Aust 22 2019 Minutes

OHA Board Meeting Minutes

August 22, 2019

 

  1. Agenda – approved with addition of new Item 10) Rules proposal review

 

  1. Consent/Standing Items 
    1. Minutes of last meeting – approved without changes
    2. Review Planning Grid 
      1. Pull yellow star thistle – DONE by Lisa (very small patch in Plateau)
      2. Schedule fall vacc clinics – 2 already scheduled, one more (Ormond) to come. All clinics need to occur before planned Sept. 20 dental clinic
      3. Next Membership Dues are due on Sept 15, for all member types – Lisa will include in the Sept Announcements
      4. Update signatory on WF Bank Account – currently Cheryl “owns” the account because she opened it years ago. To change authorized signatories, all past/future signers must go to the bank in person. Voted/approved this matter to be taken up/completed by next Board following election, then signatories updated every two years.
    3. Pasture rotation schedule/upcoming herd moves 
      1. One thru-the-gates move to Plateau September 7, the day feeding begins. Erica and feeders to work out timing of move.
      2. Erica will provide a rotation schedule overview at the Annual Meeting

 

  1. Membership Issues 
    1. Associate Member Interview: Morgan Reichert for Larry/Cheryl.  
      1. Morgan has a riding-camp type background and has been working with Cheryl and Chris Ellsworth to improve his groundwork skills. Suggested he take gaited horse lesson(s) so he can better judge potential lameness. Approved unanimously
    2. Michael Barglow Riding Partner membership status appeal.
      1. Michael provided packets with appeal-supporting and rebuttal documents for review
      2. He feels that Riding Partner is too restrictive for him to learn to be a better member (not enough people ride during the week). He would like to know what else is required to change the situation/what would the Board like to see him do
      3. Board voted unanimously (with Lisa recused per Michael’s request) to maintain Riding Partner status for the remaining duration of the year, per Board’s original decision in May.
    3. Status of open spaces 
      1. On Aug 20 Membership Committee interviewed/approved Robin Cooper for probationary proprietary membership status. She will bring her mare Ruby in ASAP hoping to integrate her before feeding begins.
      2. Per Sarah, 3 proprietary membership slots remain unfilled.

 

  1. EBMUD Report 
    1. Capital Improvement Projects
      1. Swap of approved projects OK’d by EBMUD: rebuilding of wooden pump surround of Lower Pasture trough rather than replacing damaged trough in Upper Sullivan.
        1. Doug has volunteered to spearhead rebuild.
      2. 8/3 Work Party organized by Gary accomplished hay enclosures prep including Red and Pond barn clean-out, new gravel in Pav and Old stalls. THANK YOU TO ALL HARD WORKERS!!
        1. Alix volunteered to spread remaining gravel and remove bagged trash.
      3. Taj Painting project – some scraping accomplished at Work Party, but lots more to do. Lisa and Wakean to scope remaining work and recruit volunteers.
    2. Fire Break work team broke a pipe, fixed by Joe of EBMUD. Wakean will double-check the fix.

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report 
    1. Report on year-to-date actuals – Diane to forward report to Board members, prepare budget draft for Annual Meeting. Add line item for legal fees to 2019-2020 budget.
    2. Suggestion to place reserve funds into a CD for better return – punt to new Board to decide.

 

  1. Hay Purchase and Feeding Scheduling Updates 
    1. Red Barn hay delivered; Pond Bar hay delivery Friday 8/23. Doug and Bob to determine when USR and Lower deliveries will happen (pending completion of fire break work).
    2. Allison to open Feeding Schedule for input by members Sun. 8/25 at 8pm.

 

  1. Orinda Fire Break – Update
    1. Orinda Fire negotiating with EBMUD regarding how much brush to cut. Decision now is to cut 10’ in from tree drip lines OR 50’ in from Wildcat Cyn Road, depending on vegetation. 
    2. Evacuation plan = herd to congregate in Ring Pasture if evacuation is necessary, or shelter in place in Beer Can pasture. Linda is working with fire department on fleshing out an evac. plan for OHA
      1. Everyone on the pasture should have a “grab & go bag” in their car with extra water, food, essential medicine and clothes available just in case they need to shelter in place along with the horses.  If you are at the pasture when a fire starts, you may not be able to get home immediately.

 

  1. Projects 
    1. Dog leashes at Pavilion: becoming less of an issue, punt to next Board 

 

  1. General Membership Meeting Planning 
    1. Agenda developed by Heather approved
      1. Perhaps provide an explanation of what counts as a Cap. Improvement before the meeting. Also put out the list of Pasture Tasks for folks to consider
    2. Need to elect 4 new Board members – put out feelers to see who might be willing 
      1. Wakean, Lisa and Alix to continue on 2019-2020 Board
      2. Who will count votes? Ask new members Megan and Robin, since they cannot yet vote
    3. Ask Allison to give a tutorial on feeding for new members

 

  1. Proposed Rules Changes – 30-day comment period ended Aug 15
    1. Proposed change to Proprietary Membership Rule – no comments received, approved as revised:

Responsibilities of Proprietary Membership (a) Forms: Upon acceptance of an offered space and before receiving a key, the probationary member must sign a membership agreement and a liability form for each member of their immediate family that will be present at OHA, and will have paid bi-annual dues in full. The forms must be received by the Secretary or his/her designee and the Treasurer received dues payment in full prior to issuance of the key to the new member. Prior to placing a horse at OHA, the member will complete an OHA Horse Health form available on the OHA website. stating that the horse satisfies the basic health criteria set by OHA, and will provide a separate, written certification of good health from a licensed veterinarian (see Changes of Horses for details).

    1. Proposed addition of Safety Rule – three supporting comments, one add’l comment received and discussed. Board votes unanimously to adopted rule as written:
  1. XI) D) The safety and well being of all our horses and members is of primary importance. Many safe practices are outlined in the Procedures, and if not defined, a safe practice is assumed to be reasonable horse and pasture management as determined by majority of the Board. If a member willfully or repeatedly does not follow safe management practices, The Board shall determine that member to be in violation of the Rules.

NEXT MEETING DATE to be determined by new board following elections