Trails Club of Oregon Board Meeting Minutes
Date: June 10, 2025 Time: 7:00-9:00 PM Location: zoom
Attendees:
President: Bev Drottar
Vice President: Eric Zimmerman
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:
Treasurer: Nicole Rogers
BUSINESS VIA EMAIL
The minutes were approved on May 24, 2025, by email prior to the Blazer publication.
Eric moved to start the transfer of $6000 to prepare for, and purchase ASAP, a replacement for
Nesika’s tractor. Craig seconded. Paul amended the motion to $7000 in case Tyee has a need
or there are additional costs for the Kubota. The motion was approved by email on May 29,
2025.
Treasurer’s Report, Nicole
Beginning Balance, 5/31/25: $18,946.77
Checks and Payment: 1713.09
Deposits and Credits: 2786.70
Cleared Balance: 20,020.38
The most current Fidelity statement value: $447,485.
Complete reports can be found by the Board in Dropbox.
Membership Report, Lori
First Readings: Julia Williamson sponsored by Sheryl Wagner and Linda Conrad
Lou Lorber sponsored by Craig Gwydir and Kate Curry
Second Readings unanimously approved:
Andrew Gardner sponsored by Craig Gwydir and Linda Conrad
Total membership: 236
9 Golden, 2 Junior, 31 Life, 3 Life/Golden, 14 Provisional, 177 Regular
Publications Report, Joel
Nothing to report.
Nesika Report, Pete
The window sills in the dorm were installed by Derek, who brought his own generator to run his
tools. Legacy debris (mostly crushed brick and cement) from the old dorm was removed for a turnaround for the tractor/trailer near the generator shack. Cement footings from the old
woodshed were dug up and removed as well some small trees. Denis Rumford, a friend of Ron
Gladen’s, came for a day to look at the generator. After hours of testing, he determined the glow plugs were at fault. New ones were installed, and the generator is running again. Bob Walker has determined the Yanmar requires a new head gasket (head is fine) and is in the process of putting it back together. A quote for a new Kubota UTV was offered by CM & WO Sheppard Inc in Hood River for $16,500. The price includes delivery to mp 10 on Larch Mountain Rd. Olive Insurance, our policy maker for both lodges, suggests raising our rates $720 per year to cover the liability costs, claiming the UTV would see more use and thus a greater liability. If we don’t accept the increase in the premium, the underwriter may or may not grant coverage. It is up to us to accept this increase in rates. Work parties have been scheduled for 6/21-22, 7/26-2, & 8/9-10. The lodge will be open for 7/4. A very recent bad landslide has blocked the Multnomah Basin Rd, past the green gate, past the first bridge. It appears that a tall uphill tree fell and hit a burned tree on the edge of the embankment above the road, bringing it down too. When that tree fell it took large boulders with it, two looking to be almost 3 feet wide. The Forest Service has been contacted, Pete is waiting to hear back from the engineers. Please don't drive on the Basin Road past the brown gate.
We discussed the insurance issue for a new Kubota when we buy it. Pete will contact Glen
Conrad to get more information about how Nesika’s insurance works and the possibility of
getting liability insurance for a Kubota. Rebecca moved and Paul seconded to release $16,500
for a UTV for Nesika. It was approved unanimously.
Oregon Search and Rescue requested to use Nesika on 7/18 for one day. Pete will host.
Rebecca moved, Paul seconded, that they use the lodge that day. 7 in favor and 1 abstained.
Tyee Report, Paul
We had no activity at the lodge in May. A work party is scheduled 6/21. Work-in-lieu at
Wildcat Mtn will be held on 9/27. Paul was able to measure the depth of the septic tank using a
makeshift measuring pole. Brown water depth is 48" of which 16" is sludge. The recommendation by sewer experts is that a tank is due for pumping when it is 25-30% full of
sludge. Any amount above this, there is a possibility of drain field problems. Paul has
scheduled a pump at the cost of $715 for the first 1000 gallons, then $0.65 per gallon for
everything above 1000 gallons. The total is $1365. Paul found a schematic of the tank and
drain field drawn in 1987. The tank is 2000 gallons. Heating oil delivery is scheduled at $4.24/
gallon. The expected cost is $1200-1300. Furnace service is scheduled at $250. Eric moved to
pump this year, Rebecca seconded. The motion passed with 6 in favor, 1 opposed.
Trips Report, Craig
There was a TCO Stormy Trails committee hike to the Multnomah Basin in May to clear basin
trails. 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 May. The TCO First Aid Class will likely be scheduled for Sunday 9/28 at Tyee Lodge. Details are being worked out for the class. Priority will be given to TCO Trips Leaders. "Green Fern" wood signs were ordered for the Green Fern dorm. The Stormy Trails committee did clearing on the following trails in May: Ornament Trail, Cougar Rock Trail, Elevator Shaft Trail, Multnomah Basin Connector Trail, Nesika/Franklin Ridge Connector Trail, and Meadow Ridge user path. The 2025 goal is to keep these trails clear.
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.
Craig and Pete are looking to host a first aid class by Adventure Medics at Tyee on 9/28.
Outdoor Ed and Outreach, vacant
Board level trustee needed! If you want to know more about this position, please contact
president@trailsclub.org
Social Committee, Jeff Churchill
Jeff thanks everyone who showed up and helped at the picnic early this month. The Board
thanked him for the fabulous event. He’s looking at sites east of Portland, within 60 miles of the
city, for a future event in early August. He’s also looking ahead to the Annual Meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
Policies & Practices document for TCO
We discussed how we are going to complete this document that replaces sections of our
former by laws that are subject to frequent change.
Each board member should try to comment on the section(s) pertinent to their position.
Rebecca and Lori will work on it more in August.
Honorary membership
Bev moved and Eric seconded to sponsor active long time member and board member Merrill
Hugo’s membership for this year. The motion passed unanimously. Bev will organize a petition
to be signed by at least 25 members and present at the Annual Meeting.
Recognition for major Donor for Nesika projects
Pete will write a letter of thanks from the board to the donor to inform them of their Life
membership award.
NEW BUSINESS
501c3 Status
StartChurch has not been responding to Lori’s inquiries about the stall in our application to the
State of Oregon. Lori will email both parties she has been working with, stating that our board
president is asking for a refund of our payment to them so we can pursue it some other way.
Meeting adjourned at 8:55
Next meeting, July 8, 2025, 7PM, zoom
Submitted by Rebecca Knudeson, Secretary
