Delaware Valley Chapter 2019 annual report now available ... link
Former DV chair Lois Rothenberger named as AMC’s club-wide treasurer
Lois Rothenberger, former DV chair and current southern regional director, has been nominated to be the treasurer of the entire AMC for 2020, and will almost certainly voted in at the club's annual meeting in Norcross, Mass.
It is a special honor for someone who has come up through the ranks of the chapters to be nominated for such a high level position, and demonstrates the many years of commitment to AMC and the wealth of volunteer and professional experience that Lois brings to the job.
Lois has been a member of the DV Chapter since 1996. She served as DV chapter treasurer from 2001-2004, chapter vice chair (2015-2016), chapter chair (2017-18) and regional director (2019-present). Lois’s professional experience has been in local government and nonprofit retirement communities, where she has primarily served as chief financial officer.
DV Chapter Chair Susan Weida said, “The DV Chapter has always known that Lois is one of the hardest working AMC Volunteers, but we were so happy to learn of her nomination as treasurer for the AMC board of directors. We are confident she will bring the same vision and clarity of thinking to the AMC Board that she has brought to her role in our Chapter as a leader, mentor, executive committee member, and regional director.“
Three days a year of Sunday hunting coming to Pennsylvania
A new Pennsylvania law has been enacted which permits hunting on three Sundays per calendar year – one within the archery deer season, one within the firearms deer season and one to be selected by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
The law will take effect Feb. 25, 2020, and the first new Sunday hunting days will be identified by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Sunday hunting up to now was limited to the hunting of foxes, coyotes, crows and feral hogs during open seasons.
Denis McCartan, trail running pioneer, leader trainer, active leader, Volunteer of the Month
Denis McCartan is a very active member of our chapter, and has been instrumental in developing trail running as an activity for the Delaware Valley Chapter.
He served served as membership chair and actively participates in chapter leadership training and AMC’s Mountain Leadership school.
Denis truly believes in the AMC organization and its vision, and actively encourages both members and leaders to become more fully engaged with AMC.
As a member, Denis is welcoming and promotes future activities to participants of all abilities. As a leader, he encourages current and prospective leaders to challenge themselves and further their education, thereby advancing the future and vision of AMC.
If you know someone who deserves to be named Volunteer of the Month, send an e-mail to recognition@amcdv.org.
Five DV leaders join 40 from other chapters for Train the Trainers weekend
AMC’s Train the Trainer (T3) course was held November 15-17, with more than 40 participants, at Prindle Pond Conference Center in Charlton, Massachusetts. The Delaware Valley Chapter is proud to recognize DV trainers-leaders Karla Geissler, Denis McCartan, Larry Priori, Midori Wakabayashi and Amy Williams for graduating and joining the ranks of AMC’s elite faculty of leadership trainers. DV also was represented by Leadership Chair, Jeff Fritzinger, along with Barbara Beatrice, both graduates of the inaugural T3 Class of 2017, and now faculty-instructors for the program.
T3 is an interactive weekend of learning new and effective methods to teach outdoor leadership skills. The program emphasizes experiential, “participant-driven” strategies to bolster content, retention... and fun! There are many opportunities for students to practice and build confidence in their facilitation skills. As Larry Priori commented, “To be involved with so many like minded individuals renewed my focus on the outdoors and the need to promote awareness among our younger generation of the amazing gift of nature that is there for the taking.”
More than 100 attend annual dinner; Mike Manes, Kathy Kindness earn awards
With more than 100 in attendance, the DV Chapter's 2020 slate of officers was voted in, and Kathy Kindness and mike manes were presented with the chapter's highest awards.
Our featured speaker was Steve Tatko, AMC Director of Maine Conservation and Land Management. Steve's presentation was "AMC's Maine Mission: Conserving a Northeast Legacy Landscape." AMC is undertaking a new model of large-scale conservation work that pairs ecological protection with sustainable economic development in the Maine Woods by buying huge tracts of land.
The Appie award is given each year to a newer member of the club who's outstanding work has contributed to the club and it's members and the greater community. The Golden Appie goes to someone who has given many years of dedication and effort to the same end.
Appie of the Year
You will often find our Appie of the Year, Kathy Kindness, leading moderately paced activities designed to attract new people to the outdoors even though her personal preference is for high peaks and epic bike rides.
But she is not just a one sided outdoors woman. She has brought her love of books to the Chapter by starting an outdoor themed book club and has used her creative skills to design and staff AMC displays at local community events.
She served the chapter on the executive committee for the past five years, Four as secretary and this year taking on a new role as membership chair. She has already put in place innovative ways of reaching out to potential members and her enthusiasm and positive attitude is perfect for this role.
Golden Appie of the Year
Mike Manes, our Golden Appie of the Year has been an AMC member since 1993 and has been an active hike leader for most of that time and continues to regularly lead hikes. If you have a chance to hike with him you will soon appreciate all the knowledge that his years of observation and study of the outdoors brings to our chapter and the wider community.
A past trails chair and AT boundary monitor coordinator, Mike often monitored the entire length of our AT section with his wife Kieu as his fellow monitor. Our chapter now has 16 people doing the same work!
Conservation has always been a major focus for our Golden Appie and he is an expert on the American chestnut tree, the survival of which has been severely threatened by the Chestnut blight. If you don’t find him out planting Chestnut trees in the spring or gathering seeds in the fall, you will find him working on other community conservation projects such as invasive plant removal or tree planting in more urban areas.
Our Appie is often on the trail five or more days per week, usually traveling with his wife as his faithful conservation assistant.
New 2020 Executive Committee
Chair Susan Weida, dvchair@amcdv.org
Vice Chair Bill DeStefano, vicechair@amcdv.org
Secretary Midori Wakabayashi, secretary@amcdv.org
Treasurer Margaret McDonald, treasurer@amcdv.org
Backpacking Cindy Crosser, backpacking@amcdv.org
Bicycling Robert Liston, bicycling@amcdv.org
Communication Eric Pavlak, communication@amcdv.org
Conservation Adrian Noble, conservation@amcdv.org
Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion Janet Penner, dei@amcdv.org
Family Activities Annette Sheldon, family@amcdv.org
Hiking John Rogers, hiking@amcdv.org
Leadership Jeffrey Fritzinger, leadership@amcdv.org
Membership Kathy Kindness, membership@amcdv.org
Newsletter* Eric Pavlak, newsletter@amcdv.org
Paddling Eric Pavlak, paddling@amcdv.org
Publicity* Raun Kercher, publicity@amcdv.org
Leroy Smith Shelter* Patricia Sacks, shelter@amcdv.org
Social Jeanne Mantell, social@amcdv.org
Skiing* Sue Bickford-Martin, skiing@amcdv.org
Trails Greg Bernet, trails@amcdv.org
20s & 30s Kate Prisby, 20-30@amcdv.org
Lehigh Valley Group* Phill Hunsberger, lehigh-valley@amcdv.org
Ombudsman* Allen Male, ombudsman@amcdv.org
Names in bold are new to the committee or the position. Those marked * are non-voting positions. The Southern Regional Director is Lois Rothenberger, and attends meetings but does not vote. Regional Directors are selected by a different process.
The Executive Committee members serve a term of one year, beginning when they were approved by vote at the Annual Meeting and Dinner.
National Park Service issues draft plan for Water Gap, invites public comment, schedules meetings
Plan includes new camp sites, facilities, entrance fees.
The National Park Service has issued a draft Visitor Use Management Plan for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River. The draft plan is available for public review and comment for until December 6, 2019 at their web site.
In addition proposing an to an entrance fee, which has yet to be established, the plan also proposes a park-specific seven-day pass: $25 for a vehicle, $15 for a person, and $20 for a motorcycle, and a $45 annual pass. The new entrance fee would mean changes to existing amenity fees and the park’s entrance stations. The plan calls for expansion and improvement of visitor facilities and amenities, including additional river camp sites.
In addition to public comment submitted on line and by mail, there will be two public meetings:
Thursday, October 24, 6 - 8 PM, Bushkill Volunteer Fire Company Hall, 124 Evergreen Drive, Bushkill, PA 18324
Saturday, October 26, 1-3 PM, Sussex County Technical School Auditorium, 105 North Church Road, Sparta, NJ 07871
Take the Kittatinny Ridge Recognition and Identification Survey
The Kittatinny Ridge (the Ridge) is Pennsylvania’s longest contiguous forested ridge. This long mountain range is familiar to many. It is the large forested expanse that one can view to the left when you travel north on Interstate 81 from the Maryland border and continue east on Interstate 78. It’s where many go to play, relax, enjoy nature, and get away from it all. Click here for more information and to take the survey.
Take Action:
Demand Full and Dedicated Funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund
Now is our chance to finally secure permanent, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The United States Senate is reviewing S.1081, a bi-partisan bill to permanently provide $900 million annually to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Write to your Senators today asking for their support of S.1081 by joining as a co-sponsor.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a visionary and bipartisan federal funding program for protecting our nation’s most special places. From Sterling Forest in the New York Highlands, to White Cap Mountain in Maine, to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has funded the protection of some of our most iconic landscapes and trails in the Northeast. Earlier this year, we celebrated the permanent re-authorization of the Land Water Conservation Fund, but without dedicated funding Congress’ work is not complete.
Write to your Senators in support of funding for LWCF.
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