PSDC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
DENVER, PA., MAY 1, 2021
Submitted by Secretary-Carolyn McKenrick
1. Call to Order: President-Christina Gates called the meeting to order at 10:21 am.
2. Secretary’s Report: Secretary-Carolyn McKenrick ask the Membership for their approval for the minutes from the General Membership Meeting held at Twin Streams Campground, in Morris, Pa. on October 31, 2020. The Report was sent out through a mass email. A motion to accept the minutes was made by BOD-Laurie Stone, and was seconded by Alice Fitzgerald. The motion passed.
Positions up for Election this year are: Vice-President, Secretary, & 3 BOD.
3. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer-Masha Stoffa reported that an issue with the Postal Service caused a delay of delivery of our Insurance Premium. She was able to take care of paying it, but the delay caused the Club an extra $20. As of the meeting, the PSDC Account Balances are: Checking: $4697.31, Savings: $6006.23, & PayPal: $947.01. A motion was made by Alice Fitzgerald to accept the Treasurer’s Report as it is presented. Jim Fitzgerald seconded the motion. The motion passed.
4. Committee Reports:
a. ISDRA Report: President-Christina Gates is the ISDRA Director for our region. She reported that the ISDRA meeting will be coordinated with GLSDA Midwest Educational Sled Dog Expo and Trade Fair June 18-20. Although it will be different than the ISDRA convention and awards we are accustomed to, due to the pandemic, it will be scaled back and not a stand-alone event. The GLSDRA event will focus on training and education especially for beginners and those looking to learn new ideas and techniques, (an area ISDRA can benefit from by gaining new members.) They will be raffling an Arctic Star Sled donated by Johnn & Nancy Molburg as well as a few other special items. A membership table and display, & medals will be presented to this year’s winners Saturday evening after the BBQ, as well as Event of the Year certificates. The Board will also be conducting their usual business meeting both in person and via zoom to those unable to attend. There will be an opportunity Sunday morning to offer a general membership meeting. The ISDRA Board will be announcing the classes that medaled and the winners as that information becomes available.
b. Social Media Coordinator- BOD-Donna Quante also our Social Media Coordinator. Donna reported that the Face Book page gets a lot of views as high as over 1000 but mostly averages 200-300. She also asks that people post pictures & stories of what they are doing with their dogs through the summer.
c. Club Website- Club Website: Jessica Kizzmann -Website updates have been efficiently communicated to the webmaster. Most new content is related to events, race information & committee notes.
d. IFSS report: Steve Davis –Term ends this summer (2021) and he will not seek reelection. They will decide on the Bristol World Championship (as venue) in May. May/may not be a go due to Covid and continuing border restrictions to Canada. All federations would need to have the ability to send a representative team (for that country). They have voted to hand the RNB over to WSA (World Sled Dog Association) during their last summit. The USFSS voiced opposition to this but was out voted. This will negatively affect RNB in North America for IFSS sanctioned events.
5. Old Business
a. 2020-2021 Events in Review
i. Summer Campout- Liz Stanaitis reported the campout was held at Twin Streams Campground, in Morris, Pa. July 31, Aug.1, & 2, 2020. They had a fair turn out despite the covid vaccine. The agenda included breakfast both days, drag races, Insa Robinson gave a demo on making lines, BBQ Chicken Dinner, and a campfire. Also, they did a tour of the Pa. Grand Canyon.
ii. Fall Camp Out & Meeting- The Camp out was held at Twin Streams Campground in Morris, Pa. October 30, 31 & Nov 1, 2020. Training was held on the State Forest Roads that are located close by. This event was put together at the last minute. The Boy Scout Camp was not responding to our calls so at the last minute the venue was changed. Rich Stanaitis was able to get us in at Twin Streams Campground. Events on the agenda were: Breakfast both days, training, Halloween events, & a Homemade Turkey Dinner, Board & General Membership Meetings were also held.
iii. Tug Hill Challenge- This event was scheduled for Feb. 13 & 14, 2021. Canceled due to COVID.
iv. Canyon Sled Dog Challenge- This event was scheduled for Feb. 27, 2021. Canceled due to COVID.
6. New Business
a. Upcoming 2021-2022 Events
i. Spring Meeting- 2021 Spring Meeting: Quante, Molburg, Jacobs- celebrating 50 Years of Fur, Friends and Fun. Everything is coming together for the 50th Celebration, Iditarod & Yukon Quest mushers Jodie Bailey & Dan Kaduce will be doing a zoom meeting with the club talking about their adventures, a trivia contest is also planned along with a catered meal from Olive Garden.
ii. Summer Campout & Meeting-2021 Summer Camp Out and Meeting: Stanaitis July 30-31 – Aug. 1, 2021 in Morris, Pa., at Twin Stream Campgrounds. Start booking camp sites and cabins soon. Meals available will be the same as in previous years, Saturday breakfast and BBQ Chicken dinner, Sunday breakfast.
iii. Fall Campout & Meeting-2021 Fall Camp Out and Meeting: Krause willing to organize, either Boy Scout Camp or Twin Streams Campground, either location is fine with her. She would like the board/membership to discuss which they would prefer… NOT October 15-17, she is not available that weekend.
After a raise of hands, it was decided that most would prefer Twin Streams Campground in Morris, Pa., for the Fall Campout. This is prime leaf peepers’ season, so make your camping or cabin reservations early. The date for the Campout will be October 1-3, 2021.
iv. NYS Dryland Challenge-2021 New York State Dryland Championship November: Davis, Due to concerns regarding insurance on private land, and he as a landowner being sued due to personal injury that could occur on his property during the event, he will not be moving forward with the event at this time. No date is scheduled for this event to occur in the future.
v. Fair Hill Challenge- Ed Scheckner reported the trails are good in some spots but very poor in other spots. Some of the trails has had crushed stones placed on the trail. He said he would go back again and look at other areas and get back to us. The Club is looking for someone to organize this event. Possible moving it to the Pine Barrens in NJ.
vi. Tug Hill Challenge- TRP needs to be applied for through NYS DEC… ASAP Should be the weekend of February 19-20, 2022. We need an organizer. President-Christina Gates mentioned that she would help someone as much as possible but cannot organize this event at this time. If this event does not find an organizer, we risk losing it.
vii. Canyon Sled Dog Challenge- Logue February 26, 2022. Mary Beth Logue presented a proposal for the Canyon Sled Dog Challenge to the Board. 18-mile course for all classes, Pro & Registered Breed Class, 8-dog, 6-dog, Pro-Skijor & Sportsman Skijor.
b. Proposed 2021-2022 Event Schedule- Jim Fitzgerald made a motion to accept the Event Schedule as it was presented. Seconded by Chris Jacobs. The motion passed.
c. New Events- There are currently no new events proposed to the Board. There are some events that are in the early development stage, but nothing is firmed up at this time. Those events are in Port Jarvis, NY. & Michaux State Forest, south central Pa.
d. Approval of race fees- the Membership needs to approve the current PSDC base race fee. The Board recommends not raising those fees. A motion was made by Crystal Lusby to maintain the current race fee structure. BOD-Laurie Stone seconded the motion. The motion passed.
e. Audit Committee- President-Christina Gates requested 2 people to serve on the Audit Committee. BOD-Donna Quante & Laurie Stone volunteered for the Audit Committee.
f. For the Good of the Club- Nancy Molburg made an announcement introducing Nancy Carbaugh Sheely- as the Founder of the Tug Hill Challenge, she put in endless hours building trails and working with the State Forest in NY to build a great race course.
The Board approved a new award “Rookie of the Year”.
g. Elections- Positions up for Election this year are: Vice-President, Secretary, & 3 Board of Directors. Those 3 Board positions are currently held by: Mary Beth Logue, Insa Robinson, & Laurie Stone.
i. Vice-President-Rich Stanaitis will seek another term as Vice-President. The floor opened for nominations. No other nominations were presented. A motion was made by Jim Fitzgerald to close the floor for nominations. Alice Fitzgerald seconded the motion. The motion passed. With no other nominations for Vice-President presented, President-Christina Gates instructed Secretary-Carolyn McKenrick to cast a single vote per PSDC by-law protocol.
ii. Secretary-Carolyn McKenrick will seek another term as Secretary. The floor opened for nominations. No other nominations were presented. A motion was made by Jim Fitzgerald to close the floor for nominations. Alice Fitzgerald seconded the motion. The motion passed. With no other nominations for Secretary presented, President-Christina Gates cast a single vote per PSDC by-law protocol.
iii. Board of Directs 3 positions up for Election: Mary Beth Logue, Insa Robinson, & Alice Fitzgerald are the nominees. The floor was opened for nominations. No other nominations were presented. Jim Fitzgerald made a motion to close the floor for nominations. BOD-Laurie Stone seconded the motion. The motion passed. President-Christina Gates instructed Secretary-Carolyn McKenrick to cast a single vote for each Director Nominee. Per PSDC by-law protocol.
iv. Presenting the new Board: President-Christina Gates, Vice-President-Rich Stanaitis, Secretary-Carolyn McKenrick, Treasurer-Marsha Stoffa, BOD-Mary Beth Logue, Donna Quante, Insa Robinson, Meredith Michener, & Alice Fitzgerald. The new Board will take over June 1, 2021.
7. Adjournment- Jim Fitzgerald made a motion to adjourn. BOD-Laurie Stone seconded the motion. The Meeting Adjourned at 11:11 am.
Awards presented at the end of the meeting:
Appreciation Award- Johnn Molburg was presented the Appreciation Award for serving the PSDC as President for 18 years. The award was made in Alaska and consisted of a musher and his team of dogs.
The PSDC Harvey Saltzer Memorial Award-Ins Robinson was presented with the 2021 Harvey Saltzer Award, in addition to a trophy/plaque the PSDC will donate $100 to the Humane Society of the winner’s choice in memory of the work done at the East Shore Branch of the Harrisburg Humane Society by late PSDC President Harvey Saltzer.
The PSDC Jim Gauger Memorial Award- Ron Bates was presented with the 2021 Jim Gauger Memorial Award as a trophy/plaque. This Award recognizes a person who makes contributions to the club and exhibits the good sportsmanship so many of us remember in Jim Gauger. Ron has shown these qualities to new mushers as he shows them the ropes. He has influenced many newcomers to the sport. Ron was not present at the meeting so his Award will be mailed out to him along with a recognition letter.
The “Rookie of the Year” Award- Melissa Armstrong was presented with the 2021 Rookie of the Year Award as a certificate & skijoring line. This is a very new Award being given out for the very first time. It not only exemplifies someone who may race, but those that give unselfishly to the club by helping at events ex: Melissa drove to Tug Hill to help as trail help even though she was not racing. She also helped at the fall campout and even put her nurses’ hat on and took temperatures at the Spring Meeting.
The Recognition Award – Goes to Rob Downey for being our Alaska Connection for many years and for his many years of support and donations for club events. Rob will be awarded a 50th Year Packet which includes: A Booklet of the History of the PSDC, an embroidered PSDC face mask, bumper sticker & pen. Rob was not present at the meeting; his award will be mailed to him.
We would like the Thank the outgoing Board Members for their hard work in keeping the club working like a well-oiled machine. We would also like to welcome all new Board Members.
Guest Speakers at this year Spring meeting: Jodi Bailey & Dan Kuduce both Yukon Quest & Iditarod Veterans. Dan won the Yukon Quest Summit Race in 2021.