February 2017 News Letter
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http://www.moab-horses.com/GMBCH-NewsLetters.html
President’s Message
February 14, 2017
How do we keep in touch if you can not make it to the meetings: Newsletters, Emails, Social Media, Phone and Text messages, the Website, and good old USPS Mail. Did you know we have a Twitter address, @gmbch1. We have it but no one uses it, not even President Trump. You can email me two different ways. and We have two Facebook sites, one is a Page which is most useful for those who are not members and one is a Group site for posting information most useful to our members. For fast, short messages you can text me at my cell number, 970-985-0276. I am going to try to send my monthly messages out via email so that you can read about some of what is happening before you get the Newsletter.
Meanwhile back at the ranch it feels like Spring for the moment and the Trail Riding and Trail Work committees are gathering on Feb 15 at the Commons to plan and coordinate our events and projects for the rest of the year. We are going to be busy from what I hear. So much to do and places to go. We should finish our lists at the next meeting on March 6.
In the near future we have several opportunities in front of us. Come to the Fruita Farm and Ranch days on March 11 where we will have a booth set up. Call Betty Lou or Cheryl Ballew if you want to volunteer. Special training for Trail Work Leaders will be conducted by the VOC team here in Grand Junction on April 1 and 2. Call me if you are interested. At the end of April on the 29th, BCHCO will be conducting the Master Leadership Symposium in Buena Vista, Colorado with the State Meeting to follow on the 30th. This is a great experience and very helpful
. Grand Mesa Back Country Horsemen
February 6th, 2017 Board Meeting Minutes
Sheriff’s Posse Building
25 & F ½ Rd, Grand Junction, Colorado
Jan Potterveld, President, Presiding
Present: Cheryl Ballew, Terry Randall, Jan Potterveld, Penny Ackerman, Betty Lou Canterbury, Cal Wylie, Dave Dashner, Connie Johnson, and Bob Files
The meeting was called to order at 6:18pm
A motion was made and passed to approve the January board meeting minutes
A motion was made and passed to approve the Treasurer’s report
A motion was made and approved to buy a roll of stamps to be shared between Cheryl, Penny, and Jan
A motion was made and approved to pay $59.95 to Jan Potterveld, for our domain name, GMBCH.com
Old Business
. A motion was made and approved to accept and submit the Service Agreement between the City of Fruita and GMBCH for the corrals on Pinon Mesa with the exception of deleting the last line that states that the boulders need to be removed from the road entrance going into the area of the corrals. The boulders are no longer there.
. May 20 and 21 are the dates for the Ted Holland clinic. A motion was made and passed to charge GMBCH members $100.00, $135.00 for non GMBCH members, and $15.00 for an audit fee.
. Girl Scout training status, Fruita co-op days, and membership list for State and National were tabled to be discussed at the general meeting.
New Business
. Penny presented the opportunity to receive 10% from Wednesday meals from Dos Hombres in Clifton when diners mentioned the club while ordering their meals. Betty Lou will contact Dos Hombres for more detailed information.
. The remaining agenda was tabled to the general meeting
A motion was made and passed to adjourn the meeting at 7:01pm
Respectfully submitted by Penny Ackerman, Secretary
Grand Mesa Back Country Horsemen
February 6th, 2017 General Meeting Minutes
Sheriff Posse Building
25 & F ½ Rd., Grand Junction, Co.
Jan Potterveld, President, Presiding
Sixteen members and one guest present
The meeting was called to order at 7:12pm
A motion was made and passed to accept the November minutes as printed in the newsletter
President Report
A motion was made and approved to forward a list of individual club member’s information, including email addresses to National so that National can send information directly to members. If any member does not want their information sent to National, they can contact our board and the information will be removed.
Old Business
. We are waiting for a memorandum of understanding (service agreement) to be approved by the city of Fruita so we can begin construction of the Pinon Mesa corrals
. A motion was made and approved to have the Ted Holland Clinic May 20th and 21th
. Fruita Co-Op Farm and Ranch days is March 11th. The following have volunteered to help work the booth: Jan, Michael, Donna, Carolyn Pree, Betty Lou, Cheryl, Dave, and maybe Bob Files. Dave will bring a canopy
New Business
. A motion was made and approved to limit our trail ride number to twelve riders. Riders will need to RSVP if they are planning on riding
. Penny will make a general liability form that can be used to list each riders name that attends a ride or trail work day. The trail boss will fill this out before each ride. It will be kept in our ride cases
Volunteer cleanup schedule for Rabbit Valley
May------Cheryl Ballew
July------Betty Lou Canterbury
September---Terry Randall
November-----Bob Files and Mark Ackerman
Volunteer cleanup schedule for McInnes and Pollock Bench
February----Dave Dasher, Cal and Susan Wylie
March------Cheryl Ballew
April------Carolyn Pree
May------Connie Johnson and Betty lou Canterbury
June------Dave Dashner
July------Betty Lou Canterbury and Connie Johnson
August
September---Terry Randall
October------Connie Johnson and Betty Lou Canterbury
November----Dave and Helen Rajewich
Work day Committee
Cal Wylie--committee chairman
Michael Headlee
Helen Rajewich
Connie Johnson
Jan Potterveld
Penny Ackerman
Mark Ackerman
Trail ride committee
Terry Randall--committee chairman
Penny Ackerman
General information
.The next meeting will be March 6th at 6pm at the Posse building and will be a potluck dinner. The club will furnish a ham, napkins, utensils,and paper plates. Please bring a dish of your choice with a serving spoon and your drink
.Terry Randall is organizing a ride for late February and will let everyone know about it
.If you wish to purchase a GMBCH bumper sticker, please contact Penny at 242-8860. If you wish to purchase a BCH bumper sticker, please contact Jan at 464-2065 or 985-0276
.The Leadership Clinic will be held at the Community Center in Buena Vista April 29th and the State meeting April 30th. If you wish to attend the Leadership Clinic it is $100.00 for three club members to attend or $35.00 for an individual. In the past, our club has paid this fee
.Terry Randall is making headway with the Girl Scout training day and is waiting to hear back from them. It will again be held at the Hill”s house
.The Rabbit Valley competitive trail ride will be held the second weekend of October
. There will be a VOC clinic on how to build and maintain trails April 1st and 2nd at the cost of $80.00
A motion was made and passed to adjourn the meeting at 8:34pm
Respectfully submitted by Penny Ackerman, Secretary
2017 GMBCH Miscellaneous Activities
Date Activity Contact Person Phone #
March 11 & 12 Fruita Farm and Ranch Days Jan Potterveld 464-2065
March 17 & 18 Irish Horse Fair and Tack Sale Terry Randall 596-6640
April 29th State Leadership Clinic Jan Potterveld 464-2065
April 30th State Meeting Jan Potterveld 464-2065
May 20 & 21 Ted Holland Clinic Betty Lou Canterbury 270-3304
September 10th Girl Scout workday Terry Randall 596-6640
September 17th Girl Scout workday Terry Randall 596-6640
Next Scheduled Ride
February 2017 ride:
Date: 25-Feb
2017 GMBCH Rides
Date Trail Boss Phone # Destination
February 25th Cliff Johnson? 248-0954 Loma Desert
February 26th Terry Gray 874-7304 Delta
March 19th Sharon Roper ? 242-9278 McInnes Canyons
March 29th Jan Potterveld 464-2065 Old Spanish Trail
April 8th Penny Ackerman 242-8860 Westwater
April 22nd Terry Randall 596-6640 Dominguez
June 10th TBD
July 7,8,9 Terry Randall 596-6640 overnight- Black Mesa
August 17th TBD
September 9th Penny Ackerman 242-8860 Westwater
October 6,7,8 Richard Coffinberry 307-921-0767 Onion Creek
November 11th TBD
2017 GMBCH WORKDAYS
Date Trail Boss Phone number Location Project
May 13th Bob Files 858-9131 Pinon Mesa Corrals
Terry Randall 596-6640
May 27th TBD Pinon Mesa Reservoir #1
Black Pines
June 13th TBD TBD
June 24th TBD TBD
July 13th TBD TBD
July 22nd TBD TBD
August 11,12? TBD Uncompagdre
August 25,26 TBD Uncompagdre
September 14th TBD TBD
September 23rd TBD TBD
October 14th TBD TBD
2017
Officers: State Representatives
President: Jan Potterveld 464-2065 Jan Potterveld Cell 985-0276
Vice President: Terry Randall 596-6640 Carolyn Pree 433-2490
Cal Wylie 620 629 5656 Alternate- Terry Randall 596-6640
Treasurer: Cheryl Ballew 260-6383
Secretary: Penny Ackerman 242-8860
Board Members
Dave Dashner - 242-9278
BettyLou Canterbury - 858-6403
Bob Files - 858-9131
Connie Johnson - 858-9887
Volunteers
McInnis clean up
Not Assigned yet
Rabbit Valley clean up
Not Assigned Yet
Meeting snacks volunteers are as follows:
Not Assigned Yet
National Trails Stewardship Act
On February 9th I attended a Webinar put on by the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance. The purpose of this Webinar was to explain the implications of the National Trails Stewardship Act that passed in a rare bipartisan vote in November of 2016. ( you know, the one Jan has been trying to get us to pay attention to.)
The BCH can be proud to be somewhat instrumental in getting this bill before Congress. Apparently the senator from Utah,(sorry I forgot her name) went riding with the Utah BCH. She saw the state of the trails and introduced the bill in Congress to address the backlog of trail maintenance. The legislation was drafted to focus on how to improve trail maintenance with no new cost to the treasury. The idea was to incorporate better use of volunteer help and improve overall efficiency of the Forest Service.
A few parts of this Trails Stewardship Act that I thought were interesting:
1) The NFS will study opportunities to use off duty fire crews in trail maintenance.
2) Give Stewardship credits to Outfitters and Guides to offset Land Use fees.
3) ***Volunteers will be covered for injury by a mutual benefit agreement with the National (not District) Forestry Departments. Apparently one of the reasons for not using more volunteers was the Districts could not afford insurance in case of volunteer injuries.
The parts of Trails Stewardship Act that seemed the most pertinent to GMBCH were the timelines to increase volunteer participation. According to this Trails Act each Forestry District (there are only 9) within 6 months of enactment, must come up with at least one priority area for increased trail maintenance accomplishments. There are several criteria for these priority area designations. One of these criteria relates to having a user group willing and able to help stabilize and maintain it. Within 2 years , November 2018, each district must publish in the Federal Register “ a strategy to significantly increase the role of volunteers and partners in trail maintenance.” The goal of this strategy is to increase trail maintenance by volunteers by 100% in 5 years. In 3 years the Districts have to submit a report of the effectiveness of their strategy.
I feel this means to the GMBCH that the Foresters are going to need us now more than ever to meet these mandated goals. I think we can anticipate a greater desire on the Forest Service part to provide the training, certification, cooperation, and on site visits for our trail work.
Hope this helps to explain some things about the National Trails Stewardship Act. I have more information and am open to questions.
Thanks for your interest. Terry
Grand Mesa BCH - Our Purpose is:
> To perpetuate the common sense use and enjoyment of horses in America’s back
country and wilderness;
> To work to ensure that public lands remain open to recreational stock use;
> To assist the various government and private agencies in their maintenance and
management of said resources;
> To educate, encourage, and solicit active participation in the wise and sustaining use of the
back country resources by horsemen and the general public commensurate with our heritage.
Trail Ride Rules: Good for everyone!
> All rides will be under the direction of the designated Trail Boss.
> No rider shall pass the Trail Boss.
> Riders will ask to pass other horses.
> Riders shall maintain a safe distance between horses.
> There will be no Running or Cantering on any GMBCH ride.
> Do not leave the ride without notifying the Trail Boss.
> No riding double.
> Inexperienced horses and those likely to kick should have a ribbon in their tails.
> At gates or other obstacles, move clear of obstacle, then wait until everyone is remounted and
ready to proceed before riding off.
> All horses will be restrained [tied or held] during lunch stops or breaks.
> Riders must be diligent at preventing their horses from digging and chewing on trees.
> No smoking while on the trail.
> No dogs will be allowed on the rides.
> Guests must sign a liability release. Minors must have parent or guardian sign the release
> No loose horses in camp or on the trail.
> Leave gates as you find them; obey all closures and regulatory signs.
> Pack it in; pack it out. Leave No Trace.
> No stallions will be permitted on trail rides.
> Show Respect to other riders by keeping your language respectful.
Grand Mesa Back Country Horsemen
Membership Application
Instructions:
Please include your check or money order and send to:
Grand Mesa Back Country Horsemen, PO Box 4872, Grand Junction, CO 81502
Name(s) ______Occupation ______
Address ______
Email ______Telephone ______
Please Check: New Membership _____ Renewal ______