MATC President Tom Gorrill speaks with Maine Senator Angus King on the Senator’s podcast – Inside Maine. Tom can be heard from minute 19-39.
Listen to other podcasts from Inside Maine here: https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/inside-maine-podcast
The official way to cross the Kennebec River is the canoe ferry.
MATC’s Dave Field was a featured author in the Winter 2022 edition of ATC’s “Journeys” magazine. Dave is a life-long volunteer on the A.T. and has witnessed and instigated many change over the years. The trail you know and love today is in in large part Dave’s doing. Please thank Dave for his dedication to and love of the trail! Check out the article: https://appalachiantrail.org/official-blog/loving-the-trail/
While using a privy is typically and preferably a solitary experience, the how and why of privies deserve some face time. Check out this recent ATC article explaining the privy “Facts of the Matter.” The banner photo was taken by MATC volunteer Emily Zimmerman from the 2021 Sabbath Day Pond privy project! https://appalachiantrail.org/register-blog/privy-choices/
-Craig Dickstein
When we joined in the efforts of MATC in late-2005, Donna and I were asked to help Gordon Clarke with the Carrying Place section in the Kennebec District. What a great introduction to Trail maintenance! Not only did Gordon have (and share) the requisite skills, but his passion for the work was infectious. The first trip out in the spring was the best as we got our annual spring wildflower lesson. His love of wildflowers was gained from the days that his wife Karen would join him on the Trail or on one of their many wilderness canoe trips.
A Club member since 1997, Gordon devoted much time and energy to the Kennebec District. He was one of the Club’s first Certified Sawyers and always enthusiastic about the program. Gordon was instrumental in erecting Maine’s first elevated bog bridge on the AT – located just north of Carrying Place Road. Whenever I am in that neighborhood, I make a point to walk into the bog and have a quiet moment of great memories.
MATC has lost a great friend of the Trail …. Happy Trails Gordon!
See Gordon’s obituary and preferred charities here.
Group Registrations Coordinator
MATC’s CARE Committee (ridge runner program) is seeking a volunteer to serve as the Group Registration Coordinator. The job includes: receiving information from groups that register to use and camp along the AT; corresponding with groups to advise them on their itineraries and, if necessary, provide alternatives; communicate with ridge runners in the field to inform them of groups passing through or camping in their areas; collecting data to help improve Trail use; providing feedback to camp groups and the CARE Committee on group usage of AT resources. Recommended qualifications for the position are: familiarity with the AT in Maine and its campsites; working knowledge of computer applications for tracking, storing and distributing data; good communication skills.
For more information or to request consideration for the position contact CARE Committee Chair, Janice Clain (jclain@midmaine.com) or MATC Club Coordinator, Holly Sheehan (coordinator@matc.org).
Save the date! The Maine Appalachian Trail Club’s 2022 annual meeting will be held on Saturday April 9th from 9-11am on…. you guessed it- Zoom! Again, we will miss seeing familiar faces and the stories of blow-downs, privies, and flat tires. And we’ll especially miss the coffee and doughnuts! But, with the latest news of COVID-19 this is the best we can do. We are planning on a 2-hour meeting to prevent screen fatigue and stick to the tasks at hand. Based on last year’s meeting we should be able to make it within the 2 hour time-frame. We’ll send out more information, including a Zoom invite, as the date approaches. In addition, we’ll be reaching out to those without the internet to make accommodations. Below is a sneak-peek of the agenda. “See” you all on April 9th! For more information, please contact: Tom Gorrill tgorrill@matc.org
Agenda
Maine Appalachian Trail Club Spring Meeting Via Zoom
Saturday, April 9, 2022
9:00 AM Annual Business Meeting of the Club
10:45 AM News from Appalachian Trail Conservancy – Paige MacGregor
11:00 AM Q&A
11:10 AM End of Day
by Tom Gorrill
Do you know someone who has done an extraordinary job for the MATC last year? Went way above and beyond what was expected?
Please keep that person in mind….and nominate them for the Walter Greene award that is presented at the Spring Meeting.
The Walter D. Greene Award is presented at the Annual meeting to recognize extraordinary effort or achievement by a member of the Maine Appalachian Trail Club. This award is not to take the place of periodic informal recognition that all MATC volunteers should receive; i.e. a ‘thank you’ for a job well done. Nor is the award intended to recognize length of service or long hours (there is an existing ATC program for that purpose).
Please submit names of MATC members who have exceeded expectations of their assigned duties in 2021 to recognize one-time or recurring work, for example:
We will be asking for these names to be presented to the Governance Committee by March 4th, 2021. The committee will then pick the award winner from those nominations.
Please submit nominees to me at tgorrill@matc.org
The MATC would like to acknowledge the generous support of our most recent Sponsor: Flowfold
Launched in 2010, Flowfold makes everyday gear that is lighter, stronger, and lasts longer. Whether sewing lightweight wallets from recycled sailcloth, or making protective face shields for hospitals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, their mission remains the same: To make quality products that improve the everyday lives of the individuals and communities who use them.
With their mission to create better, longer-lasting gear, Flowfold has always been adamant that 100% of their products are Made in the USA. Flowfold is a Maine-based brand with a global reach, committed to supporting local communities and maintaining full control of design and production. (https://www.flowfold.com/) Learn more about MATC Sponsorship here. (https://www.matc.org/index.php/sponsorship/)
Please help us congratulate our very own Tony Barrett who is ATC’s featured volunteer for November! Currently Tony is on the MATC Executive Committee as well as a trail maintainer and chair of our Landscape Protection Committee. Please read the volunteer spotlight to learn about all of Tony’s contributions to the AT!