Click to view a PDF of this message: July letter to membership

July 6, 2021

Greetings to all New York Chapter–ADK Members,

The Board of Directors of the New York Chapter is taking this opportunity to inform you of some troubling recent developments relating to the Chapter and the Main Club.

The New York Chapter was one of the first two chapters formed by ADK in 1922-23 and was incorporated in 1931 as a 501(c )7 not-for-profit organization. The New York Chapter has a long history of an amicable association with ADK. Chapter members have long served on Main Club committees and on the Main Club’s Board of Directors, including our member serving as President of ADK. The current New York Chapter BOD, as well as past BODs, have operated to the best of their ability, in good faith, and with dedication to ADK, the Chapter and all its members.

Despite our long history of working well with the Main Club, without notice, a hearing or an explanation, after a recent leadership change, the Main Club’s Board of Directors at their meeting of June 26, 2021, “voted to dissolve the New York Chapter as it is currently constituted and establish a new unincorporated chapter.”  This purported dissolution would have terminated your ability to apply for or use and enjoy access to Camp Nawakwa and other Chapter events and services and would have prevented the Chapter from taking any action, even communicating such message to you.

The New York Chapter Board members received this notification in a letter dated June 29, 2021. While the basis for this purported action is unstated, circumstances suggest that it is part of an attempt to seize the Chapter’s assets for the Main Club and control Camp Nawakwa.

In response to ADK’s actions, the BOD retained an attorney to represent the Chapter and sought and was granted a Temporary Restraining Order by the Supreme Court State of New York on July 2, 2021. Thus, the New York Chapter continues to operate as usual pending a further determination by the Court.

The BOD will continue to work to prevent the dissolution of the New York Chapter so we may continue to thrive and prosper as we have for almost a hundred years. The Board will continue to keep you informed as additional information becomes available.

Sincerely,

New York Chapter ADK Board of Directors

Sunday, July 11, 2021 – Bull Hill (Mt. Taurus) – Difficult

Total elevation 1522 ft, 5.5 miles full loop.  Qualifying Hike

This is a steep hike up the Washburn Trail in Cold Spring.  The trail skirts an abandoned quarry, providing a widening view of the Hudson River, from the Beacon Mountain, before reaching the wooded Summit.  On a clear day there are views of the NYC skyline, Shawangunks (north), and the Catskills (West).  There are many ups & downs, stream crossing on an eroded woods road, passing remains of an abandoned estate.  The hike ends by way of the Cornish Trail returning to Washburn Trail.  Five and a half miles, qualifying hike.

Open to all hikers.   Hiking foot wear required.  Bring 16-24 oz water and snack.  Rain Cancelled.  Co-leader welcome.  Meet at parking area on Rt 9D in Cold Spring near Little Stony Point.  More details to registrants.   9am arrival, 9:30am start.  Register by 9pm Friday 7/9

Contact Stephanie  Lai at: sclai2007@yahoo.com

Photo from Tom Pearl:

New York Chapter Elections – 2021 Nominating Committee: Request for Nominations

Elections for six (6) New York Chapter Board of Directors positions are scheduled to be held in October. The Nominating Committee takes this opportunity to reach out for any recommendations that you may have for someone to serve as a Board Director or Officer.

Needed for these positions are Nawakwans with a love of the New York Chapter and Camp Nawakwa and with a willingness to assist in navigating through, weighing in and voting on, the issues that will come up during his or her term on the Board.

Note:
1. All Chapter members may vote in the elections.
2. As per ARTICLE IV, Section 1 of the Bylaws: “All Directors and Officers must be Nawakwans.”
3. All names must be received by September 1, 2021. The slate of candidates will be posted in the October Trail Marker.

The following Board positions are open:
Three Officer positions are open for election: Chair (one-year unexpired term)
Vice Chair (two-year term)
Secretary (two-year term)

Three Director positions are open for election: Director (two- year term)
Director (two – year term)
Director (two-year term)

As of 6/27 these current Officers whose terms of office are expiring have agreed to run for re- election: Eve Mancuso (Secretary), Teri Gabels (Vice-Chair)

As of 7/6 the following current Director, whose terms of office is expiring, has agreed to run for re- election: Guy Lingley

Please email to the Nominating Committee (whose members are listed below) the names of any additional willing candidates for the above positions:

Raymond Kozma
Raymondkozma@gmail.com
Mary Hilley
Hilley66@gmail.com
Lewis Ports
Ports.lewis@gmail.com

Volunteers Needed to Survey Lake Sebago for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
– from Ira Stahl, Conservation Committee Chairperson

I have met with representatives from the ACA and AMC several times in the past months regarding Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in Lake Sebago. The first meeting was attended by me, Lisa North, Marty Kellerman, and representatives from New York State Parks Department, Harriman State Park, and Teatown Nature Preserve, all of whom will be working together through PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) with other interested parties.

At the last meeting:
1) We discussed the three clubs on Lake Sebago, ACA, ADK, AMC, working together on environmental issues as an informal “friends coalition” and possibly forming an official association in the future. We proposed a mission statement for the “coalition” (see below).
2) We discussed the need for a boat decontamination station on the lake as well as discussed other AIS updates, issues, and actions which include a planned survey on July 11 of the Lake Sebago’s current AIS status by Teatown using volunteers from ACA and Camp Nawakwa (see notice below).
3) We were given a detailed update about AMC’s plans and progress in the Lake Sebago area. They are hoping for a 2025 opening for the new camp on the lake. Plans for the Lake Sebago beach area and Lake Skenonto, which have also been leased to the AMC for development, are still in the discussion stages with the parks department.

Coalition Description and Mission Statement
The Lake Sebago Coalition is a partnership of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), the American Canoe Association (ACA), and the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), working collaboratively with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. The public, who have access to the lake, will benefit from the work of this coalition. The coalition plans include securing a decontamination boat washing station near Lake Sebago and collaborating on a range of environmental issues. The mission of the Lake Sebago coalition is to preserve and enhance the environmental quality and public enjoyment of Lake Sebago in New York’s Harriman State Park.

The Aquatic Invasive Species survey will take place on Sunday, July 11, 2021 from 11am to 3pm
Meet at the ACA Pavilion at 11 am for a comprehensive training with Lindsay Yoder, aquatic species coordinator for the Lower Hudson PRISM (Prevent Regional Invasive Species Management).
The program will begin with Lindsay giving an overview of AIS in Lake Sebago and how we can survey the lake to conduct ongoing assessments. Participants will then proceed to Dock 10 and use MCKC’s tandem canoes to survey the cove—and possibly other areas of the lake—for AIS. Participants must have basic paddling skills and wear a PFD at all times on the dock and on the water.

If you are interested in participating in this very important activity or would like more information about this or other conservation activities at Nawakwa, please contact me by email: Irastahl@yahoo.com or call or text me at 516-547 2780.

Note: It is important that we have volunteers from Nawakwa. The current plan is to survey the cove near ACA and, based on the number of volunteers, other parts of the lake. If we have enough volunteers, we should be able to survey more of the lake, including around our lake front and boat launch areas. We possibly could continue this work on our own through the summer and fall.

– Ira Stahl, Conservation Committee Chairperson, New York Chapter-ADK