2019-01-17 Minutes

VICTOR HIKING TRAILS

MEETING AT VICTOR TOWN HALL

January 17, 2019

ATTENDANCE: Dave Wright, Lisa Roberts, Chauncy Young, Jeff Miller, Ruth Rugaber, Carol MacInnes, Denni Harbaugh, Joyce Keyes

Meeting was called to order at 7:07 pm by Dave

MINUTES:

Motion to approve the December minutes by Chauncy seconded by Carol – Approved.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Ruth Rugaber

Assets as of December 31, 2018:

Checking $4451.93

Savings $1003.29

Wepay $20.00

Other $1.25

Total $5476.47

Ruth renewed the Chamber of Commerce membership

Denni made a motion to approve the financials, Jeff seconded - Approved.

MEMBERSHIP: Denni Harbaugh

Membership is at 235 with 72 due to renew.
Meetup is at 939, up from 928 members.
Discussion of changing membership requirement to the VHT Meetup group. The Meetup app seems to have been hacked.
Chauncy changed the settings within Meetup to leave the group as public, but new members have to be approved by an administrator.

PUBLICITY & NEWSLETTER: Dave Wright

The winter newsletter went out. Next newsletter will go out in March. Town newsletter will go out at the same time; the same article can be printed in both.
Chauncy suggested using the Auburn Trail article that was in the in the VNHT Newsletter for the Town of Victor newsletter.
Dave updated the phone message for the February 9^th hike in Mendon Ponds, starting in the Beach Parking Lot.
The Town of Victor Winterfest family hike will be at 2:00 starting from the Rec Center.

EDUCATION: Ralph Weber, absent

Denni scheduled a visit to the Ionia Observatory on Saturday April 20^th. The event will begin at 6:00pm, followed by a group dinner at 7:00 and a presentation from staff at the observatory at 7:30. Sunset will be at 8pm and moonrise at 9:20pm on April 20, 2019.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: Jeff Miller

No need for volunteers until the annual April Arbor Day tree planting by the Village Tree Board.

TRAILMASTER: Carol MacInnes

Nothing new to report

TRAIL BOSS: Chauncy Young

There have been some trees removed in the last month, including one in Fisher’s Park by the Town Parks & Recreation department.
The invoice for work on the Auburn Trail near Break of Day Road was received from American Equipment.

LAST HIKE:

The January hike was at Harriet Hollister Spencer Recreation Area; 14 people participated, including a small group from Naples. The hike was 4.5 miles long, there was a light covering of snow.

OLD BUSINESS:

Jeff H. would like to apply for National Recreation Trail designation for the Lehigh Valley Trail. It could be in conjunction with the Mendon Foundation and Monroe County.
The organizational meeting was held at 1:00 pm at the Cottage Hotel in Mendon. Sixteen people attended, all agreed it was a good venue.

NEW BUSINESS:

Lisa gave an update regarding the Parks & Rec Master Plan. The survey portion is complete, Bayer Landscape Architecture, the contractor for the project, is compiling data and will be creating a draft master plan by spring 2019. Lisa will be presenting a summary of the survey findings to the Town of Victor Board at 6pm on January 23^rd at the Victor Town Hall. The survey results include overwhelming support of improved connectivity between town parks and trails and improvements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure within the town, and pursing a town owned recreation center.
Dave received an award at the GROC (Genesee Regional Off Road Cyclists) annual meeting for his volunteer efforts with the group.
Received a $500 donation from Trails ROC for helping with the Unlimited Breadsticks trail run on the Seneca Trail last fall.
International Trails Symposium April 26^th – May 1^st Chauncy is planning on going and attending a training on rigging.
Received a call from Dennis Money from the Seneca White Deer Association at the former Seneca Army Depot. The Association would like to build a nature trail starting from the beaver pond. The trail will have to cross several roads which have large ditches on either side. Dave and Chauncy will be walking the property to help devise a solution for crossing the ditches.

NEXT HIKE

February 9^th at Mendon Ponds Park, if there is snow, snowshoeing is an option. Meet at the exit road of the Beach Bathing Lot at the park at 9:00 am.

February 9^th at Victor Parks and Recreation Center. VHT will be leading a family friendly hike at 2pm

2019 VHT HIKES:

Feb 9^th 9:00 am monthly hike at Mendon Ponds Park

Feb 9^th 2:00 pm hike in conjunction with Victor Parks & Rec Winterfest

March 9^th Indian Hill – Crescent Trail

April 13^th Ganondagan State Historical Site

May 11^th Bentley Woods & Domine Trail

June 1^st National Trails Day Hikes

June 8^th Outdoor Expo at Mendon Ponds Park

July 13^th Wesley Hill Nature Preserve

August 10^th Grimes Glen and Tanner Falls

Aug 31^st Bare Hill Ring of Fire

Sept. 7^th Hang Around Victor Day

Sept 14^th Fillmore Glen State Park

Sept 29^th Challenge Hike

October 12^th Finger Lakes Trail

Nov 9^th Powder Mills Park

Dec 14^th Fishers Park

2019 GVHG HIKES:

Jan 26, 9 AM MaryFrances Bluebird Haven. Moderate 5 mile hike led by Dave W.

Feb 23, 8 AM Apple Farm to Boughton Park and Back. Moderate 7-8 mile hike led by Dave W.

Mar 10, 10 AM Powder Mills Park, moderate 5 mile hike led by Paul K.

Mar 23, 8 AM Moderate 6 mile hike at Lehigh Crossing Park led by Dave W.

Apr 27, 8 AM Dryer Road Park, moderate 6 mile hike led by Dave W.

May 25, 8 AM MaryFrances Bluebird Haven, 5 mile moderate hike led by Dave W.

You are encouraged to join Genesee Valley Hiking Group and sign up for their Meetup group. Yearly dues start January 1 and are only $8/household.

NEXT MEETING:

The next regular meeting will be on Thursday, February 21^st 2019, 7:00 p.m. at Victor Town Hall.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted by Lisa Roberts