The Next NEA meeting is on Feb 2nd

Where: Magnolia Library, Gloucester Massachusetts

When: Saturday February 2, 2013 from 10am to 3pm, please be on time, allow for winter weather.

Hosted by Mass Mudders. Directions: https://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=1+Le ... A&t=h&z=16

1 Lexington Ave, Gloucester, Ma 01930

Please post up if you are able to attend for us.
Thanks
Ernie

Ernie, i can go. I don't have any travel booked for that weekend. If something comes up, i will wotk around it. I just blocked my travel schedule for the weekend

Awesome thank you Bobby so much
any questions please let me know

Does anyone else plan on going?

I believe mike is attending too.

Cool. For anyone else thinking about going, its a great chance to learn more about what other clubs are working on as well as the NEA as an organization

I will be in my truck (blue 2008 Silverado crew) sporting the nexterra hoodie. Feel free to introduce yourself.

Yep, I'll be there tomorrow. See you in the morning, Bobby!

Cool, i am actually driving the Camry today. See you soon

My notes from the NEA meeting are as follows. Note that the meeting minutes are usually posted on the NEA4WD forum. Mike, if I missed something or noted something incorrectly please let me know.

NEXTerra Attendees: Mike C. and Bobby Q.

Voting was done for officers:
- Secretary: Pat C.
- President: Brian C.
- Executive VP: Jeremy
- VP of Environmental Affairs: Scott H.
- Treasurer: voting put off as Paul wasn’t in attendance

With the decreased number of meetings which will be held each year, online voting will become more commonplace.

Land Use:
- May be looking at doing a cut soon (GG)
- Land Owner (GG) is looking for more income; may want to look at doing pick-up runs (minimum of 3 trucks for safety reasons) on days which aren’t booked; trail is in good condition, though there are some issues with the loggers – ruts & brush piles.
- Rattlesnake Gutter owners were paid approximately $8.8 million by the Nature Conservancy to close the land to off-road vehicles; this is the type of up-hill battle we face.
- Possibly looking at leasing 300+ acres in Western MA
 Adjacent to State Forrest
 ~$5k/yr lease would require approximately 250 rigs/month to support. At $5k, it’s roughly $15/acre/yr, which is pretty close to the tax rate in the area; essentially, this lease would pay for the owners taxes.
 We (NEA) would need to provide insurance
- Proposal by the MAY meeting from the land use committee for the land lease.

Fall Crawl
- Will be held the Weekend after Labor Day
- BC will put out a budget online
- Attendance was down slightly last year, but income was roughly the same
- More info can be found on the NEA forum

Public Relations
- Access for All trailer can be utilized better – maybe use at local parades/events
- Possibly send a newsletter to local representatives to spread awareness; maybe publish in local papers?
- Look @ publishing good deeds in local papers (trail cleanups, fundraisers, etc).

Finances
- Dues Structure
 Dues structure will remain the same as last year
 Club Due Payments and member lists are due March 15th
- Operating budget for 2013 is roughly $6500; details on the NEA forum
- NEA is 501 C4, which means that donations are non-deductible. The reason for the C4 status is so that they can solicit legislation and work closely with local/town governing bodies. Organizations like Nature Conservancy are 501 C3 in which donations to are tax deductible; this is how they have access to much more cash-flow as people/organizations are much more apt to donate to a cause for which they get a tax write-off.
- My feeling is that the NEA could possibly look at forming a sub-corporation which is 501 C3 which could be used to generate donations; note that I am not a lawyer of any sort so I am unsure of the legality of this, but it could be a possibility.

Upcoming Regional Events
- Great American Jeep Rally
 September 14th in CT
 They are looking for volunteers to help out with the event
 Sponsorship is open - $150 minimum
- Go Topless Day
 May 18th
 OSJ (Ocean State Jeepsters – Rhode Island)

MAY 4TH is the next meeting in Winchendon, MA (near MA/VT/NH borders)

MASS MUDDERS SUBMITTED THEIR FORMAL WITHDRAWAL FROM THE NEA

Parting Thoughts:
I like going to these meetings as it gets me thinking about ways we can improve our own club as well as try to generate some cash-flow. For anyone interested in learning more, feel free to attend a future meeting.

Thanks for attending and posting the minutes, Bobby. I think you've covered everything.

Thank You both very much for attending
and for posting up