Trails Club of Oregon Board Meeting Minutes
Date: 3/10/2026 Time: 7:00-9:00 PM Location: zoom
Attendees:
President: Bev Drottar
Vice President: Eric Zimmerman
Treasurer: Sydney Jackson
Secretary: Rebecca Knudeson
Publications: Joel Reitz
Membership: Lori Leach
Tyee Trustee: Eric Zing Eisinger
Nesika Trustee: Pete Recksiek
Trips Trustee: Craig Gwydir
Outdoor Ed/Outreach Trustee: Sebastian Powers-Leach
Committee Chairs: Jeff Churchill (Social)
REGULAR BUSINESS
Minutes were approved unanimously on 3/15/26 by email prior to the Blazer publication.
The use of Tyee by a Sierra Club youth group on 3/15/26 was also approved by email. Eric E
will host.
Treasurer’s Report, Sydney
Beginning Balance, 3/9/26: $11,309.11
Checks and Payment: 630.77
Deposits and Credits: 4,962.76
Cleared Balance: 15,641.10
Sydney is planning to get the taxes to our tax person soon.
Complete reports can be found by the Board in Dropbox:
Membership Report, Lori
Membership readings, all unanimously approved:
Rick Lathrop, sponsored by Joel Reitz and Mark Barham
Beth Silva, sponsored by Glen Conrad and Nina Rohrs
Julie Norrander, sponsored by Craig Gwydir and Rebecca Knudeson
Wendy Lou, sponsored by Sheryl Wagner and Lori Leach
Kassandra Griffin, sponsored by Linda Conrad and Nina Rohrs
Membership summary, 252 total:
197 Regular, 8 Golden, 3 Junior, 34 Life, 4 Life/Golden, 6 Provisional
Publications Report, Joel
Columbia Sportswear employee store invite went out to the membership on Feb 25th, for use
Feb 27- Mar 22.
Joel has collected the mail from the post office and posted the items for the Board.
The lodge host forms provided an insight in how badly the host form is used such as
not identifying member vs. non-member (Mazama members do NOT get reciprocity) and
payments made "on-line" that did not occur.
This verification step must be the host's responsibility. The form as it is might be OK if all the information is entered, but when it is not filled out, it is almost impossible to verify what was intended.
Craig will pick up the mail the mail in April when Joel is not able.
Nesika Report, Pete
Pete Recksiek hosted a recreational weekend 2/14 to 2/16. Members split wood and restocked
the wood room. The Franklin Ridge connector trail was cleared of several blown down trees.
The lodge was accessible by road, and fuels were restocked.
On March 1st, Dave Letcher noticed the main gate was pinned and shut, but not locked. The
gate hasp (flat piece of steel that holds the padlocks) was missing along with the forestry gate
lock. The TCO lock was wedged in the gate. A new hasp was made by Rob Parker and a new
pad lock installed from the Forestry Duty Supervisor.
New door knobs were installed on both bathrooms that do not lock (the deadbolts remain on
both doors). They had locking doorknobs with the key on the inside and had the potential to
lock someone inside. The purchase and installation was a generous donation to the lodge.
A lockbox for donations and day fees was installed on the wall next to the guest registry book.
The steps were cleared next to the water fountain with the intention to clear the lower area for
recreational use.
The Forest Service is still working on the Basin Road, felling hazard trees near where they
intend to install/repair water bars. Please contact Pete Recksiek if you intend to drive in past
the green gate during the week.
Tyee Report, Eric Zing
February was a little busier at the lodge. The TCO winter games was a success. Lori hosted
another group from the Trackers. Eric Z. installed the day use donation box. It was filled with
$55! Eric Z. also installed a pub quality dart board for our nightly entertainment. Last weekend
he hauled up 4 gallons of antifreeze and 30 rolls of TP! Looks like a big storm is a coming for
the weekend! He hopes to see y’all there!
Trips Report, Craig
There was 1 day hike and 1 snowshoe event during the month of February. The TCO Hike
Leaders semi-monthly ZOOM meeting has changed to a broader topic format titled "TCO Trails
Talk!"
The TCO Stormy Trails committee examined the following Basin trails on Feb 14, 2026 and found them clear: High Water Trail, Basin CutoffTrail, Ornament Trail, Nesika/Franklin Connector path, and Cougar Rock Trail. On the Elevator Shaft path, the upper boulder field has
a large snag across the stone path with a makeshift detour in place.There are 6 limbed snags
on the east/flat portion of the path that are easy to step over.
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, Sebastian
The OEO Committee had another meeting (this time on Zoom) on the 25th of February. The
Committee discussed our current goals and future action items while also welcoming two new
committee members to the group. Some current aims include creating promotional materials
for tabling events and the planning of a few lodge outreach events the summer (more info to
come). Several committee members will be tabling during the Leave No Trace presentation at
Cedar Mill Library on March 19th.
We will meet virtually during the last week of March. Our next in-person meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 26th at 2pm (location TBD). If you would like to join the OEO Committee or learn more about how you can help expand outdoor education and outreach, please email oeochair@trailsclub.org.
Social, Jeff
Jeff has a couple of members who may be interested in helping with the social committee.
History
Ben Carscallen (who is not a current member) posted on the Trails Club Facebook page an
intriguing photo of some 1928-1930 “schedule pamphlets” from the Trails Club.
OLD BUSINESS
501 (c) 3
Our application has finally been sent to the feds. Now, we’ll wait to hear from them.
Day use fees for external non-member groups
We moved, seconded and unanimously approved the following: Include in the Policy and
Practices document that external non-member groups will be charged $5 per person for a day
fee at the lodges. The Board may vote to waive the fee for disadvantaged groups.
Threadneedle Account
Bev will send an email to Chris Monti to check about the progress of this transfer.
Thank-you Joel for the lovely article about this memorial fund.
NEW BUSINESS
We moved, seconded and approved to move the April board meeting to April 7 instead of 14.
Adjourned at 8:36
Next meeting: ***Please submit all monthly reports by Sunday 4/5/26 for agenda***.
Meet via zoom on April 7th 7-9pm, trailsclub.org/zoom
Submitted by Rebecca Knudeson, Secretary
