2012 ncta annual report

Your Adventure Starts Nearby.

%%% 2 0 1 2 annualreport%%% 2 0 1 2 annualreport

contents

1 From the Executive Director and President of the Board

NCTA Programs

2 Volunteerism, Trail Building and Maintenance, Trail Protection, A Message from NPS Superintendent Mark Weaver

3 Partnering for Wildlife and Trails in Minnesota, Outreach and Events, Trail Advocacy

4 Trail Use, Young Volunteers in the North Country

5-6 Decade Member Club

Philanthropy and Financial Highlights

7 True North Society and Founders Circle

8-10 2012 Contributors

11 North Country Legacy Society

11 How to Get Involved and Support the Trail

12 2012 Financial Highlights

NCTA Chapters, Partners, Affiliates, Staff and Board Members (inside back cover)

MISSIONThe North Country Trail Association develops, maintains, protects and promotes the North Country National Scenic Trail as the premier hiking path across the northern tier of the United States through a trail-wide coalition of volunteers and partners.

%%% I N 2 0 1 2

VOluNteerS cONStructed

65 miles of new trail treaD!

NctA VOluNteerS dONAted A tOtAl Of

73,834 hours VAlued At

$1,608,842.86!

%%% I N 2 0 1 2

VOluNteerS cONStructed

65 miles of new trail treaD!

tHe Brule-St. crOIx rOVerS trAIl BuIldINg teAM

wON tHe NPS HArtzOg AwArd fOr OutStANdINg VOluNteer grOuP IN tHe MIdweSt.

NctA VOluNteerS dONAted A tOtAl Of

73,834 hours VAlued At

$1,608,842.86!

tHe Brule-St. crOIx rOVerS trAIl BuIldINg teAM

wON tHe NPS HArtzOg AwArd fOr OutStANdINg VOluNteer grOuP IN tHe MIdweSt.

north country trail association 2012 annual report

The NorTh CouNTrY TrAil ASSoCiATioN mAde remArkAble progreSS iN 2012.

The organization continues to mature as we embrace today’s challenges in completing and ensuring the perpetuity of the North Country National Scenic Trail. It’s a daunting task, when you

think about it – protecting the 2,600 miles already built and building the remaining 2,000 miles of North Country Trail, creating the simple footpath envisioned in the National Trails Act.

Our volunteers continue their pattern of sweat equity growth, which in 2012 grew by eight percent in hours, and ten percent in dollar value – to $1.6 million. That’s almost $5 leveraged against every federal dollar in our core National Park Service investment – a pretty darn good return!

Stable membership in these troubled times is another indication that the NCTA’s core is rock-solid. Annual membership has varied less than two percent over the last four years. Elsewhere in this report you’ll see the detailed breakdown of NCTA’s finances, which performed better than budget in 2012. NCTA’s development program is showing impressive growth as we continue to build a solid and diversified foundation of non-governmental financial support.

The National Park Service assigned its first superintendent solely devoted to the North Country Trail in 2012. Additionally it moved its trail office to Lowell, Michigan just a stone’s throw from the NCTA offices. We’re already enjoying the benefits of a closer relationship with our major partner and with our new superintendent Mark Weaver, even as all government agencies are entering a period of uncertainty, particularly in funding.

The NCTA took major steps in 2012 to not only build the trail but protect it. Last year we were compelled to sue the State of New York when it permitted trail destruction to allow snowmobile use on an NPS-certified section of North Country Trail in Madison County. We refused to be marginalized, stood up against local politics and manned the barricades on behalf of hikers and non-motorized National Scenic Trails.

Finally, the NCTA embarked on a major effort to more proactively acquire easements to protect key stretches of the trail corridor in 2012. The era of simple handshake permission is rapidly being replaced by the need for increasingly sophisticated easements. And the NCTA’s volunteers are responding in kind – redoubling their efforts, forging into new trail corridor territory and building partnerships with like-minded organizations leading to significant progress in getting the trail not only built but protected. They’re a rugged group of bootstrapping individuals united in their conviction that this simple footpath uniting the red plaid nation is good for America.

We’re honored to be able to serve them.

LARRY HAWKINS PReSIdeNt of tHe BoARd

BRuce MAttHeWS executIve dIRectoR

from the executive director and President of the Board

1

trail BuilDing anD maintenanceIn 2012, our volunteers advanced our trail miles on the ground, built needed bridges and boardwalks, added signage and improved the experience for hikers overall.

Highlights include:

• Volunteers constructed 65 miles of new trail and relocated 25 miles to more sustainable locations.

• More than twenty bridges, 7,500 feet of boardwalk or puncheon, and countless other kiosks, shelters and campsite were built along the trail.

• The Laurentian Lakes Chapter worked with the Minnesota Conservation Corp to complete 22 miles of new trail, including fifteen miles in the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.

• The Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter built 3,500 feet of boardwalk and five bridges with a grant received from the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Community program.

• An easement was acquired and two miles of new trail were built on the Ekre Grassland Preserve in North Dakota.

VolunteerismVolunteers are who we are. They build and maintain the trail, promote its use and its stewardship in their communities and fight for the protection of the trail and the surrounding areas that make it special.

In 2012:

• 924 volunteers gave a total of 73,834 hours of their time (an 8% increase from 2011), valued at $1,608,842.86!

• The Brule-St. Croix Rovers, a group consisting of NCTA volunteers led by Regional Trail Coordinator Bill Menke, won the NPS Hartzog Award for Outstanding Volunteer Group in the Midwest.

• Four NCTA volunteers won President Obama’s Call to Service Award for accumulating more than 4,000 hours of volunteer time: Arlen Matson, Ray Vlasak, Stan Kujawa and Dick Kroener.

trail protectionThe route of the NCT traverses more than 2,100 miles of private land, most of which is still yet to be built. Securing permanent access for the trail as well as protecting the surrounding corridor has become one of the most challenging yet inspiring aspects of our mission.

The NCTA made these great strides to protect the trail in 2012:

• We worked with the Partnership for the National Trails System to develop a large acquisition proposal for all National Scenic and Historic Trails.

• Successful grants in Pennsylvania and Michigan allowed us to continue working to connect two key state parks in Pennsylvania and to begin to build a trail protection plan for Michigan.

• NCTA sued the State of New York over opening ten miles of the NCNST to snowmobile traffic, after ten years of use as a hiking trail. In doing so NCTA stood in defense of hiking and the quiet recreation community as well as the intent of the National Trails System in establishing National Scenic Trails. Ultimately, the lawsuit was withdrawn to enable both parties to engage in good-faith negotiations establishing the NCNST in a position of strength in New York.

ncta programs

“I wake up every morning thinking “Wow, what a cool job I have!” And the next thought that follows is; “And what a cool trail!” Then I hyperventilate while thinking about how in the heck are

we EVER going to get everything done along a somewhat imaginary 4,600 mile-long line that snakes across half the country!

But you know what? We’ve got an incredible team of people at the National Park Service and the North Country Trail Association to make it happen! All the chapters and affiliates are busting

tail every day with the same goal in mind – making and keeping the North Country Trail REAL, making it safe, finding the needed funds, making friends and building support along the way.”

– mark Weaver, Superintendent, NpS North Country National Scenic Trail

2 north country trail association 2012 annual report

This summer, NCTA’s Laurentian Lakes Chapter worked with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Conservation Corps of Minnesota to construct approximately eight new

miles of the North Country Trail within the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Minnesota. The Tamarac NWR is located in a scenic stretch of the boreal forest right in the trail corridor, and building the NCT there has been a target for the Laurentian Lakes Chapter. Six miles of trail had already been built in the refuge so when this final eight mile stretch was okayed, the chapter mobilized a team and went at it.

Once construction was underway, interest from local visitors poured in with people wanting to know how to access the new trail. According to Kelly Blackledge, visitor services manager for the Tamarac NWR; “The trail has already proven to be a great place for

bird watching, photography, and interpretive programs. People are making wonderful connections to nature on the North Country Trail through the refuge.” With the eight new additional miles, the Tamarac National Wildlife Area now has over fourteen official trail miles which greatly enhance the public’s ability to watch wildlife.

“ People are making wonderful connections to nature on the North Country Trail through the refuge.”

outreach anD eVentsFun events can get boots on the trail and extra hands for big projects. It also gets the community outdoors and involved and shows off the trail as a great recreational resource. Year after year our chapters, affiliates and partners find great ways to engage the public.

In 2012:

• We launched the Trail Town program building momentum in our community and trail relationships across the trail. The Trail Town number grew to five official towns in 2012.

• More than one hundred people participated in the 6th Annual North Country Trail Fest at Itasca State Park in Minnesota.

• Nearly 300 people attended three different Andrew Skurka events with Chief Noonday Chapter.

• The NCT and NCTA were prominently displayed on the certificate given to the 45 thousand hikers that walked across the 5-mile Mackinac Bridge, part of the NCT, on Labor Day.

trail aDVocacyThe NCTA’s trail advocacy team, made up of staff, board members and volunteers in each state, follow legislation on the national level that affects the trail and takes action on important issues in Washington DC and at home.

In 2012, our major priorities were:

• Arrowhead Reroute – this legislation is needed to revise the official route in northeastern Minnesota to include the Superior, Border Route and Kekekabic Trails. We were successful in getting bills introduced in the House and Senate. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful in getting the legislation passed.

• Land and Water Conservation Fund – NCTA joined with others from the Partnership for the National Trails System to pull together a proposal for acquisition that highlights National Scenic and Historic Trails as large landscapes in need of protection.

• In Ohio’s Burr Oak State Park, where the Buckeye Trail and the North Country Trail share twelve miles of trail tread, the Buckeye Trail Association worked tirelessly to bar the use of ATVs in the park.

partnering for wilDlife anD trails in minnesota

3

NctA PrOgrAMS

trail use Millions of visitors find countless ways to enjoy the North Country Trail each year. Whether they are day hiking with kids, thru-hiking a long section, tracking geocaches or birding, outdoor enthusiasts are finding great ways to experience the outdoors through the NCNST.

Highlights for 2012 include:

• Eight hikers from four states came together to enjoy the scenery and explore the route of the NCT in the Adriondacks as part of our Extended Outing program.

• A new trail through Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge will open up a new world of wildlife viewing.

• Several chapters have started hiking events along their sections of the trail, including the Allegheny 100 Backpacking Challenge and the Grand Traverse Hiking Club 100 Mile Challenge.

In 2012, the North Country Trail Association forged a stronger relationship with the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, a service program utilizing young adults for intensive community projects across the nation. Two major projects were undertaken in Minnesota and Michigan this fall using AmeriCorps volunteers. Quoting Itasca Moraine Chapter leader, Bruce Johnson; “We accomplished more in that month with the AmeriCorps than we could have in two years

on our own.”

The project Bruce is talking about is the Waboose Lake Trail in the Paul Bunyan State Forest. This new four mile trail, part of which is official North Country Trail creates a family-friendly loop trail around a scenic lake and features outstanding wildlife watching opportunities and an

old growth pine forest. According to NCTA Regional Trail Coordinator Matt Davis, “the Waboose Lake Trail should become a popular hiking destination in the area.” A secondary benefit of these partnerships with the AmeriCorps is the great exposure the community gets to the volunteers and the project. In both North Country Trail projects, the volunteers lived in or near a nearby town and as “outsiders” promoted interest in what they were doing.

The other AmeriCorps project involved a major U.S. Forest Service grant that the Hiawatha Shore to Shore Chapter received for trail work in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Getting ready for such a major trail project required significant preparation, but the staff at the AmeriCorps headquarters really helped out and the outcome made it all worth it. Chapter leader, Kay

Kujawa points out; “They were energetic and eager volunteers – willing to learn new skills, to attack difficult projects and to work in adverse weather conditions.” The list of what this group accomplished was long but the high points included 3,500 feet of new boardwalk, five bridges and 2.5 miles of new trail tread. To top it off, they built and installed eighteen new trail signs.

young Volunteers in the north country

“We accomplished more in that month with the AmeriCorps than we could have in two years on our own.”


tHIRtY YeAR MeMBeRSDonald BeattieCecil and Joanne DobbinsKenneth GacklerTom and Janis GilbertJohn Hipps and Barbara SmithByron and Margaret HutchinsMilton JonesKalista Lehrer

tWeNtY YeAR MeMBeRSDwain AbramowskiPat Allen and Mark MillerJack AmelarCharles AxthelmEarland and Marieanna BairLen and JoAnne BaronDerek BlountDoug and Kathy BrehmJoseph BrennanDonald BussiesTim CallowayRobert CampbellPat CarlsonFrank CasenhiserPatrick DelaneyMary DineenStewart DeWitt DingerDonald and Brita DornCarol DurlingBruce EckertDonald EdwardsKathleen EiseleDonald ElzingaGene ElzingaWoody EnsorArt and Virginia FishPeter GradoniWayne and Shirley GrossMartha HaleChris and Helen HallerMary and Kathy HamiltonDennis HansenAnthony HaswellJames HoogestegerDan HornbogenKeith Horngren and Katherine ErdmanLou Ann JohnsonJames KenningKent County ParksJames and Fern KiefferRonald KillebrewPeter and Paula KlimaRobert Krzewinski and Sally Allen LunnShirley LaBonteGordon LachnietGary LeffHarlan LiljequistJanice LindstromZora LongworthMargaret MacRaeRichard Magyar and Lyria PalasEugene MajerowiczHugh MakensArlen and Arlene MatsonEdith MaynardRoger and Glory MeyerGary NicholsGlenn OsterMartin O'TooleLeo G Paveglio

Ralph and Barbara PowellMichael ReedThomas ReimersJames RichardsDavid and Joyce SalisburyBill and Sue SangerJohn and Lynn SeirupLouis ShainkerMaynard ShierDavid Maclean, Shoreline Cycling Club, Inc.Edward SidoteJames SiegelJeffrey and Denise SmithScott SmithJames SpragueLucy StopherRobert SussJanette SweasyDavid TattanGeorge and Stella ThelenRaymond VlasakCharles and Janet WagnerLynn WaldronDoug Welker and Marjory JohnstonGail WernerChris WiseDewey and Kay WobmaGaylord YostMary Zuk Domanski

teN YeAR MeMBeRSJay AbercrombieBarbara AbrahamerDavid and Jean AdamsRick and Juanita AdamsonAlan and Lou AdsmondSam AffendikisAllegheny Outdoor ClubJerry Allen and Connie Pausits AllenR. Marie AltenauGalen AndersonJohn AnderssonCatherine AndrewsJoyce AppelJulie Ann ArnethDaniel and Constance ArnoldPatricia ArvillaRichard AshbackerTodd AshbyCarol Atwell and Philip LenkoLarry BaarLori Baker and David KoskiR. Alan BakerSteven BakerJuanita BallTerry BallingerDan BandrowskiWilliam J. BandyBarnes County Wildlife FederationSteve BarrowsDeena BarshneyJim BartlettMark BatchelorDan Baumhardt and Joyce KrauseThomas BausmanGene and Liz BavisSondra BeachMitzi BeckmanKevin BellRaymond and Elizabeth BellLewis and Mary Bender

Dawn BennettHenry BentJim BerchNelda BergstenJoe and Willi BevirtBob BeymerLyle BialkJann and Dan BidwellBill and Paul’s SporthausAnne and Greg BilliardBruce BishopMark BissellVee BjornsonStephanie BlackPaul D. BlanchardFrank BlumenthalDavid BoboltzSteve BoehmMatt Boes and Collen Ortwine-BoesCarl BoeselRichard and Sue BoettnerSusan BondBruce BoothRobert BorakAndrew Todd BorsumDoris Borthwick HeinemannEvert BosBrad and Cheryl BosleyBruce and Char BostromRyan Bowles and Lori SkibbeRichard BoyakNancy BradburyJim BradyRuth BrandelBob and Judith BredewegDavid BrewerBelinda BrewsterEugene and Mary BriggsDavid BriggsKeith and Dorothy BrownBob and Ruth BrownJim BruceNancy BruckenJerry BruckschJoyce BrukoffMike and Bonnie BrunettPatricia BrunnerBrian and Barb BuchananJack and Elaine BuegeJames and Sharon BuhrLaura BulleitDorothy BuquoBureau of ReclamationMarilyn BurfiendDavid BurganMichael BurgessWalter BurgessRobert BurrisSharon BurtrumDavid BusseBruce and Julie BustaButler Outdoor ClubDavid ByrneJames ByrneJonathan CallJay and Mary CampbellPeter CannTheresa CareagaJanet CarpenterMarilyn ChadwickSteve ChapmanEd and Nancy ChappelDonnan Christensen

Charles ChurchSara CockrellWilliam and Mary CoffinSuzanne CohenDonald CollinsDennis CollisonDavid and Jan ConleyTim and Christine ConnersJoan ConwayDave and Jan CornellHarold CotantLinda CoughenourDeWayne and Joan CoxHelen CoyneJohn and Nancy CrowleyWilliam CurrieJoe Dabes and Kathy BrennanTom DahleCarl DaikerElizabeth DalyTom Dandridge and Lynn MartinJames DarabiCameron DaschVerl DasherKenneth and Maura DavenportBruce DavisJohn and JoAnne DavisMary and Bill DavisRobert DavisRobert C. DavisSusan DeanerLaura DeGolierRay and Barbara DereskeBonnie DeSlooverJacob DetriePhyllis DevlinJohn DiephouseWilliam DietrichGarrett DillKathleen DisqueDavid and Carol DixenLon DobsonCatherine DohertyTom and Janet DohrJames and Debbie DonaldsonDan and Ruth DorroughJames and Maureen DoullErich and Alex DrescherMark and Pam DryerSteve and Betsy DuedeTom and Marianne DuvendackTom DwightRon and Jane DziurdaScott and Terri EdickCarolyn EdmundsClifton EdwardsMartin EggenerLoyal and Bonnie EldridgePeter and Michelle EldridgeGeorge ElliottTom ElliottJim ElzingaLon and Lynn EmerickBarbara EngerStephen J. EnoJake and Lotta ErhardtRobert Erickson and Cathy BulinskiLynn L.M. EvansAlan FarkEdward FenelonJoseph FinleyFrank FishmanRobert Fitch

Jeff and Mary FlemingPeter FleszarWilliam and Barbara FletcherRichard FlinnJoseph D. FolzenlogenKathleen FooteFoothills Trail ClubGeoffrey ForceKen FowlerJerry FreelsBettina FrisseJames FunkeCatherine GadbawLaurence GalenEarl GarnTom GarnettJames GartheFred and Nan GauntLouis GeeraertsPatti GehringDaniel GeigerWilliam and Joanne GerkeTerry GiarrossoRuth and Dennis GilgenSusan GilleAnita GilleoJohn E. GilreinChris GladieuxCurtis GlasoeCurt GledhillDaniel GoldAubrey and Martina GoldenDave GoodmanCarol GortonLorna GoshmanBill GrauJohn and Carol GregoryGerald H GroebePaul Haan and Julie NietlingRichard and Chris HalbertMark and Sarah HalvorsenWilliam Hamilton and Susan HeathfieldMarshall HamiltonCarolyn Sue HammersJeff HammondRonald HandRudi HargesheimerHarvey HarrisLaurance HarwoodDan HaugenCarol A HauptLarry and Diane HawkinsMyron HawkinsChuck HaydenLee HayesD. James and Mary HeatonCarter and Flo HedeenJohn Heiam and Lois GoldsteinJerry L. HeimanEric HelfrichPaul HenryDavid and Frances HerringDenise HerronDouglas Heym and Debra HuffSteven HicksGerard HilfertyMiriam HiltonBobbie HinelineBill HintonAlicia and Chris HoffarthCarolyn HoffmanMark HoffmannJohn Hofrichter

DecaDe memBer cluBIn 2012 we decided to introduce a new set of clubs to recognize the faithful members of the North Country Trail Association. Organized into 30, 20 and 10 year clubs, these decade members represent the back bone of the organization. As many know, the North Country National Scenic Trail was officially designated by the National Park Service in 1980. The North Country Trail Association was incorporated the following year, just 32 years ago. We currently have eight members who have been with the organization at least thirty of those 32 years! As you can see, dozens more have been with us twenty or more years and hundreds for at least a decade. What an astounding testimony to the faithfulness of our membership.

5

teN YeAR MeMBeRS CoNTINueD

Matson and Deborah HolbrookBill Holland and Kim SteffesMarilyn HolmesTim Holschlag and Lyn VertheinJim and Gladys HoogterpCarl and Karen HooksJan HorakTom and Mary HordKen HowellPatricia HudelsonPeter HudelsonTheodore HullarHerbert and Suzanne HullsLucy HulmeMike HumphreysBrian HuschleGrace and Ronald HutchinsonLita IhleDavid IrishDarleen JarmanMark JennessEunice JenningsSteve JohgartGary and Cindy JohnsonGerald JohnsonKaren JohnsonKirk JohnsonPaul and Linda JohnsonPeggy Jones and Andy ZeekCaroline JordanLois JuddSarah JulienThomas KaiserMichael and Eloise KaizarCarol and Hans-Peter KappusRoger KarstenTom D. KauffmanMike and Sherry KeelerBrenda KeenerJerry KeeneyJames KellyRobert KibbeVerlyn and Dorothy KickerDavid KinnamonRobert KirklandBarbara KletzkePaul and Joyce KlineJanet KnepperPollie KnightA.A. KoellerBobby and Deb KoepplinGary and Marta KonradCharles and Verle KramminJohn KrohaRay and Marj KrummMikie KuhmanStanley and Kay KujawaRonald KulakRonald KustraNeoma LakenCal and Jean LamoreauxMichael LandryPaul LaneJohn Larch and Mary CampbellAl Larmann and Mary Kunzler-LarmannPenny LarsenGayle LarsonGeorge LauffJohn LaughreyEdward Lawrence and Catherine McLaughlinJames LawrenceJohn LawtonJoan and Dana LeachDon LeeLee’s Adventure SportsJohn and Pat LeinenR.K. LenahanMartha LeppanenDavid LeRoy

Laura Leso and FamilyJohn and Lisa LetarteChristopher and Margo LightRichard LightcapEllen LightleMona LiskaJohn and Mary Beth LohseRon LovaszTerry LoweryCarolyn LundbergGary and Barbara LyallWilliam Lynch and Barbara Manger-LynchMike and Donna LynchGeorge and Patricia MaasSusan MabeeCynthia MaczugaBill MajernikSusan MakrianisJohn MalcolmDan and Deb MalesevichWilliam and Swea MantheyJerry MarekHenrietta MarkMarion MarshJim MartinPat MartinWilliam and Shirley MartinusRobert MarunaWilliam and Bonnie MathiasJim and Norma MattesonDave MaxwellDan and Mary MayhewFred and Kathy MaynardSteve and Kathy McBrideNancy McCainTimothy and Susan McCoyDennis McCurdyMichael McGrawCharles McKayE. Anne McKinseyPatrick J. McNabbKaren McNewStephen McPhersonKim and Terry MeachamNelson MeadePeter MelcarekJames and Marcia MellenHugh Melling and Denise SimonBill and Donna MenkeCatherine B. Miller and Bernie WinterDon and Joan MillerJack MillerLisa A. MinkDan MixerAlan MizeAl and Jean MoberlyTom MohlerChuck MollDiane MorandJean-Pierre MoreauBethann MorganJohn and Carol MorrisEdwin MorseLarry and Sophia MortonDan and Peggy MourerCraig MullenbrockGeorge and Judith MullisonMark MurphyRichard and Cheryl NaperalaPeter and Lynne NasonJoshua NastRonald NavikBert and Cheryl NemcikMary Lee and Steve NielsonJames NoelPhilip NoltPeter and Deb NordgrenKent Nordin and Jill CiszewskiRobert NorlinJohn NorlundNorth Dakota Game and Fish Department

Edna NorthrupNorthwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails AssociationMichael and Virginia O’KeefeEugene OllilaRuth OlsenTimothy O'RourkeMerry OssenheimerAtley OswaldDavid OttoJeff and Sandra PalmerByron PanasukBob and Annette PappScott ParkerRichard ParksBrian ParksLawrence ParmeleeDerrick PasseGerald PattokBrian and Barb PavekWayne PeelPeggy L. PennyKathleen PerryDenny and Jennifer PetersonJames and Rebecca PetersonOrville PetersonBohdan PetryszakDale PettyStephen E. PewThomas PfluegerAaron and Sharon PhippsLarry Pio and Suzanne DarlingRandal PodollChuck PolonowskiRobert and Constance PondRense Jack and Virginia PostGail PoterackRoxanne PotterThomas PrietoJohn PulverBruce and Cheryl PummellCraig and Sue QuimbyScott RadtkeWilliam and Avis RamboPatricia RathmannVal RaucepsJulia RawlingsThomas ReeberThomas ReedJoel ReedRobert ReevesRick and Deb ReisEugene and Arlene RenicoJohn RethmanStephen RhodesThomas RiccioRon RiceMary RifkinNeil RinneChristina RizzoKeith and Ardath RobertsonMichael RobinaughMichael RobinsonWalter and Jodell RockensteinAnthony RodriguezDan and Betty RogallaKathleen RollinsSandra RoobolPeggy RothJames RoweRobert and Grace RuddJohn RudnickiJames and Vivian RunkGinny RuppeGregory RussoJane RyanBill (Soupie) RydingArthur SaariRonald SaccolPaula SagalaRoy SalmonDon and Karen SandbergMichael and Erica SanDretto

Daniel SathreRuth SaundersSharaza SaurMike Schaeffer and Debby PageDaniel And Nancy SchiebelFirman SchieboutKurt H. SchindlerMerl and Pat SchlaackLewis SchlanbuschTina SchmidtDennis SchoenickBob SchremsMarguerite SchubertTony SchwallerBruce SchwenkeEd and Norma Jean ScurryMarcia SeamanHeide Seaman-Mahlke and Ernest MahlkeDoug SeaneyPeter SeedBrian SeelyJohn Seidel and Deborrah FrableBernard and Phyllis SenskeVan SerrellPerry SeveranceThomas Shaffer and Carol HeglandJames ShaumDick and Marty ShawRandy ShoemakerAllen and Mary ShoupCarl and Mary ShroederHarold and Karen SlaterCarol SmithDena SmithG. Warren SmithJoseph SmithMartyn SmithRobert SmithDon and Mary SnitgenArnold SoderholmTed and Alice SoldanTom and Liz SolkaLouis SolomonDominic SosnowskiJames SpencerMike and Terry StaffordJudith StalderMike and Carol StasikRobert SteinRobert and Linda SteinerBill and Karen StellemaEllen H. StephensonCarol StetterJames and Jan StewartSusan StimmelGeorge StojicJan StowmanPhilip and Brielle StoykeMark and Tiffany StramMichael StreibelMargaret Strobel and William BarclayRobert SulaskiMarty and Vickie SwankRolf SwansonRobert SwansonIrene SzaboDouglas SzperThomas SzpondBob TaitJohn and Mary Lou TantonThomas TaylorR.W.W. and Jo TaylorMichael TerrellJune E. ThadenCharles and Frances ThompsonStuart ThompsonJere ThompsonScott TichyClinton TomptDavid TostenJohn Tremore

Michael TrinkoFred and Chris TritschlerJerry and Beth TroutGerald TrzybinskiTurkey's CafeTana TuronieRoger TuukDonald UlshMichael UnsworthValley City Convention/ Visitors BureauDavid A. Van BaakRudy and Nancy Van DonkGail and William Van HarenJohn and Ayleen VanBeynenDavid VanderBeeMark VanHornwederJeffrey and Nancy VanWinkleMike VeenBrenda VeilleuxWerner and Marianne VeitMary Jo VentLewis VespoliLeonard and Joan VetroneJohn VoseJerry WachterMurray WagmanJon and Judy WalterDonald B. (Jack) WatkinsG. Neal Watson and Patricia YaleSteve WebsterLois WeedJim WeiskeWilliam WeissJohn and Lynn WellinghoffDavid WellsFrederick WennGary Werner and Melanie LordWilliam WesnerJames Wessel WalkerSteven WesterNeil C. WesterTed WeyerhaeuserMargaret and Pat WhaleyMike WhelskyArthur WickDonald WickstraLynne WilliamsJack and Sanda WillseyDaniel WillshireKevin Wilson and Robin RaleyDavid Wingrove and Ann BorkhuisChad WiseJohn and Patti WojtowiczRodger and Denise Wolf

Douglas and Barbara WoodJames and Shirley WoodKathryn and John WoodruffAndrew WrightGary WrightPeter WybronRichard WynaldaJeffrey YoestJoan and Omer YoungGeorge ZacharekJohn ZadvinskisWalter ZarnochRichard ZemanRolf Zerges and Lynda RummelDana and Lisa ZintekChuck ZoselDavid Zosel

We have made every effort to make these lists as accurate as possible. If we have omitted or incorrectly reported anyone, please accept our apology and contact Jill DeCator, Membership Coordinator at (616) 897-5987 ext 1.

DecaDe memBer cluB

NctA PrOgrAMS


philanthropic giving to the north country trail association continued to grow and mature in 2012. giving from private sources alone grew by 35%. membership in our major giving club, the founders circle, grew by 34% to a record number of ninety donors. with contributions now reaching into the mid-six figure level, we have added a new giving group – the

true north society to recognize this new group of important donors. we realize that leadership gifts like these set the bar high and are critical if the association is going to move into new areas of our mission. as an example, this year, true north society member, the lux foundation, provided a $30,000 match to our “Boots on the ground 2013” marketing initiative.

one of the major goals of the philanthropic giving strategy for the association is to reduce the dependence on the funds provided by our partner, the national park service. in 2012 we took a major step in that direction, dropping the percentage of the park service’ contribution to 44% of the overall income. this is a 7.4% improvement from 2011. on the other hand, private donations and grant awards accounted for a 44% increase in revenues from 2011.

tRAIL cHAMPIoN$10,000 to $24,999Scheels All SportsJ. A. Woollam Foundation

tRAIL LeAdeR$5,000 to $9,999Betty A. Lewis Environmental Charitable TrustButler County Tourism/Jack Cohen*Coles Family FoundationFremont Area Community FoundationLorana Jinkerson*Tom* and Mary MobergThe 1772 Foundation, Inc.Raymond Vlasak*

tRAIL GuARdIAN$2,500 to $4,999Adirondack Mountain Club – Onondaga ChapterGarry Dill*Finger Lakes Trail ConferenceGood Family FoundationNational Environmental Education and Training FoundationPlum Creek FoundationDoug Thomas* and Carol Zazubek

tRAIL BLAZeR$1,000 to $2,499Appleton Scheels All SportsDeena BarshneyRaymond and Elizabeth BellPeter BennettBetty BensonLyle BialkBlack River Environmental Improvement AssociationKenneth BuranButler Outdoor ClubMary* and William CoffinDave* and Jan CornellCecil and Joanne DobbinsEau Claire Scheels All SportsShell Oil CompanyGrand Forks Scheels All SportsCarter and Florence HedeenJohn Heiam* and Lois GoldsteinKirkwood Scheels All SportsJoseph and Cindy KruegerAl Larmann and Mary Kunzler-LarmannMarquette County Community FoundationTravis and Mink NeelyJames NobleBrian* and Barb PavekPIOGAMike and Pamela RyanSteve and Tiffany ScheelNeil SmithSt. Cloud Scheels All SportsTruistWerner and Marianne VeitWalmart FoundationGaylord* and Marlene YostLynda Rummel* and Rolf Zerges

tRAIL BuILdeR$500 to $999Pat Allen and Mark MillerJoyce Appel*Brian and Elizabeth BachynskiNCTA Central New York ChapterDakota Square Scheels All SportsDuhring Resource CompanyTracy Dulak and Dominic BraggEileen FairbrotherMichael FitzsimmonsRichard FlinnDavid GalbreathJames GlocknerRichard GrayLarry* and Diane HawkinsHoneywell Hometown Solutions Donald and Kay JamesRyan JohnsonSarah and Mike JulienBobby and Deb KoepplinPeggy MacRaeBruce# and Linda MatthewsMark and Gail McCenskyBill# and Donna MenkeMinard Run Oil Co.Roger MorrisonOrvana Minerals Corp.River Hills Scheels All SportsRonald and Linda SootsmanIrene SzaboTraverse City Track ClubJerry and Beth TroutRoger TuukJeffrey and Nancy VanWinkleJohn and Sandra WagnerJim WeiskeGary Werner and Melanie LordLarry WillisMark and Silvia Wilson

ncta philanthropy and financial highlights

True NorTh SoCieTY

$25,000 and upLux Foundation

FouNderS CirCle

PrIVAte ANd fOuNdAtION

CoNTribuTioNS tO tHe NctA

tHe lux fOuNdAtION BecAMe Our fIrSt

MeMBer SettINg A New HIgH BAr fOr MAjOr gIVINg.

%% I N 2 0 1 2

“True NorTh SoCieTY”

tHe fOuNderS cIrcle, Our MAjOr gIVINg

grOuP, grew By

tO NINety MeMBerS!

“True NorTh SoCieTY”

%% I N 2 0 1 2

INcreASed By 44%.INcreASed By 44%.

7

* Indicates a Director of the Board# Indicates a NCTA staff member

$100 to $499AnonymousJudy AbramsDavid and Jean AdamsAFSCME District Council 85Rayanne AikenJudy AkkalaPhoebe AldenJerry and Connie AllenStefan AndersonGary Anderson and Catherine FurnbergTodd AshbySteven AshmeadCharles AxthelmLori Baker and David KoskiR. Alan BakerTerry BallingerRobert BanksLen and JoAnne BaronJohn BarrowsJohn BauerTimothy BauerDan Baumhardt and Joyce KrauseGene and Liz BavisSondra BeachDonald BeattieBrian BeckerJim BeloteRon BelskiLewis and Mary BenderDawn BennettJason and Sejal BennettMegan BerloMary Berube and John SchrockJann and Dan BidwellBill and Paul’s SporthausPaul D. BlanchardBert BlekeDavid BlewettDavid T. BlewettBlissfest Music OrganizationThelma BoederJames and Hope BradleyDoug and Kathy BrehmJohn BreitingerRalph BremiganRobert and Sandra BridgeDavid BriggsBill and Mary Beth BrinkmanLynn BroaddusBob and Ruth BrownMike and Bonnie BrunettEdwin BurmanRobert BurrisSharon BurtrumCalhoun County Master Gardener AssociationJoe and Sharon CallahanRobert CampbellJay and Mary CampbellDavid and Mabel CaseyMary Jo ClarkJohn ClementFred and Mary ClintonDonald CollinsWalter and Kathleen ColyerBob CooleyLinda CoughenourBill Courtois and Anne Finlayson CourtoisRobert CourtoisMarian CrossmanPhil and Sheree CunninghamWilliam CurrieCarl DaikerBill and Margie DaroogeRobert DavisRobert and Patricia DavisMatthew# and Stacy DavisMary and Bill DavisDonald Dickmann and Kathleen McKevittJohn DiephouseDavid DiephouseDan and Ruth DorroughDavid DoslandEric DreierAlexander Drescher

Skip DuchesneauScott and Patricia DuemlerMichael and Pam DundasGary EckardDonald EdwardsKathleen EiseleLoyal and Bonnie EldridgeCheryl EmotoRandy EshenroderHarold and Eleanor FairbanksJames and Peggy FalkEdward FenelonJohn and Patricia FeyMichael and Jennifer FitzsimmonsJeff and Mary FlemingNancy FlemingTeri FoustRichard FowlerJoanna FrankFriends of the Walker LibraryBettina FrisseMary GallagherTom GarnettLouis GeeraertsWilliam and Joanne GerkeTom and Jan GilbertJames GilkeyAnita GilleoGrand Rapids Community FoundationJames and Jane GregoirePaul Haan and Julie NietlingMark and Sarah HalvorsenMary and Kathy HamiltonWilliam Hamilton and Susan HeathfieldDan and Margaret HamiltonHarvey HarrisChuck HaydenAndy HazelKeith HeinSue HelderRandy HeldtWilliam and Nancy HenkeDenise HerronRaymond HoagMarc HoeksemaGary and Bonnie HollanderGladys and Jim HoogterpJan HorakTom and Mary HordKeith Horngren and Katherine ErdmanBob and Merrill HorswillHoward Drilling, LLCPeter HudelsonTheodore HullarGilford and Nelda IkenberryDavid IrishItasca Mantrap Co-Op Electrical Association TrustMark JennessBruce and Linda JohnsonLaura JohnsonGary JohnsonJoseph H. JohnsonPeggy Jones and Andy ZeekLois JuddRobert KahlMichael and Eloise KaizarCarol and Hans-Peter KappusRobert A. KazarPaul and Trish KeechJames KellyLinda KermeenRonald KillebrewSusan KitchenPaul and Joyce KlineKLM EnterprisesDavid KranzJoseph J. KravetzDrew KreidelcampRonald KulakBrian LaarmanGordon LachnietCal and Jean LamoreauxMichael LandryJohn Larch and Mary CampbellDavid Larsen

Harold and Pam LassersShemaya LaurelDuane LawtonJohn LawtonRobert and Jane LeedleLee’s Adventure SportsKalista LehrerEdwin and Judith LeonardMartha LeppanenLaura Leso and FamilyLaura# and Phillip LindstromCarolyn LundbergMary W. LuntGary and Barbara LyallWilliam Lynch and Barbara Manger-LynchGeorge and Patricia MaasMary MacDonaldJohn MalcolmMarquette Board of Power and LightPat MartinJames and Sydney MasseeJim and Norma MattesonPhyllis MatthewsDan and Mary MayhewJerry MaynardSteve and Kathy McBrideMelinda and Jerry McCartyJoseph and Michelle McGinnRichard McKnightLarry Meyer and Sharon SchaafmeyerEeva and Bob MillerJack MillerDon and Joan MillerSteve MillerJohn Miller and Rosemary EtterMinnesota Deer Hunters Assoc.Al and Jean MoberlyDonald MongDiane MorandEdwin MorseDavid Moscatello and Ann DixonDan and Peggy MourerTimothy and Sue MowbrayCraig MullenbrockLawrence MulliganRichard NaperalaClareyse NelsonErik NielsenEmily NieteringLaura NitschePhilip NoltPeter and Deb NordgrenMichael and Virginia O’KeefeEugene OllilaRic Olson and Pam IaculloTimothy O’RourkeCharles OtisEdgar PalmerBob and Annette PappRichard PaulViviana PawlickPennsylvania General Energy Co, LLCBrian Peppler William PetersonAaron and Sharon PhippsLarry Pio and Suzanne DarlingRichard and Leslie PlatteDave and Irma PowersBrian and Jennifer PratherRichard and Elizabeth PrattJohn PrusilaWilliam and Avis RamboJulia RawlingsRazoo FoundationJohn RegenhardtDaniel RehnerLinda RehorstPaul and Evelyn ReidThomas ReimersJohn RestallNicholas RhodehamelDon RichardJames RichardsRichgas, Inc.Neil Rinne

Brian and Susan RobertsAndrea RobertsEllen RobinsonDarrel RodekuhrDan and Betty RogallaRon and Maureen RonquistJames RoweRobert and Grace RuddJanie SaltarelliMike Schaeffer and Debby PageRick and Mary SchlauderaffDavid SchlosserJohn SchroederDavid ScrippsMarcia SeamanWilliam and Mary SeegerJeffrey SeipleBernard and Phyllis SenskePerry SeveranceDavid and Elvera ShappirioMark ShermanCarl and Mary ShroederEdward SidoteFrederick SilverMark SissonAnn and Mark SmithJoseph SmithRonald and Amy SnyderArnold SoderholmTom and Liz SolkaJames SpragueMichael and Michelle SpringerSt. Ignace Visitors BureauMike and Terry StaffordMike and Carol StasikRobert SteeneckWayne and Nancy StegerJohn and Alice StehleRobert SteinMary Stenberg and Richard PomerleauMark and Barbara StenderGary StrandKay StremlerMargaret Strobel and William BarclayJim SunstrumSuperior Hiking Trail AssociationMarty and Vickie SwankDick and Linda TaylorJune E. ThadenThe Voyageur Trading PostStella and George ThelenLaura Bethany ThomasRobert ThompsonMike and Tina TooleJerry ValkaGail and Willliam Van HarenTim and Nancy Van NestJuli Van WoertDouglas VandenbergVincent VannicolaMike VeenTammy VeloskiConstance and Steve VorenkampNancy WadopianJohn W. WagarJeffrey WardJay and Darlene WarrenDennis WeaverMark and Stephanie WeaverWilliam WelchJacqui WensichNeil C. WesterTed WeyerhaeuserNeil WhitbeckDonald and Terrie WicksDonald WickstraScott and Julie WilhelmsenMichael and Linda WilkeyKevin Wilson and Robin RaleyGene WimmerVince and Antoinette WinklerprinsTodd and Jennifer WinnellFrederick and Eleanor WinstonJay and Patricia WinterAlan WisemanRodger and Denise Wolf

Marjorie WrightQuinn WrightGary WrightJack WykoffMary Kay WyshamWalter ZarnochAndrew ZbikowskiCecile ZdunichCynthia Zientarski uP To $99Anonymous (2)Mitchel AafedtJay AbercrombieCynthia AckersonAlan and Lou AdsmondKevin AlexanderAllegheny Outdoor ClubJack AmelarRobert AmundsonGalen AndersonClyde and Jane AndersonDavid and Joyce AndersonPhilip Anderson and Valerie KozlovskyDoug and Val AndersonJohn AnderssonSue AndraschkoCindy AngerhoferGeorge ApostolouJulie Ann ArnethDaniel and Constance ArnoldArlyn AronsonPatricia ArvillaTom and Barb AuerDavid and Sandra AugeRichard AustinLarry BaarLoren Bach and Dave MartusSteve BadeGreg and Laurie BaileyCharlotte BainesMarieanna and Earland BairDoug BakerKen BallemaWilliam J. BandyCarole and Zane BardWayne and Joann BarryDean and Sharon BartholomewMark BatchelorElizabeth BatesMary and Robert BealsRonald J. BeaversMary BeckerMitzi BeckmanJohn R. BeguhnDonald BelangerThom and Mary Lou BelaskyTrisha BellBob and Nancy BenhamRobert BennettHenry BentJim BerchNelda BergstenJoe and Willi BevirtBob BeymerAndrew BiddleJan BildenAnne BilliardBruce BishopVee BjornsonDaniel BlantonJack BleyDavid BlouinDerek BlountCaite BlountFrank BlumenthalMary Jo and David BobholzAndrew BoddyMatt and Colleen BoesRichard and Sue BoettnerRichard and May BohjanenJim BolickRobert BorakKen BordwellDebra and Joe BorerColin BorkEvert Bos

NctA cONtrIButOrS


Brad and Cheryl BosleyRobert A. BouchardDoug BouleeLynda BouwsmaJane BovardJeff BowenEd and Karla BowenLeslie BowenNancy BradburyRuth BrandelDavid BrewerEugene and Mary BriggsJim BronsonKeith and Dorothy BrownJim BruceRobert BruceNancy BruckenJerry BruckschJohn BruneauPatty BrunnerEd BrunnerRonald BryantPhyllis BuchwalderJason BucknerJack and Elaine BuegeLarry and Nancy BuegeJames and Sharon BuhrTammy BukachLaura BulleitElly Bunzendahl and Chris EdlinBureau of ReclamationDavid BurganWalter BurgessKathy BurmaniaTerry Burns and Claire DuquetteSally BurroughsDavid BusseBruce and Julie BustaDavid ByrneJames ByrneEdward and Linda CalhanRaymond and Sara CamilliSteven and RoseMarie CanfieldJanet Carl and Greg JohnsonPat CarlsonJanet CarpenterRobert and Agnes CarrierRichard CausleyMarilyn ChadwickCharles and Dianne ChandlerEd and Nancy ChappelKay ChristensenDonnan ChristensenCharles ChurchTom ChurchJody ClarkAlecia ClarkWilliam ClarkPeter CloverTimothy CluloSuzanne CohenMike Collins and JoAnn BredeRobert and Yvonne ColvilleTim and Christine ConnersBob ConradiJohn Cooley and Victoria KellyValerie A. CounardDeWayne and Joan CoxGayle CoyerJohn CraigJames CrandallTom and Jeanne CrosbyJohn and Nancy CrowleyLuAnne CrupiJoe Dabes and Kathy BrennanDiane and Larry DahlTom DahleWilliam DainesTom Dandridge and Lynn MartinDee Daniels and Tom JahnkeVerl DasherKenneth and Maura Davenport

John and JoAnne DavisWilliam and Kathleen DavisBruce DavisRose Ann M. Davis#

Eugene DawsonDon and Bonnie DealingDennis and Barbara DeanJeffrey and Susan DeanAmanda DebevcRobert DeckerClaire DedowLaura DeGolierTimothy DeJongPatrick DelaneyRoland DerksenKate DeRosierBonnie DeSlooverCharlene and Marvin DeWittDavid and Carol DiephuisWilliam DietrichMary DineenStewart DeWitt DingerMark DingmanDouglas DoddTim and Janice DonahueJames and Debbie DonaldsonPatricia DooleyDonald and Brita DornJames and Maureen DoullPaul and Mardy DovreMichael DoyleRoy DrayBetsy and Steve DuedeJohn DulikCarol DurlingTom and Marianne DuvendackBruce and Kathy DziadzioRon and Jane DziurdaSteve EasleyFred and Jean EckelHenry EckhardtAlison and David EdgertonScott and Terri EdickCarolyn EdmundsJohn EdwardsBill and Cathy EgererMartin EggenerScot EglestonSherry and Richard EilerJim and Jill EiseleRandy EllingsonTom ElliottFred ElmoreColleen ElonenWilliam EndresGordon EngdahlStephen J. EnoJacque ErdmanMyron EricksonGeorge ErnstMark ErwayLynn L.M. EvansPaul and Sheri EwingMark EwingAlan FarkTerri and Don FeolaCatherine FergusonLaurie and Tim FillMorris FinePaul C. FinstromSarah and Jeff FisherFrank FishmanDouglas FlanaganPeter FleszarWilliam and Barbara FletcherGeoffrey ForceBruce and Angela ForgraveJerry and Linda ForriderMarge and John ForslinDwight and Janet FoxPeter and Eileen FreiburgerDoug French

Charles and Anne FrihartClaudia FryMelanie Fullman and Bill BaerBronson FunkeJames FunkeLaurence GalenMary GallClark H. GallowayDonovan GardnerFred and Nan GauntDuane and Jennifer GebhardC Mitchell GeorgeTerry GiarrossoAmanda GibsonLayne and Susan GieringJohn E. GilreinRichard and Alisha GlasgowGlen Falls - Saratoga Chapter of the ADKMark GlendonLynn GlesneDonald GodfreyTimothy GoodmanLorna GoshmanJoan GossnerRick GottsPeter GradoniDeAnn Graham and James MedaccoDavid GrangerDavid GreenJohn and Carol GregoryJames GriesKay GrignonBarbara GrissopTim and Lauren GroenhofRichard GrossmanTeri GroutEd and Rennae GruchallaGary GulishJohn and Cindi HaagMuriel and Randall HachfeldDavid HagenAnn and John HaglundMatt HahnfeldRichard and Chris HalbertDwight and Donna HalfmannJan HallbergJohn HallenburgChris and Helen HallerMarshall HamiltonJeff HammondMichael HammondDeborah HammondDennis HansenRoger and Laurie HansonHoward HardyGlory HarrisRobert HarrisBob HarrisonJocelyn HarveyLaurance HarwoodTim and Ellen HassAnthony HaswellPatrick and Mary HayesEric and Holly HedeenJerry L. HeimanThomas HeinrichPhyllis HeinzeBecky and Daryl HeiseMaribeth HelgesenEllen HeneghanBruce HenkeAlan HerdzikJohn HessRandall HetfieldDouglas Heym and Debra HuffTimothy HicksSteven HicksGerard HilfertyGail Hill and Jim OverzetFrank Hinterleitner

Bill HintonCindy HinzMyrna HixsonKurt Hochstein and Nancy DavisAlicia and Chris HoffarthCarolyn HoffmanJames HoffmanMark HoffmannJason and Carissa HofstedeMatson and Deborah HolbrookBill HollandMarilyn HolmesBeth and Tim HolstAlice HolwerdaTim HolzkammLori HonrathJames HoogestegerJames and Margaret HooverJames and Tena HopRonald HornDan HornbogenJim and Kaye HoukShaun Hughes and Sari CafmeyerHerbert and Susie HullsLucy HulmeBrian HuschleJames and Patricia HustonGrace and Ronald HutchinsonWarren IrleMark IskenBarbara Isom and Charles ToddRhoda JacksonDonald and Donna JacobsRandall JacobsonMartin and Leslie JanJane JeanneroKen JefferyEunice JenningsKarl JensenPaul and Linda JohnsonDeanna JohnsonKirk JohnsonKaren JohnsonGerald JohnsonMark and Mary JohnsonMatt and Erika Johnson-BaileyCindy JonesRamon and Janette JonesMicheline KaganThomas KaiserBarb and Greg KalinoskiMartin KalishekAndrew KarnavasEileen KarnavasRoger KarstenJerry KeeneyCatherine KelleherRobert and Carol KellerBeth KelonevaEllen KendallPhyllis KephartJohn and Barb KerseyVerlyn and Dorothy KickerSusan and Michael KielbJames KingdonDavid KinnamonSteve and Anne KinneKristine KipkaEric KirchnerRobert KirklandLynn KistlerPeter KlaverBarbara KletzkePeter and Paula KlimaPeter and Lonhilt KloseByron KnappBunk KofalFrank KohlDirk KoningsGary and Marta KonradAnne and Ron KoontzDavid Kotzian

John and Jane KozalLynn KozlowskiCharles and Verle KramminDonald KrauseJoshua KrbezJohn KrohaCharles KruchKurt KruegerJack KruegerRay and Marj KrummDavid J. KubicekNorman KucharRichard KudnerStanley and Kay KujawaKarl KunzRonald KustraJohn and Nancy KwapinskiShirley LaBonteHarold LaFleurJohn and Karen LaFondScott and Mary LagaardNeoma LakenPaul LaneHarold LaneJames LangemoDavid LarsonJohn Latterell and Rebecca SvatekGeorge LauffRobert and Beverly LaughnaNCTA Laurentian Lakes ChapterEdward Lawrence and Catherine McLaughlinRobert LazarDon LeeGary LeffJohn and Pat LeinenRiley and Patricia LentzJohn and Lisa LetarteMary LettsKenneth and Andrea LewaineRichard and Christine LightcapJames and Betty LineEric LongmanBruce LoomisTom LorentzsenMons LovaasRon LovaszStuart LoweTerry LoweryHank LudtkeMike and Donna LynchFrank LynnNelson LytleEdward MackusMary MaddenKathy MaginityRichard Magyar and Lyria PalasHugh MakensStan and Judy MalaskiDan and Deb MalesevichCarol MallisonDavid ManningMelanie MantosRebecca MarjonenWilliam and Shirley MartinusDeborah MassafraArvan MathenyWilliam and Bonnie MathiasArlen and Arlene MatsonWillis MattisonLori Mattison and Marcia PaulsonEric and Jon MaturiFred and Kathy MaynardEdith MaynardCurt and Betty McCabeDrew McCalleyChuck and Bev McCreadyDennis McCurdyJames McDowallCharlotte McIvorCharles McKayTamara McLain

ThANk You To All oF our CoNTribuTorSThe generous support of the North Country Trail community continues to build and grow the mission of the organization. Without these faithful contributions, we could have never accomplished all that we did in 2012. We sincerely appreciate the sacrificial giving and thoughtful support of all of our donors.

9

NctA cONtrIButOrS


uP To $99CoNTINueD

Jean McLeanPatrick J. McNabbRobert and Pat McNamaraKaren McNewCraig and Betsy McNultyStephen McPhersonMarjorie McRobertsKim and Terry MeachamNelson MeadeMECCAPeter MelcarekJames and Marcia MellenHugh Melling and Denise SimonSteve MettnerHeino F. Meyer-BahlburgEmily MeyersonRichard MickaPaul MiedonaJean MiewaldCatherine B. MillerMichael MillerRoger MinchMike MiniumLisa A. MinkAndrew MitchellEdward MoelleringDouglas MoerickeChuck MollPatrick MonahanMaryAnn MooreJean-Pierre MoreauJames MorfordLarry and Sophia MortonCraig and Kathi MulderGeorge and Judith MullisonMark MurphyRobert NagelkirkJoshua NastBert and Cheryl NemcikGordon and Vernie NethercutHelga NeugebauerStan NewillMary Lee and Steve NielsonKent Nordin and Jill CiszewskiJohn NorlundNorthwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails AssociationJane NortonJeffrey O’NeillDan OchsConnie Lou OggKarol OheRoger OlsenPrudence OlsonDouglas OlsonArlene OlsonMerry OssenheimerGlenn OsterRichard OstheimerMartin O’TooleDavid OttoJeff and Sandra PalmerBrian ParksPaige Patterson and Alan GillotteBob and Janet PattonJerry PearlJohn and JoAnn PearsonGerardo PedrazaScott A. PendletonMark and Heidi PengraDon PenlyPeggy L. PennyFran PerkettPatricia PerkinsPamela Perry and William TothMike PerrySteven PeruccoMary PetersDenny and Jennifer PetersonOrville PetersonKim PetersonAnne PettigrewDale PettyStephen and Kathleen PewThomas Pflueger

Jim and Linda PhillipsGerald PhillipsEllen and Robert PisorSandra PlanisekJudy and Sam PobstRandal PodollJim and Cindy PolegaGail PoterackRoxanne PotterDavid PotzlerRalph and Barbara PowellPaul PrausTimothy PremackDale PreyThomas PrietoJan ProvostHolly Puk JettCraig and Sue QuimbyScott RadtkeDaniel RaishDonald and Jeanette RantalaPatricia RathmannKen and Kay ReaderRod Reamer and Yini ChenSarah and Dan RedmondMelissa ReedEric RehorstTom and Joyce ReidyRick and Deb ReisEugene and Arlene RenicoNancy ReschkeKenneth RhoadsThomas RiccioRon RiceSusan Ritter and Greg SutherlandChristina RizzoKeith and Ardath RobertsonWalter and Jodell RockensteinBarb and Mike RodenbergAnthony RodriguezHugo RodriguezTodd RogersKathleen RollinsLeon RooseRound Icecracking Lakes AssociationKen and Linda RubinHelen RudieJohn RudnickiE. Alan RumbaughPatricia RyanSherry RytherRonald SaccolRon and Nancy SaegerPaula SagalaDavid and Joyce SalisburyRoy SalmonLarry SampsonMichael and Erica SanDrettoDennis SandsBill and Sue SangerDaniel SathreRuth SaundersDaniel and Nancy SchiebelFirman SchieboutCraig SchifterKurt H. SchindlerMerl and Pat SchlaackLewis SchlanbuschDouglas SchleefLona SchmidtGeorge SchmitJohn SchmittDennis SchoenickJackson SchollWalter and Mardene SchuilingWillliam SchumellTony SchwallerCindy and Mike SchwehrDavid SchwenkerJanice ScibaJoshua ScissonsLee and Polly ScotlandSteve and Sue ScottCarol Seacord and Tracy BaijPeter SeedBrian SeelyJohn Seidel

Karen and Noel SextonGary SextonThomas Shaffer and Carol HeglandNessia Shafransky and John FugelsoJames ShaumRon ShavalierDick and Marty ShawTim and Mary ShepardsonRandy ShoemakerAllen and Mary ShoupJohn ShrevesGeorge ShumarMartha SjogrenCurt SlabaughHarold and Karen SlaterMike and Kim SletteChris SlofferJonathan SmailDonald and Mary SmalliganJulia SmithChristopher SmithDena SmithEdwin SmithPaul SmythSuzanne SnyderJohn SobaszkoSteve and Pat SomersBetty Jo and Wes SorensonDominic SosnowskiKim and David SpanglerMichael SpencerSandra Spiewak and Otto BaconLeslie and Bonnie SpitzDoug SpringbornPatrick St. Germain and Maggie MacDeVittJulie Stachecki JohanningsmeierJudith StalderJim and Nancy StammMerry StanfordKaren StearnsRobert and Linda SteinerBill StellemaDavid B. StevensCarole StevensDavid and Patricia StewardJames and Jan StewartPam StonehouseJan StowmanPhilip and Brielle StoykeTiffany and Mark StramMichael StreibelBill StrongRobert SulaskiRoseann and Barry SullivanCraig Swaggert and Tanna MooreRolf SwansonRobert SwansonRay and Marvel SwansonDavid and Nancy SwansonRichard SwansonMichael SweetCharles SwitalskiDouglas SzperTamarac Interpretive Association, Inc.Laura TayR.W.W. and Jo TaylorJay TaylorThomas TaylorGabriel TempletonKenneth TerpstraLouise TerrellChris TewsCharles and Frances ThompsonBruce ThompsonKay ThompsonStuart ThompsonJim TimmermanDean and Diane TobiasJim and Beverly TobinClinton TomptDavid TonniesDavid TostenAnne TownsendKen TranaFrank Trautman

Duane and Gay TravisJohn TremoreMike and Cheryl TrieschmannMichael TrinkoFred and Chris TritschlerTyler and Emma TufteTurkey’s CafeDoug TurnerDale TurnerDieter UckertDon UdenRobert UlrichDonald UlshUnited Business Media, LLCMichael UnsworthJim UpthegroveJohn and Ayleen VanBeynenDavid VanderBeeNicolaas VanderklootJohn and Diane VanderVeenMark VanHornwederSarah VanLeerPhillip and Betty VanNoordTheresa VanveelenRonald VargasonMary Jo VentJames E. VickermanChanda VincentPaul and Deena VlasakScott VlasakJohn VoseJerry and Kathleen WachterLawrence and Sally WagleSara WallDorothy and George WallaceEd and Monica WallenJon and Judy WalterThomas WappesDave WarnerJerry and Belinda WarnerJan and Cynthia WarrenG. Neal Watson and Patricia YaleSteve WebsterWesley WehnerDean and Marci WeimerWilliam WeissWelcer FamilyDoug Welker and Marjory JohnstonJohn and Lynn WellinghoffFrederick WennGail WernerWilliam WesnerJames Wessel WalkerCharlie and Margie WestGreg WestrickJohnny WetingMaureen WhalenMaureen WhelanMike WhelskySteven A. WhistlerJerry and Mary WickPaul WiedemanAmy Wilks and Dave WhitlockSteve WilliamsEleanor Williams and Kevin SchramDavid WilliamsonJack and Sanda WillseyWilliam WilsonDavid Wingrove and Ann BorkhuisJohn WinnenbergChris WiseDavid WissinkDewey and Kay WobmaJohn and Patti WojtowiczMike and Barbara WollmerDouglas and Barbara WoodBill and Shelby WoodardJames and Carole WortleyDavid and Carol WozniakAndrew WrightWilliam WuertheleRonald and Laurie WurstBill and Maggie WymanScot YarnellHugh YemanDale Yerkes

Jeffrey YoestAlan YouelDavid YoungWilliam YoungGeorge ZacharekDeborah ZampiniDavid ZavadskyGary and Nancy ZebkoRobert ZeilengaRichard ZemanGail Ziegler and Marshall SecundaPaul ZielinskiKenneth ZimmerGail ZinkDana and Lisa ZintekChuck ZoselDavid ZoselMary Zuk DomanskiTeresa Zweering

CorPorATe MATCHINg gIFTS3M FoundationAT&TGE FoundationMicrosoft FoundationPfizer FoundationWalmart Foundation

TrIBuTe gIFTSIn HonorAnonymous, Honoring Patty Brunner

David T. Blewett, Honoring David C. Blewett

Tammy Bukach, Honoring Ed Scurry

Roy Burmeister, Honoring Kelly and Corey Perez-Vergara

John Clement, Honoring Cam and Miriam Steketee, Penny and Mike Sidor, Fred and Deb Steketee, Steve Steketee

Matthew and Stacy Davis, Honoring their children - Ruthy Joistad, William Avery Tucker, Theodore Kephart, and Clara Lynn

Micheline Kagan, Honoring Mary Coffin

Dirk Konings, Honoring The Scot and Darlene Konings Family

Gary Johnson, Honoring The Wampum Chapter

David Manning, Honoring Zoe Ashmead

Douglas Vandenberg, Honoring Tree Planter

Chanda Vincent, Honoring Mike Manning

TrIBuTe gIFTSIn MemoryThe Boven Family, In Memory of Rod Dale

Alison and David Edgerton, In Memory of Al Mitton

Robert Kahl, In Memory of Marilyn Kahl

Al Larmann and Mary Kunzler-Larmann, In Memory of Randall Brune

Bruce and Linda Matthews, In Memory of Jesse M. Wolfe

Philip Nolt, In Memory of Naomi Eby

The Welcer Family In Memory of Rod Dale # Indicates a NCTA staff member We have made every effort to make these lists as accurate as possible and to publicly acknowledge all of our donors in accordance to their wishes. If we have omitted or incorrectly reported your gift, please accept our apology and contact our development director, david cowles at (616) 897-5987 ext. 5.

The North Country Trail Association and North Country National Scenic Trail are going strong because of the generosity of our many dedicated members and supporters. Thousands of hours of volunteer support are poured annually into trail building and maintenance, as well as chapter leadership and administrative help. And then there’s the financial support that makes all of these physical improvements and the promotion of the trail possible. Perhaps this Annual Report has inspired you to join the many others who support the trail and you would like to make a meaningful contribution. Take a look through the list below and consider getting involved in the trail today. It truly will make a difference.

Become a Member – Join the 2,500 members already involved nationwide. You can join a local chapter if you wish. The easiest way to sign up is at our website: www.northcountrytrail.org.

Volunteer – Whether it’s building trail or stuffing envelopes to get the message out, we need your help. Call us at (616) 897-5987 and let’s discuss how we can match your interests to our needs.

gifts of Cash – This area of giving, outright gifts of cash, benefits the trail immediately and helps us leverage other grants and funds for the work we need to do each year.

gifts of Land and Stock – A gift of land or stock is often a very tax-wise way to make a generous gift to the trail and receive a significant tax benefit. Call David Cowles, Director of Development to discuss this option.

Planned gifts – Deferred or planned gifts such as bequests, charitable remainder trusts or retained life estates can make great tax sense for you and your heirs, and benefit the mission of the NCTA well into the future. Talk with your tax or estate planner about this option.

Company Matching gifts – One great way to double or even triple your giving power is with matching gifts from the company you work for. It’s easy to do. Check with your human resources department before you give your next gift.

Corporate giving – If you represent a corporation or work for a corporation that is interested in the mission of the NCTA and would like to support that mission there are a number of marketing and philanthropic opportunities that will give maximum exposure to your corporation.

the north country legacy society recognizes those who have made a planned gift to the north country trail association through their estate plan or through some other planned gift vehicle. though no gifts were realized in 2012, three new

individuals made us aware of their intent to include the association in their estate plans. this accounted for an 11% growth in the north country legacy society in 2012.

to gain membership in this group, one must simply make the association aware of your intent to benefit the organization with your estate. there are a variety of planned gifts recognized by the irs and the ncta recognizes many of them. planned gifts can be restricted by the donor in their estate plan or some other agreement with the organization. Due to the size of these gifts, they are sometimes referred to as the “ultimate gift” because they provide not only important funds to an organization but they often provide stability and security for the future of the mission. all realized planned gifts support the ncta endowment fund unless otherwise restricted.

NORTH COUNTRY LEGACY SOCIETY

ESTABLISHED 2010

If you still have questions or want to make a special donation to the NCTA but want to talk about the best way to go about making the gift, contact David Cowles, our Director of Development, at [email protected] or call him at (616) 897-5987 ext. 5.

how to get inVolVeD anD support the trail

north country legacy society

Pat AllenCecil and Joanne Dobbins Tom FunkeTom and Jan GilbertJohn Heiam* and Lois GoldsteinMartha Jones†

Beth Keloneva

Betty A. Lewis†

Roderick† and Peggy MacRaeTom* and Mary MobergBob and Annette PappRon and Linda SootsmanWalter Srogi†

Harmon Strong†

Irene SzaboDoug Thomas* and Carol ZazubekJoan Young

†Deceased

*Indicates a Director of the Board

• • • l e g A C Y S o C i e T Y m e m b e r S • • •

11

expense by Category For 2012, in $1000’s

n Administration $133.5 14.0%n Advocacy $12.2 1.3%n Chapters $181.1 18.9%n Development $108.4 11.3%n GIS/Cartography $27.0 2.8%n Outreach $200.1 20.9%n Trail Management $294.4 30.8%

totAL exPeNSe $956.7 100.0%

n Membershipn Donations n NPS Base Support and Projects n Grants n Trail Shop Sales n Programs and Events n Other Income

income by Source For 2012, in $1000’s

balance Sheet As of 12/31/2012, in $1000’s

ASSetSChecking/Savings $237.8 Accounts Receivable $71.2 Other Current Assets $11.2 Total Current Assets $320.2Fixed Assets $28.0totAL ASSetS $348.2

LiabilitiesOther Current Liabilities $20.3totAL LIABILItIeS $20.3

totAL eQuItY $327.9 totAL LIABILItIeS & eQuItY $348.2

income and expense Through 12/31/2012, in $1000’s

INcoMeMembership $113.7Donations $153.6NPS Base Support and Projects $415.6Grants $156.3Trail Shop Sales $23.1Programs and Events $26.1Other Income $56.6totAL INcoMe $945.0

Cost of Trail Shop Goods Sold $7.7

GRoSS PRofIt $937.3 ExPENSESalaries and Benefits $486.6Administration $104.3Communication and Outreach $123.8Trail Management and Projects $179.3Travel and Meetings $58.7Advocacy $3.5Depreciation $0.5 totAL exPeNSe $956.7

Net INcoMe (LoSS) ($19.4)

the North country trail Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Audited financial statements are available upon request.

44.0%

16.3%

12.0%

16.5%

2.4%2.8%

6.0%

2012 financial highlights

Summary of NCTA’s 2012 Financial performance

The North Country Trail Association’s financial performance for the 2012 fiscal year reflects the organization’s continued growth and increased sustainability.

Key financial points for 2012 are:

• Continued decrease in dependence on NPS funding (7.8%)

• Significant increase in Donations and Grants (+$65,000)

• A net income loss for the year

• Healthy balance of program-related expenses over administrative expenses

• The association’s cash position remains strong ($235,000)

The National Park Service remains our primary source of funding, through our Cooperative Agreement and various project and program support funds. NPS support in 2012 dipped below 50% for the first time, while our overall revenue stream grew by 4.3%. Increased non-governmental support came from both donations and private and restricted grants.

The net income loss of $19,400 for 2012 occurred due to a required accounting adjustment associated with a $33,000 restricted grant received late in 2011. With project expenses for this grant occurring in 2012, NCTA still had to book the revenue in the prior year. Nevertheless, the bell-weather indicator for the association’s strength and stability, our cash position, remains very strong.

14.0%

1.3%

18.9%

11.3%

2.8%20.9%

30.8%

NctA fINANceS


Andrew Bashaw (2012), Regional Trail Coordinator – Ohio/PennsylvaniaDavid C. Cowles, Director of DevelopmentMatt Davis, Regional Trail Coordinator – Minnesota/North DakotaRose Ann Davis (2012), Office Manager/IT/CommunicationsJill DeCator, Administrative Assistant/Membership CoordinatorDan Hester, Trail Development InternAndrea Ketchmark, Director of Trail DevelopmentLaura Lindstrom, Finance AdministratorBruce E. Matthews, Executive DirectorBill Menke, Regional Trail Coordinator – WisconsinMatt Rowbotham, GIS Coordinator Bill Treat, Trail Protection Intern

NoRtH couNtRY tRAIL ASSocIAtIoN NAtIoNAL BoARd of dIRectoRS

Larry Hawkins, President, Lower Michigan Repr.Tom Moberg, First Vice President, Minnesota Repr.Lorana Jinkerson, Secretary, At-Large Repr. Mary Coffin, VP East, New York Repr.Gaylord Yost, VP West, Great Lakes Repr.Joyce Appel, Pennsylvania Repr.Jack Cohen, Pennsylvania Repr.Dave Cornell, At-Large Repr.Garry Dill, At-Large Repr.John Heiam, At-Large Repr.Brian Pavek, Minnesota Repr.Lynda Rummel, New York Repr.Doug Thomas, At-Large Repr.Ray Vlasak, At-Large Repr.

cHAPteRS, PARtNeRS ANd AffILIAteS of NoRtH couNtRY NAtIoNAL SceNIc tRAIL NORTH DAKOTAn Sheyenne River Valley Chaptern North Dakota Prairie Grasslands Chapter MINNESOTAn Star of the North Chapter n Laurentian Lakes Chaptern Itasca Moraine Chapter n Arrowhead Chapter n Kekekabic Trail Club (Trail Maintaining Affiliate)n Border Route Trail Association (Trail Maintaining Affiliate)n Superior Hiking Trail Association (Trail Maintaining Affiliate)

WISCONSINn Brule-St.Croix Chapter n Chequamegon Chaptern Heritage Chaptern Ni-Miikanaake Chapter

MICHIGANn Peter Wolfe Chaptern North Country Trail Hikers Chaptern Superior Shoreline Chaptern Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chaptern Harbor Springs Chapter n Jordan Valley 450 n Friends of the Jordan River National Fish Hatchery (Trail Maintaining Affiliate)n Grand Traverse Hiking Club Chaptern Spirit of the Woods Chapter n Western Michigan Chaptern Chief Noonday Chaptern Chief Baw Beese Chapter

OHIOn NW Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association (Trail Maintaining Affiliate)n Buckeye Trail Association (Trail Maintaining Affiliate)n Adams County Chaptern Little Cities of the Forest Chaptern Ohio Valley Chaptern Great Trail-Sandy Beaver Canal Chapter

PENNSYLVANIAn Wampum Chaptern Butler County Chaptern Butler Outdoor Club (Trail Maintaining Affiliate)n Clarion County Chaptern Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy (Trail Maintaining Affiliate)n Allegheny National Forest Chapter

NEW YORKn Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC) (Trail Maintaining Partner)

Maintaining Organizations Coordinated by FLTC - Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) - ADK-Genesee Valley Chapter - ADK-Onondaga Chapter - Cayuga Trails Club - Dansville Boy Scout Troop 38 - Foothills Trail Club - Genesee Valley Hiking Club - Hammondsport Boy Scout Troop 18

n Central New York Chapter

VERMONTn Middlebury Area Land Trust (Trail Maintaining Affiliate)

NoRtH couNtRY tRAIL ASSocIAtIoN StAff

A special thank you to all photographers who contributed their images for this annual report. We also want to acknowledge some images were supplied by the NCTA photo archive.

This report printed on recycled paper with 10% post-consumer waste.

offIcIAL fedeRAL tRAIL PARtNeR

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

fedeRAL LANd MANAGeMeNt PARtNeRS

n U.S. Forest Servicen U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicen U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

ncta chapters, partners, affiliates, staff and board members

NoRtH couNtRY tRAIL ASSocIAtIoN

229 East Main StreetLowell, MI 49331

(616) 897-5987 northcountrytrail.org [email protected]/northcountrytrailtwitter.com/NCTrail

2012 ncta annual report

Documents