PSDC FALL BOARD MEETING
TWIN STREAMS CAMPGROUND, MORRIS, PA.
OCTOBER 1, 2021
Submitted by Secretary-Carolyn McKenrick
1. Call to order: President-Christina Gates called the meeting to order at 6:09 PM.
Members Present: President-Christina Gates, Vice-President-Rich Stanaitis, Secretary-Carolyn McKenrick, Treasurer-Marsha Stoffa, & Board of Directors: Insa Robinson, Meredith Michener, Donna Quante; Mary Beth Logue & Alice Fitzgerald were present through a zoom meeting.
2. Secretary’s Report: As of this date there was nothing new to report as incoming correspondence. A motion was made by BOD-Insa Robinson to accept the minutes from the PSDC Board Meeting that was held at Twin Streams Campground, in Morris, Pa. on July 30, 2021. The minutes were sent out through a mass emailing to all PSDC Members. BOD-Donna Quante seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Secretary-Carolyn McKenrick also reported the cost for the Guest Speaker at the Summer Campout was $422.51
3. Treasurer Report: Treasurer-Marsha Stoffa reported the account balances for the PSDC, Savings: $6007.76, Checking-$5826.81, & PayPal-$526.17. A motion was made by Vice-President-Rich Stanaitis to accept the Treasurer’s Report as it has been presented. BOD-Donna Quante seconded the motion. The motion passed.
4. Committees:
a. Social Media Coordinator: BOD-Donna Quante reported at this time there really isn’t anything new going on with the Facebook page. She would like to note that if anyone has articles, pictures of training runs, dogs, and people or anything interesting you would like to share on the facebook page please contact her at djqhusky@yahoo.com with your info and she will post it for you.
b. PSDC Website: Jessica Kizmann has the website running very smoothly currently.
c. ISDRA Report: PSDC-President-Christina Gates who is also the Region 5 Director for ISDRA reported that everyone should keep checking the ISDRA webpage for new events as they are being added and updated often. There are many benefits to belonging to ISDRA, ex: you can work toward medal status, they have a great Jr. mushers program, they publish Dog & Driver Magazine 6 times a year with lots of info regarding the sport & they have a list of upcoming events, just to name a few.
d. IFSS: No updates are available at the present time.
5. Events:
a. 2021 Summer Campout: Liz Stanaitis reported the Summer Campout had a fair turnout. Events for the weekend were the Calcutta & drag races, lead dog completion, breakfast, & BBQ Chicken dinner. The Guest Speaker this year was Urtha Lenharr who is the President of the Leonhard Seppala House Restoration Project in Nome, Alaska. Urtha gave a very good presentation on the history behind this project. Saturday evening ended with a group campfire & entertainment by Ray & Mike McKenrick. Fun was had by all that attended.
b. Fall Campout & Training Session: President-Christina Gates & Vice-President-Rich Stanaitis reported that the agenda for the fall campout will be training, breakfast, turkey dinner, pumpkin decorating, and a Halloween Parade. BOD-Meredith Michener suggested that at our General Membership Meeting we ask people to write down ideas for short demos, and list who you would like to have as guest speakers and what topics you would be interested in. Also, this year when teams are out training, Ana Jimenez from Colgate University, will be doing Data Collection for Heat Imaging Research on the effects of heat and how the dog’s bodies process it. We look forward to hearing the results of this testing. See President-Christina Gates to sign up for testing.
c. 2021 Port Jervis Demo: November 6, 2021: Organizer Steven Schifani reported to the PSDC Board that canicross, 1-2 bike & 1-2 Scooter trail will be a looped trail. There is also a out and back trail (Boxbaum Road) for larger teams to use as a training/demo. The area is managed by the Port Jervis Outdoor Club and they would really like a race to be run at this location, but will need help in getting adequate trails, so this year it will be a demo with hopes of future endeavors. Steven is asking for volunteers to commit to help with this project. Primitive camping will be available at no charge with port-a-pot’s close by. The PSDC Board reviewed a possible donation to this club but denied it at this time.
d. 2022 Tug Hill Challenge February 19-20, 2022: We have new organizers for this race! Megan Moberly, Jessica Kizmann & Ron Klepadlo have volunteered to organize this race. Jan Haring has offered to give them assistance and lead them in the right directions.
i. 50th Anniversary video at Tug Hill: BOD-Donna Quante is working with an associate to make a video of the Tug Hill Challenge as part of the PSDC 50th Anniversary Celebration. This is currently in the planning stages.
e. 2022 Grand Canyon Sled Dog Challenge: February 26, 2022: BOD-Mary Beth Logue reported plans are being made to go forward with this race. This will be a 18 mile course. Currently Mary Beth is waiting for approval from DCNR.
f. 2022 Mt. Misery: BOD-Insa Robinson & Meredith Michener is in the early stages of organizing a dryland race in late March. The race site will be one we have used previously in the Pine Barrens of N.J.
g. 2022 Fun run & Campout in Michaux State Forest: BOD-Donna Quante is organizing this event planned for the weekend of March 12 & 13, 2022. Saturday would be for training and Sunday would be the fun run as a dryland event. This is an out & back trail. She is currently working with DCNR on the logistics. No charge for primitive camping. There are solar restrooms but no water or electric available.
6. New Business:
a. 2022 PSDC Spring Meeting & Banquet: BOD-Donna Quante, Nancy Molburg, and Chris Jacobs are organizing this event as of today no date has been secured other than it will be in May.
b. 2022 Summer Campout: Liz Stanaitis reported the date of this event will be July 22-24, 2022.
c. Race Marshall Drivers Meeting prior to events to be done remotely and video posted for viewing. President-Christina Gates contacted Chris Seminatore regarding usage of the outstanding video he did for Lodi last year. It was quite specific to that location. She has asked him to produce a similar video for Tug Hill (with assistance from Mark Broughton) for a small donation to their club. BOD-Meredith Michener made a motion to have a standardized digital driver’s meeting on ISDRA Racing Rules. Each Musher would be required to view this video and sign off when they register for the race. BOD-Donna Quante seconded the motion. The motion passed.
d. The Board held a discussion on the protocol for COVID pertaining to the Timing Shack and what we feel are appropriate safety precautions. The Board also discussed the use of common items like bibs at events regarding appropriate COVID safety precautions. The club will continue to supply masks and hand sanitizer.
e. For the good of the club: BOD-Meredith Michener reminded us all to keep our eyes open for the next “Rookie of the Year”!
f. Adjournment: A motion was made by BOD-Donna Quante to adjourn the meeting. Treasurer-Marsha Stoffa seconded the motion. The meeting Adjourned at 7:14PM.