Wayne said we have had
tremendous opportunities this past year for day
OPT Meeting Minutes
Sunday, 11/15/09
In attendance: Dan and Tish Seely, Roslin Snyder, Deb and Jr. Hester, Bob Primm, Steve and Judy Lyon,
Linda and Gene Munsell, Lynnett and James Smith, Bill Taber, Jeremy, Jessica and Brie Black, Richard
and Barbara McCart, Robert and Cobey Harris, Dwight and Lutda Rix, Kathy and Dale Walter, Sarah
and Wayne Eck, Curt and Teresa Burnam, Linda and Jerry Dunn.
James Smith, Sergeant of Arms, called the meeting to order. Wayne Eck, Director, introduced, and
welcomed back, Dwight and Lutda Rix. Dwight’s treatment for his Hepatitis was successful and he is
much better and ready to be active again. Also new is Roslin Snyder, from El Dorado. She has known
Wayne and Dan for quite some time and Dan recommended she come to the meeting today. This was
also the first meeting in a long time for lifetime members, Jeremy and Jessica Black, and their daughter,
Brie. It was good to see the Burnam’s back – they were new members last spring.
Wayne said we have had
tremendous opportunities this past year for day
trips, weekend trips, weekly dinners out and numerous parades and other
events. He hopes everyone has enjoyed the activities as much as he has.
He continued that the trip to Abilene was especially fun for him and Sarah.
They didn’t go early with the rest of the group because they waited
for Keith and Kathleen Lovell, from Stillwater, OK, to arrive on Saturday
morning. When they did go they got caught in the rain but were dry by the
time they arrived in Abilene. He said he is still learning about driving in
the rain and on wet pavement. He asked Kathy Walter what her and Dale’s
favorite part was and she said it was all fun but she especially enjoyed sitting outside the motel rooms at night,
visiting. It was during this time that she, Sarah and Kathleen went to the kid’s play area and played. Saturday
evening, Wayne and Bill took a Mennonite family, complete with hats and beards, who were eating at the
Brookville Hotel, for a ride around the parking lot and they had a lot of fun.
Tish Seely, Activities
Coordinator, talked about the Dexter Trip. Thirteen
trikes went and they were invited back for the second weekend of July 2010
for their parade. The parade ends at a retirement home and we would probably
give rides to the residents if that is something everyone wants to do. Those
interested should let Tish know. The numbers of people overwhelmed the
candy factory people and the people at the restaurant they went to later. Wayne
said it wasn’t the first time that has happened. It all works out and everyone has
a good time.
Wayne introduced Linda Dunn as Secretary to fill the remainder of the term for this coming year. She is replacing
Andrew Harris who was elected Secretary for 2009-2010, but has stepped down. Linda is also doing the website
and these two jobs are a good match. Linda asked that the group provide assistance if there are any meetings she
cannot attend and they assured her they would.
Bob Primm, Wednesday Night Dinner Coordinator, said that last week, he had tables reserved at a restaurant for the
group he thought would be there but several didn’t show up. In the future, if you are not going to go, please let Bob
know so he and the restaurant staff know how many to plan for.
Wayne asked for ideas of
what we wanted to do next year. Jessica Black asked if
anyone would be interested in going to her daughter’s (Brie) school to give rides.
Bri is nvolved in a school program called Circle of Friends for special needs kids.
They have activities during the evening. Tish advised her to check with the school on
insurance. Each triker has insurance for their trikes but that may not extend to someone
riding with them. Also, permission slips would have to be signed and all safety issues
addressed before this could be considered. They will talk at a future date.
Ideas for next year:
· Abilene again for those who want to go back or those who didn’t get to go or somewhere else?
· Go to a drive-in movie
· Go to garage sales on the trikes
· Ride to Ingersoll, OK to the Smoke Shack Bar-B-Q Restaurant.
· Atchison, KS for an overnight – visit museums, etc., like the Abilene trip.
· Hayes, KS for an overnight – visit museums, etc., like the Abilene trip. Bill Tabor, Road Captain, would
coordinate this one. He suggests going the back roads so it would be a slower ride. It would take about
4 hours each way.
· Lindsburg, KS to the bison ranch and castle. This was planned for this last summer but got canceled.
· Salt Mine Museum at Hutchinson. This was also planned for this last summer and got canceled.
· Ft. Riley, KS museum. This is a military base so we would have to follow federal regulations and wear
helmets, etc. Bill Tabor will check on the requirements.
· Tangangika Wildlife Preserve on West Maple. They have a trolly available and Tish will check on that.
It’s a lot of walking and very few places to sit down but would be fun.
Tish said that she
generally plans two outings a month, except for June, which is the
National Trike In at Branson. No one is expected to go to any or all. But please let her
know one way or the other once plans are in place. She would not want to leave and
have someone show up 5 minutes late and the group already be gone leaving them behind.
Jerry Dunn, Treasurer, asked about taking long trips together, such as to Yellowstone.
Two or three said they would go. Tish said that is out of her area for scheduling and if
anyone wants to join forces and go on trips, that’s up to them – just come back with good stories to tell.
Tish will put everyone on the calendar and bring it to the January planning meeting. If you have more ideas,
please feel free to speak up and be heard. All ideas will be entertained throughout the year.
In talking about Trike Week in Branson next summer, it was thought everyone would try to stay at the same place
rather than be strung all over town. Branson Towers is a good place, has a nice continental breakfast and ice cream
every night. Sarah is going to check on rooms and see if we can get a group rate negotiated. She asked for a show
of hands from our group on how many might want rooms and counted about 9 from this group and said she knew
of about 3 more from other groups that also wanted to stay where our group is going to be.
It was suggested that
Springfield, MO has several interesting attractions if anyone would
want to visit while on the Branson trip. There is a wonderful cave that you ride a tram
through, so no walking. They have a wildlife preserve that has a tram – we could not
ride our trikes through there. Also, Bass Pro has a huge museum and an aquarium right
next door that is great. Lambert’s Restaurant, home of the throwed rolls, was mentioned
as a great place to eat
.
Wayne presented the idea of entertaining another chapter. He said it’s not been done
before but could set an example for other chapters if we take the first step. We have a lot to show someone
in this area and if we host another chapter, maybe other chapters would follow suit. Most everyone thought this
would be a good idea and could be fun. It is a great way to become acquainted with other trikers, but also a way to
see local attractions in various neighboring areas that we might miss if we went on our own. He will bring this back
to the table at a future meeting.
Christmas party on December 5th: As in the past, it will be held at VFW Post 1980, 932 Graphic Arts Rd.,
Emporia, KS. Arrival is 4:30 p.m. and the State Meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:45 p.m. and
the gift exchange will begin around 7:45 p.m., with the children going first. Everyone is asked to bring an appetizer
or a dessert to share with everyone. Please send $10 per adult and $5 per child for the dinner to Debra Hester, 602
Duffy Rd., Hutchinson, KS by November 30. And, please tell Debra how many children you are bringing as we
always have something for each child. If you want to participate in the gift exchange game, bring a gift in the $15
range. We will draw numbers for the exchange. Number one goes first and picks a gift. Number two has the option
of taking the gift from number one, or choosing a new gift. If someone takes your gift, you can take from someone else or
go back to the pile to choose another gift. This continues until all gifts have been opened. Clean-up follows the party!
Sarah has arranged group rates for lodging at the Rodeway Inn, 3181 W. Hwy 50, Emporia, KS. Their number is
620-342-7820. Please call for reservations and you have to mention BTW to get the special rates. They offer a
continental breakfast and we have reserved their meeting room for a place to be together for breakfast. We will have
a few additions to the continental breakfast offered to round out the meal. Please let Debra know if you will be there
for breakfast when you send your money for the dinner. There is no additional cost for breakfast. Complete
information regarding the Christmas Party is in the newsletter that was passed out at the meeting, or in your mailbox,
so be sure to read that. Sarah said that Tish, Georgie and Deb are helping this year to plan a few surprises for the party.
And also had a new volunteer today – Theresa Burnham.
Jerry Dunn, Treasurer, reported we collected $42.05 when we passed the basket; $30.20 was dispersed for post cards,
labels and stamps, bringing our final total funds to $350.19. The subject of spending approvals was brought up.
Jerry made a motion, Tish seconded it (and Kathy third it) that up to $50 could be approved by the Treasurer and
anything over that would take the approval of two people -- the Director and Tish. Everyone at the meeting agreed
this would be fine.
The question of whether grandchildren can wear the BTW back patch was brought up. Sarah placed a call to Lady
Sickler, at National, to clarify this and learned that a junior triker patch can be purchased without having to pay
membership for a child or grandchild under the age of 16 and be worn by the child. If you want the grandchild to
be a member, you can add them to yours at $8 each. They can then wear either the small or medium patch until
they are 16 and then would be able to get the large one. It was noted that they cannot wear these patches to school
and should only be wearing them to triking events with their families.
Roslin Snyder said she was glad to be a member and asked for help with her move this weekend. She is selling her
house and moving to another and closing on both this coming Friday. Saturday, she needs help with moving and
asked for trucks, trailers, and people who could move boxes and appliances. She will provide coffee, tea, water
and lunch for those who show up. Bill Tabor offered a truck and horse trailer but can’t help with lifting and moving.
Her cell phone is 316-650-8376.
Jerry Dunn asked for email addresses of everyone who has not provided them yet. Please get those to Linda Dunn
and/or Sarah Eck. This can be an alternate line of communication.
Bill Tabor invited everyone to attend Cowboy Church at Prairie Rose on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. This is not
literally cowboys, as in boots, horses, and saddles. It’s a good group of people who get together for non-denominational
fellowship on Monday evenings. They offer carry-in dinner and a religious service (probably close to Baptist) and is
fastly becoming a triker church. Bill said last week they had a guest singer who was 6’ 8” tall and around 400 lbs.
He has a deep voice when talking but once he began singing he has a wide range of vocal chords. He sang for an hour-
and-a-half and the congregation didn’t want him to quit.
Something the church does is adopt and help those in need. One case is the little girl who was burnt by her father.
She will face 12-15 more surgeries and has captured the hearts of all who have met her. So far $30,000 dollars has been
raised through donations and special golf matches in the area. Her grandmother has custody but the funds are in the
control of a lawyer and a bank. Another family helped by the church is the one that the mother and children were
killed in a car-train accident.
It was announced that
James (Caveman) Smith sells firewood. Contact him and he will
deliver what you need.
Wayne announced we will resume monthly meetings on the second Sunday of the month.
Our next meeting is January 10th at 3 p.m. Location will be announced later.
Dan Seely made the motion to end the meeting. Jerry Dunn seconded.
/ld
