Attendees:
Board Members: Pat Davis, Tom Martin, Doug Nering, Gene Fowler, Mike Coltrin, Cliff Beck, Cindy George
Other Attendees: Wayne George, Lynn Davis,
Guest: Dick Hinson (Grand Canyon Trust, Sierra Club, Nat’l Parks Monument Committee, National Parks Conservation Association)

Prior to the formal meeting we discussed the Symposium. The surveys that were returned were very favorable. We felt the Symposium went very well. Even so, we felt that there could be improvement. We came up with some ideas for the next Symposium. These included:

We will discuss it further on the Yahoo forum, and at the October meeting.

At about 10:15, a motion was made by Tom to open the meeting, and seconded by Pat. Approval was unanimous.

Hiking Symposium

Pat motioned that GCHBA reimburse Cliff the $55 for his expenses in printing the Symposium programs. The motion received unanimous approval.

One Symposium presenter applied for travel reimbursement. Each presenter is eligible for $250 reimbursement, as decided at the October, 2005 meeting. This presenter's airfare more than qualified them for the full travel expense $250 reimbursement.

Service projects – Gene Fowler

 The project will consist of cleanup of the Old Bright Angel Trail, from Roaring Springs and some distance up. It will mostly be cleaning brush. The service project group will stay at the Roaring Springs residence. There are 4 bunks plus mattresses. Gene says the project is 80% settled. It will take place May 15-19^th.

The Fall project may be tree-planting at Phantom. There are no set dates. It will take place later than normal, probably in November, so that it can occur during tree-planting season.

Overflights

The overflight working group got “serious” at the recent Las Vegas meeting. There was a lot of conflict among proposals, and the meeting became contentious. Any working group member may veto. Each seat must agree on the final plan, and there is a lot of work to do to come to an agreement. Doug feels that consensus will be difficult, but not impossible.

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) provided for an agency that asks for public comment. NEPA is a required process in the overflight plan. This is a method by which the citizenry has a chance to participate in parallel with the working group. The opportunity for public comment will close April 27, 2006.

Dick Hinson shared his overflights proposal with us. He agrees that consensus will be a struggle, and that NEPA comments are important.

Tom made a motion, seconded by Pat, that we use the document Doug wrote as a foundation for the GCHBA overflights position statement. Doug will make minor rewrites as needed. Final approval on this motion will require a quorum approval vote by board members via the board’s Yahoo forum. The vote was unanimous approval.

Tom made a motion that we encourage all hikers to voice their opinions on overflights in and concerns on the NEPA during the comment period. We will mass email an informational email about the NEPA process to all paid members, and also post a link to the FAA's Grand Canyon Overflights web site on the Yahoo Grand Canyon forums. The vote was unanimous approval.

The next GCHBA board meeting will be October 22, 2006 which coincides with the Historical Society meeting to be held the day before.

A motion for adjournment was made by Gene, seconded by Doug, approved by all.

Respectfully Submitted,
Cindy George