Minutes
Board Meeting
December 5, 2007

The meeting was called to order at 7:20 PM at the Half King on 23rd St., attended by Mike Cook, Ray Fusco, Jeff Folmsbee, Bill Bergeron, Marcus Demuth and David Rhodes.

1.    Bill’s written report on the Brooklyn Bridge Park Meeting (posted at HRPG.net) was discussed, with a focus on how to support interim uses while park is being built, such as placing a container there for boat storage. Liability and logistics were discussed. It was observed that the guild’s role should be to facilitate storage, not to go into the storage business. It was agreed that the best way to help get things done would be to approach the Conservancy directly, as Rob Buchanan has done. [Subsequent to board meeting Rob announced that he has succeeded in scheduling a meeting with the Conservancy, tentative date January 18th, which Bill will attend.] Jeff will email Rob and Bill to hook them up prior to meeting.
2.    Recent list serve threads regarding reconstituting a Human Powered Boating Group were discussed. It was agreed that if such an organization needed to be an alliance of organizations (as opposed to a member-based organization) the Guild would participate.
3.     Support was expressed for Nancy Brous’s initiative to put insurance issues in front of the Trust so as to clarify issues towards eliminating some of the obstacles and inconsistencies that currently hamper various human-powered boater organizations efforts to sponsor activities on the waterfront. It was observed that this initiative should make sure that the insurance requirements between parks be in sync so that one policy, plus individual riders, would suffice for all. It was suggested that the various organizations consider forming a buyer group, and Ray will email Nancy to share his recent experiences in this area. It was agreed that this initiative could be the first step towards exploring the creation of an alliance of organizations (as in #2 above).
4.    Plans for The Teva Reel Paddling Film Festival consumed the remainder of the meeting. Discussion included:
•    Date set as February 23rd; if that sells out Feb. 24 can be added. [Subsequent to meeting, it was learned that Kenco, a retailer in Kingston, is hosting the Reel Film Festival on Feb 23rd/24th; Rapid Media has offered Feb. 16/17 as US premiere.]

•    Agreed that Pier 66 is target venue, alternates include Municipal Art Society and The Tunnel at New York Waterfront.
•    Mike will secure insurance, estimated at $150, policy starting in February. (Larry emailed 12/11/07 that each additional insured costs $20.)
•    Bill will update HRPG.net for public access to any forms required for ticket purchase.
•    Mike has spoken to an outfitter regarding possibility of donating services for silent auction and/or raffle; Marcus has spoken with New York Water Taxi regarding same; other promotional items may be sought from Werner, Necky, Perception, Patagonia; Patagonia may be pitched for a small cash grant to support event; it was agreed we should all think about other possible sponsors.
•    Possible sources of food discussed include Black Cat Bakery, Gramercy Park Tavern, Half-King, Whole Foods on Union Square, Fresh Direct.com, Fairway and Claustenhauler re alcohol-free beer; rental of popcorn machine will be researched.
•    Mike will contact the Friends of the Park for possible support.
•    Mike will confirm Pier 66 availability.
•    When press release is approved Marcus will announce Festival on NycKayaker, Yonkers, Conyak, Paddle.net, Atlantic Kayak Tours
•    Jeff will send a “save the date” notice on NycKayaker, and invite people to check out HRPG.net.
•    Marcus will set up a Paypal account (a “willcall office” can be established at venue for people who use Paypal, email address as ID)
•    Possibility of classroom sidebar for local trip shows discussed.

Meeting was adjourned at 9PM.

Submitted for review by Jeff Folmsbee December 11, 2007
Secretary
HRPG