President's Report - Summary of Annual Conference

South Dakota Game Fish and Parks is updating the old Big Sioux Water Trail - we heard about that at the conference - there are already some campsites in place and they are building an App for paddlers to find the sites- some can only be reached by the water

We've enjoyed the improved access points & look forward to making some overnight trips on the Big Sioux. Thank you GFP!

The Missouri National Recreation River offers interpretive trips on this historical stretch of river. They fill up fast so check their web site if you are interested.  Friends of the MNRR are also planning a picnic on Goat Island and more-watch for their events on SDCKA blog & Facebook.

SDCKA will have another movie night at Lake Pelican on July 29 - showing Creature from the Black Lagoon along with a moonlight paddle.

More trips are being planned for the Misssouri, with overnight stays on the river, in addition to a number of races.

So - just waiting for ice out!!

And I want to thank the board of SDCKA-including the members of the original SDCA - for making this yearly event a success!

Mary Finck

President, SDCKA

Here's a robust list of SDCKA scheduled events coming up this year:

February
12- Pool Session EmBe (Sioux Falls) 10 am to Noon
26- Pool Session EmBe (Sioux Falls) 10 am to Noon

March
14-15 Sioux Empire Water Fest USF Stewart Center 8 am-3 pm

April
27  – Thursday on the Plaatz (Vermillion)

May
6  –  Dam N Back (Yankton)
9  –  Big Sioux Water Festival (SDSU Brookings) 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
TBD  –  Greenway Clean-up ( Legacy Park 8-11 a.m.)
26-28 – SD Kayak Challenge (Yankton - S. Sioux City)

June
TBA - Big Sioux Water Trail (research trip)
11- Adaptive Paddling (Family Park, Sioux Falls) 9-noon
11 - Paddling Fair (Family Park, Sioux Falls) 1-4 pm
17 - Triathlon (Wall Lake) 7-10 am
24 - Friends of MNRR Picnic, Clay County Park and Goat Island, Vermillion area (time not yet set)

July
7-8  –  Fort to Field 50 (Fort Randall Dam, Springfield, SD) 7:30 am
29 – Lake Pelican Night Paddle & Movie (Watertown, SD) Dusk

August
5 – Outdoor University (The Outdoor Campus East, Sioux falls, SD) 10 am-3 pm
8-11 – MR340 Kansas City to St Charles (check website)
12 – Missouri National Recreational River Float (check website)
19 – Yankton Riverboat Days – 6 mile kayak race
19 – Sioux Falls River Fest – Canoe Rides at Cherapa Place 5 – 8 pm

Thanks for joining us at annual conference!

The SDCKA annual conference brought about five dozen paddling enthusiasts out on Jan. 28, where a wealth of information was shared on chances to paddle across our region and state. Presenters shared insight on a pair of River Friends groups that have formed, and a lot of the information shared was on methods to clean up our waterways for future use.






President Mary Finck was honored as well. She is the first woman to helm the club since it was founded back in 1979. She also doled out honors in the form of awards for two club leaders, Steven Dahlmeier and Cory Diedrich, who earned the Jay Heath and Dick Davidson awards this go-round.

In all, the event was lively and spirited and a lot of good conversations began while the day was shared. We will continue to update this blog so that folks can gain more insight on events and opportunities that will fill our 2017 with plenty of paddling chances. Thanks to everyone who came out and joined us and special thanks to all the presenters who offered their time to help inform our group.

Feel free to reach out to us with questions! We realize not everyone has Facebook access, so we are here as well and hope to help you get on the water more this year!

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

2017 Annual Meeting and Membership Update
Plan to attend the annual conference of SD Canoe & Kayak Association at The Outdoor Campus!
You can renew your membership and pick-up your 2017 Membership card at the Annual Meeting on January 28th. ($10 individual, $12 family) If you’re unable to attend, please mail your dues to:

SDCKA        
PO Box 90227
Sioux Falls, SD. 57109

Meeting:
The Outdoor Campus,
4500 S. Oxbow Ave.                                                                                                                                Sioux Falls, S.D.

Session Topics:

11:00  Social / Booths: ACA; SD Kayak Challenge; Friends of the Big Sioux River; Game, Fish & Parks; Boundary Waters Canoe Area; History of SD Canoe Association

 Meeting  starts at 12:00

12:00     Welcome & 2016 Review - Mary Finck

12:10     Big Sioux River Canoe Trail Proposal – Jeff Van Meeteren

12:30     Paddle it! Protect it! – Friends of the Big Sioux – Steve Dahlmeier
           
12:50     MNRR Water Trail Interpretive Paddle Events – Tim Cowman, MNRR Water Trail Coordinator

1:10        Business Meeting & Election of Board Members

1:15        Break

1:30        Big Sioux River Watershed Implementation Project – Barry Berg

1:50        Building Canoes to Promote Paddling & The SD Canoe Association
Tom Berhend, Dave Greenlee

2:10        Missouri National Recreation River Trips – MNR100 & plans for 2017

2:30        NE South Dakota – Events & Opportunities – Roger Foote

2:50        SE South Dakota – Events & Happenings – Jarett Bies

3:10        Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Larry & Nell Votuba

3:30        Door Prizes (Wonder Bag!  Greenland Paddle! & More!)
Closing