I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e : 2-5

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1 The Picket Line I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e : Volume 31, Number 5 Presidents page 1 Director Report 2-5 advertisers 6-7 Trail Boss Report 8 Legislative Report 9 Classified Ads 10 OVC Officers 11 Minutes Upcoming Events 14 Yearly Caldendar 15 Cher Bower March 24, 2017 Howdy, howdy, howdy, How the heck is everyone? For all of you that went to the Rendezvous did You have a good time? I hope the weather was good and all went well. I hope that we had a good turn out for the work party at Whistler Canyon. I am sure it was too muddy for water bar work but the parking area and our Mountain in the center looks great. I want to thank Linda Oborne (or whoever wrote the article for the Chronicle). It was very good and I hope that we had guests at the meeting. We need to do that every month and work on getting new members. Down here we are getting ready for a group ride and potluck just about 5 miles from us. It is supposed to be in the 70 s so it will be perfect! Not to make you all mad the weather has cooled off to the 70 s. I was not ready for the 90 s yet. I will wait for that to happen (slowly) at home. Well not much new here and without Internet at the house it is hard to keep up with things North. Thanks to Ted and Pete we have been kept in the loop. See you all soon. Cher See you all at the Pot luck and meeting in Triangle Park, Omak on May 18 th Cher Later 1

2 OVCBCHW DIRECTOR REPORT May 2017 Dave Sunde Well another Rendezvous is behind us and we are well into spring. If our weather cooperates. It still looks very white over in the Pasayten. There still a lot of snow up on Aeneas Mountain in the timber in on the northern aspect. Something is melting because the Okanogan River is pretty full and muddy. Our 3 rd quarter BCHW board meeting passed without incident. I ve included an abbreviated copy of the minutes for your reading enjoyment. 2

3 Back Country Horsemen of Washington Board of Directors Meeting 1 st Quarter - March 17, 2017 Ellensburg, WA - KVEC - Armory Building Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Kathy Young for the 40 th Anniversary Year. All Committee Reports were posted on the website. Roll Call Attendance was taken: Absent - Buckhorn Range (arrived 10 minutes later) and Inland Empire. Quorum was present. Kathy asked that new Directors update the website as soon as possible. Adoption of Agenda: agenda was adopted as amended. Approval of Board of Directors Minutes: from 4 th Quarter Meeting of Minutes were adopted as published. Officer and Committee Reports: (posted on-line). Executive Committee - Kathy Young. The search for a new Executive Director has resulted in 3 solid candidates. Compensation needs to be settled before an offer can be made. New Mount Olympus Chapter - Darrell Wallace, Expansion Chair. Mount Olympus Chapter by laws have been approved by the Governance and By Laws Committee and they have complied with all requirements of BCHW. Dave Siebel, Peninsula, moved to accept Mount Olympus Chapter into BCHW as a new Chapter. Second. Motion carried. Larry Baysinger is the new Director of Mount Olympus Chapter of BCHW. Membership - Heather Moorman. Heather gave framed certificates and durable membership cards to lifetime members. Treasurer/Budget report - Teri Starke. Report was posted. Rendezvous Teri Starke reported that a Chair is needed for Statewide Trailwork Party Number 5 Report - Jason Ridlon. Report was posted. Meeting will be on Saturday at Rendezvous. Legislative Report - Jeff Chapman. Report was posted. He announced that Joyce Willms filling the lobbyist void left by Gjurassic and Kohl is working well for a fraction the cost to BCHW. He also mentioned a few bills that the Committee is monitoring. Public Lands - Bernie Stratton. Bernie announced that Forest Service was happy with the Public Lands Day event yesterday. Jim Anderson explained the Gifford Pinchot National Forest User Group Meeting where communication, cooperation, and collaboration were discussed. 3

4 Executive Director and Grants report - Darrell Wallace. Reports were posted. Ways and Means - Teri Starke. Report was posted. Good quality Vicki Gish calendar pictures are being sought for 2018 calendar. BCHW Store report - Lori Lennox. Report was posted. 40 th Anniversary shirts were mail order only, but sounds like members were not aware. Volunteer Hours report - Deb Wesselius. Report was posted. She noted that the next deadline is June 1 st. Awards report - Lynn Wilhelm-Howell. Lynn announced that Awards will be presented on Sunday morning. Saw Certification Program - Tony Karniss. Thanks to the Safety Committee and webmaster, the new program with revised JHA s has been approved and put up on the website. Those seeking certification must have a first aid card prior to the certification course/class. Certification is good in all states. Kathy Young, President, thanked the safety committee and sawyers for all their outstanding work on this. Safety - Doc Wesselius. Doc asked Directors to download JHA s and get them completed and turned in to Forest Service Supervisors. Doc announced attendees for the upcoming 2017 WTA Crew Leader College in North Bend (Doug Stewart, Ponderosa Chapter, and Christina Porter, Mt St Helens Chapter). Doc requested nominations for next year. LNT report - Jane Byram. Jane encouraged individuals to sign up for the east-side LNT class scheduled for April 7-9 in Spokane at Riverside State Park (only 4 people were signed up at the time of the meeting). Website report - Jim Thode. Report was posted. Governance and Bylaws Committee - Ken Carmichael. Ken posted information on the website and asked Directors to read it for discussion at the next board meeting in June. Unfinished Business: None New Business: DNR Sustainable Forestry Resolution - Jeff Chapman. Jeff went over the proposed position statement regarding riding on public lands. It was moved and seconded that the Board adopt the BCHW Position on Recreational Riding in Active Forest Management Areas Paper as written. Second. Motion carried. 4

5 Membership Recruitment/Retention - Ken Carmichael. Ken Carmichael moved that the BCHW Board approve the BCHW Membership Development Program Proposal and in so doing approve the formation of a new standing committee called the BCHW Membership Development Committee. Second. Discussion followed. Motion carried. Kathy Young appointed Ken Carmichael as the Chair of BCHW Membership Development Committee. Dan Chappel, Rattlesnake Ridge Riders, moved to have the Board support the new BCHW Membership Development Committee by generating a $ budget to operate for Second. Motion carried. WOGA Liaison - Darrell Wallace. Darrell and Jason Ridlon attended the WOGA Board meeting as there was no longer a BCHW liaison. Darrell was elected to the WOGA Board as Liaison to BCHW. Teunis Wyers, Mt Adams, moved to approve the BCHW President s nomination of Darrell Wallace as the liaison to WOGA. Second. Motion carried. Good of the Order Conflict with Public Lands Day being held today was mentioned by Doug Stewart, Northeast. Bernie Stratton will be having a committee meeting on Saturday and hopes folks will participate. Steve Miller, Yakima, was to write an article to the Yakima Herald about users being responsible with poor seasonal trail and road conditions. However one was published before he could write his article. He suggested others publish this information, too. Mary Pat Bowman, Methow Valley, announced that the Loup Loup North Summit Horse Camp will break ground in the Spring. Cathy Nelson mentioned pictures are still needed for calendar. Jim Anderson thanked BCHW for helping support the booth this year at the Sportsmen s Show. Announcements: Teri Starke requested specific help with 2017 Rendezvous (this weekend). Other Rendezvous set up announcements were made. A Front Country trailhead seminar will be held by Ponderosa Chapter for green campers and their horses. They have 11 rigs signed up. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. BCHW does have a new Executive Director. Nicole Sedgwick has taken over most of the tasks normally performed by Darrel Wallace. Darrell will continue to work on grants until Nicole gets up to speed. The trail work at Carter Mountain has been completed and will soon be signed off by the WDFW. I hope all of you have survived the recent snow and cold. I for one will be glad to see Spring arrive. Dave Sunde OVC Director. 5

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8 TRAIL BOSS REPORT BCH Spring is really here I think. Let s consider a few extra conditioning rides. Let s ride to Palmer Mountain from the bottom up. Then it will be bottoms up! Cheers. An easier one might be on Short Mountain from Cher Bower s place. If you have more ideas and want to lead a ride let me know. And, as usual, show up at 9:00 and ride-out and 10:00. I m considering getting a trainer in occasionally for safety tips, training tips and the perils of over-spoiling your horses. Can anybody teach kids to twirl a rope? We need to be more ambitious in cleaning trails this year. Help! Arizona warm weather has been kind to my old bones, but it will be nice to be back. To more work! See ya soon. Steve McKinney Trail boss for now 8

9 OVCBCH Legislative Report Mountain bikes in designated Wilderness? For over 50 years it s been prohibited by the landmark Wilderness Act. But a new group, the Sustainable Trails Coalition (STC), intends to change that. The STC s president proclaimed that legalizing mountain bikes in wilderness is inevitable. We need your help to ensure that this won t happen. Please contact your member of Congress today to say they should not support H.R Importantly, the International Mountain Bicycling Association does not support the STC s goals or tactics. That makes the cries of the STC sound very isolated within the mountain biking community. The STC currently is shopping among Congress for support for H.R They claim that bikes were always intended to be included in the Wilderness vision. Backcountry horsemen, we need your help! Please educate your member of Congress on why mountain bikes in Wilderness is a bad idea. The infant STC organization, formed in 2015, thinks they can dictate the terms of how people access and enjoy Wilderness. Yet Section 4(c) of the 1964 Wilderness Act states: there shall be no use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment and no other form of mechanical transport Clearly, bikes are mechanical transport. The STC claims that the Wilderness Act has become the victim of outdated thinking and bureaucratic lethargy and inertia. That s far from the truth. It just doesn t fit with the STC s wishful thinking. The vision behind this celebrated act of Congress is just as relevant today if not more so than it was over 50 years ago. Why oppose mountain bikes in Wilderness? In the continental U.S., less than 3% of the land is designated wilderness. That s just 3% of the landscape to which horseman can escape and be assured of a relatively primitive recreational experience. Further, according to the U.S. Forest Service, 98 percent of all the trails on land it manages outside of designated wilderness are open to bicycles. It and other agencies continue to create and open new mountain biking trails across the country. So it's hard for folks to argue that not allowing bikes in wilderness is restricting or harming public access. Other reasons bike use would be problematic include: The rapid speeds at which mountain bikes are capable of traveling, combined with their often silent approach, would create significant safety hazards for horsemen on steep, narrow or winding trails. Worse still would be safety hazards for persons leading a pack string, where a bike startling the least-trained horse or mule among the pack string could bolt and/or endanger the entire party. Solitude or a primitive and unconfined recreational experience would be lost if horsemen were forced to constantly scan the trail ahead and over their shoulder for rapidly approaching bikes. Please join BCHA in voicing opposition to H.R. 1349, which would authorize bikes in Wilderness. Call your member of Congress today. You can locate the phone number of your representative in Washington DC by entering your zip code HERE. Or the Capitol Switchboard can connect you to your legislator in Washington DC. Call: (202) But please call today 9

10 Classified Ads FOR SALE: The Chapter has 1/2 inch, three strand, poly-propylene rope for sale by the foot. Excellent for lead ropes, sling ropes, high line ropes or what-have-you. $0.50 per foot. Can be back braided or have a loop braided in one end for an additional fee. Telephone (509) FOR SALE: Newer decker pack saddle with plastic boxes & hooks and new ropes, nice leather. Call Steve to $ FOR SALE Collapsible round/square bale feeder. Will take an 1,100 pound round or a 3by4 square bale. It is lightly used. Free delivery within 50 miles of Tonasket. $ Home Office FREE TO A GOOD HOME:We are moving and need to find home for 2 twh' s. One is a 20 year old gelding, 16.5 hands, the other is a 23 year old mare 15 hands. Both are sound, but have not been ridden for years. For info call Ron Please patronize the businesses that advertise in the Picket Line. While you are shopping in their businesses or utilizing their services remember to thank them for supporting our efforts to keep trails open on public lands in the 10

11 Okanogan Valley Chapter 2017 Officers Elected Officers for 2017 Appointed Officers for 2017 President: Cher Bower Vice President: Pete Hone Secretary: Cathy Kvistad Treasurer: Ted Sharr Trail Boss: Steve McKinney Director: Dave Sunde Alternate Dir: Webmaster: Dave Sunde Volunteer Hours Coordinator: Cheryl Johnson LNT Coordinator: Steve McKinney Newsletter Editor: Ted Sharr Publicity Chair: Linda Oborne Alternate Trail Boss: Stan Kvistad Legislative Chair: Gene Wehmeyer Social Director: Nonni Judd Immediate Past President: Stan Kvistad Membership: Cathy Kvistad Facebook admin: Ted Sharr Please patronize the businesses that advertise in the Picket Line. While you are shopping in their businesses or utilizing their services remember to thank them for supporting our efforts to keep trails open on public lands in the Okanogan. 11

12 Minutes of the April 20, 2017 Meeting Okanogan Valley Chapter Of The Back Country Horsemen Meeting was called to 6:50 by President, Cher Bower.. The minutes from the March meeting were approved as posted on the website. Treasurer s Report: Ted said that we are solvent. He has a copy of the Treasurer s report for anyone interest in reviewing. Director s Report: Dave reported that we lost the Enumclaw Chapter but have added the newly formed Olympus Chapter. He also reported that Cathy Young, BCHW President, said that the search for Executive Director has been narrowed down. The 5 th annual State Work Party is scheduled for Salmon Priest Wilderness on the Idaho border. Darryl Wallace has been elected by WOGA to be the liaison to BCHW. The Loup Loup horse camp breaks ground this spring. Trail Boss: Steve reported that the guys did an adequate job at Carter Mountain, it s ready to go. He also said that we re not scheduled for very many rides this year, there s really not much going on so please let him know if anyone wants to lead a ride. Stan suggested that we schedule a work party to re-do the signs but can t schedule until the snow is gone. Stan also asked if anyone has heard anything more about what s going on with the Taber s at Whistler Canyon, no one had heard anything. Legislative Report: No report Gene not in attendance. Website: Ted stated that the Okanogan Valley Chapter is on Facebook ask Ted to join. It s a very informative site. Volunteer Hours Report: Cheryl asked that everyone get their hours in to her. Newsletter: We will have a newsletter this month so please get your reports in. Social Director: Thanks Nonnie for the great job on the potluck tonight. The food was great, thanks to all who brought something. Advertising: Linda made up some fliers so please take some to put up at places you frequent. She put Cher s phone number on it as a contact person. UNFINISHED BUSINESS We had previously approved having a logo made for the side of the cargo trailer, it was suggested that we also include an abbreviated version of the mission statement. A motion was made by Dave and seconded by Steve to include the mission statement, the motion was approved. Then cost ended up being over $300, they were authorized to spend $150 so a motion was made by Dave and seconded by Ted to pay the difference. Linda suggested having tee shirts made. At the last meeting we discussion was tabled about attending the Okanogan Co. Fair from September 6 th through the 10th. Dave made a motion to pull off the table, seconded by Ted, motion approved. Cher called the Fair grounds regarding displaying the cargo trailer in the Ag Plex can have whatever size we want. The cost of a 12X12 is $144 and a 10X10 is $200, included in that would be 8 passes. We would need brochures, etc if we re going to have a space. It was decided to bring the matter up again at the May meeting. Ted asked everyone to get him a check for $50 if they re interested in renewing with Life Flight this year which renews on May 18 th. 12

13 NEW BUSINESS Dave said it s too late for the Jr. Rodeo but he will check into being a vendor at the Tonasket Rodeo this year. Steve and Cher have a conflict with the State work party in August. FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER Meeting was adjourned at 7:35 to begin our dessert auction. Welcome home Steve and Cher. We missed you. Respectfully Submitted, Cathy Kvistad Secretary 13

14 Upcoming Activities Okanogan Valley Chapter BCHW P.O. Box 812 Tonasket, WA Phone: To perpetuate the common use and enjoyment of horses in Americas Back- Country and wilderness. MAY 13th 15th 18th JUNE 3rd-4th 10th 12th 15th 30th JULY 8th Okanogan Valley Chapter OVC Ride-Palmer Mountain, Washburn Lake TH, north end of Spectacle Lake-Steve and Gene Board Meeting 6 dinner 7 meeting Koala Restaurant, Omak General Meeting-Triangle Park Omak, Potluck at 6:00 meeting at 7:00. The chapter will supply hamburgers and National Trails Day workparty at 4th of July Trailhead, Steve McKinney, come and camp! OVC Ride - Strawberry Lake - Steve McKinney Board Meeting 6:00 dinner 7:00 meeting Koala Restaurant, Omak General Meeting History Park Tonasket, Potluck 6:00 meeting at 7:00. The chapter will supply hamburgers and BCHW - Beginning of SWWP#5 Moved to August OVC ride Short Mountain at Steve and Cher's place 150 Crumbacher Rd. Tonasket, Potluck after 15-16th OVC Work Party - Tiffany Trailhead - Steve McKinney Board Meeting 6:00 dinner 7:00 meeting Koala Restaurant, 17th Omak General Meeting Potluck, Triangle Park Omak 6:00 and Ice Cream Social, the chapter will supply hamburgers, hot 20th dogs, and ice cream, a short meeting will follow. AUGUST 2nd-5th SWWP #5 Salmo-Priest Wilderness 5-6th 12th 14th 17th 26th- 27th 14 OVC Work Party - Sign Refinishing - 14 Mile TH OVC ride Sinlahekin-North end of Blue Lake, Potluck after Board Meeting 6:00 dinner 7:00 meeting Koala Restaurant, Omak General Meeting History Park Tonasket, Potluck 6:00 meeting at 7:00. The chapter will supply hamburgers and OVC work party -sign refinishing-disappointment TH

15 MAY 13th 15th 18th JUNE 3rd-4th 10th 12th 15th 30th JULY 8th 15-16th 17th 20th AUGUST 2nd-5th 5-6th 12th 14th 17th 26th-27th SEPTEMBER 6-10th 18th 21st OCTOBER 16th 20th OVC Ride-Palmer Mountain, Washburn Lake TH, north end of Spectacle Lake-Steve and Gene Board Meeting 6 dinner 7 meeting Koala Restaurant, Omak General Meeting-Triangle Park Omak, Potluck at 6:00 meeting at 7:00. The chapter will supply hamburgers and hot dogs National Trails Day workparty at 4th of July Trailhead, Steve McKinney, come and camp! OVC Ride - Strawberry Lake - Steve McKinney Board Meeting 6:00 dinner 7:00 meeting Koala Restaurant, Omak General Meeting History Park Tonasket, Potluck 6:00 meeting at 7:00. The chapter will supply hamburgers and hot dogs. BCHW - Beginning of SWWP#5 Moved to August OVC ride Short Mountain at Steve and Cher's place 150 Crumbacher Rd. Tonasket, Potluck after OVC Work Party - Tiffany Trailhead - Steve McKinney Board Meeting 6:00 dinner 7:00 meeting Koala Restaurant, Omak General Meeting Potluck, Triangle Park Omak 6:00 and Ice Cream Social, the chapter will supply hamburgers, hot dogs, and ice cream, a short meeting will follow. SWWP #5 Salmo-Priest Wilderness OVC Work Party - Sign Refinishing - 14 Mile TH OVC ride Sinlahekin-North end of Blue Lake, Potluck after Board Meeting 6:00 dinner 7:00 meeting Koala Restaurant, Omak General Meeting History Park Tonasket, Potluck 6:00 meeting at 7:00. The chapter will supply hamburgers and hot dogs OVC work party -sign refinishing-disappointment TH OkanoganCounty Fair - Pending Board Meeting 6:00 dinner 7:00 meeting Koala Restaurant, Omak General meeting at Koala Restaurant 6:00 Dinner 7:00 meeting Board Meeting 6:00 dinner 7:00 meeting Koala Restaurant, Omak General meeting, Halloween Party, Potluck 6:00 Senior Center, Tonasket 24th Planning meeting 3:00 at Steve and Cher's place 150 Crumbacher Rd. Tonasket NOVEMBER 13th Board Meeting 6:00 dinner 7:00 meeting Koala Restaurant, Omak 16th General Meeting and election 6:00 dinner 7:00 meeting Koala Restaurant, Omak DECEMBER 16th OVC Christmas Party and Potluck - Tonasket Senior Center - 6:00PM NOTES The day of the week for meetings has been changed from Wednesday to Thursday All rides meet at 9:00AM - Ride at 10:00AM All work parties meet at 8:00AM - Work at 9:00AM 15