CMC Weekly News

12/10/03

______________________________________________________________________________

Board Approves Reorganization Plan, Added Staff, New Emphases
The Appalachian Trail Conference Board of Managers has adopted a bold and ambitious plan to restructure the organization to better protect and manage the Appalachian Trail. The plan emphasizes strategies to raise ATC's profile with the hikers and the general public, better connect it to the volunteers in the affiliated clubs who handle most of the day-to-day, on-the-ground Trail work, and increase stable sources of future income to support its mission.

The strategic plan was endorsed by a 25-2 vote during a meeting on November 22 outside Shepherdstown, W.Va. The vote marked the end of the planning phase of a process that dates to 1991 but was accelerated a year ago when ATC and the National Park Service's Appalachian Trail Park Office began a joint planning project. The plan calls for a major change in the governing structure of the organization, changes in the staffing structure, substantial expansion of the organization's regional presence, raising the Conference's public profile, and new emphasis on environmental-quality issues. Most of the changes described in the plan will be implemented over the next two years. Further details can be found here. December 2, 2003
 

Our "Captain Morgan" is a Cover Boy
C. Morgan Sommerville, since January 1983 the only regional representative for Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee that the Appalachian Trail Conference has had, has been named "Outdoor Person of the Year" by Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine. Seen here atop Max Patch (named "Best Place to Sleep under the Stars"), Sommerville, also known as Buck, says: "Nothing I do is possible without our volunteers and agency partners." True, but, as the magazine concludes, "All of us who have ever used the white blaze to find our way owe Morgan Sommerville a debt of gratitude." BRO is distributed free at major outfitters and other stores from Virginia south. Other relevant "bests" in the December issue were the A.T. from Max Patch across the Roan Highlands as "best hiking trail" and Mountain Mama's hostel near Davenport Gap as one of two "best post-trail hangouts." December 8, 2003

Annual Hike the Hill

Dear Trails Advocate: American Hiking Society (AHS) invites you to participate in our annual Hike the Hill: Trails Advocacy Week, scheduled for February 29 - March 3, 2004. This is an opportunity for you to talk directly to the policy-makers here in Washington, DC about your trails and projects. AHS offers guidance and lobby training for both newcomers and experienced advocates. Our advocacy efforts for 2004 will focus on full funding for trails and recreation management within the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management and other trail-related legislation and policies such as federal transportation law reauthorization. Advocacy Week officially begins on Sunday, February 29, with discussion and training on trail policy issues and advocacy skills through Monday morning. Participants begin their lobby visits on Monday with the rest of the week almost entirely devoted to your congressional meetings. We will hold a debriefing session one evening to discuss your lobby visits and next steps for trail advocacy. We are also planning an event for Congress Members on Capitol Hill. American Hiking Society's Board of Directors invites all Advocacy Week participants to a reception and silent auction on Saturday evening, February 28 to welcome you. Advocacy Week 2004 will take place at the Wyndham City Center Hotel, located at 1143 New Hampshire Avenue, near the Foggy Bottom metro station. Room rates are $129 for single/double occupancy. Call 1-800-526-7495 by Feb 6, 2004 to reserve your room. Refer to American Hiking Society to receive the group rate. Register online at http://www.americanhiking.org/policy/advo_week.html  or download and return the registration form to me at the address listed below. The final agenda and supporting materials will follow.

AHS Hiker’s Store

Just in time for the holidays, the online AHS Hiker’s Store (formerly the Hiker’s Emporium) is coming back! Starting next week, the Hiker’s Store will be reopened and better than ever. AHS members can now hike in pride, sporting trail-tested and fashionable “wears” all displaying the famous AHS boot logo. The store contains high-quality brand items such as Layer’s® Cool-Max shirts, Life is Good® pigment-dyed tees, organic cotton tote bags, and Nalgene® water bottles. All items are viewable by logging onto www.AmericanHiking.org/hikers_store , and ordering is simple, secure, and seamless. The site also includes a form for those who wish to mail or fax an order. The store is your one-stop shop for all AHS membership discount promotions, links to outdoor retailers, Trail Finder subscriptions, trail tools, and National Trails Day merchandise. Be on the lookout for member-only specials. Remember, AHS gear makes great holiday gifts too!

Give the Gift of AHS Membership 

Did you know that it’s possible to give an AHS membership as a gift? The gift of membership in AHS is the one size fits all, perfect gift that keeps on giving for everyone on your holiday shopping list. You can purchase gift memberships online at www.AmericanHiking.org/join/ctg/giftmem.html  or you can call Phillip Dodge, Membership Coordinator at (301) 565-6704 ext. 207.

The House of Representatives

The House of Representatives recently introduced its comprehensive transportation bill, called "Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users" or TEA-LU, to replace the current law, TEA-21. TEA-LU proposes $375 billion in total, including increased funding for trails, over the next six years compared to $218 billion authorized by TEA-21 six years ago. The Transportation Enhancements program, the nation’s largest federal source of funding in support of trails, walking, and bicycling projects, remains intact and grows over the life of the bill to $845 million in 2009. Funding for the Recreational Trails Program increases significantly to $700 million over six years, up from $300 million over six years in TEA-21. The bill faces a huge challenge as current gas tax revenues are not sufficient to fund TEA-LU. House transportation committee leaders favor a hike in the gas tax, but the move is strongly opposed by the Administration and House leadership. AHS continues to urge Congress to increase funding and support for trail programs, identify the National Trail System as priority for completion and enhancement, and require all highway construction/reconstruction projects to consider safe trail crossings. For more information, and to write Congress to support trails and transportation funding, visit: http://www.americanhiking.org/policy/write.html 

Annual FMST Meeting

Anyone that is interested in going along with me to this meeting, you are very welcome to attend. Please contact me if interested. Don Walton

Dear FMST Task Forces: I hope that each of you are enjoying the Holiday season thus far. As you know we have time on our agenda for Task Force reports at our Annual meeting on January 31, 2004. We will have all of the AV needs if you want to come with a power point presentation. We also welcome displays of photos and maps of the MST work you have done over the years as well. We will also add "door prizes" this year at the meeting. They range from outdoor products to gift cards. If you would like to submit some items to the list let me know, we would be glad to accept them. Please take a moment to account for all of your volunteer hours spent on the MST this year, its time to close some grants and file reports with NC State Parks. You can mail your hours to Allen de Hart at 3585 US-401-South, Louisburg, NC 27549. Hope you have a good holiday. Jeff Brewer

What you need for a day hike 

Bringing the proper equipment will add greatly to your enjoyment, your safety, and the enjoyment and safety of the group. This stuff is essential if you are going out in the woods for more than a couple of hours. Make sure that you are comfortable with your equipment and you know where it all fits in. Do not carry anything in your hands; do not tie a jacket around your waist. Everything should fit in your daypack. Carry your wallet and keys in your daypack, at all times. In your daypack: Two quarts of water in plastic water bottles (not soda bottles) Lunch and snacks Rain jacket (no matter what the forecast) Long sleeve shirt (no matter what the forecast) Sunglasses Wool or fleece hat and gloves Insect repellent Sunscreen Tissues Personal first aid kit Small flashlight Plastic bag for trash If it is not the height of a warm summer, add: Warm fleece hiking sweater or jacket Rain pants How to dress: Shorts and a short-sleeve T-shirt as the bottom layer. Hiking boots that are well broken-in and that go over the ankles Good hiking socks (not sports socks). Sunhat with a wide brim Bandanna which you need to keep handy Dress in layers: Your first layer should be a short-sleeve t-shirt (synthetic, not cotton) even if it seems cool in the morning. You will warm up. Your second layer should be a long-sleeve shirt (also synthetic). If you need extra layers, you will have your warm hiking sweater and rain jacket. Shorts give you more mobility and keep you cooler; pants give you more protection from insects and brush. Questions, comments, additions to the list? Send to danny@hikertohiker.org