Dear BICO Enthusiasts,

I would like to thank everyone whom attended the January 14, 2008 BICO General Meeting.  Also, I would like to thank Bob Burchard for hosting the meeting.  As usual, it was a good time for us to get together face-to-face to share updates on activities, exchange thoughts and ideas, and to plan upcoming outings.  All of these activities are reflected in these meeting minutes.

I opened this years first meeting with the following reminder:
BICO is a service that creates opportunities for young people to interact with a part of our world that has not been put together by man ... a world that can instill wonder, enchantment, and a sense of beauty ... a world that teaches lessons that a textbook cannot.  This type of program is not a staple of the Baltimore City educational system, although it is getting a little more attention now. 

BICO happens partly because we have been generously funded through grants earned from local area foundations, a calendar drive, and grants from ICO national.  Most of all though, BICO happens because of its volunteers.  Without volunteers, BICO would only be another nice idea.

The next BICO General Meeting is planned for Monday, MARCH 10, 2008 at 7:30 pm at Bob Burchard’s home.  Please mark your new calendars.

Sincerely,

Bob Iacovazzi, Jr.
BICO Chair


BICO General Meeting Minutes   January 14, 2008

INTRODUCTIONS


RECENT ACTIVITIES
---> 2007 OUTING STATS: We went on 34 outings last year, including 27 day outings and 7 overnight outings.  These outings served 361 kids using 2334 volunteer hours (not including administrative hours which amounted to about 700-1000 hours).  Thank you, BICO Volunteers.

---> The Dickey Hill Elementary School Team’s November 17, 2007 hike at the McEldrin Area of Patapsco State Park was BICO’s 300th outing!

---> As a result of our volunteer efforts, Bob Burchard was able to land a $15,000 grant from the Knott Foundation for BICO.  Thank you to all BICO Volunteers and Bob Burchard. 

---> Our annual calendar drive netted about $1,500.  Thank you, Bob Burchard for carrying out our calendar drive this year.

---> Lindsay Major was appointed as ICO Mid-Atlantic Representative!  Congratulations Lindsay!

---> Bill Roberts is recently retired!  We wish you a happy and healthy retirement, Bill ... Congratulations!


UPCOMING EVENTS
---> BICO Gear Shed Inventory and Cleanup (Date TBD)

---> First Aid/CPR Training and BICO Leader Training will be hosted by Bob Burchard.  BICO Leader Training is planned for Saturday, February 9, 2008, while the First Aid/CPR Training is scheduled for Sunday, February 10, 2008.  If you are interested in BICO Certified Leadership, here is your chance to fulfull two important requirements towards this certification!  Those of you that are interested, but are not signed up, please contact our trainer Gwen Bergen at gbergen@gmail.com for more details.

---> Greater Baltimore Children & Nature Conference.  February 20, 2008, 8:30 am to 5 pm.  Please e-mail Conference Coordinator Mary Hardcastle (mary@hookedonnature.org) for a possible invitation to this event. 

---> Baltimore Green Week is from April 26 to May 2, 2008.  We want to have someone representing BICO at the Sierra Club table on the Saturday of this event..... if possible.  If you are interested in volunteering for this event on behalf of BICO, please contact Bob Iacovazzi at bicobob3@copper.net.

----> All four teams have a full roster of outings planned.  Please check our web site: http://ico.sierraclub.org/baltimore for more information.


TREASURY


GENERAL NEWS
General Reminders
---> Please send your trip reports from your most recent team outings to Bob Iacovazzi at bicobob3@copper.net and Lindsay Major Ringgold at lindsaymajorringgold@gmail.com.

Why do we complete trip reports after our outings:
1) Need detailed information to fill out quarterly insurance reports for ICO National
2) BICO fundraising
3) Establish an archive of BICO activities
4) Share information (eventually they can end up as a wealth of information for the group)

---> Please inform Bob Iacovazzi of your van reservation requests early for the winter outings, to ensure that you get a van.

---> Please tag, and make the Gear Master aware of, gear that is broken.  Nicole Veltre is our current Gear Master.

GROUP  BREAKOUTS

HELP WANTED
---> Certified Leaders and Volunteers to support the BICO Dickey Hill Elementary School (DHILL) Team.  After the first of the year, this team may not be able to go on outings because there are not enough Certified Leaders and Volunteers.  If interested, please contact Brian Green (bgreen20@yahoo.com) or Dave Barry (manhat@verizon.net).

---> BICO Publicity Coordinator.  The duties of the Publicity Coordinator include 1)  Developing and coordinating all BICO articles and promotional pieces and distributing them to local media, and 2) Liaison to and providing articles and information for the Maryland Chapter, Greater Baltimore and Howard County Sierra Club publications, and others as determined to be necessary.  If interested, please contact Bob Iacovazzi at bicobob3@copper.net.

---> Assistant BICO Leadership Development Coordinator.  The duties of the Assistant Leadership Development Coordinator include helping the Coordinator to 1) Supervising the leader training programs; 2) Ensure that BICO leadership training meets the standards of the Sierra Club and the ICO National Subcommittee; 3) Provide guidance and support to all leaders as needed; 4) Attend outings to support leaders and giving feedback on leadership issues; and 5) Help to identify appropriate training resources (i.e., leadership, first aid, etc.) If interested, please contact Gwen Bergen at gbergen@gmail.com.

NEXT MEETING  
March 10, 2008 at 7:30 pm.  The meeting is to be hosted by Bob Burchard.