The Southeastern Climbers Coalition - SCC Board Meeting held March 3, 2006 in Chattanooga, TN.

The Southeastern Climbers Coalition held it's semi-annual board meeting at St. John's "The Meeting Place" in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee on March 3, 2006. Local climbers showed up to voice their opinions and help provide solutions as The SCC works to resolve local climbing access problems.

SCC Board Members Attending:
Kirk Brode (TN), Jeremy Boydston (AL), Michelle Connell (AL), Brad McLeod (GA) ,
SCC Board members not attending:
Dave Wilson (GA), Gus Fontenot (AL)

* 4 of the 6 SCC board members were in attendance so a quorum was met.

Local Climbers
Paul Morley (Huntsville climber & SCC rep for Yellow Bluff, AL), Dave White (Nashville climber & SCC rep for Foster Falls, TN), Rick Bost (Knoxville climber and ETCC President), Micah Gentry (Chattanooga climber & SCC rep for Leda, TN), Matthew Gant (Chattanooga climber & SCC rep for Leda,TN), Johnny Connell (Birmingham climber & SCC rep for Jamestown, AL), Derek Hill (Huntsville) and Lynette Dufton (Nashville)

Before the meeting started we discussed several issues in general to include Yellow Bluff, Reel Cove, Tennessee Wall and Prentiss Cooper.

The SCC board meeting discussed a wide range of issues to include the SCC Budget for 2006, SCC Membership, Vision of the SCC, Update on the Crags the SCC owns and leases to include Kings Bluff, Boat Rock, Jamestown and Castle Rock, Current Acquisitions and Leases, 2006 Potential Openings, Anchor repair, SCC Events, Environmental Issues, and the SCC Public Comment from Message Board.

SCC Board Meeting official minutes - March 3rd, 2006

The meeting was held at St. John's meeting place in downtown Chattanooga, TN.

SCC Board Members Attendees
Kirk Brode (TN)
Brad McLeod (GA)
Jeremy Boydston (AL)
Michelle Connell (AL)

SCC Board members not attending:
Dave Wilson (GA)
Gus Fontenot (AL)

* 4 of the 6 SCC board members are in attendance so a quorum is met.

Climbing Public
Paul Morley (Huntsville & SCC rep for Yellow Bluff)
Dave White (Nashville & SCC rep for Foster Falls)
Rick Bost (Knoxville and ETCC rep)
Micah Gentry (Chattanooga & SCC rep for Leda)
Matthew Gant (Chattanooga & SCC rep for Leda)
Derek Hill (Huntsville) and Lynette Dufton (Nashville)

Before the meeting started we discussed several issues in general to include Yellow Bluff, Reel Cove, the Tennessee Wall and Prentiss Cooper.Dave White brought up some issues concerning parking on the south side of Clear Creek. According to Rick, there is no problem with parking on the south side nor the north side. Even though there has been issues with the middle area parking at Clear Creek, there is no issue of high concern.

Micah Gentry asked about bolting regulations at Suck Creek. Kirk Brode responded saying that Jim Lane does not want bolting near the waterfall. Other than that, any other regulations are not known.

Brad McLeod and Paul Morley discussed access issues concerning Yellow Bluff. Brad suggested a value roughly $5k/acre in terms of assessed tax value. However, Brad stated that there are several types of tax of different types of topography.

Paul Morley and Brad McLeod briefly discussed Rainbow Wall near Guntersville and are contacting Adam Henry for further info.

Brad McLeod explained how the SCC chooses which areas are to be considered for immediate access concern.

SCC Board Meeting brought to order by Kirk Brode, President of the SCC.
Adopt minutes for previous SCC board meeting (Sept. 23, 2005). Seconded by Michelle Connell.

SCC Bank Accounts: reported by Treasurer, Brad McLeod

SCC Budget for 2006 - Generally discussed SCC budget and approved by the Board. Discussion as to where SCC derives it's funding from to include sustaining memberships, annual memberships, fundraisers, raffles, and SCC Partners. A question was brought up by Rick Bost as to the dollar amounts of donating SCC Partners. It was explained that the majority of SCC Partners donate gear and not cash; but this may need to be spelled out better on the website. As of right now, the current tab for Boat Rock is roughly $23,900. Ideas for continuous membership for further SCC funds were discussed. It was discussed that it is imperative that the SCC rethinks ways to get climbers to see having a crag is tangible.

Jeremy Boydston suggested that Kirk should have SOME form of supplemental form of salary.

Kirk Brode integrated paypal with database. He has been doing a lot of the web activities to keep up with funds and number of members within the SCC. Kirk garnered a lot of corporate funds for the SCC.

Kirk Brode asked if the SCC should go back to the accounting firm. He also discussed tepping down from the paid part of it. This allows him the flexibility to do ED stuff, then web stuff, etc. In otherwords…Kirk is totally overworked. In light of the possibility of Kirk stepping down, the idea of Kirk apprenticing someone or a many people was discussed to help continue the work that he has done and make ease of the transition to another president and re-delegate activities and authority. Michelle Connell reemphasized that the SCC is already well know and that much of the groundwork has already been laid for future SCC efforts with companies and other organizations. Ideas for breaking down board member tasks were discussed.

Membership: Work is in progress to continue building the SCC membership database and to work out any kinks. The SCC will begin to try and expand our current sustaining membership program to bring in more money for future land acquisition projects.

SCC Vision: The question was brought up about different people having different views as to what the SCC was - or was not. The SCC will try to articulate our mission statement: To preserve crags for future generations. So that more climbers will understand what we do and how we do it. We will continue to try and get the word out that we perform trail days, cleanups, anchor repair, environmental education and purchase and lease climbing areas. To date the SCC owns Kings Bluff, Boat Rock, Jamestown and now leases Castle Rock.

Update on the crags the SCC owns and leases:

Kings Bluff - A fundraiser was held both at the crag and at ClimbNashville to help with the upcoming tax bill. Anchors have been sent to Kings Bluff in the past few months to help finish out the repairs of any remaining anchors or bolts.

Boat Rock - Property Manager, Brad McLeod explained to the group that the recent Boat Rock bouldering comp raised funds to help pay down the mortgage and to pay for taxes, insurance and upkeep. A trail day was held before the comp to put down mulch, plant native trees, shrubs and ferns and cleanup the area. A fundraiser is planned for May 19th at WallCrawlers climbing gym in Decatur, Georgia. In August, the annual summer party is planned.

Jamestown - Jeremy Boydston and Michelle Connell are Jamestown property managers. A trail day was performed in September 2005. Recently signs were placed at the ends of the property to let climbers know where the property boundaries area. Signs were also placed to keep people from exiting via the access gully that goes through private land. Climbers are being told to not use the access gully and stay on SCC land. The SCC is trying to talk to AL Power and possibly buy the hiking access walk in.

Castle Rock - The area has been recently leased and is now open for climbing. Anchors are being repaired, but the trail still needs to be finished out. An opening day may be scheduled for late April or sometime in May after Climbfest. Micah Gentry explained that 4 cars were observed parked and climbers were using the area.

Current Acquisitions and Leases - The only current (and recent) lease if for Castle Rock. This area was discussed in area updates.

2006 Potential Openings - The SCC is currently working on Hospital Boulders (AL), Reel Cove (TN) and Yellow Bluff (AL). A brief discussion was held for each area. Hospital Boulders - The owners have been contacted and seemed to be positive towards the area possibly becoming a park. Local climbers are continuing talks with the owners. Reel Cove - The SCC is preparing a proposal to make an offer to the current owner to possibly purchase a portion of the cliffline (sunny side). Access was discussed due to possible trespasser prosecution. No climbers have been prosecuted yet. Texas owner is open to further discussion for purchase however is likely not to sell. “Lease would not be worth it.” “Even if the SCC offered x10 of the market value, he probably would not sell.” The SCC needs to make the worthwhile and a painless transaction for the owner. Proposal needs be drawn and sent to owner. Yellow Bluff - The SCC is preparing a proposal to make an offer to the current owner to possibly purchase a portion of the cliffline (right side facing the cliff). Grindstone was briefly brought up, but it is understood that the owner is not interested in talking about opening the area at this time.

Anchor repair - The SCC is going to make an order for anchors in 2 weeks and will include gear for Foster Falls, Castle Rock, Jamestown, & Laurel Knob. A brief discussion followed with The SCC re-affirming that we purchase and distribute anchors to individual climbers, but do not install anchors as an organization.

SCC Events - Kirk Brode read aloud the current list of SCC events to receive comments from the board and local climbers. There were no comments on the existing list other than to shore up our committment to Climbfest and see who the slideshow speaker was going to be. Rick Bost asked the situation at HP40 with new rules (no dogs) and the current status of the environment. It was explained that local climbers have been working with the owner of HP40 and a trail day is possibly in the works to replant trees, shrubs and ferns that may have been destroyed by overuse.

Environmental - The HP40 discussion led to a general discussion on bouldering areas to include Boat Rock and HP40. Brad McLeod spoke about work that is being performed yearly to help replant native trees, shrubs and ferns to replace any plants that may have been impacted by climbers.

SCC Public Comment from Message Board - The board and local climbers talked generally about the current public comments ranging from graffiti removal to the openings of various crags (Hospital Boulders, Yellow Bluff, Grindstone, etc.).

The meeting was adjourned by Kirk Brode and seconded by Jeremy Boydston. Minutes for SCC Board Meeting were taken by Paul Morley and Brad McLeod.