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DAIRYLAND WALKERS BIMONTHLY MEETING ORCHID HEIGHTS PARK SHELTER AUGUST 9, 2006  Officers Present:  Tom and LaVonne McCrill (Co-Presidents); Ron Moore (Vice President); Russ Crane (Treasurer); Karen Reger (Secretary); Barb Borde (Director at Large)  In Attendance:  27  At 5:00 p.m., several people went on an hour's walk through the conservancy area, with the route being designed by Tom McCrill.  A picnic supper was then enjoyed by all present.    MEETING  Welcome (Tom McCrill) Tom brought the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m., thanking Tom Doyle for doing brat grilling duties and also thanking all those who brought food.    Meeting Minutes (Tom M.) The minutes of the last membership meeting on June 7 were approved with no discussion.  President's Report (Tom M.) As Chairman of the Bylaws Committee, Tom indicated that there would be a report under New Business.  Treasurer's Report (Russ Crane) As of July 12, the date of the last Board meeting, the club had a balance of $3,764.27.  Since then, income has totaled $556.00 and expenses have totaled $653.37, leaving a balance of $3,666.90.    The report was accepted with no discussion.   Membership Chair Report (Tom Doyle) One hundred and ninety newsletters were recently mailed out, with ten going outside the club.  Tom is looking into the possibility of our club being permitted to use bulk mail.  There was a list of new members in the latest newsletter.    Year-Round & Seasonal Walk Coordinator Report (Bruce Dewey) There was no report, just a comment that the numbers are a little behind on some walks.  Tom McCrill indicated that there are some diehard walkers that do the Tuesday night walks.  The Capitol walk was done yesterday, with people seeing some of the cows (Cows on Parade) on display in the downtown area.  Trailmaster's Report (Don Suloff) There are four special event walks left for this year, with the McKenzie Environmental Education Center being the next one.  Don will need volunteers to help with the Walk Wisconsin Weekend held on September 7-9, 2007.    The Moonlight walk for this year will start from this very same shelter on October 6.  He has the brochures for this walk and asked if people would take copies to put in walk boxes.    Newsletter Editor Report (Bonnie Hamer) She indicated that the newsletter was quite long this time; she appreciated all the articles that had been submitted.    Alaskan Trip (Tom Gundlach) A minimum of six more people are needed for the land package.  There has to be at least 20 people, and at the present time, 14 have signed up.  He may be able to negotiate and lower the number.  If anyone has an interest in this trip, please call him.  Any deposits are fully refundable until about the middle of February.  There is no problem with the cruise package regarding the number of people.  If going on the cruise, try to avoid a single cabin – the single supplement is quite high.    Nomination Committee (Tom Doyle) Election of officers will be held at the October 19th annual meeting.  Tom Doyle, as head of the nominating committee (consisting of himself, Virginia Newell, Carole Miller, and Bruce Dewey), indicated that they have a slate.  There is an opening for vice president.  The committee is also soliciting a Treasurer-in-training.  Present officers who have agreed to run again are:  the McCrills for co-presidents, Karen Reger for secretary, and Barb Borde for director at large.  Russ Crane indicated that he would stay as treasurer for one more year and would like someone to train under him during that year.  Nominations will also be accepted from the floor at the annual meeting.    Bylaws Committee (Tom M.) The Bylaws Committee completed editing the bylaws and at the last Board meeting it was proposed to present them at the annual meeting.  Tom has paper copies for anyone wishing one, and if anyone would like an emailed copy, contact Russ Crane.  It would cost too much to mail any out.  There were no drastic changes from the previous bylaws.    Start Cards (Rosemary Sprenger) When Rosemary was in Seattle, she noted that the start card form was actually on the direction sheet and she thought that this might be a possibility for our club, saving having to buy start cards.  It was advised that she write this up and give to Bruce Dewey for his review.    Hearty Sole Walkers (Russ Crane) Russ mentioned that the Hearty Sole Walkers have invited members of our club to do their Prairie Trail walk on August 27 and attend a picnic afterwards at the home of Russ and Renee Soles.  The Soles will provide everything, just bring a dish to pass.  To aid in their planning, please contact the Soles if you intend to go.  Newspaper Mention (LaVonne McCrill) LaVonne stated that the McKenzie walk was mentioned in the newspaper.  Karen Reger usually sends the newspapers notices of our walks.    McKenzie Walk (Barb Borde) Barb encouraged everyone to do this walk, the second time the club has done it.  The Friends of the McKenzie Center will man a checkpoint table.  There will be pictures of plants at the table so you will be able to look up a flower that you may have seen.  Mary Liebig and Barb will be marking the trail on Friday, August 18, the day before the walk.  If anyone else would like to do the walk at that time, meet them at 1:00 at the McKenzie Center.  Mary does have the stamp.  Bruce Dewey said that the previous McKenzie walk was his first AVA walk, five years ago.    Sanctioned 5K's (Bruce Dewey) The AVA has decided that 5K routes may also be included on year-round and seasonal walks, starting January 1, 2007.  All walks still have to be 10K but they may also have a 5K component.  A good number of our walks can be changed to include 5K routes, but some, like the Arboretum walk, don't lend themselves to a shorter route.  The Civil War walk can be easily divided, and others will be fairly easy to change.    It was mentioned that with having both distances included, it would be easy to do a 15K in distance, doing the 10K plus the 5K.  Bruce indicated distance books would have to be stamped twice if doing this, event books stamped once, and paying once.  Russ indicated that since people were always able to walk a shorter distance in the past, the only difference is that we can now promote and advertise a shorter distance.    Miscellaneous (June Doyle) June had brought along an album of pictures that Ron Morgan took on the Canada trip.  Shirts and hats are available for sale.    The meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.    Submitted by Karen Reger, Secretary