Chapter Trails Chair Greg Bernet was the recipient of the Marian Pychowska Award for the third time by doing 158 hours of trail work during 2020, presented at AMC’s Annual Summit on January 23, There are 96 hours minimum required for award

He is the leader of the Pennsylvania Highlands Trail Stewards who have built new trails around Ringing Rocks County Park, in Veterans' Park near Quakertown, and are currently scouting a new trail to be built in Nockamixon State Park. He also leads the New Jersey Highlands Trail Crew which does maintenance in Jenny Jump State Forest and the western section of The Highlands Trail.

  Greg is AMC-DV's Coordinator of the Appalachian Trail Boundary Monitors program for the Appalachian Trail Conference and National Park Service, as well as a monitor himself.  He is also a member of our club's AT maintenance crew and a certified sawyer, does solo maintenance on a section of the AT in N.J. at Culvers Gap in Stokes State Forest as well as on the Pahaquarry Trail on the backside of Mt. Tammany at Delaware Water Gap, and he is AMC-DV's representative to the New York New Jersey Trail Conference.

Raun Kercher of the Delaware Valley Chapter is a recipient of AMC’s 2021 Volunteer Leadership Award, which was presented at the club-wide annual meeting, held on line this year because of the ongoing pandemic.

Since completing Outdoor Leadership Training, Raun has become a hiking, biking and backpacking leader for the Delaware Valley Chapter. He has led a wide variety of trips in each of these activities, notably characterized by his detailed, creative and compelling trip descriptions.

After only one year as a leader, he took on the role of Publicity Chair for the DV Chapter. He applied his creative and technology talents in many ways to increase the chapter’s social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. Raun produced entertaining and informative videos about Earth Day and our new activity ratings system to be shared on these platforms. He also elevated the promotion of the chapter’s Fall Gathering to new levels.

In 2020, he volunteered to join DV’s Leadership Committee, making important contributions to the leadership training planning efforts. He is playing a critical role in development of a virtual outdoor leadership training platform for the chapter. Raun’s diverse efforts as a leader, trainer, and technology specialist have made a positive difference for AMC and the DV Chapter.

Our volunteer of the month is Susan Weida, well known for her cheerful, optimistic, kind and friendly nature.

She is intentionally inclusive, always seeks to welcome newcomers, and encourages others to do the same. During her years as an AMC leader, Susan has consistently stepped up to provide for the good of the group, co-leading multi day trips, scouting new hike and bike trails, destinations and lodging options. She can be counted on to be always organized and prepared, but also flexible in her approach and sensitive to the feelings of others.

Susan has been actively involved with DV Chapter Leadership Training, in planning and implementing the Lehigh Valley Group meetings, serving on the Planning Committee for the club-wide Fall Gathering to be hosted by the DV Chapter, assisting at numerous chapter-sponsored events and advancing the chapter's DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) efforts.

She was an invaluable participant on the AMC Chapters Committee, providing insight and making sure that members’ voices were heard and channeled to the board and staff.

As Chapter Chair during the pandemic, Susan’s leadership helped us navigate swiftly changing circumstances, adjusting to new restrictions and updated activity guidelines, and providing clear and timely communication for the chapter. She coordinated many meetings using new technology platforms, including a virtual Zoom Annual Meeting, bringing our chapter members together to learn, celebrate, bestow recognition awards and elect new Executive Committee leaders.

Susan brings out the best in everyone around her, and exemplifies what it means to be an AMC member and volunteer. We applaud you, Susan!