VICTOR HIKING TRAIL

VICTOR TOWN HALL

JUNE 20, 2024

PARTICIPANTS: Dave Wright; Scott Reinhart; Chauncy Young; Lisa Roberts; Jeff Miller; Jeff Hennick; Ruth Rugaber; Barb Starr

MINUTES: MOTION to approve the May minutes with corrections by Dave, seconded by Chauncy, motion approved

TREASURER’S REPORT: Ruth Rugaber

Bank balances:	Bills paid:	Donation Boxes
Checking  $  15,619.75	Credit card: $652.66	$ .00 Maple Ave.
Savings $ 1,024.99	Frontier message line: $22.77	$ .00 Old Dutch
PayPal $0.00		$ .00 Fishers
Total   $  16,644.74

Notable Donations:	Misc. Donations:	Ad Revenue:
Springer Eagle Prj $627.00

Will refund educational fees paid for June event in June

• Dave questioned if the $10,000 CD was pursued by Chauncy. Now that Ruth is back from vacation Chauncy will check with Ruth to move forward with that

• Educational fees refunded for June event this month, but not prior events. Decision has been made to not charge for educational outings.

• Donations are about the same as last year

• Membership income is at about $2400 compared to $3200 last year. Not easy to determine where it should be without a budget, which has not been part of the procedure

MOTION to approve treasurer’s report, made by Lisa, seconded by Chauncy, motion approved

MEMBERSHIP: Larry Fisher absent

15 new paid members	216 paid members
2 dropped members	223 total members
60 due to renew in next 6 months
2 overdue members

Follow up – Lisa will follow-up with Larry by email or in person if he has created documentation process for web site, including sending out a welcome email message to all new members that includes the latest newsletter.

Discussion of efforts to interact with public and promote VHT

• Membership cards: Concerns expressed over QR code on ne membership cards; a person at an event was unable to use the code with their phone; also concern expressed that the code goes through the vendor’s website before going to VHT website. Also some disagreement about the perfect wording

• Action: Ruth will go to Minute Man (local business). Additional mock up of 3 designs and vote again. The loss would be $77 for the supply of cards received and now getting a second look..

• When table at an event, VHT members should emphasize that VHT is an all volunteer organization, VHT is a member-based organization, VHT is funded through donations

• New simpler paper membership form has been completed and used successfully

• Many people ask for maps, but all are available and more apt to be up to date online at VHT website. Printing out maps not best use of resources. When tabling at an event, refer to large that may be available on story board.

PUBLICITY, NEWSLETTER & NEXT MONTHLY HIKE: Dave Wright

• Newsletter is set to go

Jeff H updating map program

• Membership sub-committee recommends revamp web site

  • Form sub-committee in the fall of 2024

  • recommend consolidating and streamlining web pages, archiving some historical info; donor page too wordy

Events:

• June 1 – National Trails Day at Victor Parks & Rec – very light attendance-why?

  • Many nearby competing events eg Canal Days in Fairport, Biking activities, Botanical Society in Canandaigua;

  • Need more posters, mailings?

  • Could try Sunday, but might not have P&R building available

• June 7 – Canandaigua Botanical Society 150^th year celebration at Onanda Park – 1 new member/renewal, $6 in donations

• Discussion about increased partnering with CBS and sharing articles in newsletters. Will continue to pursue ways to do this

• June 8 - Mendon Ponds with ADK Expo $8 in donations

LAST MONTHLY HIKE: National Trails Day

NEXT MONTHLY HIKE: July - Naples Trails, 9:30 AM walk, car pool from Victor Town Hall at 8:45 AM

OTHER HIKES

• August 4 2-3:00 PM LSI 12:30 set up tent, brochures etc. Lead hike at 1:30 PM

• August 10 Chimney Bluffs

• August 31 Ring of Fire-Bare Hill

● September 14 HomeTown Days & Climb Aboard Victor - VHT will have table and lead walk in the village

• October 12 Hickory Ridge Finger Lakes

• November 9 Ganondagan

• December 15 Webster Park

EDUCATION: Jeff Miller VHT ED Coordinator

• Switching back to not charging for education events;

• May list some of CBS activities as VHT when appropriate; CBS does not charge for any events, they appreciate more people participating (Barb’s comments as member of CBS as well).

LAST MONTH

• Bird watching at Washington Grove, event was also publicized by the Bird House, number of people came because of Bird House publicity, were willing to take extra steps to join Meetup to attend event.

THIS MONTH

• June 30th Muller Field Station

MOTION by Dave to purchase $25.00 gift card in appreciation for program at Muller Field Station; second by Lisa; motion approved

NEXT MONTH

• July 28th Geology and Historic Iron Mining Casey Park, Ontario, NY.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR Need to recruit new coordinator

Discussion of Job Description and title needed. Lisa and Chauncy will work on and send email out for comments.

TRAILMASTER: Scott Reinhart VHT Report

New HOF members:

• New Inductees

Elizabeth (Wizzy) Geno; Suzanne (Susy) Mandrino; Nathaniel (Nat) Fisher (posthumously)

• Friend to VHT: Jack Marren

• Date for dinner Monday October 21, 2024 return to Fire on Main

• Silverton Glenn Update - Silverton Glenn HOA reps met with Brian Emelson to discuss strategies for procuring pedestrian infrastructure connecting SG with the Auburn Trail and the village. Brian walked them through various strategies. Easement to extend sidewalk along 444 is in the deed (Brian)

• Future Trails - Wes Pettee (Labella) is working on a comprehensive map that will include existing trails and future trail corridors.

• Reimagine Victor - Lisa, Dave and Scott attended a Village Board follow-up presentation (6/10). Mike C. (Labella) had compiled some input from the May 13th VB workshop. Mike focussed on grant opportunities for the village. Connecting the village with the trail system was targeted as a possible grant opportunity (Auburn). Utilizing sub-committees made up of volunteers was seen as an avenue to getting the ball rolling. UPDATE: Request from the Village for VHT representation on a subcommittee: “connecting trails to downtown and/or providing additional signage, amenities, etc”

• Music on Main - Third Wednesdays (June 19th, July 17th, August 21st; 4pm-7pm) Live music at five locations in the village (info on DISCOVER VICTOR NY)

• VHT HOF - A physical location for the HOF was discussed with Brian Emelson(6/17). Brian was supportive of the concept. Was fine with a "commemorative brick way" (Dave’s design)on the Auburn Trail near Maple. Preferred it be on the trail or on the southside grass area. It needed to be able to handle P&R heavy equipment and not have grass growing up between the stones. Our next steps: (1)Meet with Gary Hadden to discuss the next steps in the approval process (2) Price the stones and cost of installation - develop a budget. (3) Fundraise through the current members of the VHT HOF.

TRAIL BOSS: Chauncy Young

Update on Eagle Project including Ganondagan potentially closing trail to bikers:

• Temporary bridge is functioning well; flooding is receding and area drying out.

• Some discussion of need to move counters, and/or purchase additional counters. Should have full 12 month data before move any current counter. No action taken at this time

• With new equipment need to consider additional insurance. Chauncy will get estimate of additional cost? (my notes are not clear on this point)

OLD BUSINESS:

Tree ID signs

• installed in Fishers Park & Domine Trails by Mimi, need to do a social media post about new signs, thanks to Parks & Rec for funding signs in Fishers Park

Updated by-laws

• Update from Mike Rice

Secretary next position to be reviewed, Mike will be asked to contact Barb to set up time. After Secretary, Trailmaster will be reviewed

Grants update

• Awaiting results of grant application, if not successful will make additional applications. Recommendations are to keep applying.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Follow up for Canandaigua Bank donation – photo of how their $100 donation was put to use...suggest photo that was just put on FB showing trail work before & after mowing, etc.

• Mural info request from Michael C. Hupf – he’s looking for info on how he could be funded? Not donating his art

• Taco Tuesday events – VHT table at event? Decision made to have table at event

• 5:30-8:30 other table opportunities – Tom’s Pro Bike

  • Dates 6/25

  • 7/16 ? (I don’t have notes on this or 9/17)

  • 9/17

Meeting adjourned 8:23 PM

NEXT MEETING:

The next regular meeting will be on Thursday, July 18, at 5:00 p.m. at summer concert series, Victor Municipal Park.

Respectfully submitted,

Barb Starr Secretary