Maryland Volkssport Association
Minutes of Meeting
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Eastport, Maryland

Officers Present: President, Bob Schmick; Vice President, Skip Coburn; Treasurer, Kenneth Wilson; Secretary, Steve Arnett; Past President, Dennis Lynch.

Club Delegates: Bob Wolfe (Freestate Happy Wanderers), Bill Guion (CBCW), Sue Kenyon (Baltimore Walking Club), Sandra Lynch (World Wide Volkssport Tours), John Dye (Columbia), Diane Messer (Annapolis Amblers), and Sandi Cahill (WDCAVC).

Guests: Nancy Stenger (Atlantic Region Director), Rich Long, and Pat Arnet

The Meeting was called to order at 12:21 PM by President Bob Schmick

REPORTS

• Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.
• Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Ken Wilson submitted financial statements for January, February, and March 2007. He also submitted the 2006 Profit & Loss Statement, the proposed budget for 2007, and the 2006 Balance Sheet. The reports were approved. Ken stated that there is $4200 in the checking account, and that some should be spent. The budget was amended to include $1500 for donations, and $1500 toward the development of a publicity brochure. Ken read a thank you letter from Jackie Wilson at AVA for the donation they used to purchase a computer for $1247.99. Jackie requested a second donation to purchase a second computer. A motion to allocate $1200 for the effort was defeated.
• Publicity: Skip Coburn reported on the status of his MVA publicity brochure. Skip still needs to obtain a cost estimate for this project. Further discussion of possible publicity efforts covered the use of a billboard(s), a briefing board, more use of web resources, and reminder to people receiving telephone calls to respond in a positive manner.
• By-laws: Bill Guion reported that changes to the By-laws had been discussed several meetings ago, but no vote had been taken. Copies of the proposed By-laws were distributed, and a motion to approve the amended By-laws was passed.
• Audit: Rich Long reported that he performed an audit for the 2005-2006 Treasurer's reports, books, and records; and found no discrepancies.
• Webmeister: Bill Guion reported that people looking for walk information on the website can now select events by State, Club, etc.

OLD BUSINESS

• AVA Convention: There was a reminder to anyone planning to attend the Convention in Sacramento, CA that the registration deadline is May 1st.
• Four State weekend is coming up the weekend of May 26/27. The Maryland event will be on Sunday, May 27th at Greenbrier State Park, and will be hosted by the Piedmont Pacers. The C&O Bike begins May 30th (25th?).
• Region Meeting/Election: The Atlantic Region meeting is at the Lutherville, MD event on May 19th. There will be an election to select the next Atlantic Region Director. Currently, Skip Coburn is the only volunteer to be a candidate.

NEW BUSINESS

• Runners in sports: There was an extended discussion, following much activity on Walklist, concerning the issue to getting runners to our events. The notification of running clubs of appropriate events for runners should be accomplished. Issues which would have to addressed for runners were marking trails clearly, and in perhaps in both directions, more water points, and the requirement for staffed checkpoints. Brochures should mention joggers and runners as well as walkers. It was mentioned that the Annapolis Ambler event on June 2nd would be a good one for runners. The Annapolis Striders should be notified.
• Convention: A motion carried for the representative to vote best discretion, and for voting for Nancy Stenger for AVA President.
• Atlantic Region Director: Nancy Stenger reported that all region clubs are in good standing, and thus will be eligible to vote. First quarter reports are due for year round and seasonal events. Upcoming weekend multiple events are the Four State weekend in May, and Haunted Gettysburg in November. Merit awards/certificates will be given at the regional meeting in May. Nancy is taking reservations for Saturday evening during the Four State weekend for dinner at the Schmankerl Stube German restaurant in Hagerstown, MD.

CLUB REPORTS

• Annapolis Amblers: The Amblers are hosting today's event. There have been some issues reported concerning dogs in certain portions of the trail. The next Ambler event will be at Atkinson Arboretum in Tuckahoe State Park on June 2nd.
• Baltimore Walking Club: Upcoming events the "Architecture Walk" next Sunday, April 29th, and at Lutherville, MD on May 19th. Instructions will be available at the start point for how to get to the location of the Atlantic Region meeting. Lunch will be available for those attending the meeting. There will be an event in Betterton, MD on June 23rd. There will possibly be an event later in the year near Hollywood, MD at Greenwell State Park.
• CBCW: the next event will be at Jug Bay on May 12/13.
• Freestate Happy Wanderers: The Savage Mill YRE start point has moved, so check latest information. There is a bus trip to Atlantic City, NJ on June 2nd. The next event is at Pallotti High School on June 16th. There are still openings for the bus trip to Williamsburg, VA in October.
• WDCAVC: The first of 5 night walks was held on Tuesday this week. There are tentative plans for an event at a winery in the Sugarloaf area in the Fall. Nancy Stenger is now the DC Club alternate since Steve Arnett is now the MVA Secretary.
• Columbia: There will be monthly events through August. The event in May will be in combination with the "bike about". The June event will be associated with the community association "Get Active Howard County".
• World Wide Volkssport Tours: There is nothing scheduled this year. There will be a Caribbean cruise after the Savannah, GA events scheduled in January 2007, with sanctioned walks in San Juan, PR and in the Virgin Islands.
• Potomac River Volksmarching Club: Skip Coburn reported that there have been several personnel and organizational changes at Bolling AFB. The new people know nothing about Volkssporting, but Skip is still interested in holding an event at the base. There will be a Global event at Patuxent as in the past.

The meeting was closed at 2:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted