Meeting Minutes

Rapids Riders

February 14, 2007

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Members present: Chad, David, Art, Dale, Amy, Dennis, Jeff, Alex, Bob, and Melissa

Review of Last Month’s Meeting

Canoe U orientation night is May 6, 2007 from 5-9 at the BCCC pool. Rental fees are $240 plus the cost of renting the room.
Norway Pines fees have increased to $500 per night (from $350 last year) plus $50 per night for utilities OR $5 per person per night, whichever is greater.
Dale is working on confirming a square dance. Dennis and Mark M. have other options if Adam is not available. Adam’s price is $850.
Dale is still working on finding a hog cooker.
Dennis is available to teach both weekends.
Sarah can do a women’s canoe class again.
We are able to offer the same canoe classes as last year.
Kayak classes were not discussed, except that Amy is not able to teach.
The Survivor’s Party will be from 4-10 p.m. on June 12 at Hidden Falls Pavillion. The rental cost is $48, which Dale recently paid.

New Business Regarding Canoe U

Melissa will reserve Willow River campground (through Randy at Banning) for graduation weekend and let Chad and Dale know the cost.
No one volunteered to be the welcoming committee at Norway Pines Friday night.
Chad will teach a youth group Canoe U weekend. The group will come from the St. Paul YMCA. Seven students and two counselors (only one of the river) will be involved. Chad will have 3 or 4 pool sessions at the YMCA prior to Canoe U.
An instructor’s meeting/refresher was discussed but not decided upon. This will be held 2-4 weeks before Canoe U weekend.

Bob (or David F.) will edit the PDF Canoe U application to include the ACA logo and a question asking how the participant heard about Canoe U.
Twin Cities Sports needs a confirmation soon as to whether we will run an ad or not. The cost of a ¼ page ad is $500 (which is a reduced rate). This was tabled until the Finance Committee can meet and figure out Canoe U fees.
An ad for Canoe U will start running in Silent Sports in March.
Bob submitted an article to MN Paddler re: Canoe U, and will submit another for the next issue. (Bob will ask Jay about MN Paddler’s deadline.)
Bob will have Canoe U materials available at the Midwest Mountaineering Expo on April 27-29 (at the MCA booth). Chad and/or others will staff the booth.
Bob will look into advertising Canoe U in Paddler magazine since it’s free (because it’s an ACA event).

Dale is in contact with Peter Vork (MN Conservation Corps)
Dale has talked with Don at REI regarding an REI grant
Chad is talking to Peter N. at Midwest Mountaineering regarding a Pategonia grant
Dale will check into a possible Bremer bank local grant

Art will attend a MN non-profit Consortium meeting to try to get our 501 C# cemented into place.
We discussed scanning all of Rapids Riders’ official documents and posting them on the website to avoid the risk of our only paper copies being lost or damaged. This item was tabled.
The Rolling Instructors’ refresher will be held February 18, 2007 at BCCC pool at 5 p.m., using ¼ of the shallow end of the pool while the canoe skills class is taking place.

A committee was formed to look at and decide upon Canoe U fees. The committee will consist of Chad K., Art C., and Dale E. A unanimous vote approved any action/decision of this committee.

One specific decision the committee needs to make is if we can and should run an ad in Twin Cities Sports.
They will also decide the cost both participants and visitors will pay to attend Canoe U and Graduation weekend.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Location TBD by Chad. Please post this info on the homepage.