2009 Applications Up

New Volunteer applications for 2009 are up on ATC's website here (scroll to the bottom of the page under "To apply." For you alumni, please contact us at crews@appalachiantrail.org and we'll send you an alumni application (we'll also have paper applications in the mail soon).

Remember, Week #1 almost will certainly fill up quickly (we've already got spots filled) so if you want that week, act fast!

Cheers,

Kerry

Wedding.....AT Style.

Ted and Jaimie get hitched.

Clean clothes and all.

You can't do a group shot without one of these.

Your once fearless leader, Ted Wilson and frequent Konnarock Volunteer, Jamie Hickman got married on a beautiful November afternoon last weekend. What's more, we've documented for you what a trail worker looks like without dirty clothes (see above).

Kerry

2009 Schedule Up...

Headin' to camp after a day on the Trail.

The 2009 Konnarock Schedule is up on the ATC website here. As you will notice, there is a wide variety of projects we'll be tackling next season from serious sidehillin' on the New River Relocation to some pretty involved rock work and griphoist action atop Three Ridges.

We don't have the 2009 application complete yet (for new or alumni) but it should be ready soon (we'll have a notice posted on the blog).

Cheers,

Kerry 

Ted and Adam recieve their awards from the US Dept of Agriculture

 (Ted moonlights as Edward Scissorhands)

Hey, you know when we talk safety we mean it! I bet some alumni could recite our "safety talk" that preceeds every work week with the crew. Well, it finally paid off! I mean....thanks to everyone for making the 2008 Konnarock season a Zero Injury (lost time, save for the occasional blister or bee sting) season.

The crew was officially recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USFS) for our accomplishment and we're pretty proud of it. So, when you're at camp next season, have an extra piece of cake on me......

Just in case you don't get the idea on Wed night....Safety Robot........

Cheers,

Kerry

Dean Sims, ATC Volunteer of the Month

The Dean-a-Bomber (long story, ask Dean next season)

If you've been part of the Konnarock Crew (esspecially Week #1), you probably know Dean Sims, Konnarock's longest serving Volunteer (25 years and counting). Last May, Dean was presented with a 25 year service award for all his hard work over the years. And, now he's the ATC Volunteer of the Month for October! Check out his profile on the ATC website here.

Cheers to you Dean!

Kerry

2009 T-shirt

It could happen.......

We're looking for a design to grace the 2009 Konnarock t-shirt. If you've got an idea for a design and would like to send it in, you can send it via email at kwood@appalachiantrail.org or by snail mail: Appalachian Trail Conservancy, CO: T-shirt Design, PO Box 174, Blacksburg, VA 24063.

Basically, the design needs to have a trail or trail work theme and a place for "Konnarock Trail Crew."

If I don't get any designs, I'll have to start drawing stick figures.....

Kerry

Support the GIVE Act of 2008 (S.3429)

Tell your Congressional Representatives to support the Shumer bill, Giving Incentives to Volunteers Everywhere (GIVE) Act of 2008 (S. 3429)!

As you know, volunteers are essential to implementing the mission of the Partnership and many other non-profits. Volunteering these days can be a problem if it involves a significant amount of driving our personal cars. Unfortunately, current federal tax law allows a charitable mileage deduction of only 14 cents per mile, and this has created a barrier that is preventing many people from volunteering as much as they would like. As a result, nonprofits from coast to coast have been losing volunteers because of high gas prices and this unfair tax statute.
 
I am asking you to give your strong support to the Giving Incentives to Volunteers Everywhere (GIVE) Act of 2008 (S.3429).

 

Introduced August 6, by U.S. Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and John Ensign (R-NV), and co-sponsored by Sen. Dodd of Connecticut, the Act addresses the adverse impacts on volunteers of high gas prices and the current discriminatory tax policy towards nonprofits by (1) setting the charitable volunteer rate at 70% of the standard business mileage rate, as adjusted by the IRS, in effect raising the charitable mileage deduction from 14 cents to almost 41 cents; and (2) making this change permanent, rather than requiring annual legislation.

 

A letter of support for the "GIVE Act" already has been sent to Senators Schumer and Ensign by the National Council of Nonprofit Associations, 34 other state associations of nonprofits, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, Independent Sector, and United Way of America. We are now asking AMC members and volunteers to add their voices.

 

Congress will be in session for only a few weeks before it adjournes at the end September or early October. Now is the time to contact our Senators and Representatives to ensure passage by both chambers within the next few weeks - a very short time given the large number of bills to be considered.

 

Take Action: What You Can Do
- Contact your U.S. Senators and your Representative now by phone, fax, and/or email to urge them to support and to co-sponsor the GIVE Act; (write your elected officials electronically by visiting:

http://givevoice.org/campaign/giveact

 

- Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper urging your Senators and Representatives to support the GIVE Act and make sure it gets passed in September. This bill is extremely important for the Partnership and other non-profit organizations across the nation. So please add your voice today by using the letter below or adding your own experiences.