Friends of Tuckerman RavineMinutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

December 8, 2007 at Wildcat, NH

Directors Present: Dave Esty, Al Risch, Jake Risch, Ken Rancourt, John Gorman, Brad Ray, Bob Ackland, Don Bishop, Ed Holmes, Sally Dinsmore Baldwin, Roger Damon, Julie Lynn Belon, Marc P. Hauser, Hannes Schneider, Matt Howard, Ellen Chandler, Jeff Leich, Tom Eastman

Regrets: Ted Sutton, Anne Kroger

Advisory Board Members Present: Naomi Risch

USDA Forest Service present: Dave Neely

With 18 Directors in attendance, there was a quorum present (9 are required).

1. Welcome and Introductions—Dave Esty:

*Dave opened the meeting by thanking Wildcat and its general manager, Tom Caughey, for hosting the meeting and providing skiing.

*There is bad news about the health of Steve Eastman of the Advisory Board; a moment of silence and prayer was observed.

2. Secretary's Report--Jeff Leich:

*The minutes of the last meeting were posted on the website. Roger Damon made a motion to accept the minutes as written. Hannes Schneider seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.

3. Treasurer's Report—Rich Brauel:

*Financially speaking, things are a little tight now. There is a $7200 deficit to date for the year.

*Dave addressed this by saying that the Risch family has again made a loan to the organization that will be repaid in 2008. Dave expressed the thanks of the group for the loan, and the expectation that the financial outlook will be better in 2008.

4. Executive Directors Report—Al Risch:

*The Boston ski show was all Al expected it to be. With the help of our supporting ski area members who donated ski tickets, Al enlisted 131 people as members. In response to a question by Bob Ackland, Al reported that most of those will probably renew their memberships at next year’s ski show, if the premium is offered then. There was a total revenue of about $4800 at the show, with perhaps $1000 in expenses. Dave heard great reports about the booth, and thanks were given to Hannes, Naomi, Alison, JB, Karen and Ron Gogan for help in the booth. There are still some remaining tickets for premiums for online memberships.

*Al and Dave attended the Northeast Winter Sports Summit at Bretton Woods in September. This industry trade show generates goodwill for Friends.

*Al met with Ray Valais of the NH National Guard in Concord. Subject to their deployment schedule, the Guard is on board for the race again this year.

*Al also met with Chris Thayer about the new pedestrian bridge in Pinkham Notch. Installation of the bridge is complete, and a temporary footpath is in place.

*Ellen and Al met and have a draft of an annual fundraising letter. (Dave Neely advised that we avoid the term ‘appeal letter’, as that would raise blood pressures throughout the Forest Service).

*Jake is working on an operations plan for the race, and it has gone out to all stakeholders.

5. Discussion of Mission Statement:

*Don Bishop started a discussion aimed at revising the mission statement at the last meeting that has continued by e-mail. Al presented a potential draft of the revision, which was discussed at length.

*Brad Ray made a motion that the secretary edit the statement and circulate it by e-mail to the board. Bob Ackland seconded the motion. Jeff Leich abstained from the vote, which was otherwise unanimously in favor.

6. Race planning:

*Dave Neely remarked that the intent of the Forest Service is to have the draft operations plan that Jake submitted ready to go by December 15. He explained that the National Guard operates under a separate permit, based on the Memorandum of Understanding between the Forest Service and the military. The NH National Guard component of our race is part of a wider permit that they obtain for training exercises on the national forest that have nothing to do with our race.

*Al noted that Ted Austin is back in the area, and he will help with the race this year.

*FOTR will plan on funding two state police troopers on detail at Pinkham on the day of the race.

7. Updates from US Forest Service, Dave Neely:

*As of December 1, the snow ranger season is officially underway, and primary SAR responsibility in the ravines is in the hands of the Forest Service. www.tuckerman.org has been updated.

*Dave reported on parking progress. Capitol improvement funds have arrived at the Forest Service for the Pinkham parking improvements, and the Forest Service technical services team is working on the design. Dave will meet with NH DOT and AMC in the near future, and plans for the design may be ready in six weeks. Once the design is completed, the plans can go out to bid.

*Planning for the trail connecting the Pinkham footbridge to the parking lot is being incorporated into the design plan for the lot. After the parking lot is upgraded, the associated issue of the overflow parking lots will be addressed.

*No appropriation bills have been moving through Congress, and the Forest Service is operating under continuing resolutions. This means the Forest Service is working with funding at the 2007 level, and money is tight. This does not affect the relationship with FOTR except that any support the board can give to a white-hat, high profile program like the snow ranger group is very helpful.

*FOTR is likely to see a request for funds to replace the avalanche condition sign slat boards. There are three boards, in the ravine, at Pinkham, and in Huntington. A very rough estimate is that it might take $10,000 to replace the slat boards in all three with material that will last for the long design period.

8. Marketing and Public Relations:

*Ellen reported that she and Tom Eastman will be coordinating on race publicity. Dave proposed a meeting of the Marketing Committee in the near future.

9. Grants Update

*Dave reported that Anne, who could not attend, has three good prospects for potential grants.

10. Old Business

*Dave proposed that Ted Austin be re-instated on the board since he is now residing in Norwich. Dave also recruited Bo Adams, JJ Toland, Steve Wright and Martha Austin for the Advisory Board.

*Jake Risch made a motion to accept the additions to the Board and Advisory Board as Dave detailed. Marc seconded the motion, and the vote was unanimous in favor.

11. Next Meeting March 15, 2008. All meeting dates get posted on the website, and board members should get in the habit of checking the site if they do not already do so.

12. Adjournment: Bob Ackland moved to adjourn the meeting. Roger Damon seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous in favor.

 Respectfully Submitted,

Jeff Leich