Reports from the various Committees for the 2021 Annual Meeting are posted here.
1. Trails Committee
Our trail maintainers have done a fantastic job of keeping our 13 trails maintained for the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference during the pandemic. Trail reports are being sent in by the maintainers and are being forwarded to the Trail Conference.
John Lipsett has given up his trail after many years of service and Mary James is the new maintainer for his section of trail. So there are no trails available to give away. This is a good situation. The trail maintainers are dedicated people and are definitely making a difference in keeping trails highly maintained in Harriman State Park and the Appalachian Trail.
Thank you all for your support.
2. Activity Committee
The Activities Committee’s schedule was again restricted by COVID-19 concerns. We had 3 Zoom presentations (a 4th is being set up for Sept/Oct, too late for inclusion in this report). They were:
3. Website
From adkny.org webmaster Marty McDonald: I’m happy to report that the number of visitors to our website has returned to what we saw before the pandemic. Each month, about 1000 visitors to the site access roughly 6,100 pages of information. There’s an increased amount of traffic reading the calendar and news items, especially regarding the ongoing litigation. I trust that sharing this information regularly has helped keep many people informed about what’s happening.
This year we’ve held two online proxy votes, and while the annual election continues, there’s a big increase in the number of members who’ve voted electronically. Over 75% of the bylaws proxies were submitted online.
We successfully tested an online reservation system for Camp this year. We decided not to implement it in the middle of the year, especially with all the uncertainties of reopening after Covid and other issues. The reservation process works very well and will be great for mid-week visits, as it allows members to see what cabins and sites are available. Another bonus is to see how many people plan to be at camp. We will continue with the tried and true email/phone call method for Hosted Weekends, since there’s a need for a personal touch with all the planning involved.
I’m looking forward to adding more photos and updates so please keep sending your pictures to webmaster@adkny.org – and if you have any ideas or suggestions on improving the website, please let me know.
4. Committee on the Environment
The COTE in its first year of existence did some limited lobbying (emailing) on the NYS Green Amendment. We have informed Members about some on-going environmental issues in the Greater NY area (invasive species in Lake Sebago, Hudson River clean-ups and more).
Marty Kellerman & Lisa North, Co-Chairs
5. Conservation Commission
The conservation committee has been active on several fronts this past year including:
-ADK New York chapter has joined with the Appalachian Mountain Club and the American Canoe Association, the other camps on Lake Sebago, to form a coalition to protect the lake and its environs.
-We have worked with the New York/ New Jersey Trail Conference to destroy invasive species along the road leading to Nawakwa and around the camp. We have supplied volunteers on several occasions for this effort.
-We have attended a Teatown Preserve educational seminar about aquatic invasive species (AIS) and provided volunteers to participate in a survey of the lake’s current condition.
-We are working with our coalition partners to present a request for funding for a “Lake Steward” to help monitor the public boat ramp to prevent invasive species from being brought into Lake Sebago.
Submitted by Ira Stahl
Chairman ADK NY Conservation Committee
Report for the Board Meeting – October 16, 2021
The objective of the Archives ‘Committee’ is to gather historical records of the NY Chapter that have accumulated over the course of the organization’s lifetime, record them, and make them more accessible to people.
Over the last several years the records stored in boxes at Camp Nawakwa have been reviewed and recorded. They have been categorized for ease in referencing them. Over the years, members have donated important historical documents that augment the current collection.
In 2021, the project of recording and preserving the documents was completed.
The Archives Committee welcomes materials to add to the collection and invites you to contribute documents relevant to the history of the Chapter and Camp Nawakwa.
Ellen King
Committee Chair
7. Camp Committee
Along with the efforts of our reliable Key holders and enthusiastic applicants, the Camp Committee began and completed many unique projects this year, in addition to our usual maintenance tasks: Native plant installation to lodge area; New, safer handrail to swim dock area-75% complete; Revised Bathing Beach Safety Plan with Key holder help-a months-long task working with the DOH; Identified and removed five large trees hanging over buildings; Requested asbestos evaluation and abatement, required for roof replacement, completed by the Park after many phone requests; Interviewed and contracted with roofing company-replacement in progress; new “low overhead” and “Host Parking” signs installed; Installed convenient wrought iron door pulls to cabins and shed; Replaced downstairs broken refrigerator within hours of its demise; Researched and installed a beautiful new bench to the dock.
The Committee looks forward to continuing projects, such as the repair of the dock and upgrading the boat launch area, and maintenance that make Camp Nawakwa safe and enjoyable for all. To do so takes the tremendous support and efforts of all, and we look forward to seeing you all at Work Day, October 17, and any of the four annual project days.
8. Hikes and Outings Committee Annual Report – submitted by Glen Nison, Chair
The hikes and outings committee (myself, Ray Kozma and Ingrid Strauch) formally adopted several changes (with input and approval of the board) as to how hike leaders are “certified” to lead qualifying hikes.
The detailed description can be found in the June/July 21 issue of the Trail Marker. This can be viewed on the adkny.org website
Due to the pandemic, before most of us were fully vaccinated, we limited the number of hikers that were allowed on a hike but currently we are leaving that to the discretion of the hike leader. There will be several hikes over the next three months to help those applicants that need qualifying hikes. Hopefully we’ll get to enjoy the fall foliage and some snow this fall and winter.
The current list of “certified” hike leaders is:
Glen Nison
Ray Kozma
Ingrid Strauch
Stephanie Li
Lewis Ports
Alex Wilkie
9. Membership Chair Report
Membership Statistics
| Oct, 2021 | Oct, 2020 | Aug, 2019 | July, 2018 | July, 2017 | July, 2016 | July, 2015 | ||
| Nawakwa Keyholders | 235 | 222 | 241 | 239 | 250 | 234 | 220 | |
| NY Chapter Households | 835 | 776 | 749 | 736 | 707 | 680 | 713 | |
| Applicants | 41 | 30 | 13 | 20* | 20* | |||
| * Sept. |
Responsibilities and Duties
- Maintain a database of current and former Nawakwa Keyholders and Applicants.
- Receive a monthly roster of ADK NY Chapter members from the Main Chapter.
- Respond to phone calls, letters, and emails requesting information on membership in the ADKNY chapter or Nawakwa.
- Process Application forms and payments of those who choose to become Applicants and send welcome letters with Qualification forms and rules governing Camp access and conduct during the Applicant period.
- Provide the Board with details of Applicants who have submitted completed qualifications and requested Keyholder status.
- Provide the Board with periodic reports on Applicant and membership status.
- Send welcome communications to new key-holders with details regarding keys, lockers, and mandatory Main Club annual membership.
- Send informational Nawakwa communications to new ADK members that have declared the NY Chapter as their local chapter.
- Send paper copies of the Trail Marker to Nawakwans who have paid an annual subscription fee to receive them.
- Maintain a roster of Keyholders who pay an annual rental fee for storage lockers in the lower level of the Main Cabin
- Send annual renewal invoices, process payments, and distribute locker keys to new Keyholders.
10. Treasurer Report
The NY Chapter’s Insurance coverage and rent due to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) continue to be the Chapter’s largest annual expenses.
1. Rent. In 2018 the NY Chapter signed a 10 year lease; our annual rent is $5,473.00. PIPC requires us to pay 75% of the rent by January 30. The remaining 25% of rent due for 2020 was eliminated by two MCI projects (1. gravel to reinforce parking/driveway area and 2. the Main Cabin porch stairwell replacement project).
2. 2020 Loss of Income. Income versus expenses were largely offset by the loss of typical camp fee revenues due to the pandemic and the suspension of Shared Affiliate fees in 2020 normally received from the Main club; Monthly Shared Affiliate fees can range from $600 – $1,000 on average. Fortunately Shared Affiliate fees resumed from the Main Club in October 2020. In an effort to diversify assets, the Board voted to transfer cash from prior year donations to the existing Vanguard Money Market Fund and a new Apple Bank 2 year Certificate of Deposit (CD).
3. Insurance. Liability coverage: $8,823, Directors & Officers coverage: $1,156. The Board looked into alternative insurance providers for Nawakwa other than Philadelphia Insurance. We spoke to our Insurance representative to negotiate better rates; our camp’s location and access to the lake and inherent risk issues present at least one of the major factors necessitating the type and/or terms of coverage that camp requires. After a thorough and comprehensive review, the Board assessed that we were getting appropriate, fair and reasonable insurance coverage.
4. Additional Major Capital Improvement (MCI) projects, all of which were discussed in depth by the Board and received approval:
● Tree removal of dead and/or infected trees from the camp’s property area. The trees requiring removal will be cut and logs will be available for use as firewood at camp. Cost incurred: $7,000
● Roof replacement. Expected cost to incur: $29,350
● Additional projects throughout the past year improving the quality and experience of
enjoying Nawakwa included adding benches for the dock ($516) and native plants ($300)
As permitted by PIPC, a percentage of the NY Chapter’s largest MCI expenses will be applied as a discount against our annual rent due in 2022.
11. Hosting Committee
We want to acknowledge the wonderful Hosting team of Mary Hilley and Maryanne Poris, who spent so many hours and years, formatting forms, finessing processes, soliciting and training Hosts, etc., etc. Mary and Maryann even agreed to stay on for two years, while waiting for volunteers and through the pandemic. Following approval by the BOD in May 2021, while covid restrictions were still in place at Camp Nawakwa, Teri and Tanya Gabel became the Hosting position left open for so long. Camp opened in April with no restrictions, but still, past Hosts when solicited by Teri were apprehensive to Host or attend Hosted Weekends. The calendar did begin to fill, with August having Hosts every weekend. With our combined computer experience, and the help of our Webmaster, we look forward to mechanizing the process of Hosting, including a registration much like that used during the pandemic, electronic payments for camp fees and meals, to make the Hosting process less cumbersome and more stream-lined. We look forward to working with Hosts, and have many ideas to assure the Host enjoys the weekend, as well as the attendees. We look forward to a robust calendar of Hosted Weekends and mid-weeks for 2022. To consider Hosting, please read through the Host Handbook, and email us your interest.
