Present:
Carl Linden, Norm Metzger, George Maluskey, Jane Winer, Sally Strain, Jim Drew, John F. Stapko, Ann Marie Cunningham, Tryon Wells, Bill Bays, Joe Hage, Star Mitchell, Peggy Thomson, Johnna Robinson, Brad Coolidge, John Matthews, Stephanie Flack, Renee Dunham, and Peter Winkler

Call to Order:
President Ann Marie Cunningham called the meeting to order at 8:10 p.m.

Minutes:
The minutes of the September meeting were approved.

Communications:
Ann Marie reported that the Club had received a letter from Samantha Dachick, a journalism student at American University. Ms. Dachick is doing a story on commuting by canoe in the area, and she is interested in speaking with members who have such experience. The names of several members who had paddle-commuted were given to Ann Marie, and Peggy Thomson also agreed to speak with Ms. Dachick. Tryon Wells noted that the topic had received attention in the centennial edition of the Islander, which is posted on the Club’s website.

Guest speaker:
Ann Marie then introduced our special guest speaker, Stephanie Flack of the Nature Conservancy. Ms. Flack heads the Conservancy’s Potomac River Gorge Project, and has spent the last 3 years working in this area, focusing on the area’s biodiversity. Ms. Flack gave an interesting and informative slide-talk about the Gorge and her work. Additional information may be found at http://www.conserveonline.org/2002/05/b/public_version;internal&action=buildframes.action

After a short break, during which we consumed Jane Winer’s homebaked cake, the meeting resumed.

Budget:
Alan Gelb, from Ethiopia, reports that we will most likely spend more than usual this year, largely because of work on the well.

We will need to replenish our reserve fund, but we are within our budget.

Old Business:
We took up Tryon Wells' two motions published in the October Islander. Tryon asked that the motion concerning electronic dues be tabled, which those present agreed to, because it is too late in the year to have a system ready for the next dues cycle. We then discussed Tryon’s motion that we charge members and waitlisters who wish to receive the mailed, hard-copy version of the Islander rather than receive it by email. Points advanced during the discussion included: the electronic version has color pictures, and may be downloaded or printed at home; but everyone does not own a home computer (but there are libraries, etc.); the amount of money the Club would save is hard to calculate; the motion, if passed, might reduce the amount of intra-Club communication; and we should treat waitlisters differently, as they already pay a fee, largely to defray the cost of printing and mailing their copies of the Islander. In the end, those present voted to table the motion until next month.

Tryon also advanced a proposal concerning the Club’s maintenance of a safe deposit box. The proposal, which calls for three officeholders, the president, treasurer, and secretary, each to have a key, will require a change in the Bylaws, and it will be published in the next issue of the Islander.

Fall Workfest:
Those present agreed that, henceforth, the fall work fest will be held the second Saturday of November, with the third Saturday serving as the rain date.

Accordingly, this year, the workfest will take place Saturday, November 8, 2003, 9 to 2. There was discussion about erecting a bulletin board on the Island to advise members of this and other events.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m.

-- Peter Winkler, Recording Secretary