December 12, 2018 —
Dear Friends,
Nearly two dozen guests showed up at a board meeting in early 2018 in response to last year’s end of the year report announcing a tired and dwindling set of GDETF board members. They proved eager to carry-on the work of GDETF and do even more to support and improve trail facilities for equestrians on the Divide. Thanks to them, the board was rebuilt with new faces and lots of excitement for the future.
In February 2018, Boy Scouts and board members installed a new double corral and repaired one of the single corrals at Dru Barner. Then at a second work party in May, one tractor mowed weeds and restored trailer parking areas while a second tractor graded the roads. More than a dozen volunteers with weed-eaters, blowers, and rakes cleared the group kitchen area and all the campsites of debris and pine needles from the winter. The board’s new treasurer, Laurie Sweeney, has reorganized all the foundation’s financial reports and set up a first-class accounting system. Our website has gotten some updates with online forms and payment for your 2019 membership as well as rides this year! A Fun Ride committee was formed, and we had an incredible event with better raffle prizes and food than any year prior. We once again put on our October Poker Ride, and this time we added a potluck dinner, music, and a campfire to make a weekend camping event out of it.
We continue to maintain Dru Barner campground, adding new horse corrals and other improvements, and we are keeping the equestrian tradition alive and well on the Divide’s beautiful trails. Another double corral was installed in December and more will be added in January or February. Speaking of trails, we have created a downloadable PDF map of the Little Silver Loop trail in Rock Creek and will soon have a GPS version available on our website. We move into 2019 with the goal of making at least two more GPS maps to help riders enjoy other trails in the Rock Creek system and one for the Enchanted Forest. As part of making the trails easier to follow, we are in discussions with the USFS about additional equestrian-friendly signage on those trails.
In 2019, we said goodbye to Jerry Scribner and hello to Jenny Gomez as our president and brought on a few new faces to our board. GDETF will continue moving forward with mapping GPS trails, installing a permanent marquee with maps at Dru Barner campground and Balderston staging area, and making parking improvements at the Balderston trailhead.
Please consider joining us in 2019 to further improve Dru Barner and trails in our area. Membership and Fun Ride entry forms will be in the mail very soon. Become and member and save $5 on your ride entry. Check out our new online/PayPal option for your convenience! Also, put the Fun Ride on Sunday May 26, Memorial Day weekend, on your riding calendar for 2019. Flyers and emails will be coming your way very soon!
GDETF Board regularly meets in Cool on the first Thursday of every month. As always, you are always welcome to attend any of our board meetings. For further information and to let us know you will be joining us, e-mail us at GDETF2@gmail.com or contact us through this website.
Sincerely,
The 2019 GDETF Board of Directors
Jenny Gomez – President
Monte Kruger – Vice President
Laurie Sweeney – Treasurer
Cindy Twyman – Secretary
Terri Jimison – Correspondence
Melissa Bays
Curt Kruger
Janice Myers
Michael Peckham