Monterey Bay Equestrians January 2019 WWW.Montereybayequestrines.com PRESIDENTS REPORT Welcome to 2019! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are looking forward to a viable and successful 2019. We have a lot of fun things planned which are detailed in this newsletter. Please join us in thanking our outgoing board of directors for all their hard work over the past several years. Thank you Liz Gheen, Patti Garcia, Mike Pinto, Margaret Pare & Sydney Blankenship. Your dedication and commitment have been greatly appreciated. The board of directors met on Thursday, December 27 to go over 2019 goals & objectives and the budget. After reviewing the survey that was done early last year and the members comments & suggestions, we have some exciting things planned for this coming year, which is outlined in this newsletter. One change made is holding our meetings quarterly instead of monthly. Our kick off meeting will be January 10 th in Watsonville to approve the budget and finalize our ride/campout schedule for 2019. We would greatly appreciate your attendance. As a membership-based organization, this is your club. As members, your input, suggestions and participation are appreciated and welcomed. We almost lost our club because of lack of participation so we thank those who stepped up and fought to keep our club going and viable. I look forward to seeing you at the meetings, on the trail and around the campfire this coming year. Sunday Minnich 2019 Board Chair PLEASE NOTE: My new email address is sminnich1962@gmail.com. Please update your records Congratulations to Nikkii Van Steenwyk 2018 Member of the Year
2019 GOALS & OBJECTIVES These suggestions are based on a combination of comments/suggestions made from the survey done early last year and the 2019 board of directors brainstorming meeting. If you have any further suggestions, additions or comments you would like to make/see on these goals, please attend the January 10 th MBE Club meeting in Watsonville to approve/finalize the budget, goals & objectives and ride schedule. Change meetings from monthly to quarterly Publish newsletter on a quarterly basis. Announcements made via broadcast email and facebook. Notify members in a timelier fashion for campouts and day rides. Provide more detailed information on campouts. Hold some day rides on Sunday s Hold some closer campouts for those who work M-F and would like to participate. Restructure Poker Ride with new location & date Re-do website and keep updated Cater the Point Reyes Ladies Ride MBE CLUB MEETINGS: Will be held as follows in 2019: January 10 Watsonville April 11 Prunedale August 8 Watsonville October 10 Prunedale December 12 (Ride Meeting) Prunedale NEWSLETTER PUBLICATION MONTHS January April August October MEET YOUR 2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS & COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Sunday Minnich Board Chair & Membership Liz Gheen Past Chair Shannen Bostwick Vice Chair Cathleen Sittig Secretary Brenda Carpenter Treasurer
Trail Advocate Report Cotoni Coast Dairies Planning Meeting (12/4/18) Report submitted by Liz Riehl, MBE Trail Advocate The meeting was well attended, about 100 people or so along with many staff members from BLM. They gave a general presentation and then had us break up into discussion groups of 10. Each group had a BLM facilitator and we discussed and gave comments on the seven site plan options of where the various access points to this new park might be developed. Each one had its pros and cons and the comments garnered will be reviewed. There was definite excitement that this stretch of beautiful coastline will be open for public use at some point. As you can imagine, this process will take some time to wade through the planning and construction phases but there were many excellent ideas and well thought out suggestions put forth by the attendees that will be taken into consideration. This was the beginning of many meetings and workshops so be sure to get involved and be a part of the development of this incredible new trail system for equestrians, hikers and bicyclists. We are stewards of this land and BLM has the funding to make this a reality. Sign up for their news alerts and attend as many meetings as you can. The equestrians are definitely outnumbered so we need to make our concerns and wish lists known. Contact: Mike Powers, BLM Central Coast Field Office, 831.582.2200. BLM_CA_Web_CC@blm.gov Donations TOWNE CREEK BRIDGE AT JACK BROOKS The Mounted Patrol Foundation is seeking support from horse clubs and horse enthusiasts in replacing the bridge over Towne Creek in Pescadero Creek County Park (Jack Brooks). The West Brook Trail has been a favorite of hikers and equestrians for many years. It goes down the beautiful Towne Creek canyon among towering redwoods and crosses Towne Creek near the bottom, on a bridge that was built many years ago. Environmental and building approvals are finally done. Now the Mounted Patrol Foundation needs to raise the funds and buy the materials. The goal is to have the new bridge done by June 1, 2019, so we can have a great summer riding in Jack Brook. Construction will begin shortly after April 15, if the weather cooperates. There is a two-month lead time for ordering the beams, so they need to have the funds in the bank by February 15. The budget estimate is $25,000 total: $15,000 for materials, $10,000 for labor. Any excess contributions will be used for other trail repairs. The 2018 Board of Directors of the Monterey Bay Equestrians has approved a donation of $1000 to support the replacement bridge.
Donations continued The Mounted Patrol Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable entity, so if you are interested in providing a personal contribution, it might be deductible on your tax returns. If interested in supporting this project, please send contributions to: Mounted Patrol Foundation ATTN: Towne Creek Bridge 521 Kings Mountain Road Woodside, CA 94062-4209 Make a notation on your check Towne Creek Bridge. Donations should not include the words Jack Brook repair. This will ensure that the funds do not get mixed in with general funds for the Jack Brook horse camp. For more information, contact Don Pugh, Chairman, Mounted Patrol Foundation at 650-851-8343. Thank you to our 2018 Board of Directors, Liz, Patti, Mike, Margaret & Sydney, we have partnered with the Santa Cruz County Horsemen s on matching a $500 donation, for a total of $1000, to the North Valley Animal Disaster Group. NVADG volunteers are providing emergency animal shelter and assisting with animal evacuation in areas affected by the Camp Fire in Butte County. The Monterey Bay Equestrians Club invites you to our Annual Presidents Ride & Membership Drive Sunday, January 20th 10am Registration & Continental Breakfast 10:30am 1pm $10 per person for non-members (Sign up on day of event and apply your registration fee to your membership) Limited camping available Saturday night. Reservations a must. For more information on camping and fees, CONTACT Cathleen Sittig 831-578-7745 happyhillranch@yahoo.com Ride on own or sign up for a guided trail ride (provide own horse) 1:30pm Lunch Provided & Raffle RSVP Sunday Minnich sminnich1962@gmail.com Marina Equestrian Center 2830 5th Ave. Marina, CA 93933 From highway 1, take the Imjin Prkwy, exit 408. Turn right on California (at the light). Go through stop sign. Marina Equestrian Center will be located on your left.
2019 MBE CALENDAR (Tentative) DATE TIME ACTIVITY LOCATION HOST JANUARY 20th 10am Presidents Ride & Membership Drive (Guests Invited) Marina Equestrian Center 2019 Board FEBRUARY 23rd 11am Day Ride *(Public Ride) DeAnza Trail San Juan Bautista Liz Gheen MARCH 17th 11am St Patty's Day Ride & Potuck (Members Only) Rancho Quinada King City Nikki VanSteenwick 21st - 24th Full Moon Campout (Members Only) Harvey Bear Ranch San Martin Sunday Minnich APRIL Spring Campout 4th - 7th (Members Only) McCormick Ranch, Santa Margarita McCormicks Day Ride 27th 11am (Members Only) Diablo Foothills Open Space, Gilroy Sunday Minnich MAY 11th 11am Vineyard Trail Ride, lunch & Wine Tasting (Members Only) Cooper Garrod Ranch & Vineyards, Saratoga Sunday Minnich 16th - 20th Campout (Members Only) Montana Day Oro, Morro Bay Carolyln Tucker JUNE 2nd 11am Day Ride & Potluck (Members Only) Golden Gate Park Heather Shupe 14th - 16th Poker Ride Fundraiser *(Public Event) Santa Cruz County Horsemen's MBE JULY 5th - 10th Campout (Members Only) Jack Brooks Horse Camp Syd Blankenship 31st - Aug 5 Campout (Members Only) Dru Barner Horse Camp, Georgetown Nikki VanSteenwick AUGUST Jul 31st - 5th Campout (Members Only) Dru Barner Horse Camp, Georgetown Nikki VanSteenwick 17th 11am Day Ride *(Public Ride) Henry Cowell, Santa Cruz Lois Connell 29th - Sept 3rd Campout *(Public Campout) Wrights Lake Liz Gheen SEPTEMBER Aug 29th - 3rd Campout *(Public Campout) Wrights Lake Liz Gheen 18th - 24th Campout *(Public Campout) Big Meadow Kings Canyon Patti & Mike Garcia OCTOBER 12th 11am Day Ride (Members Only) Pebble Beach, Carmel Syd Blankenship Ladies Catered Campout *(Guests Invited) Cathleen Sittig & Shannen Bostwick 24th - 28th Pointe Reyes Stewart Ranch NOVEMBER 7th - 11th Campout (Members Only) Lake San Antonio Nikki VanSteenwick DECEMBER 7th 6pm Christmas Party *(Guests Invited) California Grill, Watsonville Patti Garcia 12th 7pm Ride Meeting Prunedale Library * Public Campouts/Rides are not sanctioned MBE events. Reservations are made on your own and at your own risk. Guests Invited/Public Events are MBE Sanctioned rides and guests are covered under MBE Insurance.
Holiday Party 2018
President/ Membership Chair Sunday Minnich -- 408--9958 sminnich1962@gmail.com. Vice Pres. /Ride Chair Shannon Bostwick 831-578-7061 azureskie@aol.com Secretary: SittigCathleen happyhillranch@yahoo.com Treasurer Brenda Carpenter justbrenda@rocketmail.com Past President - Liz Gheen 831 663-6544 mybailey2000@gmail.com Sunshine: Nikki Van Steenwyk 415-599-9729 Nikkiilynn.gmail.com Fashions Caroline Spicher 831-624-3297 cspicher@sbcglobal.n Club Web Site and Facebook Chair: Mike Pinto 831-659-3315 carlmpinto@gmail.com Newslettter Editor Lois Connell 831-252-2135 Loiscon@comcast.net The board is available to members for suggestions or concerns pertaining to club business to be discussed at the general meetings. You may contact us via e-mail, telephone or in person. MONTEREY BAY EQUESTRIANS C/O Lois Connell 10602 West Drive Felton, CA 95018