In attendance:

Ron Kilian, President
Val Jokela, Vice President
Colton Seale, Treasurer
Jeanne Carlson, Secretary
Harold Capps
Lexi Hill
Jim Lindau
Marylou Raychel
Eric Rogers
Bill Waddell
Dixie Waddell
Ed Wood

Board members not in attendance: Sandy Ferris, Jackie Fabrizzio

Topics discussed:
This was the first Board of Directors/General meeting held since the election of new board members. The meeting was devoted to discussing the Bard’s goals for the club’s future. Below are the major goals and ideas presented by the board members.

1. Finish the clubhouse – There is approximately $3,000 remaining of the grant and the grant period has been extended from February 2003 until September 2003. Still needed is interior work such as counters, cabinets, and installation of the heater, as well as exterior landscaping. The heater needs to be installed and turned on to dry the building interior before mudders and tapers can work on the interior. The club may need to contribute some of its own funds to the completion of the clubhouse. When completed, the clubhouse, which is located at the parking area of the club’s trails, will be used for general meetings and board meetings, races, and club merchandise. It will be available for use by the rest of the community, as it is built on public land, but CDMA will have first access to it.
2. Trail building and repair – The club is losing trails and needs to create new ones. The club also needs to level the moguls in some existing trails.
3. Bring the outhouse up to ADA standards – This is a requirement of the grant. The outhouse will need a concrete ramp and handrails inside at the ADA specified height.
4. Revamp the meeting schedule -- The meeting schedule will now include one general membership meeting per month, held on the first Wednesday, that offers an educational program, as well as very brief reports from the various committees. Board meetings can be scheduled as needed. This new schedule is designed to encourage participation by more new and existing members while providing valuable information to members.
5. Reinstitute a schedule of educational programs. These programs will begin at the next general meeting on May 7th. Preliminary ideas for program topics are listed at the end of this summary. Anyone with ideas for educational programs is encouraged to contact the Education/Outreach Committee (Val – 688-6339; Lexi – 688-6051; or Jeanne – 688-8411).
6. Incorporate more email communication into club activities -- This meeting summary is the first step in moving more toward more email communication. The club will be collecting member emails and will work toward converting the Club newsletter to email for those who wish to receive it in that form. Jim Lindau will continue to create a paper version of the newsletter to be mailed to those who prefer it in that form.
7. Increase members and member support – The suggestion was made to try to get more local businesses involved as honorary members. This could be done by hosting “business days” at the trails, offering sled rides to local business owners. Other suggestions to gain more member support included staffing a booth at the annual Mill & Feed Animal Day, where clubs from the area participate, or participate or sponsor clinics at Rae’s and/or Animal Food Warehouse.
8. Reinvigorate current member pool – The club’s core group is carrying the weight of the current projects and needs to get more members, whether they are new or existing, involved in the various committees and activities, such as merchandise and concessions sales at the races etc. A committee list is attached for anyone interested in helping. For more information about what the committees do or to sign up, please contact Ron at 694-6220 or Val at 688-6339.
9. Increase skill-building – The suggestion was made that some of the club’s activities should focus on skill-building rather than racing by perhaps working toward an end of season trip. This might appeal to the smaller teams and recreational mushers. The Juniors have done this in the past with great success. The club could work with the skijoring club, which plans an annual trip.
10. Create a springtime activity for a community cause and get the businesses involved. The board members will think about ideas for this project.

1. The end-of-season potluck and auction held at the Waddell Garage was a great success. The auction brought in $771 and the small auction held at a recent meeting brought in another $31. Several items remain for future fundraising events.
2. Raffle tickets for the beautiful donated quilt are still available. Anyone wishing to purchase tickets or to help sell them can contact Lorrie Stenerson at 694-3616 or Ron at 694-6220. Tickets are $5 or 5 for $20. The drawing will be held in July at the Bear Paw Festival in Eagle River.
3. The race committee will begin working on next season’s race schedule to meet the publication deadlines. Dixie, Val, Lexi, and MaryLou, and Jo will put together the race schedule.