LVKCC Minutes – May 5, 2022
Place – Lehigh Gap Nature Center
General Membership Meeting
Executive Committee Members:
President – Dan Morton Vice President – Rachel Connolly
Recording Secretary – Mike Swartley Treasurer – Rita Snyder
Membership Secretary – Jill Evans
Members at Large – Gery Kirkner & Dave Dawson
Non-Executive Members
Webmaster – Dan Rempp
Educational Instruction Coordinator – Scott Douglas
Total members present: 26
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The business meeting started at 7:32pm..
Secretary’s Report
A motion was made to accept the April 7th meeting minutes as posted on the club website.
MP – Scott MS – Bill P – All O – None
Treasurer’s Report
April 2022 report was provided.
A motion was made to approve the April Treasurer’s report.
MP – Mark MS – Pat P – All O – None
Membership Report
Jill Evans provided the following membership statistics as of April 30th 2022
Total Members 2022: 306
Total Individual Memberships: 133
Total Individual Lifetime 4
Total Family Memberships 61
Total Family Lifetime 1
Total Lifetime: 5
2666 members of the Facebook group
1446 subscribers to Meetup
Webmaster’s Report
Dan Rempp reported Website usage has dropped. Last year was: 354/month. Now 143/month. Believed Google has changed its ranking. Discussion was held as to why this might be. Possibilities include COVID, or Facebook or Meetup pages are used more often.
Membership is up so we did not feel this is a concern.
Education Report
Last pool class was Saturday April 9th. Pool classes were successful!
Whitewater class river portion is scheduled to start this Saturday.
Open Water Sea kayaking class will start May 18th with a Zoom classroom. Water training starts June 4th.
Recreational Kayaking Course has reported 2 students. May 28th is deadline for registration. Class starts June 4th. See Meetup for details.
Plans are to have a Guide class on May 29. Six have signed up. Up to 10 students plus instructors and safety boaters.
Scott Douglas plans to offer an ACA Instructor Certification Workshop June 23-26 (Thurs – Sunday). This will be for those wishing to become certified as Instructors for the club. This intensive workshop will cover L1 (kayak) and L2 (moving water kayak) certifications, with June 23-25 required for both L1 and L2 and June 26th required for L2. The first three days will be at Lake Nockamixon and requires a long boat and gear. June 26th will be at Marvins Garden on the Lehigh and requires a whitewater boat and gear. Anyone interested or to request additional information should email Scott (scott@acdcpa.com). Space is limited.
Trip leader class and certification will be posted soon on our website.
Intermediate series to be determined.
Main Topics
Old Business
T shirt Update
New shirts and hats have arrived and are steadily being sold. Shirts are $25 each. Hats $15. Mugs $5. New club stickers are free.
Tent Status
The tent has been exchanged and is operational. Tent and banner is at Dan Morton’s house. Tent, roller bag, and banner will next be shown at the Swap Meet and Stoneyfest.
Pool Report
Expenses and Income presented. Projected to have $1162.62 surplus.
Looking forward to next year at Rodale!
Suggestion was been made to add an additional hour to our pool sessions for next year.
Permanent Home for Boats Committee
Trailer has been registered, inspected and moved to Pat’s place. New wheels and tires were purchased using approved funds. Old rims can be re-sold.
Advance Auto Parts – Battery: $46.63
Don’s Auto Sales – Title and Registration $160.00
Gravers’ Sales and Service – Tires and Rims $655.24
Will get a a bill from Jerry for his services.
Construction of structure inside the trailer will begin this month.
A small leak needs to be caulked.
Need locks for hitch and doors and a lockbox.
Projected date to its home at the LOC is early June.
Spring Trip
Dave Dawson reported that the trip to Pohick Bay Regional Park near Washington DC from 22 to 25 April 2022 was successful! There were 42 attendees. Many pictures and comments posted on Facebook.
Fall Trip
Fall trip is October 14 to 17 to Camp Arrowhead Rehobeth Bay, Delaware
Larry March Slalom Race on 9, 10 and 11 September
Skip & Gery have volunteered to run this annual 3 day event on the second weekend in September.
City has the insurance information.
We need volunteers for this event: setup, timers, record keepers and teardown.
New Business
Jackson Kayak Expo at LOC
Several Club members attended this event at the Lehighton Outdoor Center (LOC). Several kayaking professionals were present! Several new Jackson Kayak designs were at the expo.
Club Bank Account Swap
Club accounts were swapped to the new officers and is mostly complete.
Walkie-Talkie Buy in and Trips Reimbursements
The NCSP marine radios arrived end of April. Thanks to Pat for acquiring these and driving to Ithaca to pick them up!
Also Pat drove to Starrk Moon months ago to sell/purchase boats.
The Executive Board voted by email to reimburse Pat for gas for both trips..
Current Committees
Tuesday Whitewater Practice Sessions
Practice sessions are being held at 4pm on Tuesdays. The first session was held on May 3rd at the Little Lehigh. They are being held at 4pm on Tuesdays in May and June at the Little Lehigh. In July and August the sessions will be at Marvin Gardens.
See the Club Meetup Events page for details and updates.
Swap Meet Pizza
A motion was made to purchase pizza for next months’ swap meet.
MP – Dave MS – Susan P – All O – None
Trip Policy Committee
Sent out to all members a draft of the latest proposal for guides and instructors.
Discussion on wording and other issues.
A motion was made to table the draft proposal til next meeting.
MP – Mitch MS – Linda P – All O – None
Holiday Party in December
December 3rd or 10th were choices.
A motion was made for December 3rd
MP – Pat MS – Rita P – All O – None
Team River Runners
Asked for volunteers to help out at Rodale on May 6, 20 and June 3rd. See Team River Runner – Lehigh Valley, PA Facebook page.
Boy Scout Camporee May 21st
Scott reported safety boaters are needed the Boy Scout Camporee needs between 9am and 4pm May 21st.
Stoneyfest Whitewater
Class 2 Whitewater Event on May 20 – 22nd by Bensalem Whitewater Canoe Club. See website for Benscreek Canoe Club.
Program Committee
Checking on an October speaker.
Updating Facebook Rules
Tabled until till next meeting.
Insurance Policy Committee
No report. Note this is a new committee split off due to the insurance questions that the Trip Policy Committee raised. Members are Pat, Dave, Dan Rempp and Rita.
Upcoming Meetings/Events
June 2022 Swap Meet and meeting at Little Lehigh River. Pizza provided.
July 2022 No meeting
August 2022 No meeting
September 2022 Ledges Paddle – Lehigh Gap Nature Center Slalom race
October 2022 List of Nominees for office due. Wildlands Conservancy
Fall Trip to Lake Arrowhead on October 14 to 17
November 2022 Election of Officers Wildlands Conservancy
December 2022 Holiday Party on 3rd
A motion was made to adjourn the meeting.
MP – Nickole MS – Rita MP – All O – None
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00pm.
Respectfully submitted: Mike Swartley– Recording Secretary
