MARYLAND VOLKSSPORT ASSOCIATION
Minutes of Meeting
7 June 2003 at Cockeysville, MD

OFFICERS PRESENT: President, Ron Looper; Secretary, Dennis Lynch; Treasurer, Ken Wilson

CLUB DELEGATES PRESENT: Jean Gibbs, Piedmont; Regina Tiedeman, CBCW; Bill Simmons, Baltimore; Sandi Cahill and Diane Evans, WDCAVC; Diane Messer, Annapolis; Sandra Lynch, Worldwide Volkssport and Delaware State; Bob Schmick, Annapolis

GUESTS: Fran Looper, Rick Nauen, Jeanette Anders, Sue Kenyon

GUEST SPEAKER: Pat McCracken

The speaker was introduced by Rick Nauen. Pat McCracken is with the State Dept. of Health and Mental Hygene, and active in the Smart Step Forward walking program, which is part of the Smart Growth initative. This promotes walking as an alternate form of transportation. The goal is a state-wide walking program. Other points were: heart disease is the number one killer in MD; climbing stairs is an excellent exercise for the heart; there is a stair-well-campaign with signs to get people to use stairs in public buildings. Pat is on http://www.smartstepforward.org.

Rick Nauen mentioned the National Conference of Pedestrian Advocates, which we should all support, and which is having their convention in Silver Spring in May 2004.

OFFICERS REPORTS

• A quorum was present. There being no objections, the President accepted the old minutes as printed. Ron stated that Diane Evans has volunteered to serve as Vice President. The Secretary circulated a get-well-card for Jim Fons who is successfully recovering from bypass surgery.
• Treasurer's remarks: Some of the clubs still will not list free walkers in their after-action reports. Ron Bowers has stated that without these numbers we don't have complete statistics on participation. Non-IVV walkers are not free walkers and 10 cents must be paid to MVA. Ken circulated financial statements for April and May, 2003. These were approved as reported.

OLD BUSINESS

• On May 17 Joan Lampert was reelected as Atlantic Region Director.
• In March 2006 Maryland is committed to be the site for the Regional Director Meeting.
• Ron Looper stated that HB-98, the bill to make walking the state exercise was vetoed by the Governor who called the bill "silly". If you don't approve of this, contact your representatives and the Governor now, because there may be a special session of the General Assembly this year, and an attempt will be made to override the veto.
• Ron discussed the several bylaws changes proposed before the AVA convention 2003. There was no disagreement about instructing him to use his best judgement in the voting

NEW BUSINESS

• Trails should be marked as much as possible (when allowed). Walkers prefer marked trails to map walks.
• There will be an MVA basket in our booth at the convention, and a basket for the silent auction.
• The Howard County 50+ Expo will be held in the Fall.
• The new Appalachian club will hold a walk at Rocky Gap in October.
• Club officer updates must come thru the state association (MVA).
• There was a discussion about handicapped walks and the fact that most newer walkers do not know that this option exists. The clubs should get the word out to their members.
• Tim Minor has offered an information table at the start point for the IML Freedom Walk in Sept., which is again at the Reserve Officers Association. Tim now has the U.S. Surgeon General on board.

COMMENTS

• Ron Looper thanked the Baltimore Walking Club for the food and Sue Kenyon for allowing the use of her home as a dry meeting place for MVA.
• The next MVA meeting is not yet scheduled. All clubs will be notified by the Secretary.

Dennis Lynch, Secretary; 6/14/03