NEBRASKA HORSE COUNCIL
Trails Committee Meeting
December 1, 2004
The NHTC met on Wednesday, December 1, 2004 at 7:00 p.m., with the following people in attendance:
Rich & Kathy Newberg and their grandsons Jacob & Jud Buscher, Gayle Taylor, Mike Anderson, Vicki & Jamie Sich, Mary & Dwight Hanson, Tammy & John Vasa, Dennis Nichols, Pattianne Belitz.
Thank you to Tammy Vasa for making arrangements with her employer, Ameritas, for allowing the NHTC the use of a meeting room. Also thanks goes out to Tammy and John for picking up the pizza provided by the NRD, as a thank you from the NRD for work done on the Oak Creek Trail.
Kathy Newberg, Trails Committee Vice Chairperson, contacted Brad Seitz and Wayne Brandt, park superintendents at Rock Glen and Rock Creek Station, on October 21. As of October 21, the Governor has not yet signed the policy regarding horseback riding restrictions in the Rock Glen Wildlife Management Area. Designated horseback riding trails have not been marked, and Kathy was asked to contact Brad and Wayne in March to assist with trail marking signs and posts, financing for these signs will be provided by the N.H.C. and N.H.C.T.Cs.
Mary Hanson, with the National Park Service, has applied for a grant to be used at Rock Glen and Rock Creek Station. If the NPS grant is awarded, the NPS grant will match NHC and NHTC dollars invested for trail and erosion improvements in these park areas.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!
The next Oak Creek Trail Clearing Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 2005. Meet in Loma at 9:30 a.m.. The Trails Committee will supply a chili lunch.
Volunteers and funds from the NHC and NHTC built twelve horse corrals at Indian Cave State Park. Expenses totaling $2,942.58 for posts and signs were submitted. Motion to approve expenses by Tammy, 2nd by Vicki, all in favor vote. Members in attendance also all voted in favor of the NHTC’s purchase of three additional signs needed at Indian Cave:
‘Stay on Designated Horse Trails’
‘Trail Etiquette Rules’
‘Manure Compost Station’
Trail riding enthusiasts in the central and western portions of the state have expressed an interest in starting branches of Trails Committee in central and western areas of the state. Mary Hanson is available as a resource for contacting National Parks personnel and to assist with meetings in the central and western areas of the state.
Kathy Newberg discussed the need for and also provided the motion for a Historian for the Trails Committee, also nominating Jud and Jacob Buscher as Historians. Jamie seconded this motion, which voted in favor by all. The latest writings from the new Nebraska Horse Council Trails Committee Historians can be found on the Trails Committee link from the Nebraska Horse Council Website at http://www.nebraskahorsecouncil.org/
HORSE EXPO
March 11 through 13, 2005 at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln
The Trails Committee requested a booth in the vendor area this year, rather than the horse barn. Volunteers are needed for the booth during the following hours, as well as many other areas throughout the expo:
Friday, March 11: 12 Noon to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 12: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 13: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Big Canyon Inn has donated a weekend of camping and trail riding. The weekend package will be used for a drawing at the Trails Committee booth. All new members registering, or current members who renew their membership for 2005, at the Trails Committee booth, during Expo 2005, will be entered in the drawing. Mike Anderson will ask businesses for donations of additional prizes to also be awarded from the membership drive drawing.
A theme for the Expo booth was discussed and approved by all. The theme for the Trails Committee booth 2005 will be ‘We’ve Come A Long Way Baby’. Pictures of the many Trails Committees successful projects and accomplishments will be displayed throughout the Expo booth. Anyone with pictures to share is encouraged to bring a copy of the picture to the next NHTC meeting.
Kathy discussed with Wayne Brandt, park superintendent at Rock Creek Station, a proposal for adding 8 to 12 corrals and tie racks in the equestrian camp at Rock Creek Station. The Expo booth will also include a donation drive; a fun day was also discussed as an opportunity as a fundraiser. Mary Hanson also mentioned matching funds from the National Parks Service grant. Kathy motioned the NHTC work towards adding corrals at Rock Creek Station, second by Tammy; all votes were in favor of this proposal for 2005.
Mary Hanson presented information regarding Equestrian Land Conservation Group Trail Trotters, explained the purpose of the group. Mary will share additional information at the next meeting.
Election of 2005 Officers held. An explanation of the expectation of each office and the term to be served was read. 2005 officers elected as follows:
Chairperson: Kathy Newberg of Walton, NE
Vice Chairperson: Mike Anderson of Blair, NE
Secretary: Pattianne Belitz of Omaha, NE
Treasurer: Vickie Sich of Grand Island, NE
Jamie motioned to adjourn, second by Rich. Meeting adjourned.
NEXT MEETING:
The meeting is being held Wednesday, January 19, 2005, at the new Ameritas building right off the Interstate near Fletcher Ave. Address is 475 Fallbrook Blvd. Meeting begins at 7:30. Directions are as follows:
From Omaha using I-80:
From Grand Island using I-80
From Downtown Lincoln 1. Take I-180 (9th St) north. You will go past Cornhusker Hwy, past Superior St., & over I-80. 2. Right after you cross I-80, you will come to a stop light on Fletcher Ave. 3. Turn Right at Fletcher Ave. 4. Turn Left onto Fallbrook Blvd. 5. Ameritas Building is large building on your left. Take first turn into driveway. Park in visitor parking |
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