Missouri Trail Summit

MONDAY MEMO: JULY 24

2006-07-24T06:46:00.000-07:00

Change

Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine. ~Robert C. Gallagher

Source: Quote Garden

With that inspiring quote comes my announcement that I am moving on to a new professional venture, and my last day with MPRA is Friday, July 28.

I will sorely miss the extreme satisfaction of working with the Missouri Trail Summit planning committee members, both as individuals and as a group. What a fine group of people you are!

This week, I will update the blog regularly to keep you apprised of progress on the Summit.

MONDAY MEMO: JULY 10

2006-07-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Trail Tunnel

... in St. Charles? Find out more in this St. Louis Post-Dispatch article. The proposed trail tunnel is part of the Pathways Concept Plan of 2004.

Rails-to-trails: Lessons Learned

... from the Federal Highway Administration, in this FHA website page.

Great Eastern Trail

.... here (at this website) and in the news.

No pedestrians for the Paseo Bridge in Kansas City's Northland?

The KC Star has an opinion on this here.

THURSDAY MEMO: JULY 6

2006-07-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

2006 MTS keynote speaker

I am excited to announce that Pam Underhill, National Park Service park manager of the Appalachian Trail, is the 2006 MTS keynote speaker!

Trails and sidewalks in Jackson MO

... article here. MoDOT in a starring role.

Gray Ghosts Trails

... article here about driving trail related to Civil War sites in Missouri.

Katy Trail extension?

... article here about Gov. Blunt's proposal that AmerenUE facilitate extension to KC.

MoDOT's new Practical Design Implementation policy

... addresses cycling lanes and sidewalks here. Go to page 41 of the .pdf (or page 24 of the hard-copy document).

What the heck is Practical Design, you ask? Per MoDOT:

Practical Design challenges traditional standards to develop efficient solutions to solve today’s project needs. MoDOT’s goal of Practical Design is to build “good” projects, not “great” projects, to achieve a great system. Innovation and creativity are necessary for us to accomplish Practical Design.

To accomplish Practical Design, we must properly define the scope by focusing on achieving the project purpose and need while considering the surroundings of each project. We must be sensitive to where the project is located, whether it is an interstate or a letter route. The surrounding context helps determine the design criteria. Our goal is to get the best value for the least cost. Life cycle costs must be considered.

It is not our goal to shift the burden to maintenance.

Early in 2005, MoDOT began implementing Practical Design. The first step was developing best practices. These examples were intended to encourage our staff to “think outside the box” as they designed future improvement projects to provide the best value for the taxpayers.

The next step in implementing Practical Design is adopting new policies in areas most affecting our improvement costs. These areas are known as “cost drivers”. Reducing costs in these key areas, while still serving motorists’ needs, will enable us to construct more projects, thus better serving the taxpayer.

MoDOT senior managers developed these new policies in Oct. 2005. They represent a significant change in MoDOT direction. Each of these new policies is to be used immediately.

Each policy supersedes the current direction contained in the Project Development Manual (PDM). However, information contained in the PDM not affected by these policies will continue to be used in the development of improvement projects.

Here is a power point on the subject.

MONDAY MEMO: JUNE 26

2006-06-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference

... in Roanoke, Virginia. Conference information here. August 3-5.

Thanks to Nancy Feakes for this lead.

mohiking.com

is "information for Missouri hikers," a fairly new site that offers trail reviews and forums, google-based trail maps/directions, and user-created photo albums of trails. Owned by Nick Kasoff.

Slackpacker.com

Slackpacker.com's Missouri page is designed to provide quick, organized access to informative Missouri hiking websites. Private hiking enthusiasts like you have created excellent web pages on Missouri hiking trails -- then posted those pages on free web servers -- only to be ignored by search engines. The purpose of this site is to provide a way to find these personal hiking pages, and make your research easier.

Also showcases Missouri-centered trail books.

... and this boast-worthy blurb on Missouri's trail system: Would you think of the Show Me State as a mecca for hikers? Believe it or not, Missouri has more marked miles of hiking trails than any other state east of Texas. Broad prairies, wild rivers, sandstone canyons, rugged hills, and some of the most diverse forests. [Emphasis added.]

MONDAY MEMO: JUNE 19

2006-06-19T08:39:00.000-07:00

More thanks!

.... to Missouri Department of Transportation for sponsorship at the Pathfinder level!

Trail accessibility

Go here for the U.S. Forest Service:

Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines; and the
Trail Accessibility Guidelines

Thanks to Nancy Feakes for this lead.

Progress report on Columbia's Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program

... in this Columbia Tribune article.

Catch the Katy 2006

The 2006 Catch the Katy Trail Ride began today. Later this week, you'll be able to see daily updates here. More than 300 people are participating this year, hailing not only from Missouri , but also 31 other states and British Columbia.

Trails and Tourism

Covered wagon tours. Guided mule-drawn tours of historic area by Pioneer Trails Adventures. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Independence Square, Lexington and Main, Independence. Tours start at Truman and Main. Weather permitting.

Trails in planned communities

From the Reporter-Times. The plan for Stonebridge calls for it to have 1,157 single-family homes ... A golf course designed by architect Pete Dye, eight to 10 miles of walking trails, a state-of-the-art clubhouse, an equestrian center and a commercial village center also are in the plan that has been approved by the Morgan County Plan Commission.

From rails to trails to rails

... over and under. Well, read about it here in the Springfield News-Leader.

MONDAY MEMO: JUNE 12

2006-06-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks to

.... Kansas City Parks and Recreation - they will completely host and sponsor the Trail Mix Social on Thursday evening!

Session proposals

Select one:

The dog ate my session proposal, my computer, and my intended presenters;
I was kidnapped by aliens in May, and I've only just returned from my ordeal;
I emailed it to you - didn't you get it?
Hah! I've turned mine in - I'm free, I'm free, I'm free!!!!

Two Missouri Trails designated as national recreation trails in 2006

... by National Park Service

Frisco Highline Trail – Known as the second longest rail-trail in Missouri, this 36-mile historic scenic corridor connects several railroad towns from Springfield to Bolivar and provides close-to-home opportunities for bicycling, horseback riding, and more.
Smithville Lake Trail – Located near Kansas City, this 20-mile multi-use trail provides a natural haven where visitors can enjoy an array of recreational activities, such as hiking and biking.

Thanks to Terry Whaley for this lead.

Milwaukee Urban Water Trail

... another 2006 national recreation trail designee, is a water trail that goes through Milwaukee. The Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers offer a nice definition of "water trail," including my favorite part: a "liquid parkway." This site also has an interactive map.

MONDAY MEMO: JUNE 5

2006-06-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

Session proposals

I look forward to an avalanche of emailed session proposals at the end of this week!

Next meeting

... in July. Date TBA. It will be in Jefferson City.

Get Connected: The Ozark Trail and the Ozark Highland Trail

John Roth reports in MOTRAILS that

"The link between the Ozark Trail and Ozark Highland Trail is one step closer today, as the Corps of Engineers has given us a green light to start flagging trail along Norfork Lake. This trail would go from Tecumseh at Highway 160 along the east side of Norfork Lake down to the 101 bridge, then cross to the west side of the lake where the trail will continue to the dam.

Scouting trips will begin in June. A map of the proposed trail will be available this summer. If we get lucky, we could start construction in winter '06/'07.

There will probably be (temporary?) road routes on either side of this trail to connect to the Ozark Highland Trail near Norfork and the Ozark Trail at Devil's Backbone Wilderness. There will probably be a road route from the North Fork section of trail at Pomona to the Eleven Point section near Thomasville. With the work Ken Smith is doing along the Buffalo River, and the inclusion of some road routes, we could have a 600-mile trail from Onondaga Cave to Fort Smith ready in 6-10 years."

Safe Routes to School

This Kansas City Star article highlights the "walking school bus" in Kansas City and Shawnee, KS.

TUESDAY MEMO: MAY 30

2006-05-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

Deadline for session proposals

.... you guessed it: June 10

Anita Gorman to welcome

Anita Gorman has agreed to participate in the welcoming and keynote session of the Missouri Trail Summit on Thursday morning, November 2. This is delightful news, and is especially cool since the event is at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center.

Thank you, Bob Fluchel, for facilitating this.

Parks and Soils Conservation Tax

... is up for renewal this year. Governor Blunt has moved the issue from the November 2006 ballot to the August 2006 ballot. Following are information resources:

Missouri Audubon Society (see right-hand sidebar)
Missouri Parks Association

Letter to the editor

... of the Springfield News-Leader, from Noel R. Poe, superintendent of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, about Show-Me Back Country Horsemen:

I want to recognize the Show-Me Missouri Backcountry Horsemen of America chapters for the work that they did at Ozark National Scenic Riverways the weekend of April 8. A board member in your area is Gail Gartside. Approximately 82 horseback riders met at Big Creek Trail Ride near Hartshorn, Mo., and spent two days riding trails and roads within the park and picking up trash. This is the fourth year that the state's Backcountry Horsemen have organized volunteer weekends to help the park. Each year, they cleaned trash from the river, trails and roads, plus worked on other special projects. The work parties have built hitching rails at popular destinations and constructed fences around two historic cabins. These fences keep horses and vehicles from getting too close to the cabins and damaging the historic structures. Throughout the weekends, the organizers are also talking to their membership about riding responsibly in the park and how to communicate those techniques to other horseback riders. These activities definitely benefit the National Scenic Riverways.

Pathway project in Columbia

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports the latest on Columbia's multi-million dollar federal grant for its multi-modal project: Pathway Project Gets A Boost From CATSO.

Editorial: Pedestrians and cyclists on bridges

The Kansas City Star: Bridges Need Access. An excerpt:

Another issue has been the lack of trail connections on the north side of the river, where the predominant land use is industrial. As Kell put it, “Where would (pedestrians) go when they got off the bridge?”
How about new trails? With the rapid growth of the trail system in our region, it is not hard to image that a trail would someday wind through the woods on the north bank — or be perched atop the levee system.

If a new bridge is built, work won’t begin for several years. And the new structure is expected to last for the better part of a century.

Brent Hugh of the Missouri Bicycle Federation points out that the current lack of a river crossing creates a chicken-egg dilemma: “Until you get access, why build a trail?”

Winner of MTS registration at Ozark Trail Association event

The Missouri Trail Summit donated one full registration to the Ozark Trail Association's silent auction, held in conjunction with its recent Ozark Trail celebration.

Steve Coates is the recipient for this much sought-after item. It is our understanding that the $3.14 million winning bid climaxed a bidding frenzy the likes of which had heretofore never been seen in the normally-staid trail community.

The Ozark Trail Association will use the money gleaned from the silent auction to develop the former Taum Sauk dam into a skatepark.

Photo: St. Louis Post Dispatch

MONDAY MEMO: MAY 22

2006-05-22T11:25:00.000-07:00

Thank you to our newest sponsor!

Mrs. Edward Jones - Pat Jones - has donated $3000 to MTS as a sponsor.

Thank you also to Dan Cross of Trailnet for asking for Mrs. Jones' generous support.

Session proposals

.. due June 10!

Missouri legislative round-up

... for 2005/2006 from MoBikeFed here.

Heritage Trail Combines History With Future

... in this article from The Morning News, serving Springdale, Bentonville, Fayetteville, and Rogers in Arkansas.

Marketing the Frisco Highline Trail

... in this Springfield News-Leader article. And here is the Frisco Highline Trail website.

CACHE: 2007 SUMMIT IN ST. LOUIS

2006-05-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

2007 MTS session ideas

Report on walkable/bikable communities grantees and their accomplishments (Trailnet)

Route 66 Trail (Illinois), which ends at Chain of Rocks Bridge

East Belleville Bikeway (Illinois) - features art on the trail, including in the trailside creek

Routing trails through private land (John Roth, OTA)

Do's and don'ts of negotiating with land stewards (John Roth, OTA)

Piggyback with annual State Trail Administrators meeting

Piggyback with bi-annual BikePed administrators meeting

Off-site: Klondike Park (bike trails, etc.)

Fundraiser (in lieu of silent auction) for local trail-related group: Bike ride on Katy Trail - start in Warrenton area (or further west?) - invite Rep. Mike Sutherland, House Speaker Rod Jetton aand other Missouri legislators to lead the charge?

MONDAY MEMO: MAY 15

2006-05-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

No meeting in June!

Session proposals due

... by June 10

Please send these to me via an email attachment rather than by mail or fax.

Trail Mix Social

Confirmed - Mike Herron and Marci Jones have arranged for the Trail Mix Social to take place at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center. This is about two miles from the Discovery Center; three + miles from the hotel.

Like the Missouri Trail Summit itself, the Cultural Heritage Center is the result of a partnership - The center opened in December 1989 as the outgrowth of Watkins' efforts. Construction of the center was made possible through the work and contributions of the Bruce R. Watkins Foundation Inc.; the Spirit of Freedom Fountain Inc.; the City of Kansas City, Mo., Parks and Recreation Department; and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The Trail Mix Social will be Thursday evening, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., November 2. Food, drink, entertainment, and abundant opportunity for mixing offered.

We intend to have shuttles available between the Discovery Center and/or the Hampton Inn and the Cultural Center.

Longview Park

Thanks to the newest member of the MTS planning committee, Jackson County's Bruce Wilke, we added Longview Park to our list of off-site tours. Among a slew of other features, Longview Park boasts a four-mile nature trail, a six-mile bike trail, and a horse park.

"Trails a Paradise for Off-Road Riders"

Article in the News-Leader on the Chadwick Motorcycle and ATV Use Area, which is in Mark Twain National Forest, south of Sparta.

Bass Ambassador to the world extols Missouri's fishing ... and trails

In this Mercury News article, meet Scott Pauley, Missouri Division of Tourism's outdoor marketing specialist. ... "'With our beautiful float streams, our hiking trails, and our (bicycling) places like the Katy Trail, we have a diverse range of outdoors opportunities," he said. "It's not just the fishing and hunting.'"

"He was at Lake of the Ozarks last week, guiding outdoors writers during an event sponsored by the Tri-County Lodging Association and the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau. And he quickly was reminded that Missouri offers plenty to promote."

Pauley finds that the Japanese already know all about Missouri's lakes - and even about Party Cove at the Lake of the Ozarks.

MONDAY MEMO: MAY 8

2006-05-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

Next meeting: Tomorrow!

See the May 1 entry below for details.

Wilderness Run

Remember that the Wilderness Run will occur in conjunction with the Missouri Trail Summit this year. The Wilderness Run is a challenging cross-country run sanctioned by the Mid-America Running Association. Runners will run through the the Shoal Creek village, around fields, up and down hills, over logs, through the woods, crossing creeks and more! The 2006 registration form isn't ready yet, but here is the website for the Wilderness Run. The Run will be on Saturday, November 4.

Proceeds from the Run go to Shoal Creek Living History Museum.

If you'd like to volunteer to help with the Wilderness Run on that day, please contact Debbie Kobos at Kansas City North Community Center at (816) 784-6100.

P.S. You can also walk in the Run. It's about five miles.

MONDAY MEMO: MAY 1

2006-05-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

Next meeting

Date: Tuesday, May 9
Time: 10:30 - 2:30
Place: Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City (click on link for map)
Lunch: We can walk over to Gates BBQ

Meeting agenda, in progress

Facility tour (interior and grounds): Meeting rooms, communal space, auditorium, etc.
Reports: Session progress (everyone)
Report: Trail Mix Social (Mike Herron and Marci Jones)
Report: Sponsorship and exhibitor information for 2006 (Paula)
Report: Presenter policy (Paula)
Report: OHV activities (Charles)
Report: Equestrian activities (Tanya, Marci, Marsha, et al)
Report: Youth activities

Transportation to meeting

Would you like to carpool to the meeting from central MO?

Teresa Kight has reserved a vehicle that seats four. She and I will take up two slots. If you would like to join our bandwagon, please contact Teresa directly. I'll have her email address on this week's email to you. We'll meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Conservation Department here.

2005 North Carolina State University series: How to Build a Paddle Trail in Your Community

North Carolina State University offers a really cool, user-friendly website of its 2005 series on How to Build a Paddle Trail in Your Community. Comprised of a series of power point presentations.

Thanks to Nancy Feakes for this lead.

The Yin and Yang of Horse Poop on the Trail

The yin: A common complaint hikers express about sharing a trail with equestrians is the need to negotiate around horse droppings on the trail.
The yang: But a recent conversation on Danny McMurphy's MOTRAILS discussion group revealed that horse droppings serve as excellent trail markers for hikers on the Ozark Trail when other "signage" is lacking.

MONDAY MEMO: APRIL 24

2006-04-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

Next meeting

Date: Tuesday, May 9
Time: 10:30 - 2:30
Place: Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City (click on link for map)
Lunch: Information pending

MONDAY MEMO: APRIL 17

2006-04-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Next meeting

Date: Tuesday, May 9
Time: 10:30 - 2:30
Place: Kansas City (site pending)
Lunch: Information pending

American Hiking Society Grant Awards

Alas, we are not among them. But here are the recipients. And thank you to Terry Whaley and Jessica Terrell for the work they invested in our grant submission.

10,000 Rain Gardens

The concept of rain gardens - discussed at the April meeting - was new to me. Rain gardens are kinda-sorta related to trails. In a six degrees of Kevin Bacon sort of way.

A rain garden "... captures rain run-offs from roofs and roads ... manage stormwater ...".
Park and stormwater issues are often found together in tax initiatives and master plans.
Stormwater projects and easements offer potential for trail placement.
In 2002, Kevin Bacon attended a fundraiser for Friends of the Highline, an organization dedicated to the preservation and reuse of the Highline as an elevated walkway in Manhattan.

Here is more info on rain gardens:

10,000 Rain Gardens (Kansas City)

Rain Garden Network

Rain Gardens: A How-to Manual For Homeowners (Wisconsin)

MONDAY MEMO: APRIL 10

2006-04-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

Summit sessions
Exhibitors
Keynote speaker
Trail Mix Social
Presenter and sponsorship policies
CD-case calendar idea

Recreation Trails Program Grants - Now open

From Missouri Department of Natural Resources: The FY2006 grant application period is open April 3 - June 12, 2006. Applications must be postmarked by June 12, 2006, to be eligible. Go here for full details, including application form.

Trails issue of Missouri Parks and Recreation Magazine

The fall issue of Missouri Parks and Recreation Magazine will have a trails focus. Please submit your trail-related articles to me. Remember, our audience are professional parks/rec folks, so they'll be most interested in articles with information they can apply to the work they do in their communities. Also: Do you know of a vendor who might want to advertise in the magazine for this issue? Let me know. Deadline for article submission: August 15.

Diving "trails" in Missouri

At Bonne Terre Mine, there are 24 diving "trails" to explore in scuba gear. More than 500,000 people - including Jacques Cousteau and travlers from Australia, Japan, France and Russia - have visited since 1980. Here is a recent article from the Kansas City Star.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Wow - What a beautiful discovery (to me) I enjoyed this past weekend at Big Spring Lodge and Cabins at the Big Spring Wildlife Refuge, part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Lots of wildflowers in bloom - spring beauty, sweet william, bluebells, and others I don't the name for. Plus the redbuds, dogwoods and serviceberries.

The deep turquoises and blues of the water as it burst from the spring and melded with the Current River rivaled what people pay the big bucks to see in the Caribbean and other more famous destinations.

The four-hour drive between Jeff City and Van Buren was beautiful all the way: From JC, I took highways 63 to 68 to 19 to 60. My sister, coming from St. Louis, took 55 and 67, which she said was very scenic. On the return trip, she took Highway 21, which she reported as decidedly un-beautiful. Either way, it was a four-hour trip for her, too.

MONDAY MEMO: APRIL 3

2006-04-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

Summit sessions
Exhibitors
Keynote speaker
Trail Mix Social
Presenter and sponsorship policies

Going global

The 2006 IMBA Summit/World Mountain Bike conference will be a global gathering of mountain bike advocates, trailbuilders, land managers, tourism professionals, ski resort managers and members of the bike industry.

The IMBA Summit/World Mountain Bike Conference will be a precedent setting event - everyone who attends will leave armed with new knowledge, contacts, and in many cases, new bike skills. This is a unique opportunity to gather up-to-date information and materials addressing the rapidly evolving sport of mountain biking.

Thanks to Nancy Feakes for this lead.

Future of Johnson's Shut-Ins

... in this St. Louis Post-Dispatch article.

The Katy Trail Challenge

Cooper County Health Department inaugurated the Katy Trail Challenge in response to Missouri's Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan.

MONDAY MEMO: MARCH 27

2006-03-27T07:52:00.000-08:00

An article from the Columbia Tribune (2/19/06)
A joint press release from Senators Bond and Talent; congresswoman Emerson, opposing the sale (3/17/06)
Spotlight article from the USFS

Thank you to 2006 sponsors

Pathfinder

Missouri Department of Conservation. Thank you to Teresa Kight for her efforts to achieve this sponsorship. And, whoa, check out their cool new website!

USDA, Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest. Thank you to Nancy Feakes for her efforts to achieve this sponsorship.

MONDAY MEMO: MARCH 20

2006-03-20T13:38:00.000-08:00

Next meeting

Date: Tuesday, April 11
Time: 10:00 - 2:00
Place: MPRA office at 2018 William Street, Jefferson City, 65109
Lunch: Bring your own - MPRA will provide liquid refreshments. Refrigerator, microwave and toaster available on site.

NOTE: The May meeting will be in Kansas City.

Thank you to 2006 sponsors

Pathfinder: USDA, Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest. A Pathfinder is a sponsor who donates at least $1250 in dollars plus at least $1250 in in-kind support. Thank you to Nancy Feakes for her efforts to achieve this sponsorship.

Speaking of The Big Three (or Four through Seven or Eight) ....

Partnership for the National Trail System's Historic Trail Workshop
May 5-7, 2006
Quarterage Hotel (on Westport Road, which was once the Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trail)
Kansas City, MO

Registration: $55

See attachments to the 3/20 Monday Memo email for the draft registration form and schedule.

Thanks to Nancy Feakes for this lead.

Speaking of a session on river crossings ...

Here's what MoBikeFed is saying and doing re: KC river crossing (Lead source: Caryn Giarratano)

Here's info on the cycling lane of the Page Avenue Missouri River Bridge - it connects the Katy Trail with Creve Coeur Park.

From Back to the River, a vision of a Missouri River crossing for pedestrians and cyclists in the Council Bluffs-Omaha region.

... And about trails and tours

An Equestrian Ecotour in Missouri

MONDAY MEMO: MARCH 13

2006-03-13T08:10:00.000-08:00

Tanya Clatterbuck and Marsha Copeland (and in conjunction with Caroline Todd) will take the lead in contacting KC area equestrian folks to help plan equestrian-related activities/sessions. Specific groups are: Northland Trails and Greenways (see link on right sidebar under Trail Links: Equestrian) and the northeast MO chapter of Show Me Back Country Horsemen. An all-day Saturday track is reserved for equestrians. (This is not intended to limit equestrian-related sessions to Saturday.)
Marci Jones will check with the KC Mounted Police about setting up a session at their facility for Friday afternoon and possibly Saturday.

OHV:

Charles McKenzie will contact NOHVCC to talk about its role at MTS this year. An all-day Saturday track is reserved for OHV. (This is not intended to limit OHV-related sessions to Saturday.)
NOHVCC has penciled in MTS on its calendar

March meeting question: Possible recipient of 2006 MTS fundraiser

Kansas City WildLands

KC WildLand's mission is to conserve, protect and restore natural communities of the Kansas City region by involving people in stewardship of the land.

Thoughts?

March meeting information: Final 2006 MTS logo

March meeting decision: Conference bags

The Cabana Cooler Tote. Zippered front pocket; top zippered closure and 25" web handles. The actual bag will be in royal blue.

Leave No Trace flash

From the Bureau of Land Management's California office: Impact Monster.

Thanks to Nancy Feakes for this information.

Spotlight on KC: MetroGreen

"MetroGreen is a proposed 1,144-mile interconnected system of public and private open spaces, greenways and trails designed to link seven counties in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

The plan covers Leavenworth, Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte counties in Missouri.

MetroGreen continues a tradition of valuing green space in the Kansas City area by extending the "parkways and boulevards" concept of the 1894 Kessler Plan for Kansas City, Mo. MetroGreen extends and enhances this commitment by identifying more than 75 separate corridors to form a regional network of greenways that connects many of the areas most valuable natural assets. The project is one of the 10 Giant Steps identified as part of the Kansas City Sesquicentennial Celebration."

Spotlight on KC: EarthRiders Mountain Bike Club

"The Earth Riders mountain bike club is based in Kansas City, MO. The club was founded in 1992 and has grown to over 250 members. The club actively works to acquire and maintain places to ride in the Midwest.

We are an affiliate club of the International Mountain Bike Club (IMBA).

We are the founders of the Midwest Mountain Bike Patrol - an affiliate of the National Mountain Bike Patrol."

Spotlight on KC: Northland Trails Vision Plan

"Clay County and Platte County have designed a comprehensive trail system for the Northland. The system includes on-road bicycle facilities and off-road trails for a variety of users. The trail system is intended to respond to broad and diverse community desires for increased opportunities for safe non-motorized travel and recreation."

Books referenced in the March meeting

Coming to Judgment: Making Democracy Work in a Complex World, Daniel Yankelovich
Tribal Warfare in Organizations, Peg Neuhauser
Where Does the Mayor Eat Breakfast? by .... oh wait, that's not been written yet

MONDAY MEMO: MARCH 6

2006-03-06T06:14:00.000-08:00

Next Meeting

Date: Friday, March 10
Time: 10:00 - 2:00
Place: MPRA office at 2018 William Street, Jefferson City, 65109
Lunch: Bring your own - MPRA will provide liquid refreshments. Refrigerator, microwave and toaster available on site.

Trail Building Volunteer Vacations

From American Hiking Society: Find out about volunteer vacations in the U.S. (including Missouri) and around the world here

National Trails Day

From American Hiking Society: American Trails Day is the first Saturday each June. In 2006, this is June 3. Go here for more information.

2006 MTS HOTEL ANNOUNCED

2006-02-28T10:06:00.000-08:00

Another wow ~

A hotel right on Country Club Plaza!
At an affordable price!
Free covered parking
Complimentary hot breakfast

Indoor pool
Fitness room
Evening reception Monday through Thursday
Complimentary high-speed internet in your room
Wireless access in hotel lobby

Hampton Inn and Suites Country Club Plaza
4600 Summit
Kansas City, MO 64112
816-448-4600

To get the MTS early bird rate of $86 per night, register before midnight on October 10, 2006.

If you register after 10/10, you can still get a great MTS rate at $91, but only as rooms continue to be available. The MTS room block expires at the end of the day, 10/10/06.

Reference Missouri Trail Summit when making your reservation.

2006 MTS LOGO

2006-02-27T13:46:00.000-08:00

Logo for MTS 2006: Get Connected!

Thanks to the logo creators - Shannon Dooley, Jay Wilson, and Mike Herron - all of Kansas City Parks and Recreation!

MONDAY MEMO: FEBRUARY 27

2006-02-27T13:10:00.000-08:00

A registration booklet and online registration will be available in June, 2006. The cost of the Symposium will be $320 for early registration for American Trails members and $375 for non-members. Lodging will range between $74 and $84 per day (plus tax). For information visit the American Trails website at www.americantrails.org.

Call for Presentations:

Symposium organizers are looking for speakers and presenters. If you are interested in sharing your knowledge and experience, forms and submission instructions are available at www.americantrails.org. Symposium organizers plan to offer 64 concurrent sessions. The Symposium committee is particularly interested in presentations that introduce new ideas, convey useful strategies, identify lessons learned, and strengthen participants’ existing skills and knowledge.

Thanks to Terry Whaley for this information.

Ozark Trail Association

Ozark Trail Dedication

On Saturday, April 29 at Council Bluff Recreation Area all the hard work everyone did to get the Middle Fork complete will be recognized as we officially open the 200 plus continuous miles of the Ozark Trail. The OTA will be sponsoring this event with support of the USFS, NPS, MDC, DNR, Corp of Engineers, and the Sierra Club. Watch for more details coming soon. If you would like to help with the planning of the event please send an email to Ozark Trail Association.

Midwest Mountain Bike Fest

April 7-9
Klondike Park, St. Charles County
Go here for more information

New edition of IMBA's Lightly on the Land

From International Mountain Bicycle Association:

When it comes to books about trailbuilding, IMBA recommends "Trail
Solutions" as the best place to start. If you want more in-depth information
on trail design, we suggest "Natural Surface Trails By Design," by Troy
Scott Parker. But if it's trail construction that interests you, then
"Lightly on the Land" is hard to beat. ... First published in 1996, "Lightly on the Land" is widely regarded as one of the best traditional trailbuilding books available. Every chapter of this
new edition has been fully updated by the original author Bob Birkby and the
team at the Student Conservation Association (SCA). The new edition includes
fresh approaches, new ideas, and modern applications of traditional skills.

2006 MTS SITE ANNOUNCED

2006-02-19T09:06:00.000-08:00

Wow - We've got a great place for the 2006 Missouri Trail Summit!

It's got it all:

Vibrant urban atmosphere
Beautiful Country Club Plaza
Brush Creek Walkway - walk or ride your bike to and from your hotel!
A wetland on the grounds - and an indoor marsh!
Ten acres of gardens bustling with wildlife
Famous Gates Bar.B.Q. is just a block away

So where is it?

Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center!

Thank you to Mike Herron and Brian Nowotny for their research and legwork in the site hunt.

Thank you to Discovery Center's Bob Fluchel, all of the Discovery Center's staff, and the Missouri Department of Conservation for hosting this year's site!

Coming soon: Announcement of Summit hotel.

CACHE: POSSIBLE VENUES FOR 2006 MTS ACTIVITIES

2005-12-20T06:56:00.000-08:00

Possible Trail Mix Social venues

Alldredge's Appleman Orchard

Platte City 64079
Large, rustic barn in beautiful farm setting, with seating for 150-200 people
Hayride, campfire, farm animals
Dinner served buffet-style (two meats, three sides, rolls, dessert, beverage)

Possible MTS field trips

Riverside Levee Trail Project
Zona Rosa - on-road trail example

CACHE: POSSIBLE KEYNOTES FOR 2006

2005-12-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

Mark Fenton
Geoff Middaugh; served as deputy director of the National Landscape Conservation System at the time he retired from BLM
John Roth, OT volunteer; past president of Ozark Trail Association; current VP of OTA; webmaster of Ozark Trail Association website
Dr. Sid Stevenson, KSU
Anita Gorman

2006 MTS: IT BEGINS AGAIN

2005-12-19T13:04:00.000-08:00

Next meeting

Date: Friday, January 13
Time: 10:00 - 2:00
Location: MPRA office, 2018 William Street, Jefferson City, MO 65109
Lunch: Bring your own; MPRA will provide liquid refreshments. Refrigerator, microwave and toaster available on site.

Agenda

What to be learned from 2005?
Broad strokes for 2006
Does location of next MTS in KC area warrant change of meeting places or no?
Does location of next MTS in KC warrant changes (or additions) of group members?
Possible site selection (site visits in progress)
2006 budget

Please let me know if you'd like to add anything to the agenda.

Refresher

2006 Location: Kansas City area
Dates: Thursday, November 2 through Saturday, November 4
Theme: Get Connected!
Starter of possible sessions here

About Saturday 2006

For trail walkers and runners, MTS 2006 will piggyback with the 5th Annual Shoal Creek Living Museum Wilderness Run. This is a walk/run of approximately five miles through the Shoal Creek village, around fields, up and down hills, over logs, through the woods, crossing creeks, and more.
For equestrians, the tentative plan is to pull together a trail ride over the weekend

Grant application

Terry Whaley and MPRA collaborated on an application to the American Hiking Society for a grant to underwrite an exemplary keynote speaker or speakers. The American Hiking Society will announce its grant winners in spring 2006.

Missouri Trails Advisory Board - Call For Nominations

Deadline: February 15, 2006. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is accepting nominations for three positions on the Missouri Trails Advisory Board ... . The members represent the following trail uses ...: Pedestrian, Equestrian, Off-Highway Motorcycling, All-Terrain Vehicle Riding, Bicycling, Mountain Bicycling, Accessibility, and General Trail Use. The three vacant positions for which the Department is accepting nominations are Off-Highway Motorcycling, All-Terrain Vehicle Riding, and Bicycling.

The primary function of the Missouri Trails Advisory Board is to review and evaluate grant applications submitted for funding through the Recreational Trails Program and make funding recommendations to the Department.

2005 WRAP-UP

2005-12-19T12:36:00.000-08:00

Registration Finals

Full: 89
Thursday only: 25
Friday only: 43
Saturday only: 30
Total: 187

The 2005 numbers reflect an increase of 43 registrants over 2004. To test your intelligence, this represents which of the following percentage increases:

a. 24%
b. 76%
c. 130%
d. (b) minus (a) + coefficient of c-squared
e. Insufficient data, as plane of existence undefined

As soon as you know the answer, please tell me so I can know, too.

MEMO: OCTOBER 18

2005-10-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

Summit give-aways

The bags and binders are in!

Registrations

Full: 75
Thursday only: 19
Friday only: 33
Saturday only: 16
Total: 143

Saturday sessions

Saturday NOHVCC: 6
Equestrian a.m.: 8
Missouri Trail Writers: 15
Hikers' Rendezvous: 7
IMBA Trail Building: 28
Take a Hike: 3
Equestrian p.m.: 11

Sessions Thursday and Friday

Current Issues: 56
Challenges of On-Road: 32
Trails and Streams: 32
Building Project Coalition: 7
COTI (long): 10
Trail Security: 10
Trailblazing and GPS: 19
Fixing Problem Trail: 22
Funding: 29
Pervious Concrete: 19
Bridges, Tunnels ...: 38
WWW: 9
Linkages: 45
COTI (short): 32
Water Trail (classroom only): 9
Intro to Off-Road (NOHVCC): 7
What Trail Surface?: 39
Inherited a Trail: 20
Tourism: 31
Water Trail (off-site): Cancelled
Utility Work: 23
Mediating: 35
Landscape Architect: 29
Cycling (off-site): 8
Safe Routes School: 26
Off-Road Cyclists (IMBA): 12
Shaping the Earth: 48
Trail Policies: 17
Big Table: 16
NOHVCC meeting: 3

MEMO: OCTOBER 12

2005-10-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

Registrations

Full: 67
Thursday only: 18
Friday only: 32
Saturday only: 15
Total: 132

Saturday sessions

Saturday NOHVCC: 5
Equestrian a.m.: 8
Missouri Trail Writers: 15
Hikers' Rendezvous: 7
IMBA Trail Building: 24
Take a Hike: 3
Equestrian p.m.: 11

Sessions Thursday and Friday

Current Issues: 48
Challenges of On-Road: 30
Trails and Streams: 31
Building Project Coalition: 3
COTI (long): 10
Trail Security: 8
Trailblazing and GPS: 19
Fixing Problem Trail: 21
Funding: 24
Pervious Concrete: 17
Bridges, Tunnels ...: 37
WWW: 7
Linkages: 40
COTI (short): 29
Water Trail (classroom only): 9
Intro to Off-Road (NOHVCC): 6
What Trail Surface?: 35
Inherited a Trail: 20
Tourism: 28
Water Trail (off-site): 0
Utility Work: 21
Mediating: 31
Landscape Architect: 28
Cycling (off-site): 8
Safe Routes School: 24
Off-Road Cyclists (IMBA): 11
Shaping the Earth: 45
Trail Policies: 14
Big Table: 13
NOHVCC meeting: 2

Unique trail building opportunity

.... in Chile!

Thanks to Nancy Feakes for this lead.

REGISTRATION UPDATE

2005-10-07T11:07:00.000-07:00

Registrations

Full: 53
Thursday only: 11
Friday only: 24
Saturday only: 12
Total: 100

MEMO: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5

2005-10-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

Registrations

Full: 26
Thursday only: 11
Friday only: 18
Saturday only: 8
Total: 63

Next meeting

The October meeting is for those of us who want to go over last-minute stuff together. Feel free to come - or not - according to your convenience and need.

Date: Wednesday, October 19
Time: 2:00 - ?
Location: To be determined, but in Columbia.

Conference "give-aways"

The bags and binders have been ordered! As a partner, Missouri Division of State Parks will appear on the bags and binders with MPRA.

Here is the bag.
Here is the binder.

Session handouts

Please ask your presenters to make their handouts on three-hole-punched paper so session attendees can insert them into the binders. Please also ask that they make extra handouts that we can place in a communal area for other attendees to pick up.

I will send out presenter confirmations also that includes this information.

MEMO: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

2005-09-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

Registrations

Full: 23
Thursday only: 10
Friday only: 16
Saturday only: 8
Total: 57

Deadline for early bird registration: October 3

Next meeting

The October meeting is for those of us who want to go over last-minute stuff together. Feel free to come - or not - according to your convenience and need.

Date: Wednesday, October 19
Time: 2:00 - ?

MEMO: SEPTEMBER 23

2005-09-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

Registrations

Full: 22
Thursday only: 7
Friday only: 11
Saturday only: 2
Total: 43

Deadline for early bird registration: October 3

Next meeting

The October meeting is for those of us who want to go over last-minute stuff together. Feel free to come - or not - according to your convenience and need.

Date: Tuesday, October 18
Time: 2:00 - ?
Location: To be determined, but in Columbia.

MEMO: SEPTEMBER 15

2005-09-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

Registrations

Full: 8
Thursday only: 2
Friday only: 3
Saturday only: 0

Deadline for early bird registration: October 3

Next meeting

Date: Thursday, September 22
Time: 10:00 - 2:00
Location: MPRA office here

Missouri Trail Summit on the web

Missouri Division of State Parks (DNR): Here and her e

Missouri Department of Conservation: Here

Missouri Equine Council

Missouri Trailblazing (Laura Vonk)

American Trails Calendar

National Center for Bicycling and Walking's CenterLines

CACHE: 2006 SESSIONS

2005-09-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

Possible 2006 sessions

River trail session by David Miller, author of The Complete Paddler: A Guidebook for Paddling the Missouri River from the Headwaters to St. Louis, Missouri.
Pre-conference: Two-day train-the-trainer COTI workshop
Equestrian session by Ron Nekula (or other Northland Trails rep)
Full-day workshop by NOHVCC
Off-site: Cycling "tour" that looks at on-road features related to cycling, connections between road and trails, etc. (Erika Jacques)
Master planning for trails and coordination with local planning/zoning: Platte County (Erika)
The "Book Tour" - a day of sessions by authors (especially Missourians) of books about trails; would include book signings
Birding trails (Linda Owen, Northland Trails, Smithville)
Benefits of using greenway trails, based on research at St. Louis University and anecdotal info (possible presenters include Dr. Jim Blaine in Bolivar; SLU School of Public Health staff re: Piedmont)
Accessibility and trails: Policies, law, accommodations
"Rail-banking"; the rail-banking law; identifying rails that are soon to be abandoned (Jeff Huff via Caryn Giarratano)
At social: Include a sing-along of trail songs

MONDAY MEMO: AUGUST 8

2005-08-07T10:27:00.000-07:00

Next meeting

Date: Thursday, September 22
Time: 10:00 - 2:00

Welcome to our Missouri Trail Summit partner!

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Thanks to DNR's Jessica Terrell, Erika Jaques and Chris Buckland - and those I don't even know about - for their work on the Summit.

MONDAY MEMO: AUGUST 1

2005-08-01T11:52:00.000-07:00

Next meeting

Date: Thursday, September 22
Time: 10:00 - 2:00

Welcome and thanks to these Missouri Trail Summit sponsors!

Blaze level: Missouri Equine Council

Blaze level: Pfoodman, Inc.

Blaze level: Trailnet

Bridge level: MFA, Incorporated (Janice Spears, Equine Specialist)

Supporter level: International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA)

Supporter level: Osage Region Trail Association

Supporter level: Flat Branch Brewery

Note: The Bridge and Blaze sponsors receive a free exhibit space.

Welcome and thanks to these Missouri Trail Summit exhibitors!

Missouri Division of State Parks, Grants Management Section

Trailnet

An Iowa editorial about biking and tourism

"Boost Biking, Tourism in Iowa - All Year," from the Des Moines Register

Thanks to Caryn Giarratano for this lead.

MONDAY MEMO: JULY 25

2005-07-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

Next meeting

Date: Thursday,September 22
Time: 10:00 - 2:00

About the July 21 meeting

For 2007 MTS: Erika Jaques to propose that the State Trail Administrators Annual Meeting be held in conjunction with the MTS, which will be in the St. Louis/St. Charles area. Note: Erika has already followed up on this, with a tentatively positive response.

For 2007 MTS: Caryn Giarratano to propose that the Bike-Ped Coordinators hold their biannual meeting in conjunction with the MTS.

Charles McKenzie reported that the Kansas City area has a vision to be the national hub for trails.

For unspecified time in fairly-near future: Propose that Kansas City Parks and Recreation advocate to be a host of the American Trails Symposium. Paula Diller to pass this along to Mike Herron. Note: Done.

Conference "give-away": Group lukewarm about items presented. Will probably go for a nice portfolio, which will have utility for collecting and organizaing handouts.

More information forthcoming ...

Welcome and thanks to these Missouri Trail Summit sponsors!

Blaze level: Missouri Equine Council

Blaze level: Pfoodman, Inc.

Blaze level: Trailnet

Bridge level: MFA, Incorporated (Janice Spears, Equine Specialist)

Supporter level: International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA)

Supporter level: Osage Region Trail Association

Supporter level: Flat Branch Brewery

Note: The Bridge and Blaze sponsors receive a free exhibit space.

Welcome and thanks to these Missouri Trail Summit exhibitors!

Missouri Division of State Parks, Grants Management Section

Trailnet

2007 MTS session ideas

Report on walkable/bikable communities grantees and their accomplishments (Trailnet)

Route 66 Trail (Illinois), which ends at Chain of Rocks Bridge

East Belleville Bikeway (Illinois) - features art on the trail, including in the trailside creek

Routing trails through private land (John Roth, OTA)

Do's and don'ts of negotiating with land stewards (John Roth, OTA)

Earth Share of Missouri

Here's an article from the Springfield News-Leader about Earth Share of Missouri (ESMO), which is sort of a United Way for the environment. Some trails-related organizations benefit from donations to ESMO. You can see a list of same here.

Thanks to Teresa Kight for this information.

Missouri Trailblazing

Here's Laura Vonk's website - Missouri Trailblazing - which focuses on Missouri equestrian trails. It includes trail news (see the article about the recent evaluation day at Cuivre River State Park), trail conditions, trail reviews, active trail-riding clubs, etc.

A new book about Missouri trails

From Chillicothe resident, Tim Riekena, North Missouri Mountain Biking, Hiking, and GPS Trail Guide. Here is an article about Tim and his book from the Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune. In addition to information on where to find trails in Northern Missouri, Tim also shares his wisdom on the best trailside bathrooms, the ugliest hedge in northern Missouri, and dealing with spider webs.

Thanks to Teresa Kight for this information.

MONDAY MEMO: JULY 18

2005-07-18T10:21:00.000-07:00

Next meeting

This Thursday! Go here for details.

Welcome and thanks to these Missouri Trail Summit sponsors!

Blaze level: Pfoodman, Inc.
Bridge level: MFA, Incorporated (Janice Spears, Equine Specialist)
Supporter level: International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA)
Supporter level: Osage Region Trail Association

Note: The Bridge and Blaze sponsors receive a free exhibit space.

Welcome and thanks to these Missouri Trail Summit exhibitors!

Missouri Division of State Parks, Grants Management Section
Missouri Equine Council

Call for articles on trails for the MPRA fall magazine

Deadline: August 15

I invite you to submit articles, announcements and/or photographs about:

Your trails
Your users
Upcoming trail-related events that would be of interest to our readership
Accomplishments
Problem-solving

About photographs: Save on your end as 300 ppi/JPEG and then send as an email attachment.

From Ozark Greenways - The Frisco Highline Trail

.....exciting news from the FHT.  We are with in 98-feet of completion for the second longest rail trail in ... Missouri!  This requires an early "Thank You"  to everyone for your 12-years of support on this project.

We still have the small items such as signs, mile markers, and fencing issues to deal with but the rest is looking very good.

September 24 High Noon is set for the formal dedication.....SAVE THE DATE.

Seeking Help.....time for a targeted promotion and marketing task force to promote the trail. SEEKING VOLUNTEERS.SIGN UP NOW!

From Terry Whaley

Interesting article about rural women in Southeast MO and trails

Evaluation of Walking Trail Usage in Rural Communities: Factors Influencing Walking Behavior Among Women, by Robyn A. Housemann, St. Louis University School of Public Health, a study funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Found at America Walks website.

MONDAY MEMO: JULY 11

2005-07-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

Next meeting: July 21, MPRA office

Please visit the June 20 post for specifics.

Welcome and thanks to these Missouri Trail Summit sponsors!

Blaze level: Pfoodman, Inc.
Bridge level: MFA, Incorporated (Janice Spears, Equine Specialist)
Supporter level: International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA)
Supporter level: Osage Region Trail Association

Note: The Bridge and Blaze sponsors receive a free exhibit space.

Welcome and thanks to these Missouri Trail Summit exhibitors!

Missouri Division of State Parks, Grants Management Section

"Pednet blazes urban walking trail" in Columbia

Story here.

TUESDAY MEMO: JULY 5

2005-07-05T08:43:00.000-07:00

Important alert from MOTRAILS member, Scott Campbell

I don't normally send warnings of any kind, but this one seemed important, even to me. Please think about sending it to the folks on your e-mail list. If someone comes to your front door saying they are conducting a survey on deer ticks and asks you to take your clothes off and dance around with your arms up, DO NOT DO IT! IT IS A SCAM; they only want to see you naked. I wish I'd gotten this message yesterday; I feel so stupid now.Next meeting: July 21

Please see June 20 post for specifics.

TrailLink 2005: July 27-30

TrailLink 2005, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s international trails and greenways conference, is coming to Minneapolis/St. Paul on July 27-30, 2005. Visit the conference Web site where you can now register, view the conference program, pick a mobile workshop, and learn about travel information and special events.

Thanks to Caryn Giarratano for this information.

MONDAY MEMO: JUNE 27

2005-06-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

Next meeting

Please see June 20 post for information about the July meeting.

Deadlines

Session proposals (with presenter bios): July 15
Sponsors who want to be included in promotional/registration brochure: July 15 to make written commitment

Registration "take-aways"

We originally planned to offer a 2006 calendar that featured Missouri trails. That is cost-prohibitive this year, so I offer the following alternatives for your consideration between now and the July meeting:

SignWave CD case
Holds 12 CDs. We would distribute at Summit check-in. It would have CDs already inserted into this take-away, such as registrant/sponsor/exhibitor contacts and session powerpoints/handouts. It would, of course, have 2005 Missouri Trail Summit on the cover. (This item is my current favorite.)

Thermos 14 oz. travel mug
Stainles steel travel mug with double-wall insulation. Easy-grip handle. Would support our plan to be as "green" as possible by encouraging using this for drinks rather than disposable cups.

Sleek FM auto scan radio
A nice trail companion?

I should have samples with me at the July meeting. Feel free to comment on the above ideas via the comment link at the bottom of this post. You may also have another product idea - add that, as well.

Thank you to new sponsors!

PFoodman for the Trail Mix Social.

Recipients of 2005 silent auction proceeds

In 2004, we split the proceeds between the Columbia Parks and Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund and the Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.

In 2005, we'll donate half the proceeds again to the Columbia Parks and Recreation Youth Scholarship. For the other half, I offer the following organizations in our host city for your consideration:

Missouri River Communities Network

Pednet Coalition

Friends of Big Muddy

Other ideas?

Thank you for helping to promote the 2005 Missouri Trail Summit online!

Missouri Equine Council

American Trails here and here

Missouri Division of State Parks

IMBA

National Center for Bicycling & Walking (Centerlines)

A mountain bike trail in New York City?

Go here to find out more.

MONDAY MEMO: JUNE 20

2005-06-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

Next meeting

Date: Thursday, July 21
Time: 10:00 - 2:00
Where: MPRA office, 2018 William Street, Jefferson City 65109 (for map and directions, click on the street address)

Deadlines

June 30: Please send Paula Diller names and contact information for potential exhibitors
July 15: Completed session proposal forms (including presenter bios) submitted to Paula
July 15: For recognition as a sponsor in the registration brochure, sponsor commitment forms submitted to Paula

July meeting agenda

Below is the evolving meeting agenda for the July 21 meeting. If you would like to add or modify an agenda item, please note same by clicking on the comment link for this post.

Review and comment: Review draft registration brochure (Lead: Paula)
Status report: Equestrian workshop (Leads: Caroline Todd and Tanya Clatterbuck)
Status report and idea-generation/problem-solving: Any pending sessions
Status report: Budget and sponsorships
Status report: Exhibitors
Discussion and decisions: Transportation logistics
Discussion and decisions: Audio-visual aids
Discussion and decisions: Getting handouts in advance to include in check-in packet (whether hard-copy or on disk)
Decision: NOHVCC participation (Lead: Jessica Terrell)
Review and decision: Summit participation item (to replace calendar idea; looks like these will be too expensive; more on this later)

About the June 16 meeting

Decision: MTS will not include the full-day NOHVCC workshop.

Decision: Paula, Jessica, Charles McKenzie and Dana Bell (NOHVCC) will talk via conference call regarding how (and if) MTS and NOHVCC can collaborate to address each other's educational and budget interests for 2005 MTS. MTS may include a one-session NOHVCC presentation and/or a "mini-workshop" that condenses the full-day workshop.

Sponsorship letter and supporting documents distributed to everyone.

Exhibitor form distributed to everyone.

Tasks:

Terry Whaley will seek out a donated (new) chimenea for use at the Trail Mix; this item will also serve as a silent-auction item.
Caroline Todd will continue negotiations with musicians for the Trail Mix, with the authority to offer the musicians a sponsor-level acknowledgment commensurate with their in-kind donation of the fee they would normally charge at a not-for-profit event.
Tanya will follow up on arranging for two horse-drawn wagons for the Trail Mix.
Paula will send Tanya an email confirming the panelists for the equestrian session.
Jessica will continue her progress on the Summit banners that DNR is generously making.
Paula will send the sponsorship and exhibitor document via email to planning committee members.
Everyone will continue to work on their sessions - getting the session proposals in (including presenter bios) to Paula by July 15.
Everyone will send Paula contact information for potential sponsors/exhibitors in order to create a centralized database. This does not prevent planning committee members from soliciting sponsors and exhibitors on their own.
Everyone will let Jessica and Paula know (via email) who they have solicited (or intend to solicity) re: sponsorships or exhibits so that we don't become inadvertent nuisances.

About the 2006 Summit

Remember the theme: Get Connected

Possible dates

We do not want to get in the way of the following events:

American Society of Landscape Architects, October 7 - 10, 2006, Minneapolis
National Recreation and Park Association Congress, October 10 -14, 2006, Seattle
American Trails Symposium, October 19-22, 2006, in Quad Cities (Iowa/Illinois)

Are there other events we want to avoid competing against?

Thus, dates under consideration for the 2006 Summit in the Kansas City area include:

September 28-30 (update 8/05: This is the first choice)
November 9-11 (update 8/05: conflict with Veteran's Day)
November 16-18

Please note any preferences or other comments you have about the possible dates by clicking on the comment link for this post.

Possible 2006 sessions

River trail session by David Miller, author of The Complete Paddler: A Guidebook for Paddling the Missouri River from the Headwaters to St. Louis, Missouri.
Pre-conference: Two-day train-the-trainer COTI workshop
Equestrian session by Ron Nekula (or other Northland Trails rep)
Full-day workshop by NOHVCC
Off-site: Cycling "tour" that looks at on-road features related to cycling, connections between road and trails, etc. (Erika Jacques)
Master planning for trails and coordination with local planning/zoning: Platte County (Erika)
The "Book Tour" - a day of sessions by authors (especially Missourians) of books about trails; would include book signings
Birding trails (Linda Owen, Northland Trails, Smithville)

MONDAY MEMO: JUNE 6

2005-06-06T10:03:00.000-07:00

Summit banners (Lead: Jessica Terrell)
Status report: Trail Mix Social (Jessica)
Status report: Individual sessions (Leads: You know who you are): Presenters lined up? Getting bios?
Status report: Exhibitor spaces available (Lead: Paula Diller)
Report: Pennsylvania Trail Conference experience (Narrator: Terry Whaley). What can we ~~steal~~ ~~borrow~~ learn from that conference?

Summit schedule

You should have received this via email.

Trails on the Web Feature

Trails in Mark Twain National Forest (Missouri). It includes hiking, ATV, cycling and equestrian trails information.

Thank you to Danny McMurphy, MOTRAILS website master, for this suggestion.

MEETING NOTES: MAY 18

2005-05-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

Next meeting

Date: Thursday, June 16
Time: 10:00 - 2:00
Where: Meeting room, Private Lands Division, Missouri Department of Conservation, 2901 West Truman 65109. To learn what to do when you arrive at the building, see more detailed instructions at the end of this post. Secret pass phrase: The eagle flies at dawn, except when it stays up too late the night before.
Lunch: Bring your own. There will not be a refrigerator available. You can purchase cold drinks in the break room.

Save-the-date postcards

We mailed over 2000 this week.

Thank you again to Missouri Department of Conservation for underwriting the costs of the postcards and their mailing.

Conference site

We looked at Stoney Creek's meeting rooms and agreed they will work out beautifully, as will the facility overall. There are several areas in the hotel that will invite attendees to gather for socializing and networking, including the indoor/outdoor pool.

Summit banners

Thank you to Missouri Department of Natural Resources, which will make Summit banners for the conference.

Trail Mix Social

Where: Rock Bridge Memorial State Park will be the site again for the Trail Mix.
When: Thursday evening, October 27

Tentative activities:

Musical entertainment, thanks to the efforts of Caroline Todd and Tanya Clatterbuck
Horseback riding
Mountain biking
Hiking
Sensory hike (lead: Erika Jacques)
Visit from miniature horse (lead: Caroline Todd)
Demonstration of trail pack animals, e.g. dogs, llamas (lead: Jessica Terrell)
Silent auction (lead: Jessica; Charles McKenzie - master of ceremonies)

Of course, there will also be great food and beverages.

And thank you once again to State Farm and Tanya Clatterbuck for the use of their big tent at the Trail Mix.

Summit sessions

Sessions coming along nicely. The schedule isn't final yet, but it may be for the June meeting.

Meeting room for June meeting

Come in the front door (at 2901 W. Truman -MDC office). Tell the receptionist you're there for the Trail Summit Planning meeting (she may ask you to sign in as a visitor). Private Lands is down the hall straight behind the receptionist, go past the restrooms on your left, turn left at the first hallway and go upstairs to enter Private Lands. The conference room is a few doors down on the right. (there are plenty of signs nailed up on the beams in the hallways so nobody should get lost).

POLICY: PRESENTER COMPENSATION

2005-04-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

Introduction

Following is the compensation policy for 2005. The purposes of the policy are to:

Manage the Missouri Trail Summit's financial resources responsibly;
Provide consistency and equitability in compensation awards;
Enable presenters to make informed decisions about their ability or willingness to present in light of the policy; and
Enable planning committee members to share information that potential presenters need.

Planning committee members should let potential presenters know that the default policy on compensation is no compensation. For presenters they believe might be eligible for compensation, planning committee members should contact me. I can either work through the planning committee member to respond to the compensation issue, or I can contact the potential presenter directly.

Default compensation policy

Registration

For 2005 only, presenters may receive - upon request - complimentary registration for the day(s) they present. Exceptions (that is, no complimentary registration):

Business representatives who currently receive or hope to receive business from Summit attendees.
Paid staff of a not-for-profit agency, in cases where the presentations comprise the primary vehicle for financial or in-kind support to the Summit.
Paid staff of a state or federal agency who is "on the clock" when giving the presentation.
Missouri park and recreation professionals (this is in accordance with customary practice at the annual MPRA conference)

Complimentary registrations for presenters include lunch, but do not include:

The cost for any evening activity
CEU credit, or
Incidental fees that may apply for a particular session.

Travel, lodging or meal reimbursement

None.

Honorarium

None.

Special cases

Upon request, MPRA will consider the following presenter compensations:

Registration

Presenters from outside Missouri will receive complimentary registration for the day they present. Exceptions: Same as in the default policy above.

The complimentary registration will include the Trail Mix Social (non-transferable) and lunch.

The complimentary registration will not include the CEU fee or any incidental fees that may apply for a particular session.

Lodging, travel or meal reimbursement

1. Criteria to consider:

The presenter is outside Missouri;
The planning committee invited the individual to present;
The individual offers a unique perspective, special experience or a level of subject-matter expertise that is unavailable or difficult to access in Missouri;
There is reason to believe that the individual's information will reach a goodly number of Summit attendees (either via one session that has very high attendance or via two or three sessions with smaller audiences); and
The cost of compensating this individual will not consume a majority of the budget for such expenses.

2. Exceptions noted in the default policy for complimentary registrations apply here, as well.

3. Lodging, travel and meals are each distinct levels of compensation. In the vast majority of cases, a presenter that meets the above criteria will receive only one of these categories of compensation.

Honorarium

In addition to complimentary registration, travel, lodging and meals: None.

In lieu of travel, lodging and/or meals: A modest honorarium might be an appropriate compensation instead of travel, lodging or meals, depending on the presenter's needs.

The criteria and exceptions noted for travel, lodging and/or meals apply here.

MEETING NOTES FROM APRIL 19

2005-04-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

2005 MTS keynote

Pam Gluck, executive director of American Trails, has agreed to be our keynote speaker on the Summit's opening day. Below is a brief bio:

With over seventeen years of trails experience, Pam has owned a hiking/ cross-country ski guide service; served as Parks and Recreation Director for the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona; and served as the Arizona State Trails Coordinator for five years. Pam's strengths lie in building and nurturing sustainable partnerships. Her primary duties include overall management of American Trails, coordinating the National Trails Symposium, and overseeing projects. Pam's goal is to continue to grow American Trails to meet the needs of the trails community and to serve the general trail user. Her favorite means for mental, spiritual, and physical renewal is daily walks with her husband and her dog.

Thank you to Terry Whaley for arranging for Pam's participation in our Summit.

Next meeting

Date: Wednesday, May 18
Time: 10:00 - 2:00
Where: Hearth Room, Stoney Creek Inn, Columbia (the Stoney Creek Inn link is to a map and directions)

Agenda for May meeting (in progress)

Discussion and next steps: Trail Mix Social (Thursday night) (Jessica Terrell)
Status reports: Sessions (session coordinators)

Tasks (in progress)

Session coordinators: Please submit your final session titles and session descriptions before the May meeting.

Thank you!

To Missouri Department of Conservation for underwriting the printing and mailing of the Trail Summit save-the-date postcards!

Other notes

Link to SB372/HB632 - Bike safety in Missouri
Congress - Safe Routes to School (enter the keywords "safe" and "routes" in the search field to get info about current congressional activity on Safe Routes to School; no quotes and no ifs, ands or buts needed)

MONDAY MEMO: APRIL 18

2005-04-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

Next meeting

Date: Tuesday, April 19
Time: 10:00 - 2:00
Where: MPRA office, 2018 William Street, Jefferson City 65109
Lunch: Bring your own; MPRA will provide liquid refreshments (and has microwave, refrigerator, toaster)

Agenda (in progress):

Status report: Keynote
Status reports: Sessions
Status report: Save-the-date postcard

Heads-up for May meeting:

This will be in Columbia for a field trip to Stoney Creek Inn. More later.

THE 2005 THEME

2005-04-01T06:35:00.000-08:00

Trails Across the Heartland

Thank you to the theme committee: Tanya Clatterbuck, Mike Herron and Jessica Terrell.

And, so as not to squander their other creative options, in case they're of help to future Summits (but not 2005, because we now have that theme. Definitely. Absolutely. Closed.):

Moving Forward Together
Over the Top
Building for the Future
Trails for All ... All for Trails!
From Here to There
Trail Reflections
Building a Trail to Tomorrow

POLICY: EXHIBITORS

2005-03-29T08:54:00.000-08:00

Spaces available

We don't know yet how many exhibitor spaces will be available per day. We'll determine this in May.
There will be exhibitor spaces available for each day of the Summit.

Fees

Same as last year:

1. State agencies, not-for-profit organizations and advocacy or user groups

Information-sharing only; no selling
Free, BUT all exhibitors must be registered for the Summit on the day(s) they exhibit
MPRA may limit exhibitor to one day, depending on space needs

2. State agencies, not-for-profit organizations and advocacy or user groups

Information-sharing AND selling
$25 per day, and all exhibitors must be registered for the Summit on the day(s) they exhibit
MPRA may limit exhibitor to one day, depending on space needs

3. Businesses

$100 per day, and all exhibitors must be registered for the Summit on the day(s) they exhibit

POLICY: SUPPORTER LEVELS

2005-03-29T08:05:00.000-08:00

For 2005 and 2006 only (see Note about 2006 at end of this post):

Partner

1. Organization contributes $5000 or more in financial support

2. Receives:

Recognition as a Summit Partner in all promotional media and all Summit materials in which MPRA is also noted
10 complimentary, full registrations to the Summit
One free exhibit slot for each day of the Summit that offers exhibit opportunities
Feature in MPRA's magazine
Feature on MPRA’s website
Red ribbon on Summit name badge(s)
Certificate or plaque of appreciation

Pathfinder

1. Organization contributes $2500 or more in financial support

2. Receives:

Recognition as a Summit Pathfinder in most promotional media and Summit materials
5 complimentary, full registrations to the Summit
One free exhibit slot for each day of the Summit that offers exhibit opportunities
Feature in MPRA's website
Yellow ribbon on Summit name badge(s)
Certificate or plaque of appreciation

Blaze

1. Organization contributes $1000 or more in financial or in-kind support

2. Receives:

Recognition as a Summit Blaze in most promotional media and Summit materials
2 complimentary, full registrations to the Summit
One free exhibit slot for each day of the Summit that offers exhibit opportunities
White ribbon on Summit name badge(s)
Certificate or plaque of appreciation

Bridge

1. Organization contributes $500 or more in financial or in-kind support

2. Receives:

Recognition as a Summit Bridge in most promotional media and Summit materials
One complimentary, full registration to the Summit
One free exhibit slot for one day of the Summit

In-kind support includes

Attendance at Summit planning meetings (valued at $18 per hour for seven hours = $126 per meeting)
Organizing or preparing a component of the Summit (valued at $18 per hour)
Volunteering at the Summit (valued at $18 per hour)
Providing resources for use at the Summit (valued at cost that would be assessed to a not-for-profit organization)
Paying in-house for outside presenters' fees and/or expenses (i.e., entity pays the presenter directly) (valued the same as a direct financial donation)

Note about 2006:

MPRA will honor the above supporter levels for the 2006 Summit for organizations that make a commitment prior to 11/01/05.

CACHE: SESSION PROPOSALS

2005-03-22T12:11:00.000-08:00

Following are session proposals in the raw:

Trail security ... cops, volunteers, contract, other
Trail surfaces: What to use when?
Natural area trail and how to make accessible for seniors who use mechanical assistance?
Who is using our trails (and how many are using) ... urban/suburban ... transportation or recreation
The Big Three: KATY, Ozark Trail, MRT .. panel for all three in one session or maybe stand-alones for each ... history/mission
Keep Them In/Keep Them Out: trail gates, ballards and other obstructins to protect you
Trail policies: Special events, requests for fundraising activities, reservations of parks where a trail passes through the reservation site
Leave No Trace Revisited: How do you successfully promote a LNT policy/practice
NOHVCC workshop (National Off-Highway Vehicle ... ) at Finger Lakes State Park
NOHVCC lecture (demographics, partnerships, education, enforcement, evaluation, etc.)
Tread Lightly workshop
Pets and trails
Rails-to-trails (from development to on the ground)
Multi-use conflict: Relative to natural surface trails rather than the urban-based session in 2004
Trends: Stunt mountain biking, geocaching, etc.
Ethics v. etiquette: What's the difference?
Impacts of trail users: foot, bike, equestrian, ATV, motorcycle
Ozark Trail Association's trail-training program (based on Colorado Outdoor Training Initiative)
Using GIS to design, evaluate and plan your trail
Safe Routes to School
The art of mechanized trail construction
Retrofitting existing trails for mountain bike use
Trails and art
Trail website design
Bridges, tunnels and boardwalks on trails
Working with developers
Where the equestrian trails are and who their land managers are
Equestrian: How and why government land managers' different missions affect their equestrian trail policies
Leave No Trace for equestrians
Equestrians and trail conflict: Collaborate problem-solving (rather than problem-passing)
Trail safety and self defense
Equestrian trail maintenance and upgrades (hearing from land managers and users)
Joint trail planning: Sewers and trails
Trails and tourism
Enhancing the trail experience for users through design, planting and signage: Flora, fauna, geological features, vistas, etc.
Trail management practices for government land managers
Trail triage (trail maintenance and maintenance prevention)
Private-land trails: The U.K. model - Can it work here?
Water trails: What are they and how to create one
From PRPS: Creating Linkages Through the Subdivision Process
From PRPS: Trails and Streams: Planning and Design Considerations
From PRPS: Building Volunteer Stewardship Through Clean-Ups and Adoptions
From PRPS: Economical Bridges for Shared-Use Trails
From PRPS: Creating a Local Greenway and Trail System
From PRPS: Building Lasting Trail Organizations
From PRPS: State and Federal Funding Opportunities for Greenways and Trails
From PRPS: New Technology for Trail Construction and Maintenance
"I've Got a Problem With My Trail:" A panel of expert trail designers, builders and managers - with the help of the audience - will tackle your problems!
Trail Construction and Renovation in Sensitive Areas
Re-Routing a Trail

MONDAY MEMO: MARCH 21

2005-03-21T11:15:00.000-08:00

Next meeting

Date: Monday, March 28
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Where: MPRA office, 2018 William Street, 65109
Lunch: Bring your own (we have refrigerator, microwave, toaster here)

Agenda (evolving):

Session proposals
Keynote speaker suggestions
Final input on 2005 logo conceptual drawing
Decision: Supporter/sponsor structure

Equestrian population

Thank you to Gail Gartside for her thorough response to my query about Missouri's equestrian population. Although there are many qualifiers that come with these figures, here's what the numbers are estimated to be:

250,000 casual Missouri riders (an individual who rides a horse/mule at least once a year; who either owns the horse/mule or borrows it from a family member or friend). This is about 5% of the Missouri population.
12,500 Missouri trail-riding enthusiasts + 3750 out-of-state trail-riding enthusiasts who come to Missouri (individuals who own their own horses/mules and who trail ride at least 30 days per year)

As Gail says, the above data are "the starting gate, not the finish line, as new data might necessitate adjustment." Gail notes that the above estimates, based on state and national data, are conservative.

MONDAY MEMO: MARCH 7

2005-03-07T10:05:00.000-08:00

Cover art for the 2005 MTS

Jessica Terrell's mother, an accomplished artist who accepted our commission to do the artwork for the 2005 MTS logo, offers the draft conceptual drawings in the two posts below. Please offer your feedback re: your preferred concept and other thoughts on either or both drawings. (And a huge thank you! to the artist-known-as-Jessica's-mom!)

2005 Summit site confirmed ....

.... at Stoney Creek Inn in Columbia! Feel free to make your room reservations now at $70 per night. Please reference the Missouri Park and Recreation block when making your reservations.

Take-away calendars

Do you know of a printer who'd love to subsidize the cost of the photo calendars in exchange for using their name throughout the calendar? Here's what we're looking for:

Wall calendar
Full photos for each of the 12 months, plus front cover and back cover pages
Calendar opens up to show full-page photo on the top and full-page calendar content on bottom
Trail-pertinent text (that we will provide) for selected calendar dates
Holidays noted for selected calendar dates

(Consider the Missouri Department of Conservation calendar as our desired standard vis a vis quality, size and look/feel.)

Next meeting

Monday, March 28

DRAFT MTS 2005 ART: CONCEPT B

2005-03-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

Concept B

DRAFT 2005 MTS ART: CONCEPT A

2005-03-07T09:28:00.000-08:00

Concept A

DATELINE .... LAKE OF THE OZARKS

2005-03-02T12:21:00.000-08:00

Summit 2006

This week is MPRA's annual conference. Today, I ran into Mike Herron of Kansas City Park and Recreation. Mike, new to the Summit planning committee, is already thinking of the 2006 Summit, which will be in Kansas City.

To wit: The 2006 Summit theme is: Get Connected! Thanks, Mike, for a great idea!

CACHE: PRIVATE-PROPERTY TRAIL LEADS

2005-02-18T10:06:00.000-08:00

At the February 7 meeting, the subject of trails on private property came up, specifically in regard to rural areas, such as through pastures. The U.K., of course, has a centuries-old tradition of private-property trails for public use, which I believe is overseen by the Countryside Agency.

We wondered if there are any models in the U.S. for private-property/public use trails, particularly in rural areas. If so, that might make for an interesting Summit session. In this post, I intend to stash sources that may offer leads on this:

Kenai Peninsula Borough Trail Plan (Alaska) (December 1998)
Rural Countryside Trails (Iowa) (~ April 2001)
Town of Groton Trails Committee (Massachusetts) (February 2005)
"Ranchers Irked; Not Part of Planning For Trails On Land" (California) (February 2005)
Snowmobiling on Private Property (New Hampshire) (~ 2004)
Property Rights Foundation of America

Do you know of other leads? If yes, please note them via the comments link for this post.

MONDAY MEMO: FEBRUARY 7

2005-02-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

Summary of February 7 meeting

Theme

Not fully formed yet, but there is consensus on the logo.

Mark Hohengasser, of Missouri Department of Natural Resources (landscape architect) and the Earth Riders (affiliated with International Mountain Bike Association), proposed the rough drawing of the logo. Jessica Terrell knows an excellent artist, who may be willing to transform the conceptual drawing to the finished product. Since the artist is Jessica's mother, we're hoping that answer's going to be a yes.

The text theme is something along the lines of Reaching for the Peak or Trails Without Borders.

Conference "skeleton"

Thursday and Friday will be full-day sessions with trail professionals as the primary audience and trail users and volunteers as the secondary audience.
Saturday's primary target audience is comprised of trail users and volunteers: Equestrians, ATVers, cyclists and perhaps walkers/backpackers. Trail professionals are the secondary audience.
The first session on Thursday will be a plenary session for raising and addressing issues of interest to attendees, using an Open Space format. This will be very dynamic.
There will be a keynote speaker at lunch either Thursday or Friday.
To promote networking, idea exchanges and collegial learning, there will be half-hour breaks between sessions instead of 15 minutes.
Attendees will lunch together.
The Trail Mix social will be Thursday evening.
There will be elements of surprise at the conference.
There will be an element of adventure at the conference.
The conference will offer more hands-on sessions than last year.
There will be a "posters session" at the conference.
There will be one or more contests involved at the conference (e.g. a trail-related photo contest ; winning photos will be included in a 2007 Missouri Trail Summit calendar).
There may be awards.
There may be a pre- and/or post-conference component connected with the conference.
To ensure crossover between users/volunteers and professionals, we will identify and ensure attendance of a certain number of professionals (in addition to any presenters who are trail professionals) on Saturday; we'll do the same for volunteers/users on Thursday and Friday.

Registration gift

Last year, conference registrants received multipurpose bags. For 2005, registrants will receive a 2006 calendar with photos of Missouri trails and the inclusion of trail-related dates. The 2006 calendar will be a prototype of the 2007 calendar, which will be sold at the 2006 Summit.

Levels of support

There will be four levels of support recognized at the conference. The planning committee will come up with trail-related names for these levels, but for now, they're designated numerically, with #1 being the highest level of support:

Entity contributes $5000 or more in financial or in-kind support (including labor and resources)
Entity contributes $2500 or more in financial or in-kind support
Entity contributes $1000 or more in financial or in-kind support
Entity contributes $250 or more in financial or in-kind support

In-kind support includes:

Attendance at Summit planning meetings
Organizing or preparing a component of the Summit
Volunteering at the Summit
Providing resources for use at the Summit
Paying in-house for outside presenters' fees and/or expenses (i.e., entity pays the presenter directly)

In return, the entity will receive one or more of a variety of benefits, to be determined soon. Examples of possible benefits include:

Inclusion in Summit print marketing as a major Summit supporter
Complimentary registration(s)
Feature in MPRA's magazine
Feature in MPRA's website
Ribbon on Summit name badge
Certificate or plaque
Name/logo on Summit calendar
Free exhibit booth
A special item of clothing that features the Summit (with entity's name included)

IMBA Trail Crew

.... may be coming to Columbia in conjunction with the Summit! Thanks to Jessica Terrell for wrangling that.

What next?

Next meeting: Monday, March 28, 10:00 - 2:00, MPRA office
Keynote speaker suggestions: Send to Paula - you can also offer your suggestion in the comment suggestion for this post.
Session ideas: Add to the comments in the SESSION IDEAS post.
Trail photos: Be looking for you favorite trail photos to submit. More info later on what format we'll need and to whom to send them - but start looking now!

MONDAY MEMO: JANUARY 31

2005-01-31T09:42:00.000-08:00

2005 Summit Planning Meeting

Date: Monday, February 7
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Site: MPRA office, 2018 William Street, JCMO 65109

Please bring your lunch. The MPRA office has available a microwave, refrigerator, toaster. MPRA will provide iced tea and coffee.

Before-the-meeting tasks (whether or not you come to the meeting)

Please consider theme ideas for the 2005 Summit. You can send your ideas to me before the meeting or - preferably - submit them to the Comment link at the "THEME IDEAS" post on the blog. That way, everyone can look at them at their convenience. Please submit ideas by Friday, February 4.
Please consider session ideas. Ditto above re: how to send them, via the SESSION IDEAS post. I've attached the overall conference eval for the 2004 Summit to help you. This gives us a head start on 2005 sessions.
Who (i.e., what constituency or group) should be invited to the planning-committee table who wasn't involved last year? Please let me know your thoughts.

Agenda

Decision: 2005 Summit theme (everyone)
Information: Expense/revenue report for 2004 Summit (Paula)
Information and discussion: Draft budget for 2005 Summit (Paula)
Decision: Who are "partners," "supporters," and/or "sponsors;" what are the quids pro quo for same; ... or is this a non-issue? (everyone)
Decision: What will the 2005 Summit "skeleton" look like? - Three session tracks? When to start on Thursday? Have a keynote? Roundtable? Saturday parameters as to time, audience, etc.? In other words, draw a picture of the overall conference structure. (everyone)
Information and discussion: First pass at session considerations and review. (everyone)
Decision: Next steps: Who will do what by when? (everyone)
Discussion: For our niche groups, e.g., equestrian - a small-group meeting before, during or immediately after the main meeting to create a Saturday program.

American Trails

Our 2005 Missouri Trail Summit is listed on the American Trails' website calendar.

Please feel free to get it added to other calendars.

SESSION IDEAS

2005-01-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

See that Comment link in the bottom, right-hand corner of this post?

Using the comment link, please offer session ideas for the 2005 Missouri Trail Summit. Let your ideas be prolific! There cannot be too many ideas at this juncture.

To help the creative juices, planning group members should have a copy of the overall conference evaluation for 2004.

2005 THEME IDEAS

2005-01-26T12:24:00.000-08:00

See that Comment link in the bottom, right-hand corner of this post?

Using the comment link, please offer your theme ideas for the 2005 Missouri Trail Summit. Enter as many as you like. Piggy-back on others' ideas. This is just brainstorming at this point, so be as daring or outrageous as you want. Well, no profanity.

Deadline for comments: Friday, February 6.

The 2004 theme was: Dreaming, Building, Using and Managing.

MONDAY MEMO: JANUARY 24

2005-01-24T12:03:00.000-08:00

Where to have the 2005 Missouri Trail Summit?

Columbia is again the place to be! Confirmation of the site location forthcoming.

When?

Thursday through Saturday, October 27-29.

Oh ... Saturday again?

Yes, but with a difference. Thursday and Friday will be devoted primarily to professionals with an interest in trails, while Saturday will be for trail volunteers and enthusiasts.

We'll start on Thursday earlier than last year, and it will be the first day of the conference, rather than the pre-conference.

Any thoughts yet about 2006?

Yes! The 2006 Missouri Trail Summit will be in Kansas City.

MONDAY MEMO: DECEMBER 6

2004-12-06T13:36:00.000-08:00

2004 SUMMIT HANDOUTS

.... are being placed on the Missouri Trail Summit page on the MPRA website! Look and see!

If you haven't already sent in your powerpoint or handouts, please do so at your earliest convenience.

MONDAY MEMO: NOVEMBER 22

2004-11-22T07:17:00.000-08:00

NOVEMBER 1 MEETING

Some thoughts for 2005 Missouri Trail Summit discussed:

Exhibitor logos in program
A "name" keynote speaker
Get presenters to send handouts/outlines to MPRA in advance (for inclusion in a binder, folder or a CD at conference check-in for registrants)
Have a dedicated a/v person to work the conference
Half-hour breaks between sessions to facilitate networking
Start conference on Thursday afternoon (rather than have this be just pre-conference)
Repeat some sessions during conference
Do off-sites again
Have the social on Thursday evening
Do a lunch together (rather than box lunch-and-scatter)
Offer a "poster session"
Keep same-size registration booklet as used for 2004 (but put registration forms in the front)

2005 Trail Summit site:

Based on responses from registrants and input from the planning committee, the group is looking at:

Central Missouri, specifically the Lake of the Ozarks, Columbia, or Sedalia (Paula Diller investigating Lake of the Ozarks; Marsha Copeland investigating Sedalia)
St. Charles area (Terry Whaley investigating)
St. Louis area (Dan Cross investigating back-up alternatives to St. Charles)

In making a final decision, the planning group will consider the following features of potential sites:

Ease of travel access for prospective Summit attendees
Local trail diversity, i.e. surfacing, users, location, the trails' land managers
Level of interest and support by local land managers and advocacy groups/agencies in the area

MONDAY MEMO: OCTOBER 25

2004-10-25T07:37:00.000-07:00

NEXT MEETING

Date: Monday, November 1
Time: 10:00 - noon
Location: In Lebanon: State Parks District Office at 2390 S. Jefferson, 65536. Please see Rand McNally for directions from your starting point.
Purpose: Evaluate 2004 Summit in Columbia; begin to look toward 2005 Summit

If you have not yet let me know if you will/will not be at this meeting, please do let me know at your earliest opportunity so Erika can be sure to reserve the right-sized room. Currently, I expect about 10 people.

INDIVIDUAL SESSION EVALUATIONS

I'll be sending individual session evaluations of the 2004 MTS to the presenters as I complete them.

SITE FOR 2005?

In preparation for the November 1 meeting, please consider where the next Trail Summit in Missouri might be. I'm thinking of the following criteria - maybe you've got some you'd like to add:

Facility that can accommodate up to 200 attendees in at least three break-out rooms + exhibit space. Creativity in defining break-out "rooms" OK, as long as they're protected from the elements, have electrical power for presentation technology, and sessions not hampered by ambient noise. (Exhibit space does not have to be in enclosed room, but does need to be protected from rain.)
In area with a mix of trail types nearby, preferably including water.
Access to shuttle buses or vans for transport to/from trails
Active local user groups and providers (e.g. equestrian, cycling, ATV, hiking)
Economical lodging (not necessarily limited to a hotel - cabins and/or lodge possibly attractive)
Interesting site to host a social (that will allow service of alcohol)
Site is relatively close to a 4-lane highway

I'm thinking if we come up with three possiblities at the November meeting, some of us could check them out in the next couple of months before the group makes a final decision in January or February.

Another criterion might be relative proximity to an airport or another state, given the fact that next year will be an "off" year for the American Trails Symposium.

MONDAY MEMO: OCTOBER 18

2004-10-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

FINAL TALLY OF REGISTRATIONS

138

TOTAL ON SILENT AUCTION

$437!

That's $216 each for the Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and the ARC's Youth Scholarship Fund.

Thank you to all who bid on and won items at the silent auction. Please see Le Denouement for the list of item donors.

THANKS TO THE ARC IN COLUMBIA

... for serving as site host for the first Missouri Trail Summit!

SITE FOR 2005?

In preparation for the November 1 meeting, please consider where the next Trail Summit in Missouri might be. I'm thinking of the following criteria - maybe you've got some you'd like to add:

Facility that can accommodate up to 200 attendees in at least three break-out rooms + exhibit space. Creativity in defining break-out "rooms" OK, as long as they're protected from the elements, have electrical power for presentation technology, and sessions not hampered by ambient noise. (Exhibit space does not have to be in enclosed room, but does need to be protected from rain.)
In area with a mix of trail types nearby, preferably including water.
Access to shuttle buses or vans for transport to/from trails
Active local user groups and providers (e.g. equestrian, cycling, ATV, hiking)
Economical lodging (not necessarily limited to a hotel - cabins and/or lodge possibly attractive)
Interesting site to host a social (that will allow service of alcohol)
Site is relatively close to a 4-lane highway

Another criterion might be relative proximity to an airport or another state, given the fact that next year will be an "off" year for the American Trails Symposium.

TRAIL MAINTENANCE SITE ~ KANSAS CITY

Check out Earn Your Dirt, a trail maintenance information site in the KC area. The motto is: "Good trails don't build themselves." Earn Your Dirt also has a new hotline about work day updates.

Reports Ken Miner: The number is set up to allow people to call in to receive up to the minute updates on the next scheduled trail maintenance days. The Trail Stewards for the upcoming TM days will use this number to provide updates to the schedule based on weather conditions, etc. The basic idea is that we can all check this number to determine if a TM day is off or on. An example of how this will work:

A Trail maintenance day is posted and scheduled for a Saturday.
The weather leading in to the trail maintenance day is perfect and the voice mail on the Hotline indicates that all systems are go!
Friday night before the TM, a huge ice storm hits, making the trails a dangerous place to be walking.
The Trail Steward for the trail system updates the voice mail, indicating that due to the ice storm, the trail maintenance day is cancelled.
The volunteers wake up on Saturday morning, check the Hotline can stay safe and sound at home.

The phone number for 2004/2005 trail maintenance updates is: 816-377-3037.

Thanks to Caryn Giarratano for this info.

NEXT MEETING

It looks like Monday, November 1 is still the date for the post-Summit meeting. Unfortunately, not everyone will be able to attend, but it's the best date for most.

Date: Monday, November 1
Time: 10:00 - noon
Location: In Lebanon: State Parks District Office at 2390 S. Jefferson, 65536. Please see Rand McNally for directions from your starting point.
Purpose: Evaluate 2004 Summit in Columbia; begin to look toward 2005 Summit

HOMELAND SECURITY?

Has anyone ever considered the role that off-road trails might play in homeland security plans? Or a network of trail user groups? Might make for an interesting session at the next Trail Summit.

LE DENOUEMENT

2004-10-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

PRESERVING PRESENTATIONS ONLINE

MPRA will attempt to place as many of the Summit presentations online as possible. Toward this end, will you do one or more of the following:

Email me your presentation, whether it be powerpoint or a doc
Ask the presenters in the sessions you coordinated to email their presentations (assuming permission, of course)
Provide a URL at which your or other presentations can be found, so we can link to it

FINAL TALLY OF REGISTRATIONS

Forthcoming.

TOTAL ON SILENT AUCTION

Forthcoming.

The proceeds from the Missouri Trail Summit's silent auction will go to the Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and the Youth Scholarship Fund for the ARC.

Thanks again to those who donated items to the silent auction:

Alpine Shop
Bass Pro Shops
Clover’s Natural Market
Enjoy the Journey LLC
I.B. Nuts and Fruit Too
International Mountain Bicycling Association
Laura Vonk (Missouri Trail Blazing) and the Missouri Equine Council
Mark Hohengasser and MFA, Inc.
Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Missouri Park and Recreation Association
Procycle
Runge Nature Center (MDC)
Tread Lightly!
Try Athletics
Walt’s Bike and Fitness

THANKS TO THOSE WHO HELPED MAKE THE SOCIAL GREAT

Tanya Clatterbuck and family and friends and Cedar Valley Riders Saddle Club for the horseback riding, the tent-raisin' and the munchies
Flat Branch Pub & Brewery for the donation of beer
State Farm for the free loan of their tent
DNR staff at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - and the DNR staff from other sites who volunteered
Charles McKenzie, who mastered the silent auction ceremonies
Jessica Terrell, who coordinated it all, including seeking silent auction donations
Marchia Monroe and Kim Schmidt, MPRA, who gave of their time to the social
To Cycle Xtreme, who was ready to lead and provision the mountain bike activity had not rain intervened

NEXT MEETING

November 1 is the date the group agreed upon at our last meeting, but I've since heard rumblings about the convenience of same. Please let me know by the close of business Friday if you will or will not be able to attend on this date.

Date: Monday, November 1
Time: 10:00 - noon
Location: In Lebanon: State Parks District Office at 2390 S. Jefferson, 65536. Please see Rand McNally for directions from your starting point.
Purpose: Evaluate 2004 Summit in Columbia; begin to look toward 2005 Summit

HOMELAND SECURITY?

Has anyone ever heard of the role that off-road trails might play in homeland security plans? Might make for an interesting session at the next Trail Summit.

AFTER THE SUMMIT

2004-10-11T06:02:00.000-07:00

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

TUESDAY MEMO: OCTOBER 5

2004-10-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

REGISTRATIONS THUS FAR

Total number of people: 115

SESSION SPECIFICS

If you haven't done so already, please share the individual session numbers with the presenters in the sessions you coordinated.

Thursday

Roundtable: 18
Hike: Rock Bridge: 25
Ride: MKT/Katy Trail: 12

Friday

Urban Transportation: 28
Trail Construction: 41
Trail Liability: 26
Creating Dream Team: 34
Trail Design: 33
Water/Erosion: 29
Making Case: 47
Dozers/Paved stones: 27
Volunteer Patrol: 22
Funding: 42
Accessibility: 26
Conflict: 26

Saturday

Equestrian: 15
UTAP: 13
Trailside Amenities: 13
Leave No Trace: 10
Building Better Trails: 10

KEYNOTE SESSION ON FRIDAY MORNING 8:30 A.M.

Conference opening: Jodie Adams, MPRA president
Introduction of keynote speaker: Stephen Mahfood, DNR director
Keynote speaker: Mayor Darwin Hindman, Columbia

Mayor Darwin Hindman will speak on: Trails: Pathways to Your Community's Economic, Social, Mental and Physical Health.

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT TO FILL IN GAPS

Need volunteers for:

Friday Trail Mix Social: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.: Greeters and "event herders" - need two people total.
Friday Trail Mix Social: 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.: Bartenders - need one person.
Saturday: Need room hosts for sessions: Three people needed. If you're attending a Saturday session, this would be an easy job to do for the session you're attending anyway. Please let me know if you can help out - thanks!

THURSDAY ROUNDTABLE

If you aren't on my Roundtable observer list by 2:00 p.m. Wednesday: No soup for you! You can still come if there's room - but no whining allowed as you scrounge for lunch on your own.

ATV SAFETY COURSE CANCELLED

... due to insufficient registration.

ROUTE FROM MAINE TO FLORIDA

See this article in USA Today: Urban Greenway: An Alternate Route From Maine to Florida. About the East Coast Greenway.

MONDAY MEMO: OCTOBER 4

2004-10-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

ROUNDTABLE

I have the following individuals listed as Roundtable observers. If you are NOT on the observer list and wanted to be, please let me know ASAP so I can ensure an accurate lunch count on Thursday:

Chris Buckland
Erika Jacques
Eldon Kreisel
Brad Timmel

STUFFERS FOR CONFERENCE BAGS

If you've got items you want stuffed into the conference bags in advance, please hand-deliver them to me at the MPRA office by 4:00 p.m. Tuesday.

If necessary, and you are out of the JC area, you can also overnight them to me for arrival Wednesday.

REGISTRATIONS THUS FAR

Total number of people: 111

SESSION SPECIFICS

PLEASE SHARE THE INDIVIDUAL SESSION NUMBERS WITH THE PRESENTERS IN THE SESSIONS YOU COORDINATED.

Thursday

Roundtable: 18
Hike: Rock Bridge: 24
Ride: MKT/Katy Trail: 12

Friday

Urban Transportation: 27
Trail Construction: 40
Trail Liability: 26
Creating Dream Team: 34
Trail Design: 31
Water/Erosion: 29
Making Case: 46
Dozers/Paved stones: 26
Volunteer Patrol: 22
Funding: 41
Accessibility: 25
Conflict: 26

Saturday

Equestrian: 14
UTAP: 12
Trailside Amenities: 12
Leave No Trace: 9
Building Better Trails: 10

HIGHLIGHT: KEYNOTE SPEAKER ON FRIDAY MORNING 8:30 A.M.

Darwin Hindman, mayor of Columbia, is the keynote speaker on: Trails: Pathways to Your Community's Economic, Social, Mental and Physical Health.

Dave Ostlund, MPRA executive director, will "open" the conference. Another individual will introduce Mayor Hindman.

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT TO FILL IN GAPS

Need volunteers for:

Friday Trail Mix Social: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.: Greeters and "event herders" - need two people total.
Friday Trail Mix Social: 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.: Bartenders - need one person.
Saturday: Need room hosts for sessions: Three people needed. If you're attending a Saturday session, this would be an easy job to do for the session you're attending anyway.

Please let me know if you can help out - thanks!

EXHIBITORS THUS FAR

As of this date, the following have completed and sent in exhibitor applications:
No More Trash! Program, Missouri Department of Conservation
Show Me Missouri Back Country Horsemen
Missouri Equine Council
Mark Twain National Forest (This link has a pic of Nancy Feakes)
Division of State Parks
Division of State Parks - Grants Management Section
State Farm Insurance
Fry & Associates
City of Columbia Volunteer Services

Even if your group qualifies for a free exhibit, you must still send in an exhibitor application. We need to have this information in order to make informed decisions about placement and space needs.

NEXT PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING (POST-SUMMIT)

Date: Monday, November 1
Time: 10:00 - noon
Location: In Lebanon: State Parks District Office at 2390 S. Jefferson, 65536. Please see Rand McNally for directions from your starting point.
Purpose: Evaluate 2004 Summit in Columbia; begin to look toward 2005 Summit

Please let me know if you intend to come to this meeting so that we can schedule an appropriately sized room.

FRIDAY MEMO: OCTOBER 1

2004-10-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

REGISTRATIONS THUS FAR

Thursday only: 6
Friday only: 40
Saturday only: 3
Friday & Saturday: 14
All three days: 36
Total number of people: 99

SESSION SPECIFICS

Thursday Roundtable: 18 participants
Thursday Hike: Rock Bridge: 22
Thursday Walk: Columbia: CANCELLED: REGISTRANTS INVITED TO SWITCH TO HIKE OR RIDE
Thursday Ride: MKT/Katy Trail: 12
Urban Transportation: 26
Trail Construction: 36
Trail Liability: 21
Creating Dream Team: 30
Trail Design: 26
Water/Erosion: 28
Making Case: 39
Dozers/Paved stones: 25
Volunteer Patrol: 20
Funding: 38
Accessibility: 23
Conflict: 21
Saturday Equestrian: 12
Saturday UTAP: 11
Saturday Trailside Amenities: 12
Saturday Leave No Trace: 9
Saturday Building Better Trails: 9

HIGHLIGHT: KEYNOTE SPEAKER ON FRIDAY MORNING 8:30 A.M.

Darwin Hindman, mayor of Columbia, is the keynote speaker on: Trails: Pathways to Your Community's Economic, Social, Mental and Physical Health.

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT TO FILL IN GAPS

DNR and MPRA staff have done a great job in filling volunteer/staff slots for the Summit. Here are some gaps where I seek volunteers from the planning committee:

Friday Trail Mix Social: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.: Greeters and "event herders" - need two people total.
Friday Trail Mix Social: 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.: Bartenders - need two people total.
Saturday: Need room hosts for sessions: Three people needed. If you're attending a Saturday session, this would be an easy job to do for the session you're attending anyway.

Please let me know if you can help out - thanks!

LAST CALL: AGENCIES AND ORGS WHO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS ... A REQUEST

What programs and processes do you offer to groups and individuals who wish to volunteer to help build, repair and/or maintain trails? Send your information to: Tanya Clatterbuck.

Please be as specific in your reponses, i.e. providing contact names, addresses, etc. , along with any volunteer program names, and criteria for volunteering. Tanya and her workshop colleagues will share this information at the Equestrian Workshop on Saturday.

I've put Tanya's contact information in the 10/1/04 email that presented this Memo to you.

THURSDAY BIKE RIDE REPORT

Registrants who signed up for the Thursday (10/7) bike ride were called Thursday morning (9/30) by MPRA staff to find out if they're bringing their own bikes; measurements if not; need for helmet, etc. If you have a message from the MPRA office re: same and have not yet made contact, will you please do so today? You may call Marchia at 573-636-3828.

PRESENTER HANDOUTS

If you want MPRA to photocopy handouts for your sessions, please have the originals (via email or snail mail) to me by close of business Monday, October 4. Fax is OK in a pinch, but obviously the quality won't be great.

TRANSPORTATION REPORT

We think we've got a good handle on transportation, but things will vary depending on needs and numbers identified on Friday.

In the case of unanticipated overflows for our planned shuttles, it would be helpful to know who is willing to let people carpool with them to/from an event. Please let me know.

FRIDAY LUNCH

Box lunches will be catered by Jack's Gourmet Restaurant. Vegetarian will be available.

KANSAS CITY STAR

Look for an editorial about the Summit in Monday's KC Star. Author: Yael Abouhalkah.

EXHIBITORS THUS FAR

As of this date, the following have completed and sent in exhibitor applications:

No More Trash! Program, Missouri Department of Conservation
Show Me Missouri Back Country Horsemen
Missouri Equine Council
Mark Twain National Forest (This link has a pic of Nancy Feakes)
Division of State Parks
Division of State Parks - Grants Management Section
State Farm Insurance
Fry & Associates
City of Columbia Volunteer Services

Even if your group qualifies for a free exhibit, you must still send in an exhibitor application. We need to have this information in order to make informed decisions about placement and space needs.

THANKS

Choose Environmental Excellence Gateway Region for posting the Summit on its calendar.
Leigh Nutter, City of Columbia, for promoting the Summit in the Park Patrol newsletter.

NEXT PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING (POST-SUMMIT)

Date: Monday, November 1
Time: 10:00 - noon
Location: In Lebanon: State Parks District Office at 2390 S. Jefferson, 65536. Please see Rand McNally for directions from your starting point.
Purpose: Evaluate 2004 Summit in Columbia; begin to look toward 2005 Summit

Please let me know if you intend to come to this meeting so that we can schedule an appropriately sized room.

WEDNESDAY MEMO: SEPTEMBER 29

2004-09-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

REGISTRATIONS THUS FAR

Thursday only: 4
Friday only: 49
Saturday only: 13
Multiple days: 33
Total number of people: 93

SOME SPECIFIC REGISTRATIONS

Thursday Hike: Rock Bridge: 18
Thursday Walk: Columbia: CANCELLED: REGISTRANTS INVITED TO SWITCH TO HIKE OR RIDE
Thursday Ride: MKT/Katy Trail: 12
Saturday Equestrian: 11
Saturday UTAP: 9
Saturday Trailside Amenities: 11
Saturday Leave No Trace: 8
Saturday Building Better Trails: 8

AGENCIES AND ORGS WHO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS ... A REQUEST

Looking for volunteers to help build, repair and/or maintain trails that are used by equestrians? Tanya Clatterbuck requests from the agencies and organizations the following information:
What programs and processes do you offer to groups and individuals who wish to volunteer to help build, repair and/or maintain trails? Please be as specific in your reponses, i.e. providing contact names, addresses, etc. , along with any volunteer program names, and criteria for volunteering.

Tanya and her workshop colleagues will share this information at the Equestrian Workshop on Saturday.

I've put Tanya's contact information in the 9/29/04 email that presented this Monday Memo to you.

THURSDAY BIKE RIDE REPORT

Registrants who signed up for the Thursday (10/7) bike ride will be called Thursday morning (9/30) by MPRA staff to find out if they're bringing their own bikes; measurements if not; need for helmet, etc.

PRESENTER HANDOUTS

If you want MPRA to photocopy handouts for your sessions, please have the originals (via email or snail mail) to me by close of business Monday, October 4. Fax is OK in a pinch, but obviously the quality won't be great.

VOLUNTEER REPORT

A more complete report on this will be available this Friday. There will likely be a few places where we'll ask for assistance from Summit planning committee members. Nothing onerous.

TRANSPORTATION REPORT

A complete report will be available this Friday.

PRESENTATION AIDS REPORT

Laptops and projectors

At the last meeting, we decided to have available a projector for each classroom. Here is the status:

Laptop and projector: Department of Conservation (Teresa Kight) (for Thursday, Friday and Saturday)
Laptop and projector: Division of State Parks (Erika Jaques) (for Thursday, Friday and Saturday)
Laptop and projector: USFS (Nancy Feakes) (for Thursday, Friday and Saturday)
PC and projector: ARC (back-up for Thursday, Friday + for use on Saturday)
Laptop and projector: Pending source (back-up for Friday + for use on Saturday)

TV/VCR

TV + VCR + DVD: ARC (for Thursday, Friday and Saturday)
TV + VCR: MPRA (for Thursday, Friday and Saturday)

Flipchart easels and paper

All paper pads + markers provided by MPRA.

Flipchart easels (2): MPRA
Flipchart easels (3): ARC

Signage easels

Easels for classroom signage, etc. (6): ARC

STATUS ON ATV SAFETY COURSE (ATV SAFETY INSTITUTE)

Enrollment for this course will be opened up to the general public by the ATV Safety Institute if there aren't a minimum number of registrations by a certain date. Unknown at this time if the Institute has already done so.

STONEY CREEK INN

Rooms specifically set aside for the Summit are gone. Government employees who wish to book a room at Stoney Creek Inn should still call there for a comparable government rate.

A back-up hotel for people who inquire:

Days Inn
1900 I 70 Drive
Columbia, MO 65203
573-445-8511

The Days Inn is about a mile from the ARC, is at the intersection (more or less) of Interstate 70 and Stadium, next to Columbia Mall. I have not called the hotel to make any special arrangements; their rates as per travelocity.com are economical.

EXHIBITORS THUS FAR

As of this date, the following have completed and sent in exhibitor applications:

No More Trash! Program, Missouri Department of Conservation
Show Me Missouri Back Country Horsemen
Missouri Equine Council
Mark Twain National Forest (This link has a pic of Nancy Feakes)
Division of State Parks
Division of State Parks - Grants Management Section
State Farm Insurance
Fry & Associates

Even if your group qualifies for a free exhibit, you must still send in an exhibitor application. We need to have this information in order to make informed decisions about placement and space needs.

AWARD NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR TRAIL ADVOCATES AND WORKERS

No one from Missouri was nominated for the "Trail Advocacy" and "Trail Worker" awards to be given in October at the National Trails Symposium. The American Trails Board decided yesterday to ask states who have not sent in nominations one more time, and to let you know the deadline has been extended until October 4. See the details here. With this simple and quick process you personally can insure that one award will be given for your state in these two categories.

Trail Advocacy Award: Nominee(s) must have demonstrated successful efforts to influence public policy relating to trail planning, trail protection, trail development, or maintenance.

Trail Worker Award: Nominee must have made outstanding contributions and provided consistent support for trail planning, development, or maintenance. This award is intended to recognize the commitment and efforts of a private or public sector individual in working for enhanced trail recreation in their local area or state.

Only the Trail Advocacy and Trail Worker awards are still open; nominations for all other categories have closed. If you have questions, please contact American Trails at symposium@AmericanTrails.org or call (530) 547-2060.

Thanks to Erika Jacques for the information.

MONDAY MEMO: SEPTEMBER 20

2004-09-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

REGISTRATIONS THUS FAR

Thursday only: 4
Friday only: 38
Saturday only: 7
Multiple days: 34
Total number of people: 78

SOME SPECIFIC REGISTRATIONS

Thursday Hike: Rock Bridge: 16
Thursday Walk: Columbia: 7
Thursday Ride: MKT/Katy Trail: 10
Saturday Equestrian: 9
Saturday UTAP: 8
Saturday Trailside Amenities: 11
Saturday Leave No Trace: 8
Saturday Building Better Trails: 7

EQUESTRIAN ... A REQUEST

Tanya Clatterbuck requests from the agencies and organizations the following information:

What programs and processes do you offer to groups and individuals who wish to volunteer to help build, repair and/or maintain trails? Please be as specific in your reponses, i.e. providing contact names, addresses, etc. , along with any volunteer program names, and criteria for volunteering.

Tanya and her workshop colleagues will share this information at the Equestrian Workshop on Saturday.

I've put Tanya's contact information in the 9/20/04 email that presented this Monday Memo to you.

SUMMIT WORKERS: REPORT

Jessica Terrell and I met Thursday to review our worker needs. By this writing, she and Erika will have put out an invitation to DNR staff to volunteer to help. MPRA staff will be there. Next week, I'll invite planning committee members to help fill in specific gaps.

TRANSPORTATION: REPORT

We have two (and three, if necessary) DNR vans for shuttling to/from various events. Erika Jacques and Chris Buckland will be drivers. We'll know more about our needs closer to the event.

PRESENTATION AIDS: REPORT

Laptops and projectors

At the last meeting, we decided to have available a projector for each classroom. Planning committee members have offered the following:

Laptop and projector: Department of Conservation (Teresa Kight)
Laptop and projector: Division of State Parks (Erika Jaques)
Laptop and projector: USFS (Nancy Feakes)

TV/VCR. This will be available via the ARC or MPRA.

Flipchart paper and markers. MPRA will bring ample supplies.

Flipchart easels. MPRA has two easels. I'll check with the ARC regarding its supply.

DECISION ON SATURDAY'S NOHVCC SESSION:

This session has been cancelled; registration numbers for this session did not meet the minimum requirements.

DECISION ON TREAD LIGHTLY! COURSE:

Per the online information, it appears only one person has registered for this course. Unofficially, please consider that this course has been cancelled.

STATUS ON ATV SAFETY COURSE (ATV SAFETY INSTITUTE):

Enrollment for this course will be opened up to the general public by the ATV Safety Institute if there aren't a minimum number of registrations by a certain date. Unknown at this time if the Institute has already done so.

ROOM BLOCK AT STONEY CREEK INN

Rooms specifically set aside for the Summit are gone.

Government employees who wish to book a room at Stoney Creek Inn should still call there for a comparable government rate.

A back-up hotel for people who inquire:
Days Inn
1900 I 70 Drive
Columbia, MO 65203
573-445-8511

The Days Inn is about a mile from the ARC, is at the intersection (more or less) of Interstate 70 and Stadium, next to Columbia Mall. I have not called the hotel to make any special arrangements; their rates as per travelocity.com are economical.

EXHIBITORS THUS FAR

As of this date, the following have completed and sent in exhibitor applications:

No More Trash! Program, Missouri Department of Conservation
Show Me Missouri Back Country Horsemen
Missouri Equine Council
Mark Twain National Forest (This link has a pic of Nancy Feakes)
Division of State Parks
Division of State Parks - Grants Management Section
State Farm Insurance
Fry & Associates

Even if your group qualifies for a free exhibit, you must still send in an exhibitor application. We need to have this information in order to make informed decisions about placement and space needs.

NEXT PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING (POST-SUMMIT)

Date: Monday, November 1
Time: 10:00 - noon
Location: In Lebanon: State Parks District Office at 2390 S. Jefferson, 65536. Please see Rand McNally for directions from your starting point.
Purpose: Evaluate 2004 Summit in Columbia; begin to look toward 2005 Summit

Please let me know if you intend to come to this meeting so that we can schedule an appropriately sized room.

MONDAY MEMO: SEPTEMBER 13

2004-09-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

NEXT PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING (POST-SUMMIT)

Date: Monday, November 1
Time: 10:00 - noon
Location: In Lebanon: State Parks District Office at 2390 S. Jefferson, 65536. Please see Rand McNally for directions from your starting point.
Purpose: Evaluate 2004 Summit in Columbia; begin to look toward 2005 Summit

Please let me know if you intend to come to this meeting so that we can schedule an appropriately sized room.

SILENT AUCTION ITEMS

Contributed by Jessica Terrell

As of now I have 13 items confirmed for the silent auction to be held at the Trail Mix social on October 8th. I wanted to open up the invitation to include all members of the planning committee as well. DNR, MDC, MEC, Laura Vonk, and MPRA have all committed to a donation, and the rest of you are welcome to provide something as well, if you should choose. If you would like to donate, give me a call at 573/751-5359 and we can make arrangements for it. I feel comfortable with the number of items we've received so far, so it's not a big deal if you choose not to donate. Thanks!

[As a reminder, proceeds from the silent auction go to: Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and the ARC's youth scholarship fund.]

SUMMIT WORKERS

Jessica and I will be meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) to finalize the numbers and responsibilities we have for people to work the Summit. We'll be drawing from MPRA staff, planning committee members, DNR folks, etc. to help the Summit run as smoothly as possible for our attendees (and ourselves).

We'll let you know where we've got gaps that you might be able to help fill.

STONEY CREEK INN SHUTTLE

Contributed by Erika Jacques

Stoney Creek has a shuttle service but they primarily use it to shuttle guests to the airport. Sounds like they would be amenable to making a trip or two to Rock Bridge for our Friday night social. They [need] to know the # of people and times at least one week in advance. ... I'm going to ... schedule at least one shuttle trip by them, leaving the hotel at 4:15 p.m. and returning to the hotel at 10 p.m.

ROOM BLOCK AT STONEY CREEK INN

There are five rooms available til this Friday at the reduced rate of $64 per night. Seventeen were booked by the September 7 deadline. The hotel has allocated five more for us.

NOTE: Government employees should still call Stoney Creek for their government rate, which will be comparable to those I placed in the block. There are still rooms available - just not more than five at the Summit rate.

REGISTRATIONS

Thursday only: 1
Friday only: 18
Saturday only: 4
Equestrian only: 4
Multiple days: 21
Total number of people: 42

[For Teresa of you - wait, no, I mean for those of you counting - the "total number of people" will not equal the individual tallies that precede it.]

EXHIBITORS

As of this date, the following have completed and sent in exhibitor applications:

No More Trash! Program, Missouri Department of Conservation
Show Me Missouri Back Country Horsemen
Missouri Equine Council
Mark Twain National Forest (This link has a pic of Nancy Feakes)
Division of State Parks
State Farm Insurance

Even if your group qualifies for a free exhibit, you must still send in an exhibitor application. We need to have this information in order to make informed decisions about placement and space needs.

NEW SPONSORS

Fry & Associates (will also exhibit)

MONDAY MEMO: SEPTEMBER 6

2004-09-06T15:18:00.000-07:00

WELCOME TO THE MISSOURI TRAIL SUMMIT BLOG

I've moved the Monday Memo here. Welcome. Poke around. I see the blog as a useful tool for planning activities for the 2005 Missouri Trail Summit and perhaps as the seed for any state-wide trails collaboration that might come of the 2004 Summit.

If your trail-related organization isn't linked on the blog yet, it is not because you are unloved. What you see here is just a start so people can see how it can look.

Do you want to be a Missouri Trail Summit blog contributor? If so, let me know and I'll get you signed up. It's easy. You can write your own trail-related announcements, add links, etc.

NEXT PLANNING MEETING:

Date: Friday, September 10
Time: 10:00 - 2:00
Where: MPRA office, 2018 William Street, Jefferson City 65109
Lunch: Bring your own (refrigerator, microwave and ice available)
Refreshments: Provided

Agenda:

Logistical status: A/V, transportation, check-in, "Summit guides," food/drink, etc.
Decision-making: Keep, cancel or wait-and-see-a-bit-longer re: minimum-attendance sessions, depending on registrations - Paula will bring attendance stats to meeting for these sessions (e.g. NOHVCC)
Loose ends: What are we forgetting?

REGISTRATION STATUS

Thursday only: 1
Friday only: 9
Saturday only: 4
Equestrian only: 3
Multiple days: 10

SESSION HAND-OUTS

Presenters who would like MPRA to photocopy their handouts should submit them to Paula by October 1. Email delivery preferred to: paula~at~mopark~dot~org. Alternatively, they may be mailed to Pzula at MPRA, 2018 William Street, Jefferson City, MO 65109.

THANK YOUs

To Missouri Equine Council for helping promote the Summit on their website and by mailing brochures

GRANT OPPORTUNITY FROM AMERICAN HIKING SOCIETY

American Hiking Society created the National Trails Fund in 1998, the only privately supported national grants program providing funding to grassroots organizations working toward establishing, protecting and maintaining foot trails in America.

National Trails Fund grants help give local organizations the resources they need to secure access, volunteers, tools and materials to protect America’s cherished public trails.

For 2005, American Hiking will distribute $20,000 in grants thanks to the generous support of Cascade Designs, the program’s Charter Sponsor. Awards range from $500 to $10,000 per project.

Go here to find out more about the grant.

Source of text above: American Hiking Society. Thank you Erika Jacques for the heads-up.

Family Fun Fest at the ARC in Columbia

This is an activity hosted by PedNet. Keynote presenter is Mark Fenton, a walkable communities advocate.
Date: Friday, September 10
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Thanks, Teresa Kight, for the info.

STATE TRAIL PLANS

2004-08-31T10:41:00.000-07:00

Iowa Trails 2000

SUMMIT PARTNERS

2004-08-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

The Missouri Trail Summit is produced by Missouri Park and Recreation Association in partnership with:

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Missouri Department of Conservation

Ozark Greenways, Inc.

Missouri Department of Transportation

National Park Service

Ozark Trails ATV Club

Columbia Parks and Recreation

Trailnet

Cedar Valley Riders Saddle Club

Missouri Parks Association

The Great Rivers Greenway District

U.S. Forest Service

Missouri Equine Council