Newsletter
Chapter Meeting November/December 2001
TREASURER’S REPORT
Bob Benham
reports we have $2147 on accountCHAPTER NEWS
The November Meeting was informational, and no business was conducted.
However, Bob Papp and the gang shared our plans with over 50 people in attendance. Rumor has it they were there to see Joan Young speak about her hiking experiences on the North Country Trail. Did you know she has hiked over 1700 miles on the NCT? Go Joan!
The December Chapter meeting was partially held in the foyer of the Barry Township Hall (waiting for the key to show up, which didn't) and partially around a table at Julieann's Restaurant in Delton. For anyone who arrived to the meeting late and found nobody, we apologize for the mixup. You know the old saying, "the best laid plans of mice and trail folks sometimes go astray."
TRAILS REPORT
Larry Hawkins and Steve Hicks report an incredible amount of damage to the trail in the vicinity of the Kellogg Forest.
“It was like walking through a gigantic game of jackstraws except that the straws were great, full grown trees,” says Larry Hawkins.
The trail crew did a fantastic job clearing the trail and getting usable in a short amount of time. Next time you see a member of our trail crew, give them a pat on the back, and maybe a little Ben Gay.
The Chief noonday chapter received a $450 dollar grant from the North Country Trail Association, to complete a connector trail marking from the Barry- Kent County line to the Calhoun-Hillsdale County line. This is for carsonite posts and signage at 27 locations.
Charles Krammin reviewed the conversations that he and Dave Cornell have had regarding the completion of the Trail in the Veterans Administration area east of Battle Creek. It looks like we should have a completed trail from Augusta to Battle Creek by early spring 2002
UPCOMING EVENTS
Starting Jan 5, 2002 the work crew will return to meeting at 'Bailey’s Anchor Inn" (formerly "anchor or Amber Inn"). Located at 12505 Chief Noonday Rd (now M-179); meet at 7 PM for breakfast and start marking the certified portion of Yankee Springs Rec. Area and Northern Barry State Game Area.
Work Days: Jan 5, 19, Feb 2, Feb 16, March 2, March Meet Bailey’s Inn
Chapter Meetings: Jan 9; Feb 13, March 13All at Barry Township Hall, Delton, 7p.m.
Guided Backpacking: June 21 thru June 29, Charles Krammin is leading a 10-day hike from Fallsburg County Park, North of Lowell MI To Battle Creek, 10 miles per day and tent at campsites each night, with car spotting. Contact Charles for information and reservations
PROMOTION AND WEBSITE www.northcountrytrail.org/cnd
Tom Funke recently gave a presentation to the Battle Creek Kiwanians about the North Country Trail.
Check out our chapter’s website for an incredible list of dates to volunteer, hike, and celebrate the trail! Thank Gail Speer for keeping us up to date.
NCT NATIONAL NEWS
R.E.I. Awards $2000 Grant for NCTA Volunteer Brochures--This will combine with funding provided by the American Hiking Society and the National Park Service Challenge Cost Share Program in an overall program which will include not only the new flyers but also signs to place along the trail notifying hikers that the trail is maintained by local volunteers
Two NCTA positions to be created--At its meeting on December 1, the NCTA Board of Directors approved a conceptual plan to create two new, full-time positions to provide greater support to volunteers. These regional coordinators also will be charged with building stronger relations with state and local agencies, and serving as points of contact for local chapters.
National Park Service E-Mail Goes Down-- Due to a court order involving a dispute with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, all Department of Interior internet access has been effectively shut down. As of this writing, no date was known as to when access would be restored. So, for the time being, communications with our National Park Service office in Madison will need to revert to old fashioned means, (that would be phone, fax, and snail mail).
Chapter Contacts
See our CONTACTS web page to see who is who and how to get in touch.
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