MMBA Holly/Flint Chapter Meeting
Tuesday January 26th 6:30pm

El Charrito’s in Davison
201 East Mill Street
Davison, MI 48423
Google Map Link: 201 East Mill Street

Remember that the January meeting is also the chapter elections, so please make a special effort to attend.

If anybody has anything that needs to be added to the agenda, please notify Brad.
Brad Hranach
Chapter Vice-President and State Rep.
bhranach@charter.net

Agenda
1: Call to meeting – 6:30pm
2: Chapter officer reports (President/VP/Secretary/Treasurer/State Board)
3: Trail updates (Ruby, Holdridge, Seven Lakes?)
4: Hogbacks
5: Chapter communications
6: E-mail List
7: Chapter website
8: Annual expo- Volunteers for booth space
9: FAFL hours – please turn in
10: End of the year finances – need cash statement and record of who has chapter tools
11: Potential chapter membership event/fundraiser- volunteers for a committee
12: Executive Director Report
13: Chapter Elections
14: Set chapter dates and location for next year
15: Public Announcements
16: Call for adjournment

We need your help for the next scheduled trail day this Saturday 09/26 10am–2pm.
Trail conditions are directly dependent on volunteer participation!

Those who exceed 10 volunteer hours for the year will benefit from the MMBA FAFL award program. See the following link for more detail… http://mmba.org/volunteers-advocacy

Our goal will be to complete some West Loop sustainability improvements and
East loop trimming (hangers/face slappers on Meadows).

Everyone should bring:
> gloves, safety glasses, water, energy snacks, bug spray, and backpack

Food will be provided for the Picnic, bring your own beverage.

Please arrive at trail head prior to 10am start time for instructions and prep.

Ron Arnott/Andy Fraser
Holdridge Trail Coordinators

Check out the new 75ft bridge at Thorny Dog Entry/Exit and new bridge @12.5 on East Loop. Thanks to Ron and Tony for their efforts!

Thanks to all who came out to help on trail day! We had 7 folks show up. We were able to complete necessary trimming on North, West, and Lake loops. With a few more volunteers, we could address some special projects. Consider coming out for the next trail day September 26.

Ron Arnott/Andy Fraser
Holdridge Trail Coordinators

We need your help for the next scheduled trail day… Saturday 08/15 10am – 3 pm.
Trail conditions are directly dependent on volunteer participation.

Our goal will be to complete any necessary trimming first (i.e. West loop negative back toward Tech Loop, etc.).
If we have enough volunteers we will address some special projects.

Everyone should bring:
> gloves, safety glasses, water, energy snacks, bug spray, and backpack

Optional tools to bring:
> rake, limb loppers

Please arrive at trail head prior to 10am start time for instructions and prep.

Ron Arnott/Andy Fraser
Holdridge Trail Coordinators

We are holding another non-scheduled Holdridge trail day this Wednesday, July 29 @10am.

We will work on East loop areas that need trimming starting from Hess road negative in toward #14 and onward to about 13.5 (the worst area at present). Next will likely be cutting from #14 over to #3 and back negative toward Hess road (this area is mostly free of face slappers, but needs a ground up trim).

We will be renting a brush hog again which has proven to be quite effective for ground up trimming. We need help clearing logs (ahead of brush hog), trimming hangers and raking after brush hog.

> Bring the usual protective gear.
> If you have ‘em, bring a rake and loppers or hand pruners
> Don’t forget bug spray, energy snacks, and lots of water!

Meet at 10:00am at the trail head.

*** Note: next scheduled trail day is Saturday 08/15 10am – 3 pm ***

Ron Arnott/Andy Fraser
Holdridge Trail Coordinators

Holdridge East Loop trail day tomorrow Thur June 25 @9:30am

In an effort to get the trimming under control, we are holding a non-scheduled trail day tomorrow (Thur June 25 9:30am). We realize this is very short notice, but hopefully can pick up a couple volunteers who are not working. It is highly likely that we will require several more non-scheduled trail days in order to get the necessary trimming done. We will keep you posted and will try to provide a more advanced notice.

If you are thinking… How hard could it be??? …Consider this:
A four person crew with gas powered hedge trimmers and rakes will typically progress at a rate of 0.5 miles per hour in areas that require significant trimming. Most of the 20+ miles of Holdridge trail fall into that category. During the last scheduled trail day we were able to trim about 6 miles of trail with 10 volunteers. It takes significantly more effort that you might think!

We will be renting a heavy duty self-propelled “DR Trimmer” for tomorrow and hopefully that will improve our progress rate. Meet at 9:30am at the trail head. Bring the usual protective gear. Don’t forget bug spray and lots of water!

Ron Arnott/Andy Fraser
Holdridge Trail Coordinators

ATVs have been tearing up the Holdridge West loop trail.

If you observe any ATVs or other motorized vehicles on any trail
please call the DNR Conservation Hotline immediately.

Report your location (i.e. Holdridge Lakes West Loop trail)
and the nearest DNR officer will be dispatched immediately.

Store the following number in your phone so you have it handy:

DNR Conservation Hotline
800-292-7800

Ron Arnott/Andy Fraser
Holdridge Trail Coordinators

REMINDER: We need your help this Saturday! Trail conditions are directly dependent on volunteer participation. It takes lots of work to keep up with maintenance and attempt to address desired improvements.

Goals:
> The primary goal will be to complete necessary trimming
Turnout permitting, we may also work on…
> repair/improvement of wet spots exposed by excessive rain
> installing new mile markers on East Loop

Everyone should bring:
> bug spray …you won’t last long without it!
> gloves
> safety glasses
> backpack
> water and energy snacks

If you have these tools, please bring ‘em:
> rake
> hand pruner or larger limb loppers
> gas powered hedge trimmers (angled head preferred)

Please arrive prior to 10am start time for instructions and prep.

Ron Arnott/Andy Fraser
Holdridge Trail Coordinators

Hey… we need your help for the upcoming Holdridge trail day!

TRAIL DAY APRIL 25 10 am – 3 pm

Goals:
> Clear any new down trees sticks and obstacles from the trails
> Rake and clear all excessive leaves from the trails
> Use loppers on any over hanging trees or brush
> Use hedge trimmers to cut the prim rose and picker bushes back
> Pick up any trash along the trail

Everyone should bring:
> gloves
> safety glasses
> backpack
> trash bag
> water and energy snacks

If you have these tools, please bring ‘em:
> rake
> hand pruner or larger limb loppers
> gas powered hedge trimmers (angled head preferred)

Please arrive prior to 10am start time.

Ron Arnott/Andy Fraser
Holdridge Trail Coordinators