Chair

Outgoing Chair David Katz

Highlights from 2021 - As 2021 comes to a close, I thought I’d look over my notes to remind myself of the Laurentian Chapter’s activities this year. Here’s what I found:

• Trail maintenance. The Laurentian Chapter continues to lead trail maintenance activities on the Red Sandstone and Stone Valley trails. In practice, this means Chapter Outings where we cut branches, level trail surfaces, harden stream crossings, and occasionally build bridges. This year we also adopted the Tooley Pond Road waterfall trails, featuring a trail maintenance outing in late spring.
• Outings. Adding up walks, hikes, and paddles, all told we were in the woods more than 70 times this year. Check our Events calendar for this winter’s outings.
• Outdoors-Indoors. These indoor presentations about unusual outdoor activities have been popular winter Sunday evening events for several years. 2021 was no exception, although there was no sharing of cookies and coffee since we had to hold them by zoom rather than in person. Check Our Events calendar for this winter’s Outdoors-Indoors offerings.
• Photo contest. Being out on the trail seems to bring out the best in the Laurentian Chapter’s photographers. None of the winners are pros, so take out your camera (or camera app) and enter the 2022 photo contest.
• River advisory committees: We don’t spend all of our time on outings; we also participate with DEC and other organizations that affect the health of our local wild lands and the quality of our time in the woods. For example, as part of hydropower licensing agreements, River Advisory Committees composed of government, public, and private entities oversee spending for infrastructure improvements on several North Countrys rivers. The Laurentian Chapter participates in the Raquette, Oswegatchie, and West Branch St Regis committees.

Executive Committee - As usual, the New Year sees changes in the Laurentian Chapter Executive Committee’s membership:

• Holly Woodworth, who has represented the chapter on Adk’s Board of Directors for the last couple of years, will be leaving the Executive Committee, as is Jim Burdick, outgoing Vice-Chair for Education. Our thanks to both.
• Marianne Hebert will preside over the chapter’s activities as Chair. I will be handling the chapter’s secretarial duties so that Blair Madore can take on the Education position that Jim is leaving.
• Last but not least, we welcome Mary MacKinnon as Vice-Chair for Membership.

2022 - The new year marks the Laurentian Chapter’s fiftieth anniversary and the hundredth anniversary of Adk as a whole. We start the year with a celebratory New Year’s Day outing at Higley Flow State Park and are planning more celebratory activities as 2022 unfolds. Please join us!

Incoming Chair Marianne Hebert

As incoming Chair, I am excited and a bit apprehensive about my new responsibilities. I am heartened that I will have access to the wisdom of past-Chairs — David Katz who will continue as Chapter Secretary, and John Barron who will continue as Publicity Coordinator. Their knowledge and expertise are just a few keyboard-clicks away. I am grateful to the new and continuing officers and volunteers in appointed positions who help make the Chapter run so smoothly.

2022 will be an interesting year for the Chapter as we are seeing big changes at Club headquarters. Recently the ADK Board of Directors approved further bylaws revisions which changed how Chapters will be funded. They also approved the purchase of the Cascade Cross Country Ski Center which will bring new opportunities for the Club and ADK members.

2022 is the 50th anniversary of the Laurentian Chapter, and we are seeking volunteers and ideas to help with celebration planning. If you have time, ideas or suggestions, let us know!

The upcoming year is sure to see continued challenges with COVID. Vaccines and masking will continue to be required for some time. We will continue to seek guidance on keeping everyone safe, and we are grateful for your cooperation. Outdoor activities are the safest way to get together, and I hope to see everyone out on the trails.