Athens Bicycle Club Meeting, April 8, 2003

Present: Tim Creamer, Chip Krieg, Ellen Gerl, Matt Lesher, Tracy Kitts, Peter Kotses, Meredith Erlewine, Kaleb McCutcheon, Paul Schulz, Tom Wolf

1. Purchase of Trailbuilding Tools

The club authorized reimbursing Peter for tools he purchased for the club.

2. Meet & Greet at Strouds Run State Park, Saturday, April 12

There will be an open house of sorts near the boat launch at the park to welcome the new park manager, Randy Wachter. Club members agreed it would be good for a club representative to go and encouraged anyone who is able to go.

3. Work Party Reminder

There will be a work party for the new Bobcat Trail at Lake Hope State Park on Saturday, April 12. There is information about time, etc., on the Athens Bicycle Club Web site.

4. Hocking Hills State Forest

Peter reported that officials from Hocking Hills State Forest approached him requesting that ABC provide guidance in developing and possible help maintain a new mountain bike trail that the park plans to build. Club members discussed the fact that the club already is overbooked with trail projects in Athens and Zaleski. Kaleb and Chip volunteered to do some preliminary looking around with park officials.

5. Grant Opportunities

Ohio Mountain Bike Association/International Mountain Bicycling Association representative Matt Ogle stopped in Athens Bicycle to provide Pete information about grant opportunities. The deadline had already passed for the opportunities that looked most promising for ABC, and club members agreed to revisit the opportunities before next year’s deadline (February).

6. Athens Land Conservation Committee (ALCC) Update

Pete provided an update on activity related to the new trail that will begin near the COAD building on E. State Street and connect with Strouds Run trails that will be open to bikes. Next steps are for Pete, Kaleb and Chip to lay out a proposed trail and present the plan to ALCC member Phil Cantino. This will happen in the next few weeks.

7. Tom’s Trillium Tour

This tour is scheduled for Saturday, April 19. Registration will take place near Robbins Crossing at Hocking College from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. There will be 40, 60 and 70 mile options, and the $3 registration fee includes maps and course markings. Tim volunteered to help Tom with registration; Meredith and Tracy are alternate volunteers.

8. Tour of the Hocking

This tour is scheduled for May 25-26. Tom suggested some course changes that the club approved.

• Ellen volunteered to do the Saturday food shopping.
• Pete volunteered to call Matt Rapposelli to see if he’s available to cater the event. If Matt’s available, Pete will track and provide the head count.
• Tracy will update the registration form online and also provide copies to local bike shops.
• Chip will call Floyd to order root beer.
• Meredith will reserve the U-Haul, pick it up on the 24th, and return it on the 26th.
• Kaleb will drive the U-Haul.
• Tom and Fritz Kessler will create the map.

9. Club Officers

Paul resigned as co-president due to being extremely busy. He nominated Tracy to take over; Tracy accepted. Other club officers remain in their positions (Chip is co-president, Pete is treasurer and Meredith is secretary).

10. Future Club Meetings

The club agreed to hold regular meetings at the Athens Library every other month, and to schedule more informal meetings as needed in the months in between at club members’ houses. Chip will schedule the room at the library and let Tracy know the new date for promotion on the Web site/listserv.

11. Other Business

The meeting closed with an open discussion about future trailbuilding projects.