AT Museum Volunteer Newsletter - Volume 1, Issue 6

Volume 1, Issue 6 - April, 2014

The Museum is OPEN.  Our first three weekends have left me very excited on how successful this season is going to be.  We have had a good number of visitors, even though the weather on the first weekend wasn't too nice and our sales and donations are trending well beyond last year.  Here are a few stats:  In the first three weeks we have had 268 visitors, have collected $250 in donations and $897 in sales.  Some of those sales were made a little earlier at different places, but these numbers thrill me to no end.  Thanks to all for your efforts in making this possible.  

Bo D. Hofman - Awarded to our Hall of Fame selectees
and made with loving care by "Bodacious"

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KTA Film Festival and Membership Drive

On March 20th, I represented the Museum by attending this wonderful event.  I set up our table and was able to talk to a lot of people interested in the AT and the Museum.  The event was a screening of three short films that showed different aspects of the trail we all love and know.  One of the entries was a film by Lorrie Preston, one of our Docents and a very active member here at the Museum.  Her travelogue of hiking the AT in PA entitled "Come Walk With Me" was both interesting and inspiring and won the coveted award of a nice hiking stick for best film.  The KTA hopes to make this an annual event and I highly recommend it to any locals who want to watch films on hiking and the AT.

Museum Display at KTA Film Festival

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Museum Clean Up Event

Volunteers made quick work of the Spring Cleanup.  We had 18 volunteers show up and get right to work.  After about three hours, we had the Museum ready for its first visitors.  Thanks to all who gave their time and elbow grease.  We will overcome the lady bugs...
  

Raking and burning winter's leavings

Georgia working on the plant beds

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First 2014 Thru Hikers Visit Museum

At this year's Docent Orientation there was a short discussion of when everyone thought the first Thru Hikers would come by the Museum.  I don't think anyone would have guessed that they would be arriving on March 30th.  

After our day's events I headed to Big Flat and hiked into Birch Run Shelter.  There I met Samwise, Banana Jones and her companion Kota Bear.  These Thru Hikers started in late January and were hiking fast to finish their hike before real world obligations pull them back to the daily grind.  I can only imagine the weather these hikers have encountered as they made their way up from Georgia.  As you can see in the picture, Sunday wasn't too pleasant either, but their hike continued.  

Samwise, Kota Bear and Banana Jones at this year's Halfway Point

When Samwise, Kota Bear and Banana Jones made it to the Museum, they were also the first hikers to get their AT Passport Stamped.  We all sat around the heaters and they tried to dry out a little before continuing on.  Luckily, when I told some visitors (both past Thru Hikers) about these hikers, they took them home for the night and showed them some Trail Magic.  The trail will provide.  

Lots of stamps in those Passports

I was surprised again later in the day when Toe Jam came by after being this year's first Half Gallon Challenger.  

Toe Jam proudly displaying his Half Gallon Challenge Spoon

Toe Jam was trying to catch up to the other two and word down the trail says they did indeed meet up before Duncannon and were seen hiking out of town together.  Keep on hiking guys.  
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May's Docent Shift Challenge

I was very happy to see that all the shifts in April were quickly filled by dedicated Docents. Before we know it, May will be upon us and starting Saturday, May 10th, we will be open from 9am to 4pm with the need to fill two shifts a day (or a minimum of 1 person per shift).

If you have time to dedicate, it would be great to get May filled up too.  Go HERE to sign up for a shift.  
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Hall of Fame Weekend

We have a lot planned for the first weekend in June (June 6, 7 and 8).  On Friday the 6th, we will have our Fourth Annual Hall of Fame Banquet at the prestigious Allenberry Resort Inn and Playhouse in Boiling Springs, PA, where we will induct the Class of 2014.  You can purchase tickets HERE, and AT Museum Society members get a discount.  

On Saturday the 7th, we will have a Festival at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, where there will be food and speakers at the Furnace Pavillion.  We hope to have a lot of this year's Thru Hiker Class hanging around and talking to all who will listen.  We also will be featuring a Reunion Gathering for those who hiked the trail 25, 30, 35 or 40 years ago (1989, 1984, 1979, 1974).  For more information, go HERE.

Saturday's events look like this:
9:00am - Hikes to Sunset Rocks and Pole Steeple 
10:00am - Program on Blazing, featuring a 1930's movie
Lunch
1:00 - 4:00pm - Presentations with question & answer and meet & greet, featuring the 2014 AT Museum Hall of Fame Inductees and Richard Judy, author of THRU: An Appalachian Trail Love Story.  
Evening - Campfire and dinner of Brats and Pot Luck.  If you want to come and bring a dish to share, it will certainly be appreciated by those who like to eat.  (hikers)

Sunday will feature another Program Presentation at 2:00 pm titled, Like Your Own Hike, by Michael "Dump Truck" Wilson and his wife Kit "Clever Girl" McCann.  These Thru Hikers from the Class of 2013, will talk about how to enjoy your hike and the people you meet along the way.  We will also be displaying Michael's book of photos, "Northbound" that he took during the hike that show the connection the hikers make to each other and the trail.  

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Warrior Hike

This year's Warrior Hikers are scheduled to pass through Pine Grove Furnace on Sunday, June 15th. We are working in conjunction with the Park Office to plan a small pot luck and cookout to honor these heroes who are "walking off the war" with a Thru Hike of the AT.  You can learn more about Warrior Hike HERE.  We also hope to have the Warrior Hikers speak at the Museum, as one of our Program Presentations.

More info to come as plans firm up.

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Board of Directors Meeting

On April 6th, the AT Museum Board of Directors met in the Ironmaster's Mansion.  Many important items were discussed, the primary one being the approval of this year's Hall of Fame Inductees.  

ATMS Board of Directors

The names of the inductees will be announced soon, but all I can say right now is there are four of them.  

Other items discussed were our sales of THRU and the programs and new exhibits we have planned.  The board also discussed more storage space, the upcoming renovations to the basement and the creation of a number of committees that will help the Museum manage the multitude of things we want to do.  

After an election of the current board members whose terms were expiring, the meeting adjourned.  

We finished off the meeting by watching Larry Luxenberg on a local TV station doing a three minute spot about the Museum called Good Day PA.  You can check it out HERE.  If the AT Museum video doesn't come up right away, you can search for it in the list of videos.

All board meeting are open to any and all interested parties.  

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Things Coming Down the Trail

April - Start remodeling the bottom floor
April 22nd, 2014 - Earth Day Celebration, Shippensburg University
April 26th, 2014 - Earth Day Celebration, Waynesboro, PA
April 27th, 2014 - 5th Annual Ironmaster's Challenge - Sign up to run here. To Volunteer, Click here.
May 5th, 2014 - Road Scholar Hike - Big Flat to Museum NOBO.  Send me an email or sign up here. 
May 28th, 2014 - Big Spring Middle School Field Trip to Park