2025 Annual Meeting minutes

Minutes of 12/13/2025 Club Meeting at Beaver Brook, Hollis, NH

In attendance: Heather Steeves, J-J Cote, J. Paschetto, Jeff Saeger, Judy Karpinski, Jim Arsenault

1) 2025 Review and Budget Discussion. (see handout of 2025 Treasurer’s Report)

Starting Balance 1/1/25: $23,978.04 Ending Balance before club meeting: $22,363.88

Major “money maker” remains the annual Camping Weekend, with comparable revenue from memberships. No NRE or other major events held in 2025.

Numbers indicate that the club is NOT losing money with the new annual membership scheme that includes free entry to recreational events.

2) Membership

Membership sign-up is now open for 2026

Annual membership: $30/$50 (individual / family) will remain stable for 2026

Note: Non-member fees at events remain: $10; kids: $5; additional map /setup: $2

3) 2026 Initiatives and Schedule

2026 Planning calendar – Shows regional major events for first half of 2026, Camping Weekend and joint UNO/NEOC NRE on Columbus Day weekend.

General discussion followed on challenges associated with getting more event directors and helpers lined up.

– Need lists of specific tasks that helpers can take on, versus “we need helpers”

– Uncertainty about responsibilities for event directors – a virtual/on-line event helper/director orientation could be helpful to have more people become familiar with what is required and willing to step forward.

– More social aspects – form friendships and work as a team on hosting events, large or small

– Schedule planning meetings in advance of larger events

– Ways to incentivize key roles?

– Have a small group responsible for scheduling events and getting directors/helpers

Venues to consider for 2025:

– Mine Falls April, someone to work with Steve Tarry on this

– Burnt Mtn spring event

– Fox Forest, Harris Center – Bill Davidson

– Bear Brook, Fort Rock, Broken Ground

– College Woods, Lee TF, other seacoast venues

– Griswold Scout Reservation / Hidden Valley – Scout-O event

– 1-day O-Ringen (multiple events that can be run sequentially on a single day)

Key positions for Camping Weekend and Fall Joint NRE with NEOC to be fleshed out later

Potential club initiatives to have small groups work on:

– Update & expand DIY/permanent course offerings. Spearhead more BYOM type events

– Spring/Fall Point series – mix of regular and BYOM events.

– Scout orienteering – Publicize UNO events to NH troops/districts for attendance at UNO events, explore options for scout-specific events, use of Scout camps

– Mtn Bike O – Spearhead establishment of Mtn Bike specific events – coordinate schedule with Mtn Bike clubs, note potential for competition at World MTBO Champs

– School/camps/youth programs orienteering

o Make Navigation Games kits available for loan – sign out, have SI equip available

o UNO volunteers to assist schools/camps with implementing O in PE or other parts of curriculum

o OUSA/Nav Games presenting at several teacher conferences in our area – more awareness of orienteering and Youth Mapping Program – some maps likely to come out of this. Potential for UNO maps with schools on them or nearby.

Jim to draft email to full membership and ‘Friends of UNO’ mailing list – welcome to 2026: potential date/time for On-line event helper orientation session; brief note on initiatives and how to sign-up to help with any of those.

2026 event schedule remains to be developed.

4) Potential 2026 major expenditures discussed

– Additional Navigation Games School kits $200 each

– SI School training set(s) to go with Nav Games kits – possible OUSA grant availability to offset part of the cost. Jim to write grant proposal to go to OUSA.

– SI pCards – less expensive than SI finger sticks/dibblers – $19 vs $42 for S8, $56 for SI9, $93 for SIAC

– Map cases available from supplier in MA to avoid shipping costs from ULine

5) UNO Slate of Officers for 2026

We voted on all key positions. All currently serving members agreed to continue their positions for 2026. Unanimous consent.

Key Positions:

Numero UNO – Jim Arsenault
UNO Dos – Ernst Linder
Treasurer – Darrell Scott
Membership – Paul Regan
Communications / Social Media – Deb Humiston / Jon Nash
Webmaster – J. Paschetto