Maryland Volkssports Assocation
Minutes of Meeting
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Columbia, Maryland

OFFICERS PRESENT: President, Dennis Lynch; Vice President, Skip Coburn; Treasurer, Kenneth Wilson.

CLUB DELEGATES: Bob Wolfe (Freestate Happy Wanderers), Bill Guion (CBCW), Sandra Lynch (World Wide Volkssport Tours), John Dye (Columbia), Jerry Baugher (Piedmont Pacers), Sue Kenyon (Baltimore Walking Club), Diane Messer (Annapolis Amblers), and Steve Arnett (WDCAVC).

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Jim Fons (Sanctions)

GUESTS: Lynne Haffner, Phil Wilder, Bob Schmick, Dan Wedekling, Susan Osbourne, and Fred Lopez.

• The Meeting was called to order at 1:35 PM by President Dennis Lynch.

REPORTS

• Minutes from the previous meeting were not available.
• Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Ken Wilson submitted reports for September, October, and November 2006. The reports were approved. Ken reminded everyone that the 4thQuarter reports for YREs and Seasonals are due. He also stated that the sign at AVA Headquarters is being replaced by the landlord, and that the previously approved MVA donation for that purpose is not required. The amount approved was $1500. Ken suggested new options which had been suggested by Jackie Wilson. She has requested funds to purchase a laptop computer for use in presentations while making presentations on her travels on AVA business, and for a small copier for office use at AVA. A motion was made to reallocate the previously approved $1500 for that purpose, and the motion was approved.
• Publicity: Skip Coburn reported on the status of his MVA publicity brochure. He is working potential ideas for the format and content of the brochure.
• Sanctions: Jim Fons presented a list of the club YREs and Seasonals for 2007. There were some corrections made from the floor. Jim reminded everyone to email him with any sanctions submitted to AVA, so that he can make sure they are properly processed and approved. Skip Coburn proposed setting up a process to gather email addresses from participants at YRE and Seasonal events. Dennis requested that anyone with ideas contact Skip.
• Webmeister: Bill Guion reported that people looking for walk information on the website can now select events by State, Club, etc.
• Rediscover Maryland: Phil Wilder presented plaques to committee workers - John Carolus, Heather Quinn, Jim Fons, and Bob Schmick.

OLD BUSINESS

• Jerry Baugher reported that the cost estimate for the proposed memorial bench for Jean Gibbs at Strawberry Hill is $417 plus about 100 to 120 dollars for the plaque engraving. A motion was made and approved for the MVA to donate $200 toward the cost of the bench.

NEW BUSINESS

• There was a discussion of whether the MVA should have a booth at the 2007 AVA convention. The decision was negative. A suggestion was made that clubs should make sure leftover event brochures are carried to the next event.
• Jerry Baugher requested that since one of the Piedmont Pacer YRE/Seasonals did not make it into Starting Points for what he felt was an MVA approval issue, that MVA reimburse the club the $30 sanction fee. A motion carried to that effect.
• Skip Magee would like to add a bike event on the C&O Canal. A motion to do so was passed. The sanction will be submitted such that the event can begin on May 30, 2007.
• The election of officers for 2007-2008 was held. None of the candidates was opposed, so, in the absence of a Secretary, President Dennis Lynch cast the unanimous vote to determine the outcome.
• The new officers are:
• President: Bob Schmick
• Vice President: Skip Coburn
• Treasurer: Kenneth Wilson
• Secretary: Steven Arnett

CLUB REPORTS

• Piedmont Pacers - there will be a 4-State event over Memorial Day weekend. The Pacers will sponsor the Maryland event.
• World Wide Volkssport Tours - There will be a Caribbean cruise in late January into February with sanctioned walks at U.S ports of call. The club is also planning an Alaska cruise immediately following the AVA Convention.
• Freestate Happy Wanderers - The Savage Mill YRE start point is now at the deli in the food court in the main building.
• Annapolis Amblers - the start point for the Annapolis YRE is at 44 Calvert Street.
• Baltimore Walking Club - Upcoming events are in Arbutus on January 13th, and at the DuBurns Arena the last weekend in February.
• Potomac River Volksmarching Club - Skip Coburn is proposing to approach AVA about allowing him to sanction an event on Bolling AFB despite the event probably not being available to the public. His rationale is that there are hundreds of military who might participate, and make such an event financially worthwhile, and more than can be earned by not having such an event.

The meeting was closed at 2:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted