July Monthly Meeting Minutes

31 attendees for another wonderful time despite the crappy summer thunderstorm. (not responsible for inaccurate content-i did have one beer; secretary may correct any errors)

Dave Raboy presided.

* Peru trip although a change of scenery in itself, was marred by illness that affected Jason and Dave. Jason and Kathleen didn't summit but Eric Pihl made the grade, I think. There will most certainly be a repeat attempt or at least a return to Peru in the future.
* NO AUGUST MEETING
* Bobby Graver's trip to Switzerland sounds like a place I'd love to go on. The weather was a factor. A rope team of 3 made for slow progress. They took trains to the eismere station which was literally inside the Eiger. They had to find their way down tunnels depending on the level of snow and crossed a glacier which led to 5th class traverse to the hut. They did this trip in July.The Eiger was constantly raining down rocks and debris.Pack lite and go fast to the south ridge. They did the route(s) on-site;climbed on bolted limestone. Great time
* Fourth of July trip was awesome. 25 peeple, climbing, biking, swimming, cook out etc...too much fun
* The Sierra trip headed by Ross Hess is in 2 weeks. This team was having a gear check this evening instead of watching the slide show.
* RETURN TO KATAHDIN: people have to decide when to go on this trip again, but this time we should push it back for a better weather window. Apply early for the permits. This party will omit the camping because the cabins are so toasty.
* EXPEDITION FINDING PROPOSAL passed; must submit a project by September and decide by October?
* Slide show schedule: September PERU TEAM: John OSter; Rocktober: JOshua Baker does the Himalaya; November: Ross Hess recounts the upcoming Sierra Trip.
* EXPEDITION MEMBERS and LEADERS must be PATC members to be covered by Liability Insurance.
* Volunteers at This week's Great falls Bio Survey Mike and Judy, report the progress on the job at hand.
* Shenandoah National Park's walk around and informational hike for the outreach and new management program is August 19th; the educational community outreach is in Mid-Rocktober.
* GEAR MEISTER; Ozana HAlik: "gear is available for check out but with ample notice". Check on line to see what is available and then arrange with the gear meister-gear can be handed off at carderock or at the monthly meetings
* Newsletter: For the last year and a half a certain magic has taken over the club with insane participation and a freakin flood of Trippin trip reports that swamp the beleaguered Vince the Octopus's editor duties. He may have to invoke the 3rd rule of the 7th paraphrased addendum and actually edit some of the articles to keep them way under 22 pages?
* Roctober 7th is the Seneca Work Day. Don't let the word "WORK" ruffle your skirts guys-it is all fun and you'll like it. Contact BIlly Wright.
* REI will host a SLIDE show of Shows for the fall. If you have an awesome trip and slides and aren't afraid to blather on about your trip, write a description of your trip/presentation/length/subject matter and submit to Bobby Graver
* Member and non-members OPT out of the list server for reasons unknown-BUTT...they continue to monitor the CLUB CALENDAR. and this is one of the ways they keep up with the pulse of our mighty club. If you look at the individual page counters you see these really large numbers. I get a weekly report of each page that is monitored and some pages get 20-30 hits a day. Our club's website is getting exposure out there....and some of the pages that get these hits are surprising. THe chair gets daily emails all the time for information. SOBOTTOM LINE...USE THE CALENDAR-IF IT JUST A SMALL TRIP OR EVEN A NON-TRIP put it on the calendar for everyone to see....


BE WELL EVERYONE. We are on the Downhill side of this season....Lead some trips...putit on the calendar...get people HOT to Trot.