tails from the trails nov/dec 2014
DESCRIPTION
Redshank Riders Official NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
Issue 11/12 2014 Officers NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
PRESIDENT Anne York (951) 662-2928 [email protected] VICE-PRESIDENT Michael Lewis (951) 760-9255 [email protected] SECRETARY Audrey Turpin (951) 852-1708 [email protected] TREASURER Gail McCreight (951) 767-9453 [email protected] NEWSLETTER EDITOR & WEBTECH Rhonda Strickland (951) 951-522-8757 [email protected]
NEWSLETTER CO-EDITOR Stacy Kuhns EDUCATION Allison Renck (951) 763-0374 [email protected] PUBLIC LANDS/STATE REP Stacy Kuhns (909) 633-1705 [email protected] MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Carol Schmuhl (951) 663 6763 [email protected]
HISTORIAN Carol Schmuhl (951) 767-1061 [email protected] ADOPT A HIGHWAY Cathy Firth (951) 551-9711 [email protected] Redshank Riders P.O. Box 383 Aguanga, CA 92536
Happy Holidays Redshank Riders! As this is my last President’s message, I guess I should try to be profound... I have really enjoyed my year as president. It was not something I had ever planned on. Leadership is definitely NOT my strong suit, but it has been a pleasure - especially working with our hard working Board of Directors. I hope that everyone is aware that all members are welcome to attend the B.O.D. meetings. We usually meet right before the general meeting over tacos & burritos at La Cocina and have a very pleasant session.
Our annual Christmas Party was at Audrey & Tim Turpin’s Ranch. The ride & food was fun as always but the gift exchange was the highlight for me. We have such a fun gang and there are always a lot of really hilarious moments as a few people get to claim the coolest gifts. We will also be elected new officers for 2015. There is some fresh faces, “new kids” that came on board!
As for the upcoming year, I am very optimistic. The word that describes my hopes best is “connections.” First, finding, riding and mapping connections for existing trails is a passion that I share with many. To accomplish that, and to get the trails dedicated we need to have good connections with government agencies. Developing positive connections with the affected residents and land owners adjacent to the desired pathways is essential. If done right we can have such a vast network of trails that we will be a destination point; the envy of many areas that have tried but failed when development has closed them off. We still have time to get it right, mindful of what hasn’t gone well in some neighboring communities when they have attempted similar projects. We have a lot of talented and knowledgeable members in our group; people who understand the back country and trail building, others who are organizers and communicators. I’m still trying to learn how to use a GPS, and there are quite a few experts at using those too.
2015 is going to be a great year!
Happy Trails & Don’t Fence Me In!
Anne
1
Meeting Minutes - October 9, 2014 Call to Order at 7:01pm - 8 members present 0 guests—Minutes Read and approved—1st Mike Lewis, 2nd Tom Firth Treasurer Report: ending Balance $4424.28 Membership Report: No Report Historian: No report Trail Development & Maintenance: Mike Lewis: Trail College was successful last weekend Oct 3-4. Basic Trail work was discussed along with water bars 13 people attended all the way from Bakersfield, Israel Germany and San Diego. Held ¼ mile from Warner Springs. Some comments were that PCTA would like to have a packing class taught to PCTA volunteers. Tom Firth: Trail Committee Trail Town of Anza; they have come up with a Mission Statement, broken into committees and have discussed what is important: People working on easements issues, California Riding and Hiking Trail. Ribbonwood Work Party was well attended with 50 plus people from Friends of the Desert. 18 Redshank riders attended. 5 went down Horse Thief creek and worked on Cactus Spring Trail. People were planting trees, painting at trail head and found 2 tamarisk trees. Allison fed about 40 people Packing Opportunity: Tamarisk Project water needed to be hauled down to Palm Canyon. In Oct 20 out Oct.24 Public Lands: No Report Adopt a Highway: Cathy Firth - Nov 8 8-10 am at Chevron station Education: Allison Renck Tom Firth went up North to Weaverville for LNT course for Master program. BCHC is only one who provide Pack Stock Master program for LNT program. USFS is not doing it 8 people for BCHC teaching masters program for LNT Calls are coming all over to teach LNT Train the Trainer. Wilderness Rider Program will be at Rendezvous. This will be a master course for LNT. Tom needs budget for white boards, pens Motioned and approved to supply funds. Rendezvous dates are March 20-22 2015 New Business: Susan Gonzalez would like someone to look into contracting RFD to do a program on Backcountry. Christmas Party at Turpins’ at Up a Creek Ranch on Dec 14 Flyer to be sent out Meeting Adjourned 8:03pm
Meeting Minutes - November 13, 2014 Call to order at 7:03—16 members present
1 guest: Sue Watkins SARU
October Minutes Read and approved—1st Tom Firth—2nd Ed Puett Treasurers Report: Ending Balance $4496.46 Membership Report: 104 total members Historian: —No Report Trail Development: Carol Schmuhl Directional Signs for Beauty Mt /Tule Peak Trailhead are done and given to Tom Firth for installing. Do we want to pay for template for signs $50.00. Do we want to place sign on Bradford Rd near campers sign? Looking for permission to install sign on private land. Motion to buy template - Ayes have it - Allison Renck 1st, Stacy Kuhns 2nd.
Future work parties to set up: Tom Firth: Bailey Trail in January 10 weather permitting at Coopers Cienga Truck Trailhead 2 hour ride in with a 2mile trail to be cleared.
Work Party off of Hwy 371 to repair a trail going thru a riparian habitat and bring the trail out of spring up into the side of the hill. 30 to 40 feet trail work this will help reconnect the California Riding and Hiking trail along Terwilliger near Burnt Valley. Details to follow.
Info from Mike Lewis: Inventory Crews went up to the PCTA along Taquitz Peak to evaluate and prepare to re-open trails. Trail Closure will expire on Nov 15. Cedar Springs back along to Fobes hopefully will be re-opening soon.
Adopt-a-Hwy: 10 people showed up almost all done !
Public Lands: Stacy Kuhns: Need Volunteer hours soon. Units will be penalized for not submitting hours in a timely fashion due to holding up states audits. Must be submitted by 2-1-15. National BCH to meet in Sacramento in April 2015. Master course in June. Will be doing training tours to teach new board members in units’ responsibilities
BCHC building strategic plan to receive sponsorship money from major corporations. BCHC looking into multi year membership with a discount and a reduced fee for young adults to encourage their membership ages 18-25 - will be $15.00. Thank You came from Woodside competitors for trail trial. Also a big thank you from One Spade Packers for Rendezvous.
Old Business: None
New Business: Guest Sue Watkins from SARU BCHC looking for volunteers/speakers to help work at Horse EXPO in Jan30/Feb1 2015 for BCHC booth. She is also the chairperson for Yearling Youth Mustang Challenge at Southern Ca. Fairgrounds Nov 29 Sat. Christmas Party at Up a Creek’s ranch Dec 14 sun ride out at 10 am weather permitting party hopefully at 1. Potluck/Steal’em gift exchange/ Spark of Love new unwrapped toy for young person.
Adjourned: 8:14 pm 1st Ron Lawson 2nd Allison Renck
2
BCHC Redshank Unit Meeting Minutes October & November
3
By Stacy Kuhns with help from Larry Zauberis, Volunteer Hours Committee
Volunteerism is one of the most important activities Back Country Horsemen can use in our effort to perpetuate enjoyable common sense use of pack and saddle stock in the backcountry. A central point of our mission statement is to assist government agencies in maintenance and management of public lands.
By using our time and resources, we help insure that public land remains open to recreational stock use by earning a seat at the table where we can influence the decisions concerning access to public lands by pack and saddle stock users. The value of being able to speak with public lands managers from the position of having provided volunteer service cannot be overstated.
It seems that while our members are more than willing to volunteer their time and energy to maintain trails all across the country, many are reluctant to report the hours and expenses incurred in that effort. The hours and value of volunteer service by Back Country Horsemen is consistently underreported. In 2012 only twenty-one of the twenty-seven state organizations in BCHA reported volunteer service. It is unfortunate that the volunteer efforts in those non-reporting states were not reflected in the 373,381 hours valued at over $12.5 M in the national report.
It is important to remember that the purpose our volunteer effort goes far beyond the satisfaction provided by the trail work itself. The hours spent and expenses volunteered add to the credibility of our collective voice in discussions with public land managers whether on the local ranger district or in Washington D.C.
It is up to us at the unit level to track and report our service. Each unit should appoint a Volunteer Hours Coordinator (VHC) or committee responsible for reporting the hours that members work and other expenses they incur during their service.
It is important to understand that the value of the volunteer service goes beyond trail work hours. It also includes time members devote to engagement in the management planning process. Other reported expenses like travel time, stock and equipment hauling, and donations in kind add to the value of our volunteer service.
BCH also tracks the impact of our volunteer service by tracking the miles of trail maintained, both in Wilderness Areas and on other public lands. These numbers are essential in discussions with legislators and public land managers as they demonstrate the significant influence BCH is having on the maintenance backlog the USFS is experiencing under current budget conditions.
Having been appointed to chair the Volunteer Hours Committee please get your hours to me by Feb 1st, Please communicate with each other in the unit to make sure that whoever is taking care of your units volunteer hours gets your information.
I compile them all and get them off to BCHA. I want to make sure that everyone knows materials are available on the BCH website for units to use to track volunteer hours and expenses. As a committee, we worked hard to update the MS Excel workbook to be more user-friendly
Please download and use these fresh materials from the BCH website at: http://www.bchcalifornia.org/forms.html - There are many ways to assist with the worksheets.
While we will accept Volunteer Hours reports in just about any format, using the form provided on the website greatly aids us in creating a report that clearly expresses the nature of all our volunteer efforts on our public lands.
Please feel free to contact me ([email protected] or call 909-633-1705) at any time if you have questions concerning reporting your volunteer service.
Thanks so much for all your efforts!
Volunteer Service Reporting Volunteer Service Reporting
Posted by Sarah Wynne Jackson on December 22nd, 2014
As they preserve our right to ride horses on public lands, Back Country Horsemen of America also embrace and promote responsible recreation. The seven Leave No Trace principles are practical guidelines to help all users make better choices to minimize the impact of their presence on untouched lands while inspiring respect for the wilderness.
Recently Back Country Horsemen of California, one of the founding member states of BCHA, was awarded the contract to provide the only Leave No Trace Stock Master Educator course in the country. BCHC earned this remarkable opportunity through hard work, sustained effort in promoting gentle recreation, and a dedication to excellence.
The Class Back Country Horsemen of California’s first Leave No Trace Stock Master Educator course will be given June 8 through 12, 2015, in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest at Bowerman Barn in Weaverville. It will be based on the same model as was used at Ninemile but in a camp classroom environment.
The masters courses for some disciplines can cost over $1000 per participant. In their effort to make this important knowledge available to many, BCHC wants to keep the price of their course as low as possible. An all-volunteer staff allows them to offer the course for around $500, which includes lodging, meals, materials, and instruction from educated horsemen steeped in back country experience. To learn more about this exciting opportunity, contact Back Country Horsemen of California through their website www.bchcalifornia.org or call Dan Horn at 707-544-4543. - To read the full article go to: www.backcountryhorse.com/blog/2014/12/22/bch-california-takes-lead-leave-no-trace-stock-use/#sthash.YZjVCdwM.dpuf
4
5
6
January 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 - RSR General Meeting
9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24—Trail Tool Maintenance Edu-cation
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Upcoming Events (Some dates may be tentative)
Jan 8- will be a pot luck at Mike & Pebble's house. Please RSVP - to Pebbles - [email protected] or Mike - [email protected] - 951 760-9255 - 52820 Elder Creek Rd. , Aguanga, CA. 92536 - Dinner at 6:00 pm, meeting at 7:00 pm.
Directions: From Hwy. 371 turn on Bradford Rd., it only goes one way, turn right on Tule Valley Rd., turn left on Hernley Rd., go 2.4 miles and house is on the left. Hernley Rd. becomes Elder Creek Rd. Look for the signs. - The main dish will be provided - bring a side dish or dessert.
Jan 24- Trail Tool Maintenance Education by the Trail Gorillas. Contact Mike Lewis, [email protected]
Feb 1- Deadline to submit BCHC volunteer work hours. Did you work the 2014 Rendezvous, put on a training function, clean-up, repairs?
These hours translate into a very large dollar value and give the State and National Backcountry Horsemen organizations the clout they need to negotiate with the various federal, state, and local agencies to establish and maintain access of horses, mules, and their owners to our public lands. Contact Stacy Kuhns, [email protected],
Feb12-7 pm RSR monthly meeting at the Little Red School House in Anza. Open to the public. Check for updates, meeting may be at member’s house/ranch.
Mar 12- 7 pm RSR monthly meeting at the Little Red School House in Anza. Open to the public. Check for updates, meeting may be at member’s house/ranch.
Mar 13-15- Annual BCHC Rendezvous, Calaveras Camp in Angel’s Camp, CA. www.FrogTown.org and www.bchcalifornia.org/rendezvous.htm
WELCOME to Our ReNEWed MEMBER
Valerie Schmidt
7
2014 Double Diamond Award Application Format
The BCHA Volunteer Hours Committee has changed the format for submitting Double Diamond Award Nominations. These changes came about due to the large amount of participation from members across the country. The committee felt we needed to provide a means of comparing all nominations equally to be fair to all the nominators. In the past the committee has received anything from a thirty minute video to a one page written letter. Thank you all for your great entries in the past and we look forward to some great entries with your volunteer efforts from 2014.
Below is the new format. Note the April 1st Deadline for all nominations! The deadline was established so the committee members will have time to thoroughly review all the nominations before the National Directors Meeting.
BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN of AMERICA Double Diamond Award Application
The Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA) National Board established this special annual award in 2003. This award is presented to BCHA chapters for exceptional volunteer projects and/or educational programs completed during the previous year. The efforts eligible for recognition can include, but not limited to, trail maintenance, trail construction, trailhead construction, educational programs, and youth programs.
Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA) will accept applications from any chapter/unit for a volunteer project or educational program that has been accomplished during the calendar year (Jan.1-Dec.31) immediately preceding the April National Board of Directors Meeting. All award applications shall be for a specific project or educational program, not for multiple projects or programs undertaken during the year. Multiple outings to accomplish a specific project are acceptable.
Include a detailed description of what the project entailed and how it was accomplished from start to finish. Answer the questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how. Include any pictures (a maximum of eight photos) the committee can use in making its decision. Also include any additional support letters from the agency or private parties that were worked with on this project or program. Applications must be submitted by email in Word or Adobe format with a maximum of four pages. (Digital format is preferred; however, a hard copy will be accepted if electronic options are not available to the nominator. Applications must be received by April 1st of the current year either by email to: [email protected] or US Mail to: BCHA Double Diamond, 64 Clayton RD. Clarkston, WA 99403. No applications received after April 1st will be considered.
The BCHA Volunteer Hours Committee appointed by the National Chair of BCHA will decide the winner or winners. The award will be presented at the BCHA National Board Annual Banquet. For questions, please call 970-247-3231.
Thank you for the coming application!
BCHA Volunteer Hours Committee
Redshank Riders
BCHC
P.O. BOX 383
Aguanga, CA 92536
Objectives and Purpose of the Backcountry Horsemen of California from the BCHC Bylaws
To improve and promote the use, care and development of California backcountry trails, campsites, streams and meadows; to advocate good trail manners.
To promote the conservation and utilization of our backcountry resources in concert with livestock transportation.
To keep current information before the Corporation membership and its local Units regarding new legislation or management plans related to government regulations of the backcountry.
To support or oppose new proposals, plans and restrictions as related to the interest of horsemen and those persons interested in recreational stock use and enjoying the backcountry.
To promote the interest of people who, due to health or physical factors, need transportation other than by foot on backcountry trails.
8