Annual Meeting Minutes, Nov 5 2016

1. Approval of July 14 Summer Meeting minutes: John Gunzler made a motion, seconded by Doug Sohn, to approve the July minutes. All were in favor.

2. Introduce New Member Organizations: Ed introduced four new organizations to join the Trail Conference: Friends of Harmony Hall, Town of Woodstock, NY, Ramapough Conservancy, Inc., and the New Jersey Highlands Coalition.

3. Board of Directors/At-large Voting Member Nominations: On behalf of the Nominating Committee, Ed Goodell presented the following 2017 candidates for the Board of Directors for three-year terms and At-Large Voting Members for one-year terms:
   1. Board of Directors: Mary Dooman, Patsy Wooters, Daniel Hoberman, Richard Katzive, Edward Whitney
   2. At-Large Voting Members: Therese Allen, Susan Barbuto, Suse Bell, Cliff Berchtold, Norman Blumenstein, Sara Cavanaugh, Matt Decker, Jack Driller, Harvey Fishman, William Gannett, Robert Lehmann, Paul Makus, James Piombino, Anne Powley, Kristin Reeves, Peter Reiner, Karen Rose, Ruth Rosenthal, Robert Ross, Susan Scher, Karl Soehnlein, Doug Sohn, Judith Joan Sullivan, Robert Ward

4. Treasurer’s Report: Board Treasurer Rick Levine discussed the financial management of the organization and the role of the Finance Committee. Rick indicated that the organization is financially healthy, despite a working deficit to fund three major initiatives: the re-organization, the website/database upgrade, and the strategic plan.

5. Executive Director’s Report: Ed Goodell discussed the strategic plan and provided an update on the process, explaining that it is entering its final stages. Four main strategic imperatives have derived from the process: Improve volunteer trail maintenance, Maintain strong trail planning, design, construction and advocacy, Grow loyal constituency with trail user information and education, and Strengthen financial capacity to deliver on mission. A final plan will be approved by the Board of Directors and then made public. Some in attendance expressed concern about the ‘top-down’ nature of the Strategic Planning process. Ed also discussed the Website/Database updated, which should be completed by mid- to late-November.

6. New Business:
   1. Richard Barr discussed volunteer training and recognition practices that the Catskills 3500 Club follows for their members.

Seeing no other business, Jane Daniels made a motion, seconded by Bob Fuller, to adjourn the meeting. All were in favor. Recorded by Erica Van Auken.