3/24 Excursion and Great News!

Good Evening Fellow NCTr's:

Dennis, Lee, and I took an excellent walk this afternoon on the Kirkwood Farm and we were able to get most of the mile-long route through there flagged. Just a little fine tuning left to do on the switchbacks at either end of the hilltop we are using. We were joined out there by Mr. Joe Caler, who owns a piece of the property we're working with, and he was able to clarify some of the boundary line questions that we had. Appreciate him coming out to help us.

After we finished up I went over to the Sterling Road trailhead at Gamelands 285 to check out the "pond situation." Water from the pond had been running over the Game Commission double track for the past nine months or so, eroding it away. Unfortunately, that double track is also our trail route through that part of the Gamelands. Two weeks ago enough of it was washed out that I had some safety concerns about walking across it and was looking for a detour around that area (without much success, I might add). The Great News is that the Game Commission has been out there within the last day or so and installed a new, larger culvert pipe, and replaced the road. We are high and dry through that area once again, and no need to build "detour trail."

In a most-uncharacteristic twist, I took some pics of today's activities, which can be seen starting here.

Have a great week - thanks for all you do for the NCT!

Dave Brewer

Trailwork Thursday 3/24

Good Evening Fellow NCTr's:

Sorry about the short notice but I have been watching the forecast and I think Thursday afternoon, March 24th, will work for us this week. The plan is to meet at the entrance to Crawford's Camping Park on Hodgson Road at 3:00 PM and do a last walk-through on the Kirkwood Farm, flagging as we go. We should be out for a couple of hours getting this mile-long route nailed down for the Pittsburgh SCA crew to work on.

Wampum Chapter member Rick Ostheimer Will Not be joining us this Thursday. "Hey, where's Rick?" He is currently backpacking the 300 mile long Allegheny Trail in West Virginia. I've been following his trail journal and it looks like a good hike. If you'd like to follow along with him, his journal is here.

Lastly, I think I sent out word about this before, but here is a link to information about our participation in the Great American Cleanup of PA on Saturday, April 16th. Hope you can make it out to help with this project.

Thanks for all you do for the trail - hope to see you Thursday afternoon (no experience necessary!!)

Dave Brewer
Trail Work Coordinator

From Recon To Attack

Good Evening Fellow NCTr's:

This morning's plan was to get out to the section of NCT below the haunted house at Cemex to look at rerouting off of some of the waterlogged sections of trail through there. However, Lee and Doug, both armed with loppers, went into attack mode as soon as we headed up the trail, and the multifloral rose along the trail never stood a chance. I swear those guys lopped and pruned for two hours straight - no mercy in those guys. A good head start for the maintenance season!

We met up with Richard Lutz at the haunted house and the four of us were able to come up with a couple of good solutions for getting the treadway out of the muddiest spots. I have a very general map of what we're planning to do here. It looks like in order to do this we'll need to put in one simple, ten-foot bridge to be able to get the DR mower through the area. And, having originally considered building a stretch of turnpike, it turned out that it isn't going to be necessary as we can easily reroute to get above the source of our water problem. Piece of cake - can't wait to get started.

A few pics from today start here.

My thanks to Lee, Richard, and Doug for making the trip out with me this morning and for their insight on how to best work this project.

Next on the agenda is to get the new trail route at the Kirkwood farm flagged. We'll plan on hitting that next week sometime, depending on the weather.

Thanks for all you do for the trail!

Dave Brewer
Trail Work Coordinator

Winter Pics - Tuesday 3/15 Excursion

Good Afternoon Fellow NCTr's:

That last blast of snow on Thursday night and Friday morning sure made for some beautiful woodland scenes. Bob Cody went out to a couple locations along the trail yesterday and took great pictures - you can see them starting here. Thanks Bob!

The weather forecast for this Tuesday morning, March 15th, sure looks un-winter-like, so I am planning on taking a walk out on the trail on the Cemex section between Sankey Hill and Fletcher Hill Roads to do some recon for when the ground is dry enough to do some trail work. I'll be looking at A) the reroute we are planning for near the haunted house, and B) How much turnpike we need to build just to the west of there, and what kind of material we have in that vicinity to work with. I plan on getting both of those sections flagged so we know exactly what we need to do when it is time to dig. If you like to join me (and I always appreciate routing opinions and input) I'll be leaving from Jata's on Main Street in Wampum at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, heading for the Sankey Hill Road trailhead, and will plan on being out for a couple of hours. Come earlier to Jata's for breakfast if you'd like.

Thanks for all you do for the trail!

Dave Brewer

2011 NCTA Awards Call

It's that time of year again to nominate your outstanding volunteers and leaders for our 2011 Annual Awards. Below are the awards criteria with a listing of past winners in each category and an example of the information needed to be included for the nomination.

Please share with others in your chapter / affiliate who may have a nomination to make.

Note that the Chapter / Affiliate Honor Awards will NOT be sent to HQ. We would suggest you do NOT select your Chapter / Affiliate Honoree until AFTER the 2011 NCTA Annual Conference and the NCTA Awards have been awarded at the Annual Conference in Dayton. This will give you the opportunity to select someone from your organization to be honored locally who did not receive a NCTA Award. If you have questions, please contact me or Jill. We will make a separate call for your Honoree's name in early September.

Please be sure to give us enough details relating to the specific award to which the nominee is being nominated so we can adequately compare all nominations for each award. If you wish someone to be nominated for more than one category, please complete a separate Award Nomination form for each award and tailor the narrative to each specific award.

If you have nominated someone in the past and they did not receive the award, you are encouraged to nominate them again.

Please don't hesitate to ask questions.

Remember, nominations are due May 10.

I look forward to a great group of nominations in all categories.
Lorana
Chair, NCTA Awards Committee
-- Life is short. Break the rules. Forgive quickly.
Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably,
and never regret anything that made you smile.

Lorana A. Jinkerson
Professor Emeritus, NMU
1830 Altamont St.
Marquette MI 49855
ljinkers@sbcglobal.net
v: 906-226-62101

How to Make a Nomination
Nominations for NCTA Annual Awards are due May 10. Any current NCTA member may nominate someone for an award. The nominees themselves need not be current members of the NCTA. Award nominations should include the
following:
• Nominee’s Name, address, phone, and e-mail address
• Award for which nomination is being made
• A 1-2 page description of the nominee's service and/or your reason for the nomination.
• A picture of the nominee
• Your name (so we know who made the nomination), address, phone, and e-mail address
Nominations can be submitted several ways:
• By mail: NCTA, 229 East Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331
• By FAX: (616) 897-6605
• By email: HQ@northcountrytrail.org (Please use “Award Nomination“ for your subject)

Our Awards: Criteria, and Past Recipients

VANGUARD AWARD
Theme: Legislator or public servant
Number per year: up to 2
Criteria: A legislator or other public official whose leadership, actions and advocacy have substantially benefited the North Country Trail.
Presentation: Preferably at a public event by an official of the NCTA
Past Recipients:
2000 Senator Herb Kohl Representative David Obey
2001 Senator Carl Levin Representative Ralph Regula
2002 Representative Vern Ehlers
2003 Steve Peterson
2004 Representative Phil English
2005 Gaylord Nelson
2006 Robert Hoffman Ray Vlasak
2007 MN DNR Representative Oberstar
2008
2009 Senator Amy Kobuchar Hank Ludtke
2010 Steve Bade Tom Schackman & Mitch Bouchonville

FRIEND OF THE TRAIL AWARD
Theme: Employee of a partner agency or organization
Number per year: Up to 2
Criteria: An employee of a unit of government or an organization whose leadership,
accommodation and active collaboration have substantially benefited the North
Country Trail.
Presentation: at the NCTA Annual Conference
Past Recipients 2004 Ramona Venegas Scott Tichy
2005 Dorian Grilley Mark Carlstrom
2006 Wally Chappel Ron Kantola
2007 Kent Goeckermann Harvey Tjader
2008 Peter Frank Jim Sessions US Forest Service in Allegheny
National Forest
2009 Kevin Stankiewicz John Kwapinski
2010 Barbara Boyle Karen Larsen

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Theme: Significant commitment and accomplishments over ten or more years
Number per year: 1
Criteria: An individual, in recognition of more than a decade of true dedication, exceptional service and outstanding contributions toward the dream of the North Country National Scenic Trail. Service may be performed in a voluntary or paid capacity.
Presentation: At the Annual Conference
Past Recipients: 1997 Tom Gilbert
1998 Derek Blount
1999 Emily Gregor
2000 Wes Boyd
2001 Howard Beye
2002 Rod MacRae
2003 Jim Sprague
2004 Gene Elzinga
2005 Gaylord Yost
2006 Dave Cornell
2007 John Leinen
2008 Bill Menke
2009 Al Larmann
2010 Ed Sidote

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Theme: Significant commitment and accomplishments over three or more years
Number per year: 1-3
Criteria: An individual, in recognition of exceptional volunteer service in furthering the goals of the NCTA, and outstanding contributions toward the dream of the North Country National Scenic Trail. Not more than one of these awards may be granted each year to an individual who is not a member of the NCTA or an Affiliate.
Presentation: At the Annual Conference
Past Recipients: 1988 Wallace Doan
1989 Barbara A. Smith John G. Hipps
1990 Ken Gackler Ginny Wunsch
1991 Derek Blount Tom Reimers
1992 Art Holland Vince Smith
1993 Linda Mieke
1994 Rod MacRae Gene Elzinga
1995 Baird Stewart
1996 Merrill C. Gilfillan Wes Boyd
1997 Arden Johnson Jim Sprague Gaylord Yost
1998 Howard Beye Pat Allen
1999 Bob Tait Dave Cornell
2000 Martha Jones Doug Welker
2001 John Leinen Joan Young
2002 Werner Veit
2003 Al Larmann Mary Kunzler Larmann
2004 Irene Szabo Bill Menke Arlen Matson
2005 Bill Coffin Jim Burow Pat Leinen
2006 Garry Dill Dick Lightcap Ron Rice
2007 Alicia Hoffarth Bob Norlin
2008 Bobby Koepplin Rick Adamson Herb and Suzie Hulls
2009 Tim Calloway Tana Turonie Mary Coffin
2010 Kathy Eisele Stan Kujawa Lynne Nason

TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Theme: Corporation or Foundation contributor
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A business or foundation for far-sighted vision and support, demonstrated by significant contribution(s) to the NCT or the NCTA.
Presentation: Preferably at a public event by an official of the NCTA
Past Recipients: 2000 R.E.I.
2001 Haworth, Inc.
2002 No nominees received
2003 No nominees received
2004 No nominees received
2005 Lowell Area Community Foundation
2006 Cemex, Inc
2007 Superior Publishing Corporation
2008 Scheel Sports
2009 Chuck McCready
2010 Itasca County Trails Task Force & Blandin Foundation

TRAIL BUILDER OF THE YEAR
Theme: Trail or facilities construction
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A volunteer, whose work in NCT construction, planning, or negotiations have resulted in the development of outstanding new trail or facilities over the past year.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference
Past Recipients: 2001 Al Larmann and Mary Kunzler-Larmann (as a team)
2002 Ron Rice
2003 Paul Haan
2004 Richard Naperala
2005 Carter Hedeen
2006 Rick Adamson
2007 Lynda Rummel
2008 Scott Bowman
2009 Charlie Krammin
2010 Daryl Heise

TRAIL MAINTAINER OF THE YEAR
Theme: Trail or facilities maintenance
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A volunteer, who has demonstrated exceptional dedication or achievements over the past year in maintaining or restoring pre-existing North Country Trail segment(s).
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference
Past Recipients: 2001 Rolf Swanson
2002 Al Mitton
2003 Tom Learmont
2004 Eric Doyle
2005 Richard Krieger
2006 Keith Klos
2007 Mikie Kuhman
2008 Jerry Werner
2009 Ed Chappel
2010 Cliff Stammer

LEADERSHIP AWARD
Theme: Leadership
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A volunteer, who has demonstrated exceptional leadership leading to significant local achievements or highly successful events.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference
Past Recipients: 2001 Peter Nordgren
2002 No nominees received
2003 Gail Blakeley
2004 Jerry Trout
2005 Peggy Jones
2006 Greg Wisniewski
2007 John Heiam
2008 Marty Swank
2009 Ray Vlasak
2010 Annette Brzezicki

OUTREACH AWARD
Theme: Building support and partnerships
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A volunteer, whose efforts to build coalitions, partnerships or other forms of local support have contributed significantly to the ongoing success of the North Country Trail.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference
Past Recipients: 2001 Paula Wilbur
2002 Richard Lutz
2003 Dave Cornell
2004 Al Larmann
2005 Andrew Skurka
2006 Bob McCafferty
2007 Kay Kujawa
2008 Pat Monahan
2009 Tom Garnett
2010 Brian Pavek

COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Theme: Communications or Promotion
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A volunteer, for exemplary work in promoting the North Country Trail or the NCTA through a communications medium (newsletter, website, brochure, etc.) or personal contacts.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference
Past Recipients: 2001 Werner Veit
2002 Angela Addington
2003 No nominees received
2004 Aaron and Sharon Phipps
2005 Ginny Ruppe
2006 Joan Young
2007 Mick Hawkins
2008 Jo Taylor
2009 Lorana Jinkerson
2010 Irene Szabo

RISING STAR AWARD
Theme: Youth
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A volunteer between the ages of 8 and 18, who has made significant contributions to the North Country Trail, and whose dedication to the NCT and the NCTA sets an example to other youths and shows exceptional promise.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference
Past Recipients: 2001 Ben Mourer
2002 No nominees received
2003 Gillian Kreft
2004 No nominees received
2005 Stratton Lucas
2006 None
2007 None
2008 Lukas Seltzer
2009 Joseph Bruenjes
2010 Jessie Rideaux-Crenshaw

SWEEP AWARD
Theme: Working behind the scenes
Number presented: 1 - 3
Criteria: A volunteer, for tireless work and achievements behind the scenes on behalf of the North Country Trail or the NCTA.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference
Past Recipients: 2001 Brooks Kindel
2002 Len and JoAnne Baron
2003 Harlan Liljequist
2004 Atley Oswald
2005 Char Chandler
2006 Peter Edmunds
2007 Deb Kreiger
2008 Ed Ronkowski Becky Heise Peter Wybron
2009 Stacy Scheel Harvey Johnson Florence Hedeen
2010 Barb Pavek Mike Trieschmann

BLUE BLAZES BENEFACTOR AWARD
Theme Individual or household benefactor
Number per year: 1
Nominees sought from: Development Committee, NCTA staff
Criteria: An individual or household demonstrating vision and generosity through significant
monetary or in-kind contribution(s) to the NCT or the NCTA.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference
Past Recipients: 2004 Werner and Marianne Veit
2005 Byron and Margaret Hutchins
2006 None
2007 Walter Srogi
2008 Harmon Strong
2009 Peggy McRae
2010 Jim Weiske

OUTSTANDING PRIVATE LANDOWNER AWARD
Theme Outstanding landowner
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A private landowner whose leadership, accommodation and active collaboration
have substantially benefited the North Country Trail.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference
Past Recipients:

CHAPTER/AFFILIATE HONOR AWARD
Theme Outstanding Chapter/Affiliate Volunteer
Number presented: 1 per Chapter/Affiliate
Nominees sought from: Chapter leaders, NCTA members
Criteria: An individual or household who demonstrates loyalty, commitment and hard work annually to the local organization’s chosen activities
Presentation: Announced and presented at Chapter/Affiliate level event
Note: Not selected until after the Annual Conference

2011 NCTA Annual Awards Nomination Form

Chapter/Affiliate
Name:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Award
Nominated
for:
_______________________________________________________________________________
Nominee
Name:
______________________________________________________________________________________
Nominee
Address:
___________________________________________________________________________________
Nominee
City:
________________________________________________________________________________________
Nominee
State:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Nominee
Zip:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Nominee
Phone:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Nominee
e-­‐mail:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Your
Name:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Your
Address:
________________________________________________________________________________________
Your
City:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Your
State:
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Your
Zip:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Your
Phone:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Your
e-­‐mail:
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Write a one to two page statement that explains the reason why this person should receive this particular award. Be sure to give enough detail so that we can compare nominees. The deadline for nominations is May 10, 2011.