Paddling Board Meeting - 1/12/10

Attendees: Dave Sibley, Shannon Lavelle, Kevin Foley, Kevin Frankoski, Louise Young, Wes Young, M. "Chris" Stranahan, Sheri Pflugh, Patty Welch, Ed Rohrbach, Mark Yohe, Janice Fiore, Mary DiTommaso, Susan Love, Wendy Kutz

Flatwater Trip Coordinator - Louise Young: There will be a flatwater trip planning meeting at the Hockessin Library, January 17th at 1 PM.  All are invited.

Whitewater Trip Coordinator - Patty Welch: Submitted the schedule for the coming year.  It was noted that the Stony Creek Festival is in May this year.  She will post more dates as they are scheduled.  She needs information on the release schedules for the Salmon River, Deerfield/Hudson River, and the Mongaup.

Treasurer - Chris Stranahan:  The Treasurer's report was submitted and approved.  We lost money last year due to lower revenues from the training course and higher expenses.

The Board thanked her for her instruction at the First Aid/CPR/AED course.

Marketing - Kevin Foley and Shannon Lavelle:  A new poster draft was submitted.  Kevin needs more pictures from the kayakers.  They should be high resolution (12 MP or more).  He needs them soon, because he would like to get the poster complete and printed by the end of January.  A news release was also submitted with the goal of putting out information about the Open Houses.  Shannon would like information on future trips so that it can be published in the Wilmington Trail Club Bulletin.  She will be creating a poster distribution list.

Our group will be making a short presentation at the UD Outdoor Club meeting, and other groups were discussed.

The posters are expected to be up in their locations by February 15th at the latest.

Training - Janice Fiore, Mary DiTommaso, and Wendy Kutz:  The training schedule for this year was submitted.  In brief, will be two Open Houses to recruit new paddlers.  One will be on March 28th at the Western Y,  and the other on April 16th at Cab Calloway.  At these events, the participants will get information on equipment, and the training course, they will see paddlers on the water and get an opportunity to try a boat in the pool.  A waiver will be required to try a boat.  The application process will be explained to them during the Open House.

Those applying will attend the  renamed Required Safety Session, on May 3rd at Cab Calloway, where they will get the full ACA safety instructions and perform their swim test and wet exit.

Gift certificates for the training course will be available this year.

A third open house at Lum's Pond was cancelled because it was felt to be confusing.

Insurance and Safety - Dave Sibley:  There will be insurance.

New Business:

Sheri Pflugh will be the coordinator for the Flatwater Training/Quick Start Course at Lum's Pond on May 15th.  We discussed what she would need and where to obtain it.

The suggestion was made to become more active in encouraging the government to remove the old dams on the Brandywine River.  Susan Love has some information on that and will get it to the Board.

An equipment inventory is available.  This is equipment owned by the club and includes boats, PFDs, skirts, and other gear.

Mark Yohe informed us that he has a source for air bags at discount prices.

The question of access to the wtcpaddling@yahoo.com email account will be referred to Mike Gaul.

Respectfully submitted.

Wes Young