Congratulations to Charles Michener, the 2022 Appie of the Year!

The Appie of the Year award was presented by Nominating Committee Chair Henry Schreiber at the New York-North Jersey Chapter’s Annual Meeting on November 30.

The Appie award is for an individual who gives selflessly of him/herself for the good of the Appalachian Mountain Club; one who works tirelessly, often behind the scenes, organizing, leading in fact and by example; someone who has served in this manner for several years, thus over time continuing this commitment; an active volunteer, rather than someone who served well in the past, or for a limited time. The Appie exemplifies what is best about the volunteer ethic that makes our Club, and particularly our Chapter, so special.

Nominated for decades of service to AMC

“Charles has served nearly 20 years, repairing our boats and hearts in our fleet of growing paddlers of the NY-NoJ chapter.

His pride in the club and his warmth and generosity brings in kayakers, quiet water folk, whitewater experts, and canoeists of every shape and size. He served with the Inter-Chapter Paddling committee to propose, promote, and select worthy conservation projects. He served as the Canoe and Kayak Committee Chair, encouraging DEI awareness and more than one successful program to showcase and integrate persons of color and of all ages. He is watchfully guiding the transition from the Youth Program to continue paddling opportunities for the less privileged, stoking the training and confidence of leaders in that former arm of AMC. 

Charles’s passion is spotting and training leaders, and promoting instruction for safety and access to the astounding sport of paddling in all its flavors.He has led multi-day trips as leader and support boater to promote the wonderful Adirondack Park, as well as streams and rivers far and wide.

His policies and decisions have guided our award-winning publication, Paddle Splashes, which has helped buoy interest in working with AMC’s Mark Zakutansky and AWA to expand Mongaup Pond releases in Sullivan County, New York, and appreciation of that area, and Esopus Creek inter-club committees, to continue attention on the safety and continuity of releases, which help the economy of the Catskills region.

Charles has promoted partnerships with many regional clubs to augment our mutual strengths, and assist each other in our gaps. He also successfully completed a partnership to train Bergen Community College NJ Outing Club folk. 

Lately, his guiding increased Young Members participation with SUPs, along with Volunteer Relations Manager Justin Bailey. Most of all, in his years leading as Quartermaster, Equipment Chair, CKC Committee Chair, Instructional Chair and so much more, he leads by example and grows the community by generous outreach.

We would not be the incredibly far-reaching, long-lived, thriving special club that it is without Charles Michener.”

 

Annual Awards Will Be Announced and Photographer Max Milligan Will Speak at the Annual Meeting

We’re pleased to announce that the featured speaker for the Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 30 will be author and fine art photographer Max Milligan.
“Milligan is renowned for his painterly eye and the fact that he uses no filters, flash and only minimal digital correction in his work. With eight books published and two in production, his titles have appeared in The Times Top Ten Travel Books of the Year and Condé Nast Traveler Book of the Month.
He began his career working as a wildlife cameraman for the BBC and National Geographic Video in the Amazon jungle before becoming a documentary editor at the BBC and Channel 4 in London.
His artworks hang in private and corporate collections worldwide, including the prestigious Deutsche Bank collection in London. Previous exhibitions include Kensington Palace, City Hall London and The European Parliament.
Max’s words and pictures have appeared in newspapers such as The Times, Daily Telegraph, FT, Guardian, Independent and magazines including Harper’s Bazaar, Condé Nast Traveler, FT How to spend it, New Scientist, Saturday Telegraph Magazine and Porter.
Milligan has also taken stills on the sets of movies such as James Bond, Harry Potter and Bridget Jones and numerous others on behalf of the Corporation of London.
He has lectured to MENSA at Cambridge University and often gives illustrated talks at The Royal Geographical Society as well as giving photography seminars, workshops and courses in institutions all the way from Peru to the University of Brighton.”
In addition, Esther Devito, AMC’s regional director of development in the greater New York area, will speak during the Annual Meeting, which will be held virtually. Nominees for the Executive Committee will be presented and voted upon and chapter awards for the Appie of the Year, Inspiration, Ambassador, and Unsung Hero will be announced during the event. ​​

Meet John DiStefano, the New Urban Trails Supervisor

Please welcome John DiStefano, the new Urban Trails Supervisor for the New York-North Jersey Chapter. He has joined Ed Spirko’s Trails Committee, which helps maintain trails around metro New York, in Harriman State Park, and in New Jersey. John’s coverage area is New York City.

John has a long history with the Appalachian Mountain Club. In the early 1980s, he joined the AMC on Joy Street in Boston. Since then, he writes that he has experienced “many delightful hikes, walks, and just plain making friends in 40 years on the trail. AMC values go far beyond stewardship for the land — AMC is about stewardship to each other.”

John retired in November 2021. Now he says it’s his turn to give back. John enjoyed 30 years as a market researcher in the Fortune 500, mostly reporting 1 or 2 rungs from the CEO. He earned a BA in History of Technology from Cornell University and an MBA in market research from CUNY Baruch College. When not volunteering for the AMC, John also helps to support financial literacy and enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, and cooking.

You can reach John at trails.urban@amc-ny.org.

DEI Chair Crystal Williams Receives AMC’s Volunteer Leadership Award

DEI Chair Crystal Williams

Congratulations to DEI Chair Crystal Williams, who received one of AMC’s Volunteer Leadership Awards for her work in 2021. The award was presented by Regional Director Eileen Yin during the recent Annual Summit:

The Volunteer Leadership Award recognizes AMC’s outstanding volunteer leaders who demonstrate the desire to share their time and expertise in the pursuit of AMC’s recreation, conservation, and education mission. The Volunteer Leadership Award recognizes one or more dedicated volunteers who, in addition to contributing many hours, demonstrate outstanding passion and commitment and are instrumental to AMC’s activities, programs and mission. Previous award recipients are not eligible.

Crystal Williams, DEI Chair, New York-North Jersey Chapter

“As Chair of the DEI Committee for the New York North Jersey Chapter, Crystal has created a regular schedule of meetings including an affinity group for BIPOC women. Crystal is passionate about getting families from Harlem outdoors, which has inspired her to lead events designed to encourage outdoor experiences for BIPOC families in New York City, including a Juneteenth Celebration that attracted 100s of people. Crystal has also joined the AMC DEI Volunteer Representatives group meeting monthly to talk about how to make AMC’s operations and communications more equitable and inclusive. In addition, she has stepped up to serve as the Vice Chair for the Fire Island Committee. Crystal has been vocal in supporting AMC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts by speaking with other Chapters DEI Committees. Congratulations, Crystal.” -Eileen Yin

Other Volunteer Leadership Awardees this year were:

Kevin Cox; Chair of Mohawk Hudson Chapter

John Bergacs; Information Volunteer

David Elliott; Paddling Chair Worcester Chapter

Corey Mott; Connecticut and Narragansett Chapters

Lisa Novins; Chapter Chair Potomac

Jean Carlos Artiles; Educators Outdoors

Jeff Mayes; Volunteer Facilitator

Amy Kelliher; Volunteer Facilitator and OLDC

Longtime Leader Steve Galla Named Hiking Committee Chair

Hiking Chair Steve Galla

 

Congratulations to Steve Galla, who has been elected leader of the Hike Committee. Galla, who had been serving as the Committee’s Vice Chair, is a retired New York City school teacher who joined the AMC in 2004.

An active hike leader, he also served as Chair of the Hiking Committee from March 2007 through March 2009 and as Interim Chair of the Committee from February 2011 to August 2012.

Here’s a snapshot of Galla’s plans for the role:

What motivated you to take on the position?
“I’m glad to take on these responsibilities. I feel qualified and energetic and above all, I have a fabulous team of experienced and motivated volunteers to work with. It is my honor to serve AMC and devote my time and effort to make a difference.”

What are your goals for the Hike Committee?
“My goals are to seek out and add qualified hike leaders to our hiking committee and encourage lots of hikes. I am committed to the principles of DEI and I am currently reaching out to leaders who can introduce hiking to underserved communities within our coverage area. We have a reservoir of recent AMC-sponsored leadership trainees who need to become full AMC Hike Leaders. We’ve already begun the process of including them.”

Interested in getting involved with the Hiking Committee? Contact Galla at hiking@amc-ny.org