GHTC Newslettr - October, 2013 - Page 6
M inutes of the Annual General M eeting - November 15, 2012 President Kathy Somers convened the GHTC's 41st AGM with Christine Bando, secretary, taking the minutes. Thirty-eight members were in attendance at Zehrs’ Community Room on Imperial Road. Dave W allace moved to accept last year's AGM minutes, seconded by Dave Hull. Carried. President's Comments: Kathy Somers reported: W elcome to the 41st Annual Meeting of the Guelph Hiking Trail Club. It is my pleasure to welcome you here tonight to receive the reports of the executive and directors, and to elect the executive for next year. Our membership numbers for the past year are similar to those of the previous year. If you have ideas which would encourage new members, or retain current members, please speak to us. Our Members Night/New Members night on October 3 had 37 in attendance. Several new memberships and some renewals came in on this night. The owner of ScoutTech gave a presentation on how to fit hiking boots and demonstrated new hiking and walking equipment. Following last year’s AGM, we appointed Jane Shifflett as our Social Activities Coordinator. She has organized a number of events over this past year and plans for even more in the coming year. W e also appointed Gayle Jeffery as Hike Leader Coordinator. She has been preparing interesting and varied schedules of hikes for us. To help do this, she organized an on-line survey of members to find out the preferences of our current members. The results of the survey were published in the July newsletter. (The majority of our members report hiking for exercise, and like seeing new places and new trails. Most prefer being at the trailhead in less than an hour, and hiking 2 - 3 hours / 6 – 10 km at a moderate pace, especially on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, followed closely by Mon/W ed evenings). 21 % expressed interest in photography on hikes – thus photography hikes began this fall with leader and avid photographer Bob Fanning. Some special projects were accomplished by our members over the past year: Jim Hoare worked with the Grand River Conservation Authority to set up QR codes on posts along Starkey Trail. These QR codes allow people with smartphones to scan the code and read interpretive information from our website that describes the trail and nature around them. Peter Jaspers-Fayer provided us with an electronic version of our hike calendar which you can view on our website. He also gave instructions to all members on how to incorporate it into their computer or smartphone calendar (see instructions in the March newsletter). Greg Mennie set up a PayPal shopping cart on our website so that it is now possible to renew memberships and purchase GHTC Handbooks on-line using PayPal or credit card. W e are pleased to report that it is being used. Jalna Colquhoun and Christine W enzler organized one- hour Thursday morning hikes for the Homewood Health Centre’s Habits 4 Health initiative that ran from mid-April through September. Seven GTHC members worked with the Guelph A.C.T. Team (Homewood Health Centre community outreach) in teams of 2 or 3 to lead hikes on City trails. Usually a dozen outpatient clients and staff were in attendance and hike leaders were pleased to see an increase in stamina and social interaction over the course of the program. At least 2 participants are now GTHC members. You will read more about this initiative in the next newsletter. Thank you to all members who volunteered and helped us with special events like Kids Hikes (we’ve had more kids this year than in the past), Trails Open Ontario/Doors Open Guelph, Spring on the Trail (Kissing Bridge Trail fundraiser), International Trails Day, and our Club’s involvement in a new venture in Guelph, the Two Rivers Festival. Feedback from members prompted us to implement a 5 year membership option. Members can get a discounted membership price by purchasing a 5 year membership where they receive the newsletter electronically rather than getting a paper copy. A few people have signed up for this option. A good number of members have opted to read their newsletter on-line. If you would also like to save trees and some printing/mailing costs for the Club, please let us know that you wish to discontinue your paper copy of the newsletter in favour of reading it electronically. Over this past year we have developed our risk management plan. Part of this plan includes training for hike leaders. In January 2012 we ran our first Hike Leader Certification course and it was led by a Hike Ontario instructor. 16 people were certified at this course, bringing our total of certified hike leaders to almost two dozen. W e expect more to become certified at the next course which we’re holding at the end of this month. W e are looking forward to 2013 for it is the 40 th anniversary of the completion of the Speed River Trail and the Starkey Trail. W e’d like to celebrate with hikes along these trails, and if you have suggestions for other anniversary events, please let us know. Tonight I am stepping down from this position, as per GHTC bylaw, after serving my 3 year term. I have gained much from this opportunity… I learned a lot and truly enjoyed how this role enabled me to meet so many members and to work on such interesting projects. For all of their help, I wish to extend special thanks to the Club executive and directors who share a passion for this Club and make it function. Thank you as well as to the Trail Captains and the volunteers who keep the trails open, and the landowners who give us permission to locate a trail on their property. Our guided hikes continue to be popular and I need to thank the hike leaders for contributing so much. And finally, thanks to you, the members, whose continued support, through your membership, keeps the Club going. M embership Reported by David Culham: Report on Membership and Merchandise Inventory. As at August 31, 2012, the different categories of membership stood at:
GHTC Newslettr - October, 2013 - Page 7
Individual memberships, paid up to August 31, 2012 Individual memberships, paid up to August 31, 2013 Family memberships, paid up to August 31, 2012 Family memberships, paid up to August 31, 2013 Organization memberships, paid up to August 31, 2012 Organization memberships, paid up to August 31, 2013 Total paid memberships Life memberships Grand Total Memberships Complimentary listings on mailing list
2012 76 33 86 41 1 0 237 4 241
2011 (81) (21) (92) (40) (1) (0) (235) (3) (238)
48
(42)
72% of membership at August 31, 2011 renewed their membership through August 31, 2012. Total membership numbers grew 1% between August, 2011 and August, 2012. New memberships taken out in the year: From September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2013 68 (71) There was a 4% decrease in the number of new memberships compared to previous membership year. Inventory of membership supplies in care of David Culham: Guidebooks (interim printing) Club badges End to End badges One Day badges
68 132 14 2
(77) (164) (31) (2)
Treasurer's Report Henry Graupner presented the Guelph Hiking Trail Club Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012. Review of highlights from year: Revenues are down by $1000 and expenses up by just over $1000. Cash in bank equals approximately 2 years’ worth of expenses. Suggestion for the upcoming year (Sep-12 to Aug-13) is to allocate more funds towards larger club projects, such as more bridges and boardwalks, to demonstrate the charitable nature of the organization. Canada Revenue Agency outlines recommendations for how much a registered charity should spend on its own charitable activities each year. As trail maintenance costs were up this year, funds should be set aside for this purpose to ensure continued safety for trail users. Office costs were up $300 over last year which included printing of the guide books. The club will require new guidebooks this year. Both membership revenue and donations were down slightly. Hike Ontario saw insurance costs decrease significantly. Nick W enzler and the company Embree & Co. LLP Chartered Accountants prepared the Notice to Reader financial report for the club. Henry moved to accept this report as presented and signed by the president and treasurer. Seconded by Bill Mungall. Carried. Henry Graupner moved that the firm of Embree Co LLP, be appointed to carry out the review of the Club's financial statements for the current year, subject to their convenience. Seconded by Stan Stanek. Carried. Henry Graupner extended thanks to Nick W enzler and Embree Company for their support of the GHTC. Radial Line Trail John Fisher, Coordinator: The Radial Line Trail (RLT) is in good shape and we have had some significant trail maintenance projects over the last year. W e continue to encourage more feet on the trail as it makes maintenance much easier. Trail Re-Routing/Maintenance: I will only talk about those sections that have had significant activities on them, but as you can appreciate, all sections require ongoing maintenance and review by section leaders to maintain their safety and passability. Section 1: Last AGM I talked about prospects for a loop trail to run from Stone Rd to York Rd along the river past the Cargill plant and Reformatory lands. At that time I said we were very close to conclusion of the administrative details. Administrative details take a long time to resolve, especially when dealing with municipal and regional authorities! W e are still very close and hope the final details concerning insurance can be resolved and we can install a new trail before the start of next hiking season. Section 2: Last AGM I reported that the club was included in meetings concerning the potential for reopening the dam on section 2. (These discussions began back in 2010). The W aterworks submitted plans to governing agencies and were waiting for approvals. This spring the W aterworks advised us that their submission for a pedestrian walkway over the dam was not approved and it would cost too much money to satisfy regulatory authorities. They said they were going ahead with their plans without the walkway. As consolation, they invited the city parks department to work with the same stake holders to develop a plan for the whole Arkell Springs property. W e had one meeting and a “site walkabout” and the city is hoping to get back to all stakeholders in the new year with a recreational use plan. Smith Property: Smith property was the feature trail on the “Doors Open” Guelph event.
GHTC Newslettr - October, 2013 - Page 8
This trail is a very popular walking trail but we had a problem with litter and “doggie poop bags” at the trail head. GRCA were not able to service the trail but a “take your own litter out“ was not working well. W e asked the GRCA if they would install a garbage can if we could secure volunteer help to empty the can each week for a Friday municipal pick up. They agreed and we recruited a volunteer to empty the can each week. This seems to have worked well for us but I see our volunteer has his house up for sale so I am a bit concerned for the future! Starkey Hill: Last AGM I reported that we were in the process of signing a formal agreement with GRCA. This was completed and our involvement with the Conservation group under the leadership of Jim Hoare was very active over the last year. Following up on Jim’s recommendations for trail maintenance improvements, the GRCA was able to secure a TD Friends of the Environment grant for lumber and, in joint work parties with GRCA, Toyota Cambridge assembly plant and GHTC we were able to install 4 substantial bridges and wood chippings over seasonal wet spots. This trail is heavily used and parking is an issue on week-ends. Jim also worked hard with other members of our club and GRCA to establish QR communication signposts on the trail to further enhance the hiking experience. (As we go forward it will be interesting to see how we might expand this technology across the trail system). Section 3: Those of you familiar with section 3 which runs from 1st line Nassagaweya to 2nd Line Nassagaweya will recall that you cross a 30ft wide bridge which spans a tributary to the Blue Springs creek. This tributary experiences a significant spring flood and has in the past moved the bridge off its foundations. The bridge is bowed and the approach and exit from the bridge are unsatisfactory. W e have proposed to build another bridge to replace the existing one. Phil Kidston recruited an engineer friend to design a 35 foot span bridge after a site study by members of the club. W e decided to do the work of bridge construction in 2 phases. First, build cedar cribs and fill them with rocks as the foundation for both ends of the bridge. Second ,build the bridge over the winter for installation in the spring of 2013. I am pleased to report that we completed phase 1 with the help of a volunteer work party and a very helpful landowner who helped us move rocks for filling the cribs. W e are now working on phase 2 .W e are preparing a proposal to secure funds or vendor contributions to buy lumber for the winter build project. Section 7: In April of this year we entered into a handshake agreement with the Moroz family to establish a 1 ½ km trail through their property which took the western part of section #7 ,which ran down Dublin Line and 25 Sideroad ,completely off-road. A well-attended work party, made up of GHTC volunteers installed the trail on May 5. W e had a grand opening on June 2nd to coincide with the club’s celebration of International Trails Day and were very pleased to have Lisa McIlmoyle (daughter of the landowner) join us at the opening to cut the ribbon for the new trail. On the eastern part of Section 7 Joe Jany added waterbars to some of the steeper sections of the trail for erosion protection and ease of climbing. (This work continues). Landowners: W e would like to acknowledge and thank the landowners for their permission and ongoing support of the trail. It is our intention to review our current landowner contact procedures over the coming year with a view to increasing consistency and contact frequency. Trail maintenance captains: I would like to acknowledge the efforts of our trail maintenance leaders, who take the initiative to maintain and keep the trailway safe and deal directly with the landowners. Trail captains are very appreciative of the responses received when they have advertised “maintenance help requests” on the web site. This has been very effective in getting work done on the trails. Thanks to: Section 1: Steve Mercer (new) Section 2/Arkell Side trail: Dave Hull /W ayne Hillman Section 3/Starkey Hill: Jim Hoare Section 4: Gusti Matteis Section 5: Phil Kidston Section 6: Bob Fanning/Sandra Morrill (new) Section 7: Joe Jany Section 8: Mike Curtis Blue Springs and Sugar Shack trails: John Duthie (new) Smith Property Trail: David Scott Thomas Special thanks to retiring section leaders Andy Cann, Henry Graupner. W arm welcome to Steve Mercer , John Duthie and Sandra Morrill. W e appreciate any input on trail condition by hikers so that we can address concerns promptly. Speed River Report: Bill Mungall, Coordinator: The 13.5 km trail runs from the Cambridge City limits from the end of Townline Road to Guelph, ending at the gates of the Guelph Humane Society. The trail was established in 1973, originally running to King Street (Hwy 8) in Preston before the western end was taken over by Cambridge circa 1991. The trail crosses the lands of 12 private landowners, 2 public owners, plus open and closed road allowances of 4 municipalities. GHTC is most grateful for the steadfast support of these landowners in permitting passage of the trail over the past 40 years. This very scenic trail can be challenging to maintain, given its floodplain location. It is beset by annual floods and erosion, mud, riotous weed growth, difficult access in parts, washed out bridges, treacherous levee drain holes, homeless person campsites, and litter and debris washed downriver from Guelph. Sections 2 and 3 are also a popular hunting area as these are frequented by waterfowl and deer. Section 2 contains a hunt club, which requires us to close the trail for 4.5 months a year after Labour Day. Under these trying conditions, the following Trail Captains have laboured and prevailed: Section 1 and John W ood Sidetrails: Jana and Stan Stanek (backed up by Lynn Glover over much of the summer) Section 2: Bill Mungall, recently succeeded by Lynn Glover and Jane Haack Section 3: Florence and Paul W hite (Rd. 32 to old Glenchristie road), Terry Spittles (old Glenchristie road to “nearly-impassible” creek), Dave Culham (nearly-impassible creek to electric fence, including the boardwalk and a bridge), and Al Couture (electric fence to Townline Rd.) and the Kings.
GHTC Newslettr - October, 2013 - Page 89
Speed River Trail News: Section 1: In November 2011, gave a presentation to Guelph City Council as part of pre-budget consultations emphasizing importance of completing their Royal Recreation Trail system, and specifically the importance of linking it to the Speed River Trail beneath the Hanlon Parkway (Hwy 6). W e understand that the City is completing the design work for this link in 2013, with hopeful construction in 2014. A biosolids processing facility is being designed next to the Humane Society building, which may induce a relocation of the Guelph trailhead. W aterloo W ellington Canoe Club completed a 7th year of a Speed River cleanup involving the banks of the Speed in Section 1 from Edinburgh to Niska. A temporary tethered plank now crosses the Imperial Road drain. Twenty foot span bridge project planned for 2013. Section 2: Stroy’s Bridge (1902) was removed from Puslinch Sideroad 10 North by the Township for liability reasons. Closed to traffic for 20 years, it was used by pedestrians from Puslinch and some from south Guelph as a more convenient access to Section 2 of our trail. Happily, the new W ellington County Active Transportation Plan (which includes trails) recommends the replacement of the bridge by a pedestrian bridge. Puslinch Township recently approved the Plan in principle. New landowners, the Gordons (from the Shutes) are enthusiastic supporters of the trail on their lands. Vet clinic on Road 32 has also changed hands. Detailed proposal was sent to Lafarge’s Ontario head office, suggesting a side trail on their lands west of Sideroad 10, which would provide a bypass of the hunt club lands in fall and winter months. Follow up with Lafarge appears necessary. Section 3: Carmeuse North America (a Luxembourg-based aggregate company) granted GHTC permission to create a very scenic 400 metre long sidetrail on their land that parallels the main trail, allowing for a return loop. Florence and Paul W hite brushed out and blazed the sidetrail this spring. City of Cambridge intends to reconstruct Blackbridge Road, creating an opportunity to better link its trails with ours. GHTC sent the City a submission advocating sidewalks on Blackbridge Road and the bridge over the Speed, and a Cambridge trailhead parking area for Section 3 on the unopened City road allowance at the north end of Townline Road. A start has been made on a replacement of the original 1973 bridge over the “impassible creek”. The trail was used by GHTC in August for a challenging 28 km hike from the Grand River in Preston to The Boathouse in downtown Guelph. May become an annual event. Still more junk and tires hauled out via Roszell Road by Cambridge member Andy Cann. Preston Sand and Gravel sold its gravel rights to CBM, who opened a pit near the trail off Roszell Road… .noisy, but no direct impact on the trail though. The Speed River Trail will be celebrating 40 years next year. Kissing Bridge Trailway: Mike Curtis, Coordinator: The trailway remains quite popular with walkers (many with canine companions), and cyclists. The past year was not a great success for our snowmobile users! As usual, minor maintenance was performed such as trimming of overhead trees and branches, and the filling in of the occasional groundhog hole. The County of W ellington has continued to cut the verges of the trailway in W ellington. I welcome the assistance of section leaders for the trailway to assist in its maintenance. These are Joy Killen, John Buttars, Jane Shifflett, Terry Spittles, Al Coutoure, and Dick and Karen Harmon. Each leader has about two km of trailway to patrol. Blazing is never an issue with the trailway, however, litter and encroaching vegetation can be hazards. In October, we had a major work party to clear around 80m of invasive buckthorn between km 2 and 3 of the trailway where it was becoming quite narrow. There are plans for the construction of a stairway at Katherine St to assist users in climbing up the steep grade to the street. This stairway was due to the efforts of Doug Cerson who is on the advisory board of the KBT. Doug and a colleague drove an ATV the entire length of the rail trail (where possible) from Silvercreek Pkwy, Guelph to Goderich (Lake Huron), recording the trip. The 150 km trip took ten hours! The goal is to clear a continuous trail from Millbank to Goderich, hopefully, in the near future. Perth County (next to W aterloo) has agreed to enter into a lease agreement with the province to lease the next section of the trailway. To that extent, I journeyed to Brussels in October to attend a planning meeting for the trailway’s extension. The Township of Guelph/Eramosa and the County of W ellington will be installing several benches along parts of the trailway next year. Hike Ontario: Mike Curtis reported: The Hike Ontario Board of Directors met three times this year in Erin (central location). Hike Ontario represents over thirty hiking and activity groups in Ontario and is the provincial voice for hiking clubs in Ontario. The annual summit (agm) was hosted by the Grand Valley Trails Association, celebrating their 40th year, at Bingeman Conference Centre on the weekend of November 3rd. Ten members of our Club attended and watched as Stan and Jana Stanek received a “Volunteer of the Year” award for their services to our Club. Tom Freisen was elected as the president for 2013. Hike Ontario has hired a part time office administrator David Rosenblun-Bourdieu, who will greatly assist with coordinating the activities of the organization. Publicity: Susan Atkinson reported: (Unable to attend. On Susan´s behalf report presented by Christine:) This year I have continued in my role as Publicity Officer by posting posters for special events, for example our Kids Hikes, (which have been extremely popular), in various places around Guelph. This process was assisted by Dave Culham. I also put notices in the local newspapers to publicize all our regular hikes and any special activities, such as our Kids Hikes. Special events are also sent as news releases to the local radio & TV stations. Also, I compile and send to Pat, our webmistress, the biweekly emails which everyone receives, giving updates and reminders of upcoming hikes and club activities. Kathy was contacted by the radio station the Grand @ 92.9 (Fergus) to appear on their Tues night talk show, "Swap Talk", hosted by Rob Dutton, between 7 and 8pm to talk about the club for 15-20 minutes. Bill and Susan have agreed to attend on Nov 27.
GHTC Newslettr - October, 2013 - Page 10
Newsletter: Gord King reported: Publication format was unchanged from previous years with issues, as usual, distributed in March, June and October. An increasing number of members are now opting to obtain their newsletters on-line providing a saving in printing and mailing costs. The most recent newsletter is always available through our club web site and the past few issues are posted and will remain on issuu.com. Those electing for the Internet route can access a newsletter with colour photos and, through the issuu.com hosting site, one with active links to other Internet sites listed in the text. If hard copy is desired, one could always print from these sources. Thanks to all contributors of text and photos and special thanks to Ben Polley who assumed responsibility for newsletter advertising last year and has already found several new advertisers. If you have a service of interest to members and friends, contact Ben about placing an advertisement in our newsletter. This is your newsletter so please continue to provide material for publication. Hike Activities: Gayle Jeffery reported: (Unable to attend: on Gayle´s behalf, submitted report presented by Christine:) Over the past year GHTC scheduled 153 hikes (90 weekend, 44 weekday evening and 19 weekday daytime) enjoyed by over 1,500 participants. In January of this year an additional 16 certified leaders were added to GHTC’s hike leader team giving a total of 24 active hike leaders. The sunny –1 Celsius January weather was likely responsible for attendance of 51 hikers at the Devil’s Backbone hike at Guelph Lake. Ironically, the great winter weather was also responsible for cancellation of skiing or snowshoeing in the Irvine Gorge as the river was not frozen. The Kids Hikes were well attended with 35 kids and 32 adults joining the February Preservation Park hike. The Smith Sidetrail was showcased for this year’s Trails Open hikes. Several Dinner Theatre hikes were held and our first Photo Hike was, unfortunately, sparsely attended due to the threat of rain. Over the summer, several hike leaders led Thursday hikes around Guelph for Homewood clients. Requested that all hike leaders stand to receive thank you in recognition of their services. Social Activities: Jane Shifflett reported: Two social activities were held this year. In January a small but enthusiastic group skated on the City Hall ice rink and then retired to a pub for some social time. On June 20, the summer solstice, we hosted a potluck picnic with over thirty participants. A wonderful variety of food was enjoyed by all. A hike around Riverside Park was also enjoyed. Cookies and juice or hot chocolate were supplied for all 3 of the Kids Hikes this year. Club Christmas party will be preceded by 2 hikes in the afternoon, then potluck beginning at 4:30. The party and rsvp details will be posted on our site. New Business/Comments: The club has lost almost 70 registered members; older members are not returning and newer members are not renewing. A brief discussion suggested that the club look at options to make membership registration easier and quicker. W ould GHTC like to add QR codes on trails? W e still use paper brochures at trail heads. Mike explained that QR codes are being installed at other clubs’ trail heads for hikers who can access information about the trail and also, immediately, issue payment and download a map to follow that trail. W e will expect to slowly incorporate this technology. Use of QR codes at Starkey Hill is being monitored by Pat Scott Halbach and Jim Hoare. One exceptional total showed 40 readings on 1 post in 1 day during August. Bill suggested a potential use for QR codes on a future trail in Everton –interpretation of the rock formations found and why they are different from nearby areas. Elections: Dave W allace presented the following slate of officers for 2012/13: Past President: Kathy Somers President: Bill Mungall Vice President: open Treasurer: Henry Graupner Secretary: Christine Bando There were no nominations from the floor. Mike Curtis moved that nominations be closed. Seconded by Bob Hauser. Carried. The position of Vice President will be appointed by the executive committee. Positions were elected by acclamation. Adjournment: Gord King moved that the meeting be adjourned. Seconded by Dave W allace. Carried. Final flourish! Bill Mungall, incom ing president, expressed the club’s appreciation for Kathy Som ers’ leadership during the past three years, including her initiatives: Kids Hikes, and Monday night hikes. He presented her with a gift card as a token of our appreciation.
Answer to Where in the GHTC World is this. The Stairs built recently by trail captain Paul White to provide easier access down the County Rd. 32 embankment at the start of Speed River Trail, Section 3. Thanks Paul!