Jim Baldwin (member of the NCTA Board who serves as a volunteer Acting Executive Director of the NCTA in Lowell, Dave (member of the NCTA Board) and Jan Cornell, Tom Garnett (immediate past president of CNC and member of CNC's board), Larry Hawkins (CNC president), Mick Hawkins (webmaster), Martha Jones (past president of NCTA) and Linda Warren (CNC's newsletter editor) comprised Chief Noonday's contingent.  Martha, who resides in Royal Oak, is believed to be Chief Noonday's oldest member -- and she is still hiking!

The conference was a mixture of fun, business and learning as well as a chance to hobnob with other NCTA people from across the length and breadth of the Trail.  Jim, Dave, Larry and Mick attended the Summer Board Meeting and the Chapter Presidents' Meeting.  There was an array of different hikes along various portions of the NCNST including an interpretive hike through the old forest in the Cook Forest State Park with ranger Dale Luthringer, a biologist with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.  Mick and Larry participated in a Trail Building "hands on" course in which a pristine trail was created out of a woods devastated by logging.  The trail building course was presented by Clare Cain, NCTA Trail Manager, along with Bill Menke, Andrew Bashaw, and Matt Davis, NCTA's Regional Trail Coordinators.  Various other workshops were attended ranging from food preparation to interacting with private landowners.

The Chief Noonday Chapter members also racked up a host of awards from the National Park Service at the evening programs including five 100 volunteer hour awards (Tom Garnett, Mick Hawkins, Wayne Marvin, John Morgan and Linda Warren), two 200 hour awards (Tom Garnett and Mick Hawkins), two 400 hour awards (Jim Baldwin and Larry Hawkins), and four 1000 hour awards (Dave Cornell, Tom Garnett, Charles Krammin and Larry Pio).

The Conference was highlighted for our Chapter by the awarding of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dave Cornell (right), the highest award presented by the North Country Trail Association.

The Conference was a great success, and we are looking forward to the 2007 National NCTA Conference which will be held in Bemidji, Minnesota, the first weekend in August 2007.  Hope to see you there.

(See more pictures on our Photos page.)
 

Word has been received of the passing of

Dr. Sackett and his wife were some of the first landowners in southwestern Michigan to allow the North Country National Scenic Trail to pass through their land. After the Trail was constructed on their property, the Sacketts took great pride in it. Dr. Sackett became over time an ardent supporter of the Trail.  An avid outdoorsman in his own right, he would come to award ceremonies, pose for pictures, and serve as a reference source for other landowners who had questions about the Trail.

Dave Cornell comments, "My favorite memory of Dr. Sackett was when he agreed to be interviewed and taped when the NCTA was producing Joining a Legacy, a DVD dealing with landowner relations. His support of the Trail and its objectives is there for all to see for all time. He will be missed."
 

Ron Sootsman, Charlie Krammin and Larry Hawkins make sure the kiosk is level and vertical -- or at least close.

Putting on the finishing touches to installation of the roof module.  No picture of the actual roof installation was available because even the Webmaster was pressed into service to help.

Chief Noonday's booth at the Hastings Summerfest

What is truly impressive is the amount of time and effort that is contributed to all this activity.

The lion's share of kudos goes to Jerry Pattok, who constructed the booth in the first place several years ago, along with the three wooden easels used.  His tasks this year included recruiting and scheduling the volunteers who staffed the booth, plus helping get it out of storage, loaded, delivered, set up, taken down, and returned to storage, and supervising the coverage -- on top of helping staff it for two shifts!

Others who helped in various capacities, including staffing, supplying the booth with literature, and working on transportation, set-up, take-down and storage, included Eileen Oehler and John E. Morgan (upper right), Dave Cornell, Sheryl Drenth, the Brothers Hawkins (Mick and Larry, lower right), Steve Hicks, Joe Higdon, Charles Krammin, Anna Pattok, Laura Pattok, Sandi Pattok, Larry Pio, and John Rudnicki.  (Melissa Schudel volunteered but was side-lined by illness.  We wish her a speedy recovery!)

Thanks to all who helped.  And thanks to all of you who paid us a visit.  We'll hope to see you on the Trail!