Annual Meeting 2003:
John
Clark Service Award Presented at Annual Meeting
Newsletter
Editor Receives Award at Annual Meeting
John Clark Service Award Presented at Annual Meeting
Marjorie Gaunt received the John Clark Service Award at our Chapter’s Annual Meeting in November. Many of you have had the opportunity to get to know her and some lucky ones can refer to her as more than an acquaintance. Marjorie received this award for being an unsung hero in our club. She has been a member for more than thirty years and is now a life member. She has been chapter secretary and conservation committee chair. Marjorie has put herself into countless, supporting roles, which require a warm and friendly face regardless of the elements. Acting as welcomer and helper, she has willingly and lovingly provided extra support for many chapter activities and leaders which helped seal the success of these events. At past trail work weekends, Marjorie would happily keep busy as chief chef and bottle washer for no less than 50 volunteers. She continues to happily extend a hand at club events, quietly and humbly. Currently, as secretary for the trails committee, Marjorie has opened her home to the committee each month. Thank you Marjorie for your service to our club and for being a natural example of a fine AMC member.
Newsletter Editor Receives Award at Annual Meeting
After serving as Editor of the Gansett Gazette for the past six years, Mark Dennen retired from that position during the summer of this year. When a new editor was needed back in 1997, Mark agreed to take the position on a “temporary” basis. That temporary agreement turned into a six year term in the position. During that time, Mark made many improvements to the newsletter, which streamlined its compilation and improved its appearance. In recognition for six years of outstanding work, the executive committee, on behalf of all chapter members, presented Mark with a special award of appreciation at the recent annual meeting. Thanks, Mark, for all your hard work!
The following leaders were eligible to receive leadership patches at the
Annual Meeting:
Sue Boland (Local Hiking)
Carol Chabot (Bicycling)
Mary Cloos (Northern Hiking)
Barbara Dallinger (Local Hiking)
Mary Ellen Deveau (Local Hiking)
John Fontaine (Technical Climbing)
Lou Jacobs (Local Hiking)
Mike Krabach (Bicycling and Sea Kayaking)
Bill Lotz (Local Hiking)
Dave Madsen (Local Hiking)
Diane Madsen (Local Hiking)
Sid Wax (Bicycling)
The following people led or administered several 2002 and 2003
activities:
Peter Barlow (Technical Climbing)
Roy Benoit (Trails & Local Hiking)
Peter Broderick (Local/N. Hiking & Leadership Training Events)
Denise Burgess (Northern Hiking & Conservation)
Jim Burns (Local Hiking)
Bob Cilette (Wednesday Night Events & Local Hiking)
Jennie Crooks (Trails)
Henry Cruciani (Trails & Local Hiking)
Fred Dallinger (Local Hiking)
Barbara D’Amico (Local Hiking)
Sue DiSimoni (Biking, Skiing, Special Events & Local/N.Hiking)
Jim Dunn (Northern Hiking)
Sandy Dunn (Local/Northern Hiking)
Maria Earley (Trails & Local Hiking)
Craig Gaspard (Family Outings)
Terry Gaspard (Family Outings)
Janet Harris (Local Hiking)
Jim Havens (Northern Hiking)
Adele Holcombe (Local Hiking)
Tim Hull (Map & Compass Training)
Bob Janus (Local/Northern Hiking)
Gwen Jones (Northern Hiking)
Bill Kilcup (Local Hiking)
Charlie Killam (Northern Hiking &
Leadership Training Events)
Liz Kroll (Skiing & Bicycling)
Karen Longest (Technical Climbing)
Tom Longest (Technical Climbing)
Marcie Madsen (Bicycling, N. Hiking, & Leadership Training)
Cathy Manchester (Local Hiking)
Ray Martin (Technical Climbing)
Nuala McLaughlin (Trails & Leadership
Training Events)
Sue McMillan (Bicycling & Skiing)
Steve Morra (Bicycling, Flatwater Paddling, Local Hiking, &
Photography)
Linda Pease (Conservation, Flatwater Paddling, Biking, & Local
Hiking)
Ann Perkins (Local Hiking)
Steve Pierce (Local Hiking)
Terri Pinto (Conservation, Local/Northern Hiking)
Ed Poyer (Northern Hiking & Leadership Training Events)
Larry Rollins (Special Chapter Events,
Biking, Skiing, & N.Hiking)
John Ross (Local Hiking)
Mike Rubin (Bicycling & Skiing)
Bill Rush (Flatwater Paddling,
Sea Kayaking, & Bicycling)
Jack Schempp (Conservation, Skiing, Biking, & Northern Hiking)
Fran Scullin (Local/Northern Hiking & Leadership Training Events)
Chris Shafer (Trails, Skiing, Flatwater
Paddling & Leadership Training Events)
John Stevens (Local Hiking & Conservation)
Ruth Strach (Flatwater Paddling)
Dick Sullivan (Local Hiking & Trails)
Bev Thomas (Sea Kayaking & Local Hiking)
Gail Trapp (Local Hiking)
Gary Whitney (Flatwater Paddling & Website)
(For 12 hours or more of trails or conservation service work in 2003):
Betty Allen, Linda Cooper, Patty D'Ambra, Roseann Evans, Yvonne
Federowicz, Ilse Hill, Linda Pease, Terri Pinto, Jack Schempp, Marcy
Snapp, John Stevens, Robert Sumner-Mack, Dick Yeaw, Roy Benoit, Dominic
Boudreau, Jay Corry, Bruce Crooks, Jennie Crooks, Henry Cruciani, Martha
Cruciani, Jim Dowling, Rick DeGrandpre, Kelly Drake, Maria Earley,
Marjorie Gaunt, Jodi Imms, Barbara Kilcup, Bill Lotz, Nuala McLaughlin,
Al Pointe, Tim Powers, Joe Reynolds, Dan Riordan, Geoffrey Sewell, Susan
Sewell, Chris Shafer, Andrew Shearer, Herrick Spencer, Dick Sullivan
Although usually presented at the annual meeting, because the intended Appie of the Year recipient was unexpectedly unable to attend the meeting, the award will instead be presented at the Spring Potluck in March.
Narragansett Chapter,
AMC
November 15, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Chapter Chair, Larry Rollins,
before a gathering of approximately 85 members. Copies of the chapter
chair's annual report, minutes of last year's annual meeting, the treasurer's
report and
the committee reports were distributed to all in attendance. Larry
referred everyone to take a few minutes to review his written annual report and
the minutes of last year's meeting. The minutes were accepted by the
body. Larry then reviewed and spoke about some of the highlights of the
previous year, for both the club, which included the Capital Campaign and the
Highland Center, and for the chapter, which included the increased number of
members and the large number of events and activities held by all committees.
Then Treasurer Tom Eagan spoke about the financial condition of the club.
Although new to the position, Tom said he reviewed the current and historical
financial records of the chapter and, based upon accepted standards, feels the
chapter is in very good financial condition. He said the cash balance of
the chapter has been steadily increasing during recent years, from
approximately $6,000.00 in 1989, to approximately $8,000.00 in 1999 and to
approximately
$11,000.00 in 2003. The treasurer's report was accepted by the body.
Larry referred everyone to the distributed committee reports for their review.
Larry then announced the slate of officers for 2004, as follows:
Chair Lawrence Rollins
Vice Chair Susan DiSimoni
Secretary
Fred Griffith;
Treasurer Thomas
Eagan
Membership Maria Earley
The 2004 slate of officers was accepted by the body.
Larry indicated that these officers are the ones elected by the body, while all
other officers are appointed. Larry then
introduced all the other officers of the chapter. Larry then called for a
Moment of Silence for three, long-time members of the chapter who passed away
in the past year:
Russ Whitney
Marlene Eckerly
Joe Jackson
Larry then introduced Trudy Coxe, a member of the AMC board of directors.
Trudy spoke on behalf of the club and highlighted the opportunities that the
club offers, the achievements made in leadership and the progress made on
conservation issues. Larry then introduced Jane Anker, who is the
Leadership Training Institute coordinator at AMC headquarters. She spoke about the various leadership
opportunities and gains made within the club.
Larry then introduced the chapter's Activities Chair, Chris Shafer. Chris
awarded Leader Patches to 12 members who qualified
for the first time by leading or co-leading several activities during the
year. Chris also announced and recognized 51 Prolific
Leaders from 2003. These are the members who either led or
administered a significant number of activities during the previous year. Chris also recognized all other leaders for
2003. Larry then introduced Nuala McLaughlin and Jack Schempp, who presented Stewardship Awards to 39 members for their work on
trail maintenance throughout the year. Larry then awarded the 25 year and 50
year membership awards to those members who achieved these milestones during
2003. The 25 year members are:
Muriel and Roger Pepper
Linda Cooper and Dick Yeaw
James Sanford
Then Steve Morra, Communications Chair, was introduced to make a special award
presentation. Steve recognized the retiring Gansett Gazette newsletter editor, Mark Dennen, for outstanding
service to the chapter over the past six years and
presented Mark with an award of appreciation on behalf of the executive board
and all the members.
Nuala McLaughlin was then introduced to make the presentation of the John Clark Service Award. The
award was presented to Marge Gaunt, who is a long-time member, as an unsung
hero of the chapter, for many years of dedicated service with both organizing
and performing trail work. Marge addressed the body and expressed her
appreciation both for the award and for the opportunities the AMC has provided
for her.
Larry then announced that the next award to be presented was the Appie of the Year, which is the
highest award presented by the chapter. But, since the intended recipient
was not present due to a airline flight delay, it was decided that the
presentation will be made at the Spring Potluck gathering in March 2004.
Everyone then enjoyed dinner and dessert.
After dinner, Vice Chair, Sue DiSimoni introduced the guest speaker, Frank
Shea. Mr. Shea is a noted individual in the field of conservation and he
presented a very interesting and enlightening slide show and talk on the
"Old Growth Forest" of Wachusett Mountain, which covered what
constitutes an old growth forest, the history of the area and the variety of
species located there. The presentation was well received by the body.
Lastly, Larry closed the meeting at 9:00 pm, wished everyone a safe drive home
and expressed hope that everyone would attend the Spring Potluck in March 2004.