Trails Club of Oregon Board Meeting Minutes
Date: Nov. 4, 2025 Time: 7:00-9:00 PM Location: zoom
Attendees:
President: Beverly Drottar
Vice President: Eric Zimmerman
Treasurer: Vacant
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)
REGULAR BUSINESS
October board minutes were approved on Oct. 20, 2025, by email prior to the Blazer
publication.
Treasurer’s Report, Beverly
Beverly is handling receipts, deposits, and reimbursements temporarily. Lori has been helping
a lot with treasurer duties.
The October statements haven’t come in yet. Bev has asked Chris Monti to disburse $5,000
from the Fidelity account to checking for end of year costs and tax bills.
We discussed the importance of turning in receipts for expenses and forms for meal fees and
overnight fees. We must account for all money received and all money disbursed. We should
use the host forms even on work weekends because sometimes it’s hybrid with some people
who come and don’t work.
Membership Report, Lori
Readings, all unanimously approved:
Elizabeth Madsen – Sponsored by Nancy Schmidt and Lori Leach
Molly Poole – Sponsored by Olivia Miller Bakke and Lori Leach
Pierre Provost – Sponsored by Joel Reitz and Mark Barham
Craig Keller – Sponsored by Gregory Barrell and Lori Leach
Volker Czechowski – Sponsored by Paul Cutter and Lori Leach
Gregory Bishop – Sponsored by Rebecca Knudeson and John Koger
Membership Summary, 10/14/15
Total: 250
9 Golden, 2 Junior, 32 Life, 3 Life/Golden, 16 Provisional, 188 Regular
Publications Report, Joel
1. Updated Safe Deposit Box inventory on Drop Box (need to add an inventory copy in the box
as well as envelopes for the 2 new items as all other items are in envelopes).
We did not find the item "N7 Microfilm of the Nesika Register Book up to May 4th 1972,” but
the empty envelope for it was present. We will remove the empty envelope. The book has
already been digitized.
2. Published the "Policies and Practices" document on the website’s bylaws page in both PDF
and HTML versions (HTML adapts to screen size).
3. Separated Membership Renewals from New Member Applications in the Payments section.
4. Added the Dues Notice questionnaire to the payments section for membership renewal.
5. Added short URLs for /renew, /join, /AGM, /zoom. This makes for a better QR code.
6. Will work on converting all forms to online forms, with New Member Application next.
7. Investigated starting "Informed Delivery" for our PO Box.
8. The Board approved to move the PO Box to Multnomah Village near I-5. Discussed how the
mail pick up could work, how to do mobile deposits and how to communicate with treasurer.
Nesika Report, Pete
The final repair was done on the front door by installing the pane of glass. Shelves were hung
in the basement above the work bench, and the basement cleaned and organized. Oil was
changed in the generator and Kubota. The culvert near the Ornament Trail was patched using
galvanized roofing sheets to prevent washout that undermines the Basin Road. Wood was
stacked in the lodge and dorm. Shower head and curtain were replaced in the non-stinky
bathroom. Linda Conrad hosted a “Veterans' Weekend”, to commemorate those who had a
hand in building the lodge (see photos in the Blazer). The turnout was great despite the rainy
weekend. The water system will be drained and shut off November 11th, though the lodge will
able to be used.
Tyee Report, Paul
Two cords of wood were hauled up from town. On a very wet Saturday, the work party of nine
folks chain sawed a few logs from the winter trail and stacked the wood that had been hauled
up, filling the left wood bay. Paul estimates there is enough wood for a minimum 3-4 years,
including the wood in the basement. A low level retaining wall was built from the fire escape to
the wood chute to back up the french drain that had been built previously. During the deluge
on Saturday, we noticed water seeping in between the block wall and concrete floor at the
back of the basement. A temporary water chute was built. More investigation and ideas are
needed for next year. Led by Sebastian Powers-Leach, the wood debris pile was split into three
and burnt.
All are welcome to attend the Pre-Thanksgiving potluck on Saturday 11/22 for a 1:30 PM
dinner. Paul is sure there will be a hike afterwards. The lodge will go into its winter status after
that weekend. Hosts, please note.
Trips Report, Craig
There were 2 day hikes, a day field trip, a TCO Stormy Trails cleanup event, as well as the
weekly Wednesday evening hikes during the month of October. There were a total of 3
volunteers during the TCO Stormy Trails cleanup event.
The TCO Stormy Trails committee examined the following trails and found them clear of
obstacles as of Oct 31: High Water Trail, Basin Cutoff Trail, Ornament Trail, Nesika/Franklin
Ridge Connector Trail and Cougar Rock Trail.
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.
Outdoor Ed and Outreach, vacant
Sebastian Powers-Leach has volunteered to fill this board position starting with the new term.
At the annual meeting, the Board will recommend him for a vote as the Outdoor Ed and
Outreach Trustee.
OLD BUSINESS
501(c)3 Non-Profit Update
Lori is currently gathering the additional required information to complete IRS Form 1023, titled
“Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code,” which is the official long-form application for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
Insurance, Eric
Hopefully, before the annual meeting, we will have more concrete numbers to discuss. Our
current insurance premium renews on 12/12 so we could possibly transition seamlessly.
Eric is always looking for input as he’s not an insurance guy and many hands make lighter
work.
NEW BUSINESS
Annual Meeting
Board positions to fill: Tyee Chair, Treasurer, Education & Outreach, President, Nesika, and
Membership.
At the meeting we will leave the Tyee Chair open, and see if we get some response. Paul will
hold things together through the winter if necessary. The treasurer needs to be a CPA or an
experienced bookkeeper. The president and the Nesika and membership trustees are willing to
continue in their positions. Lori and Joel will develop a ballot.
Plans:
Bev needs an annual summary from all departments. If you wish to present yours, please keep
it BRIEF (<5 min).
Awards: Any nominations for the Henry Waespe Distinguished Service Award (club award for
service) and Mary Lou Green High Miler Award (for club hikes)? The Waespe Award is at
Nesika. Paul will check Tyee for the Una Davies High Traveler Award (PCT) and the Mary Lou
Greene awards. We’ll ask Dolores to get the Waespe award from Nesika.
Budget for 2026
We looked at the spreadsheet for the budget. Board members with expenses will complete
their part of the sheet before our December board meeting.
Adjourned at 9:07
Next meeting Dec 7, 2025, at 5 PM at Bev’s house
Submitted by Rebecca Knudeson, Secretary
