The Magnificant Members for the first quarter of 2025 are:
Pat Grannan, Hiking Leadership and Trail Maintenance
Pat Grannan sets the bar for hiking leadership. He is a lowkey, welcoming leader who has established a loyal following for his Valley Forge hikes. Pat is conscientious about every detail, and his car trunk offers every possible hiker need: extra water, tick spray, bug spray, spare toilet paper rolls in case park bathrooms run empty, and more. On the trail, Pat monitors safety closely and takes detours when there are safer trail alternatives. If a hiker leaves early, Pat asks for a text confirming their safe arrival. He is aware of the individual needs of his group members at all times.
As his hikes evolved over time, Pat noticed that some hikers wanted a faster pace. To meet those needs, Pat established a second “fast paced workout hike” on Saturday mornings. This hike has become extremely popular. Not surprisingly, Pat is conscientious about his administrative work, submitting in-depth trip reports shortly after the hike is completed. His reports routinely include write-ups about trail situations or challenges.
As if that isn’t enough, Pat has educated himself about Valley Forge and some of its sights, and also does trail maintenance. In fact, Pat will receive the 2024 Marian Pychowska Stewardship Award at AMC’s summit, an honor bestowed on members who have logged in over 96 hours of trail work in a year. Pat will be only the 2nd DV member to receive this prestigious award.Pat’s consistently conscientious leadership style, his dedication to the hiking community and his commitment to trail maintenance qualify him for the Magnificent Member of the Quarter award. Nominated by Lisa Lombardo
Paul Benson, Trail Maintenance
Paul was instrumental in the construction of the new privy on the Appalachian Trail at Kirkridge. Although he did not design the privy, his knowledge as an engineer was invaluable since there is always a gap between design and implementation.
Even more valuable was Paul’s craftsmanship during construction. He was clearly the most knowledgeable of all the volunteers and helped the designer execute the design specs through his precise measuring and cutting, and occasionally, by improvising a solution to a problem. Paul always brought his own tools and was willing to work in any capacity, including carrying lumber and equipment to the work site. Although this project spanned extremely cold and extremely hot weather conditions, Paul remained undaunted and often did tasks others declined, most notably climbing up to work on the roof!
In addition to his work on privy construction, Paul also volunteered to help demolish the old privy. Once again, he was the sole volunteer to climb to the roof. Throughout the project, Paul’s construction skills, great attitude and fabulous sense of humor made him a great addition to the privy team. Working with him was an absolute pleasure. Nominated by Greg Bernet
About the Magnificant Member program
If you participated in an AMC activity and thought, “Wow, that leader is awesome because…” or “wow, that member went above and beyond because…,” now you can do something to acknowledge that special service.
You will love the Magnificent Member of the Quarter program being rolled out by the AMC Delaware Valley Chapter. The new program recognizes folks that impress you, for whatever reason.
Under this program, any AMC member may nominate a Delaware Valley Chapter member for ongoing excellence as a leader or above-and-beyond behavior as a member at an AMC event or gathering. If you see something good, say something!
Submitting your nomination is easy. Just follow the guidelines here and on the chapter website. If your nominee is chosen—and there can be more than one recipient per quarter—she or he will receive a gift card as our thank you for modeling AMC values.
A Magnificent Member is an AMC-DV member who demonstrates ongoing excellence as a leader or above-and-beyond behavior as a member at an AMC event or gathering.
Award recipients will be recognized on chapter social media and our newsletter, and will receive a retail gift card.
Guidelines for the program include:
- Nominator must be an AMC member, but does not have to be a DV Chapter member.
- Nominee must be an active, current AMC-DV member.
- Nominee cannot have been a Magnificent Member recipient within the past 12 months.
- Magnificent Member nominees and recipients can also be eligible for annual chapter-wide awards, such as Appie or Golden Appie.
- Nominations will be vetted by the Executive Committee.
- Executive Committee members cannot be nominated while they serve.
- Nominations deadlines are March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1.
To nominate a Magnificent Member, submit an email to both vicechair@amcdv.org and secretary@amcdv.org and include the following information:
- Name and email address of nominator.
- Name and email address of nominee.
- Date and location of activity or event where behavior occurred.
- At least three sentences that describe the award winning behavior, including where and when.
This replaces our Volunteer of the Month Program. Pasr winners are:
Charlie Ogle, for trail work
John Rowen, writing the program that generates the web Activities Calendar
Susan Bickford-Martin, starting the XC ski hot line and becoming our first skiing chair
Midori Wakabayashi, for her trail work
Barry Mazer, for making and donating hand-carved walking sticks
John Chalikian, for leading basic canoe instruction program
Jerry Srodes, for litter cleanup and trail maintenance
Mike Manes, trail maintainer, conservation volunteer and American Chestnut advocate
Walt Underhill, leads solo canoe training, stores and maintains club paddling equipment, leads many trips
Barbara Wiemann, for leading variety of new hikes in Lehigh Valley area
Denis McCartan, for leading a great number of new and varied hikes
Phill Hunsberger, for leading the Lehigh Valley Group, and organizing its monthly programs
Ian Kindle, for the wide variety of trips: hiking, biking, snowshoeing, XC skiing and paddling plus photo workshops
Steve Leibrock, leads bike trips, volunteers to sweep on hikes, contributes photographs to web and print
Jeff Lippincott for past service on the Executive Committee, active hiking and biking leader, mentor to leaders-in-training.
John Rogers for participation in all AT work trips this season, new leader mentor, Mohican weekend leader.
Dan Schwartz for leading AT trail work sessions, serving as ATC rep, Ridgerunner coordinator and numerous other AT and trails functions
Lizzie Grobbel for 20s & 39s leadership, introducing trail running to DV Chapter
Greg Bernet, for AT trailwork, volunteering as Highlands Trail Crew Coordinator.
Barb Blythe for being an active hiking, backpacking, and bicycling leader for our chapter.
Rich Pace, for hiking, paddling leadership, especially for the large number and wide variety of trips led, photography
Bill Murray, for Lehigh Valley Group meeting work, and more
David Stein, leads 50 plus hikes a year, Wissahickon hikes for 10 years
Barbara Beatrice and Jeff Fritzinger, Catskill trip leaders
Susan Weida, recorder of all our activities and participants
Ron Phelps, multi-activite leader, leadership committee member
Rick and Allison Hudson for their service for the DV Chapter, as hiking chai, secretary, social committee work
Terry Berntsen leader of day hikes, bike outings & multi-day events including camping, biking, hiking and XC skiing.
Pete Jarrett prolific hike leader and hiking teacher
Don Garrido is an hike leader, vice chair, Mohican Committee, Fall Gathering volunteer
Linda Watsula, social activity volunteer, hike leader
Carl Ganong, active backpack leader and trail maintainer
George Rockett, active hiking leader
Ira Rubinstein, multi-day adventure leader, world trekker
Rand Salani, leader of challenging hikes
Tammy Brandon, bike, hike leader, former bicycling chair
Geri Chmiel, organizer of chapter social events and Spring Fling
Sarah Richardsen, 20s & 39s leader and provider of support to EC
Rich Einstein, hike, bike, conservation leader
Margaret McDonald, hike leader, data logger
Christine Loch, diversity volunteer
Joanie Schultz, popular hike series leader
Jay Gross, new hike series leader
Jose Ibarra, trail work and Valley Forge volunteer
Jeanne Mantell, who lends a versatile helping hand
Rich Kowal, a dedicated trail maintainer
Anthony Palandro, backpacking leader
Tom Sherwood, hiking leader
Mike Ahern, hike and bike leader, helps with Weekly Bulletin
Kieu Manes, conservationist, hiker
Larry Priori, creative hike leader
Jane and Greg Cook, conservation and coordination leaders
Bill Steinmetz for running our ridgerunner program
Priscilla Estes named volunteer of month for conservation promotion, leadership
Jennifer Percival, a skill building hike leader
Dan Loughner, trail worker and trip leader
Raun Kercher, hike, bike backpack leader
Tom George, AT trail worker
Bill De Stefano, publicity and backpack leader
Tom Marino, major force in the development of Highlands Trail
Mary Jane Martin, past social chair, event leader
Amy Williams, active new leader
Karla Geissler, hike leader, MLS grad, Fall Gathering volunteer
Steven Campanelli & Judy Farrell, hike, bike & backpack duo
Karen Rossino, bike leader, data coordinator
Jane Richter, twice top hiker, active trail worker
Cindy Friel, hike and paddling leader, interorganizational connection
Denis McCartan, trail running pioneer, leader trainer, active leader
Jesse Gusler, trail work leader with PA Highlands Trail Stewards
Julia Watson, rapidly advancing hike leader
Mark Kern, volunteer who takes on many different jobs
Joe Nanfara for years of service as Chapter Treasurer, frequent hike leader
Diane Ullmer, hike leader and more
Blase Hartman, new leader, Fall Gathering coordinator of entertainment
Reed Goosen, bike, hike, paddling leader
Len Morawski, AT trail angel
