutter

Leader: Bruce Seymour

Leader: Lori Leach

Photo: Craig Gwydir - Elevator Shaft looking down

Trails Club of Oregon Board Meeting Minutes
Date: May 13, 2025 Time: 7:00-9:00 PM Location: zoom
Location: zoom at https://zoom.us/j/9061187636?
pwd=QWdNaVBvRFE4NGU0VUZpNUZBb1Z0UT09

Attendees:
Vice President:                                Eric Zimmerman
Treasurer:                                        Nicole Rogers
Secretary:                                        Rebecca Knudeson
Publications:                                    Joel Reitz
Membership:                                    Lori Leach
Tyee Trustee:                                   Paul Cutter
Nesika Trustee:                                Pete Recksiek
Trips Trustee:                                   Craig Gwydir
Outdoor Ed/Outreach Trustee:         Vacant
Committee Chairs:                           Jeff Churchill (Social)

Absent:
President:                                        Bev Drottar

REGULAR BUSINESS
Minutes were approved by email prior to the Blazer publication.

Approved via email April 29, 2025: Susan Keller, long term member, wishes to book Tyee 7/19
and 20 for a memorial service for a friend.

Treasurer’s Report, Nicole

Beginning Balance:           $12,536.02
Checks and Payment:           2,009.67
Deposits and Credits:            8,420.42
Cleared Balance:                 18,946.77

Complete reports can be found by the Board in Dropbox.

Nicole is having issues with emails and getting back to people. She needs 2 or 3 days in order
to respond. She’s busy with Monday-Thursday heavy workload. Sometimes she doesn’t get an
email and is happy to have people check with her. Everyone needs to have patience with
responses.
We decided that fundraising should be board driven, not through avenues like GoFund Me. Pete will write a check to Trails Club for the monies raised from the GoFund Me for the Nesika tractor.

Membership Report, Lori

First Readings: Andrew Gardner sponsored by Craig Gwydir and Linda Conrad
Second Readings, approved unanimously:
Jonathan Beck sponsored by Helen Wang and Sylvia Ashley

Membership Summary: Total: 233
9 Golden, 2 Junior, 31 Life, 3 Life/Golden, 15 Provisional, 173 Regular

Lori will email board members the list of members who didn’t pay dues this year so we can
double check for any who might have overlooked them.

Publications Report, Joel

We had no negative responses from the membership about placing ads in the Blazer. In the
past we have had ads. Joel will announce in the Blazer for members who might want to place
mutually beneficial ads in the Blazer. If/when a company donates or sponsors an event, we will
note it within that event’s announcements.

Nesika Report, Pete

The tractor remains out of use, a new head may be required. Bob Walker removed the
head and is in the process of replacing the gasket. The part is on order. The GoFundMe site
has raised $2,205 for a desperately needed tractor. Private donors raised another $8,200 on
the TCO website. Pete has looked at Kubota and John Deer quotes. The dealership hasn’t
gotten back to him with a quote, so the purchase will have to wait until later.

The generator has not worked since March. A faulty circuit in the ignition panel seems to be the
cause. It would be good to have a portable generator available. Joel has one that we might use
until our generator is operating.

200 Silver Firs were planted over the Easter Weekend, led by David Buchanan. Crews also
worked installing window sills in the dorm, splitting and stacking firewood and trail clearing.
Forestry Service crews have been working on the access road (Palmer Mill Rd) near the green
gate, dropping troublesome firs. If you are going in during the week, please contact the Nesika
Chair (Pete, [910] 209-6345) to prevent traffic conflicts on the narrow road. The crews should
not be working on the weekends.

Tyee Report, Paul
There’s very little to report. The snow is almost gone, unusually early. Our Forest Service permit officer finally replied to the request regarding the 2024 lease fee. The work-in-lieu, one hundred hours, generated $3,387. After their convoluted formula including the youth participation, our final bill was $1,769. Therefore the work-in-lieu monies covered this easily. Our final 2024 bill is the minimum $300 and has been paid. As we have excessive work-in-lieu hours that cannot be carried over, Paul recommends that the club limit the hours to about 50-60 annually, this year and in future years. The Forest Service has agreed that we return to the Wildcat Mtn area in late Sept. This will be one of Tyee's work parties.
The first tasks for this year are to start digging out the drain and move wood from Paul’s up to
the lodge.

Trips Report, Craig
There were 2 TCO day trips during the month of April. Both trips visited Nesika Lodge.
Wednesday night conditioning hikes are posted on the TCO calendar at
https://trailsclub.org/activities/calendar/.
A TCO Trip Leaders ZOOM online meeting was also convened during the month of April. There
was discussion of having an in-person TCO Trip Leaders social event at a local restaurant or
tavern on a weeknight.
The TCO "Stormy Trails" committee continued to be very active during the month of April:
Craig will work on Elevator Shaft clearing on 5/17 and on the 24th to clear trails.
- The Cougar Rock Trail was cleared of debris.
- The historic user path to Meadow Ridge was restored.
- The Elevator Shaft Trail was cleared of debris.
Healthy spring growth of fireweed and other seasonal plants will require some trimming on
these basin trails during May.

The Stormy Trails committee plan for 2025 is to keep the following
trails clear:
- Ornament Trail
- Cougar Rock Trail
- Elevator Shaft Trail
- Multnomah Basin Connector Trail
- Nesika/Franklin Ridge Connector Trail
- Meadow Ridge user path
Trail clearing help is always welcome! Please ask the TCO Trip Leader about the location of
these trails if you are interested. It is expected more TCO hikes will be hosted on these trails in
the near future.
Please email tripschair@trailsclub.org if you are interested in assisting with trail work, including
trail scouting, restoration and maintenance.
Call for help: If you are interested in learning about adventures on the Multnomah Plateau and
willing to help co-lead hikes and/or join a TCO trips planning committee, please join our "TCO
Hike Leaders Meeting" this month, or send questions to tripschair@trailsclub.org.

Thanks to Eric Zimmerman for clearing the Elevator Shaft.
Craig still has wooden trail signs to install. He has created the signs to help people navigate the Basin. They are Forest Service approved. He will make a sign for the Green Fern Dorm.

Outdoor Ed and Outreach, vacant

OLD BUSINESS
None

NEW BUSINESS
1) Request for honorary membership
A long time member’s son asked about honoring his father with an honorary membership. We
discussed how to recognize other members who have made a significant contribution to the
club. We will table the issue until the June meeting.
2) June Social, Jeff Churchill
It will be held on June 1,12:00-5:00, at Sellwood Park Picnic Area A. He has one sponsorship
and perhaps other food sponsorships. He’s considering games, walks and other activities. Jeff
is planning to provide grilled meats/veggie option with potluck sides and swag. We will send
out a separate email about the event to the membership. It is open to members and their family
and friends.
3) Policies & Practices document for TCO
We need to create a document for these that includes all the business items that were left out
of the new bylaws, such as dog policy, lodge rentals, etc., before the Annual Meeting.

Adjorned at 8:35
Next meeting, June 10, zoom

Submitted by Rebecca Knudeson, Secretary

Adds from TCO members for mutual benefit can be placed in the Trail Blazer

For activities such as bicycle, snowshoe, and XC skiing check with the leaders for the difficulty level. Good equipment for the specific activity is required for all events. For hikes, snowshoes:

Stay with the group and follow the leader. The leader is responsible for the group's safety. The leader determines which route is taken. The leader has authority to determine if a participant is prepared for the activity. Group safety must come first.

There is no charge to Trails Club members for day activities; non-members pay $2. Please contribute to any carpooling expenses at the rate of $.20 per mile. With multiple riders the driver can collect up to $.50 per mile shared by all the riders. Other fees may apply.