Selkirk Valley Back Country Horsemen, PO Box 274, Naples, Idaho 83847

www.svbch.org            

General Membership Meeting

July 17, 2010     Keno Mountain Trailhead

 Those attending: Bud and Dorothy Bailey, Patrice Berryessa, Levi Eleazer, Julie Everson, Robert Howell, Steve Larkin, Garry Lovrin, Arlene MacKinnon, Debra Prater.Bud called the meeting to order. Minutes from the June 2010 meeting were approved as published in the June newsletter. Treasurer's report: Arlene reported the balance of our account. Treasurer's report was accepted.

Old Business:

 Idaho Horse Board Grant: Remainder of the grant left to purchase equipment is $478.00; the following ideas were discussed by the chapter members and voted on. Spot beacon that activates a light, which confirms your message has been sent. Cabelas will offer a 10% discount, suggestion to check with Maps and More in Sandpoint or contact the manufacturer), GPS unit, hand held radios 4 pack with a base unit and extra batteries, EZ up canopy, water purifier, human first aid kits, EZ boot, nippers, file, leather punch, pack saddle, portable electric fence. The chapter members selected three items which the members based their decisions on prioritizing the safety needs of the members riding in the backcountry: spot beacon, hand held radios, 4 pack with a base unit, extra batteries and a water purifier. Bud asked the members for volunteers to purchase the equipment. The members appointed Steve and Bud.

  Trail rides reports:

 June ride/work party, Danquist Trail:  Robert reported on the trail ride, chapter members cleared several downfalls on the trail and it was suggested our chapter should contact the Forest Service about the mud bog on the trail.

  USFS Work party reports:

 Keno Mtn/Goat Mtn Bonners Ferry USFS Work Project – Steve, Robert, Garry, Bud, Julie and Levi reported on the four day work project July 14-17 that our chapter packed in 45--five gallon containers of water (weighing 40 pounds each, a total of 1800 pounds) and 120 pounds of camping gear for the Pend Oreille Pedalers into a work site past Keno Mtn. Distance was 11 miles one way and 22 mile round trip. Other members who volunteered for the work party were Rick Price, Jim Michaud, Sarah Larkin, and Dorothy Bailey. Each day of the work project a member tended the camp. Arleen MacKinnon, Debbie Prater, Patrice Berryessa and Cate Kutz arrived Saturday morning to help with the project, but due to the fact that the pro packer had arrived and was going to pack Saturday morning also, the chapter’s packers started at 5:00am and were already gone on the trail. The riders waited until the pro packer started out on the trail and went for a trail ride; they were joined by Steve Larkin and Robert Howell.

  Monthly membership meetings: The members at this meeting voted to continue having the summer and fall monthly membership meetings at the trailhead of the monthly ride during the months of August and September. It was discussed that the trailhead meetings should be accessible for all members.

 Suggestions for rides/meeting locations:

Debbie Prater has volunteered to host a ride/meeting at the Wylie Knob trailhead on September 18. Potluck to follow.

Marcy Ott suggested ride/meeting south of Sandpoint- no location or date set

Bud and Dorothy Bailey - October meeting and ride at their residence-- Marcy Ott is interested in cooking a dutch oven dinner for the members.

 Anyone in the chapter can make a suggestion for any of our monthly rides. Our membership ranges from those that live near the Canadian border to Careywood/Dufort Road areas south of Sandpoint. If any members are planning or going on a ride and you would like to inform the members of the chapter call Arleen to initiate the phone tree.

 Does anyone have any additional suggestions/ideas for locations for meetings and rides?

Bud discussed that there have been several members that have suggested that our monthly trail rides/meetings should be trail work parties rather than just pleasure trail rides. This subject was discussed at this meeting. Robert suggested that we should select trails -especially those trails that could be abandoned due to poor trail maintenance for monthly work parties in 2011. The members voted 9-1 to start in the late spring of 2011 that our monthly trail rides/meetings should be trail work parties rather than just pleasure trail rides.  Bud made a suggestion that our chapter should form a committee during the winter and identify trails that need trail work for the next summer. It was suggested by Arleen MacKinnon that we take out chainsaw boxes on the majority of our rides.

Report  on the BCHI July BOD Meeting in Priest River:

1) Calendar Sales: Bud reported on the BCHI Calendars: 25% of the calendar sales will be reimbursed to the chapters, $5.00/calendar. Our chapter took 45 calendars, the number of calendars per chapter was decided at the March State BOD meeting, and from the sale of these calendars we will receive back $225.00 for our chapter’s treasury. The calendars belong to our chapter; we can’t give them back to the state. Chapter members are responsible to sell the calendars and give the money to Arleen the treasurer. Deadline to sell the calendars is by Thanksgiving in November.

2)Rotation of the Annual State Convention alternating locations between the North and South chapters-Selkirk Valley’s  turn for hosting the convention will be 2014

 3) USFS Trail Reclassification System

Previous USFS Trail Reclassification, Three types of trail classification:

1-way, 2-secondary, 3- Mainline

There will be a Data base of the trail inventory released in a few months. The new trail system will be a five type reclassification system; two types of the trails will be non equine use:

1-Minimally divided trail-usually non accessible to stock

2-Moderalty developed trail

3-Developed trail

4-Highly developed trail

5-Paved pathways- non accessible to stock

The trail classifications of 2, 3, and 4 are generally for pack and saddle stock

  The national forests in the state of Idaho will be divided up by the 15 chapters. Selkirk Valley’s responsibility will be to review the trails that may have been deleted or reclassified to non equine use. When we receive the data base there will be a board of directors meeting and the BOD will present information at a membership meeting.

Booth at the Bonner County Fairgrounds shared by the three chapters of Selkirk Valley, Priest River and North Idaho- Bud presented the idea of the booth at the Fair to promote BCH of Idaho. The members at this meeting approved to participate in the booth with the two other chapters in Bonner County.

CALENDAR: 2010 EVENTS/RIDES

AUGUST:

Next meeting:

Saturday, August 14, Fault Lake Trailhead, ride and membership meeting at the gravel pit parking lot.

Meet at the Samuels Store/Conoco Gas Station, intersection Hwy 95 and Pack River Road at 0800. Meeting to follow the ride, meeting at 3:00pm or when the riders return from the ride.

Bring your brown bag lunch for on the trail and bring a potluck dish and your own drinks for after the ride and the membership meeting. Hamburgers will be provided by the chapter.

 August 19-22- Boulder Meadows “SVBCH Practice your Packing Skills” – emphasis will be the continuation of the spring packing clinic.  Everyone in the chapter has a vital role and important job when our chapter packs which involves everyone, riders and packers.   This event is a learning opportunity for all of our members. Gain experience with loads and hitches, practice and learn how to set up a packing load on a saddle, practice setting up tents/ camping/ food prep/dutch oven cooking. Fun and camaraderie for all of the chapter members.

Camping at the Boulder Meadows Trailhead August 19-22.

 SEPTEMBER:

 Saturday, September 18- Wylie Knob Ride – hosted by Debbie Prater and membership meeting at the trailhead. Bring your brown bag lunch for on the trail and bring a potluck dish, and your own drinks for after the ride and the membership meeting.

 Meeting adjourned, respectfully submitted

Dorothy Bailey, Secretary

2010 SVBCH OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

President                      Bud Bailey               208-263-0758                       bud_tyson@yahoo.com

Vice-President               Merle Olsen                208-267-2272                       moisimmens@msn.com        

Secretary                      Dorothy Bailey               208-263-0758                       bud_tyson@yahoo.com

Treasurer                       Arleen MacKinnon            208-267-3593                       arleen@earthlink.net

Director                         Kay Walker              208-265-8443                       kaykincaid@gmail.com

Director                         Steve Larkin               208-946-9487                       larkinsbars@yahoo.com

Director                         Rick Price                 208-263-8392                       rick_price @hotmail.com

State Director                Wayne Nishek              208-267-7191                       wnishek@meadowcrk.com

State Director                Bud Bailey               208-263-0758                       bud_tyson@yahoo.com

Alt State Director Marcy Ott                    208-265-5779                       nihorsepackerbabe@yahoo.co

Foundation Director Wayne Nishek              208-267-7191                       wnishek@meadowcrk.com