PACK Club President Adrian Ramos opened the meeting with acknowledgements and thanks to our meeting location host Patti Carothers, owner and operator of Southwest Paddlesports in The Woodlands, TX. Patti has been a longtime assocate of the Red River Region of the American Canoe Association and leads numerous training sessions through Southwest Paddlesports.

Adrian, covered trip reports, namely the January outing he lead out of Louie's to Jones  Bay and Tiki Island and Ron Romeis' recent day trip to Dana's Cove. (See Trip Reports for details).  Up coming trips:  Weekend Event to Fayetteville County Lake, Feb. 26-28. Camping and freshwater fishing, led by Ron Romeis.  And secondly, the day trip to Salt Lake on March 6, led by Will Henderson.

Adrian, requested the meeting attendees to submit ideas and contacts for meeting speakers. We have a speaker lined up for March. Ron Romeis made the motion that the club conduct a member-led kayak rigging or lure presentation topic more frequently as opposed to having speakers at each meeting. It was agreed upon, but no month was selected at this meeting.

It was noted that many members have not renewed their PACK membership, their personal ACA affiliation along with their annual waiver. Membership Director Will Henderson passed out waivers for those who have not updated theirs for 2010. Adrian discussed the purpose of the American Canoe Association, mainly to provide insurance for ACA sanctioned events. A vote was held as to whether renew or drop the ACA affiliation for PACK.  The vote was unanimous to renew. Eli noted that the ACA requires trip descriptions prior to America Paddle Club outings (which PACK is a member of) as well as post-trip summaries that requires the names and contact information for participants, members and guests, along with waivers for guests and non-ACA member fees.

Robert Stark, president of the Houston Association of Sea Kayakers was the February Guest Speaker. Robert covered paddling in cold weather, cold water conditions, proper clothing, the signs of hypothermia, how to prevent and how to treat for hypeohermia. The meeting participants discussed paddling clothes, waders, spash pants, jackets, hats and items used to stay dry and warm. Patti pulled out 3 three jackets / dry tops that she selects from when paddling in cold conditions. Robert displayed some of the items he packs to re-warm himself or paddlers who are overcome by hypeohermia, such as bivy sacks and shelters.

Member Chef Greg Munoz, together with SW Paddlesports provided a great spagetti meal for all that attended.