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DAIRYLAND WALKERS BIMONTHLY MEETING AND HOLIDAY PARTY IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 4, 2005  Officers Present:  Tom and LaVonne McCrill (Co-Presidents); Ron Moore (Vice President); Russ Crane (Treasurer); Karen Reger (Secretary); Barb Borde (Member at Large)  In Attendance:  33  Potluck Supper Food was served beginning at 5:35 p.m.  Meeting Tom McCrill began the meeting at 6:35 p.m. by having everyone introduce themselves.    Secretary's Report (Karen Reger) The minutes from the last membership meeting on September 28 were accepted.    Treasurer's Report (Russ Crane)   The balance at the last Board meeting on November 9 was $2,892.54.  Since that time, there has been $148.00 in income ($74.00 from year-rounds and seasonals, $27.00 from dues, and the rest was from sales.  There were no expenses in that period of time.  The present balance is $3,040.54.  Russ also mentioned that 17 completed Clean Sweep books have been returned to him at this time.  Last year he received 22 books.  Six people have completed the books for the first time:  Tom Doyle, Kathy Schultz, Ted and Virginia Newell, and Tom and LaVonne McCrill.  Nine people have completed their books for all three years:  Bruce Dewey, Carol Hollar, Russell Crane, June Quesnell, Barb Borde, Ed Reid, Ruth Pederson, and Jerry and Pam Wilson.    He also said that the frequent walker coupon program is very successful.  Eight coupons are on a sheet, costing $20.00, which is a savings of fifty cents per walk for the walker.  They are a convenience so the walker does not have to pay by check or cash.  Seventy-seven sheets were sold this year, consisting of 616 coupons.  Of those, 505 have been used.  The majority are used for year-round events.  The color of the coupons next year will be gray.    It was also pointed out that the 2006 Starting Points are available for $15.00 apiece.  Also mentioned was the fact that the McCrills and Tom Doyle are involved in a fund-raising project for the club featuring apparel items, the profit from which will be donated to the club.  The clothing items are featured on the club's website, where they can be ordered.    Membership (Tom Doyle)  Effective January 1, 2006, there will only be one classification for members, and the membership fee will increase to $12.00.    Newsletter (Bonnie Hamer)  Bonnie needs articles for the newsletter, and receiving them via email is good.  She sends out an email every week (at least during the summer) reminding people of what is coming up in the future.  If people would like to receive this information, give her your email address.    It was also mentioned that she would like to pass on the newsletter duties to someone else.  East Towne Walk (Bonnie Hamer)  This will be held on January 28, 2006.  Registration will be between 7:15 and 10:00 a.m., and the starting point inside the mall is unknown at this time.    West Towne Walk (Ed Reid)  Mall management turned down the request to have a walk there, so Ed will contact Firestone about possibly having the start point at their store.    Board Meeting (Tom McCrill)  The next Board meeting will be on January 12 at 6:00 p.m. at the Middleton Library.    Membership Meeting (Tom McCrill)  The next membership meeting will be on February 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Bank of Middleton.  Bob and Jo Sparks will talk about their adventures aboard the African Queen II.    Morning Walk Group (Barb Borde)  These walks are held on Monday mornings at 8:30 a.m., weather permitting.  The turnout so far has been somewhat low.  They are on the same rotation as the Tuesday night walks.  Contact Barb before showing up to walk.    European Trip (Barb Borde)  Thirty-four people have signed up for the trip in April.  There will be seven walks in all.  There will be a walk on the arrival day, so people will need to be prepared for that.  Elke will bring the tickets to Madison area participants in March.    Niagara Falls Bus Trip (June Doyle)  This will be held June 22-29.  June listed the places to be visited, and where walks will occur.  All the hotels have been booked.  Everyone must have a passport.  The first day includes taking the car ferry across Lake Michigan to Ludington, Michigan, as buses are carried for free on Thursdays.  The final price is expected to be somewhere between $500 and $600.    Yearly Event Booklet (Bruce Dewey)  People attending the holiday party were able to pick up their copies of the 2006 booklet.  The booklet incorporates all walks sponsored by the three volkssporting clubs in Wisconsin (Dairyland Walkers in Madison, Hearty Soles in Fond du Lac, and Menominee River Volkssport Club in Niagara).    Bruce thanked the many people who helped in proof reading the booklet.  Next year's Clean Sweep cards were included in each booklet.  The cards can also be obtained by contacting Bruce or picking them up from a walk box.  He indicated that the Walk and Eat Gang program has been discontinued due to lack of leadership.    Hearty Soles Weekend Getaway (Renee Soles)  Renee indicated she would like some input on this overnight getaway in Menasha in April.  A swim event may be possible.    Thanks (Tom and LaVonne McCrill)  Tom thanked all those who brought food for the party.  LaVonne thanked those who developed one-day walks over the past year:  Bruce Dewey, Victor Emanuel and Paula Romeo, Mary Graber, Bonnie Hamer, Patricia Lynch, Ed Reid, Don Suloff, and Jerry Wilson.    Also thanked were those people in charge of various starting point boxes:  Tom Doyle, Rosemarie Elliott, Mary Graber, Patty Grindley, Bonnie Hamer, Angie Sparks, Ed Reid, Don Suloff, Don Stoffels, Jerry Wilson, Dave and Peggy Beisser, and Judith Wiltinger.    Additional thanks were given to Tom Doyle, membership chair; Bonnie Hamer, newsletter editor; Don Suloff, trailmaster; June Doyle, for arranging the Crazy Horse bus trip; Barb Borde, for initiating the upcoming European trip; Russ Crane, webmaster; and Bruce Dewey, year-round walk coordinator.    A special thank you was given to the starting point establishments.  Be sure to thank those businesses for allowing us to have starting point boxes there.  These establishments are listed on the back inside cover of the new 2006 booklet.    Retirements (Tom McCrill / Russ Crane)  Certificates of appreciation will be given to Angie Sparks, who developed the East Side walk and was the club's first webmaster, and to Judith Wiltinger, the walk box coordinator in LaCrosse, who are retiring as walk box coordinators after this year.    It was mentioned that the box for the East Side walk is now located back by the restrooms so wait staff don't have to be bothered.    The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.    Door Prizes  Various people brought in items to be used as door prizes.  Karen Reger had asked Morgan Shoes at Hilldale for items to be used as door prizes and received six pairs of socks, a ladies' T-shirt, and a free pair of shoes.  She also received a discount on a Wild and Scenic Wisconsin calendar and a 50 Hikes in Wisconsin book from Waldens Books in East Towne Mall.    Submitted by Karen Reger, Secretary