Highlights of Oct. 16 Board Meeting

The CCA Board met virtually Oct. 16. The full minutes have been posted on the CCA website (Members Only > Documents > Meeting Minutes). Here are some highlights, from minutes taken by Secretary Jen Sass:

Present: David (Cotton) Cottingham (Chair), Jen Sass (Secretary), Barb Brown, Hildy Ferraiolo, Ryan Morrow, Tim Lapham, Alf Cooley, Marilyn Jones, Laura Kurup, Ginny DeSeau, Ginny Quam, Kathleen Sengstock, Peter Ryan, Ed Gertler

Chair's Report – Cotton

• Thanks to Larry Lempert for leading in coordinating comments from CCA on EPA's Proposed Rule: Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Standards. The CCA comments were submitted to Sept. 15. They are posted on the website home page, and in the Docket at www.regulations.gov, accessible by searching on Comment ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0194-0704.

• The annual picnic Oct. 12 was a great success, thanks to organizers and volunteers including Ginny DeSeau and Lynn Miller as well as Wayne McDaniel who led the morning paddle. Close to 40 people enjoyed the beautiful day together, with hot dogs and hamburgers and all sorts of delicious side dishes.

• Special shout out to Ginny DeSeau for sending handwritten personal notes and a CCA Roster to each new member. Cotton reported hearing from a new member who voiced appreciation.

• We need a volunteer auditor to audit the books. If you or someone you know has the ability and willingness, please let Cotton or one of the Board members know.

Treasurer's Report – Marilyn

CCA closes FY 2025 with a net operating income of $331.80. Our income was $20,276.38, and expenses were $19,944.58. Other income was $4,946, and other expenses were $7,746.41. "Other Income" was donations collected for hurricane relief. "Other Expenses "were donations to other organizations: entities providing hurricane relief; Great Falls Foundation (to support wildwater racing); a 30^th anniversary donation to West Virginia Rivers Coalition; Bens Creek Canoe Club; and seven conservation donations.

Access Committee – Alf

Alf reported that things are going well with the National Park Service in the effort to get some stone steps built at Blockhouse Point (between Violettes Lock and Pennyfield Lock). The government shutdown stalled things, but Alf plans to revive the effort to get permission to do the project. As noted in previous minutes, Alf and John Snitzer identified the need for two sets of steps at Blockhouse Point, with a rough budget of around $4,000. Mark Wray, Cotton, Tony Allred, John, Gordy, and Alf are working together with other groups. They will ask for donations from individuals and organizations who regularly use this takeout.

Trips Committee – Gary and Ginny Q.

A total of 238 individual paddlers participated in CCA trips so far this year. Number of trips and attendees per trip totaled are on track, with a month of official trips still remaining as of the Board meeting date, to beat 2024 numbers. 

Cotton proposed that we all do a better job of encouraging non-members who participate in our trips to

join the club and pay their dues. Everyone agreed and promised to help. However, being a member still will not be a requirement for participating in the trips.

Next meeting – Thursday, Dec. 18, virtual.