AT Museum Volunteer Newsletter - Volume 1, Issue 8

Volume 1, Issue 8 - June, 2014

We have entered our Busy Season.  Lots of NOBO Thru Hikers are coming through the Park, eating their ice cream and visiting the museum.  The days have grown warm and the grass is growing fast.  The Museum is in the peak of its full day hours and the visitors, sales and donations have been promising.  The time you give to the museum is like the water that used to flow into the museum and turn the grinding stone to make the flour.  With out it, the flour doesn't get made.  Thanks for All You Do.

Dusk at the Museum

____________________________________________

Renovation Progress

The basement renovation has begun and the old oil tank has been removed.  Lots more work will continue later in the Summer and we are hopeful that it will be complete before next season.  The 2nd floor ramp has also continued to grow and soon will be stretching towards the trees and then back.  Here are a few pictures.

Ramp progress

Bench near the door

Bye bye oil tank

Utility area

____________________________________________

Hall of Fame Weekend

Last weekend was a busy one.  Friday marked the Fourth Annual AT Museum Hall of Fame Banquet where we inducted its newest members.  You can read about the banquet here.  This article has some more detail on the Inductees.  
Saturday continued the fun as the reunion classes of 74, 79, 84 and 89 came to the Park and we heard lots of stories from the class of 74, had lots of food and a nice cookout, followed by a campfire at the Group Camp Area in the park.  There was also a kids Mini AT Race and some musical entertainment. The whole weekend was beautiful.  

All in all, the whole weekend was a success and I thank you all for your help in making it possible, especially Gongo, our web master (class of 1983), who organized the reunion.  We plan on continuing this tradition next year, which will honor the Class of 1980 (Larry Luxenberg) and 1985 (Wood Chuck).

HOF Inductee Representatives

Here is another interesting site.  John "Bodacious" Baudet is the talented artist who makes all of our Hiking Stick Awards (aka Bo D. Hofman or a BodHi)  Check it out here. ____________________________________________

A Letter from the Park Office

Tara Gettig, the Park Office's Environmental Education Specialists sent this letter to me to include in the next Newsletter.  This shows the importance of the Museum and the Park's relationship.  

AT Museum Volunteers- KUDOS!

As the 2014 summer season gears up, I have noticed more thru hikers trekking through the park, the weather warming and the general excitement about all things summer in the park.  I would like to take a moment to sincerely thank all the volunteers that make the museum a success.  When I conduct programs or talk informally to the public about the AT Museum, I always mention the tremendous volunteer effort that goes into making it all happen.  It is a testament to the love and dedication that many feel towards America’s beloved footpath and the importance of sharing the AT’s story with others.

I have consistently noticed the effort that docents take to reach out to the visitors of the museum and offer up fun and interesting tidbits about the exhibits or trail in general.  This casual interpretation is immensely important and it may be the visitors’ only interaction with any formal worker at the park.  In many cases, I believe it makes the difference between a visitor taking an uninterested stroll through some displays and piquing interest in a fascinating trail. Please keep up the good work and be encouraged to know that you may have fostered another advocate of the Appalachian Trail.

All the volunteers, whether he or she has front-line interaction with visitors, mows the lawn, works on construction projects or any other behind the scene jobs, are helping to share the story of a trail, a culture, an ideal and a dream.  I believe that the Appalachian Trail is a unique and important resource here at Pine Grove Furnace State Park and I am proud of the work happening to share the story.  Thank you for your dedication and keep up the good work.   

Tara Gettig, Environmental Education Specialist, Pine Grove Furnace State Park

Sadly, Tara will be leaving us soon as she moves on to more wondrous things down in Maryland.  She will be missed, but her replacement Angelea (Lea) Smith has reported aboard and is fitting in nicely.  We welcome Lea to the Park Family and look forward to continuing the amazing relationship that exists between all of the staff of the Park Office and the Museum.  
____________________________________________

Screen Door

You probably all remember that the screen door had some "issues" and looked like a pushed out fishing net, but thanks to Ed Riggs (Phys Ed - Who will be back on the trail when this gets published) used his skills to make it all right again.  Thanks Phys Ed for the nice job on the screen and good luck on finishing your hike.  See you in August.

Phys Ed + door = perfection

____________________________________________

Hiker's Lounge

This is the season where the Hiker Lounge in the Museum get its most use.  This picture is a quick look into a day when the rain is falling and the Hikers are waiting for the Hostel to open.  Charging phones, Skyping home, trading stories and having a good time.  Keep on hiking, Hikers.

____________________________________________

Think on your Feet Article

An interesting article on how to boost your creativity sent in by Larry Luxenberg.  Enjoy.
____________________________________________

Public Programs are Underway

Memorial Day weekend kicked off our Sunday Public Program agenda.  Our first presenter was Tara Gettig and she talked about "Myron Avery: Celebrating an AT Veteran".  My presentation was "lightly" attended and one of the two listening to me talk about "Social Networking and the Hiker" was a nice German Gentlehiker who needed a ride.  I had fun anyway.  Who needs an audience.  Last Sunday, was a very nice presentation by Dump Truck and Clever Girl, two 2013 Thru Hikers who created a beautiful picture book of the hike and talked about how to "Like Your Own Hike".  It was so fun finally meeting those two and I really enjoyed spending some time with them at the museum.  I would love to hike with them some day.  

We have more programs scheduled through July, but are still looking for interesting topics to fill out the calendar to at least Labor Day.  If you have something to talk about, or know someone who would like to present a public program, let me know.  You can check out the Program Calendar in the link up at the top of this page.

Myon Avery: Celebrating an AT Veteran

Like Your Own Hike

______________________________________________

Things Coming Down the Trail

June 22nd, 2014 - Public Program - Don's Brother: A Hike of Hope on the Appalachian Trail
June 23rd, 2014 - Road Scholars Hike - 9:20am-4pm

June 29th, 2014 - Public Program - Hiker Picnic - Potluck dishes requested
July 6th, 2014 - Public Program - The Park Before the Park: Jackson Fuller's Amusement Park at Pine Grove Furnace, 1878 - 1900
July 7th, 2014 - Museum Hours return to one shift Noon to 4PM.
July 7th to July 9th or 10th - Joe Hiking from Pen Mar to The Museum with a friend.  Who wants to come along?
July 13th, 2014 - Public Program - The Trail Journey of JD and the Princess and The Idea Miners: The Lost Lake Dig
July 20th, 2014 - Public Program - Cancelled.
July 27th, 2014 - Public Program - Wilson and Jolin - Family Concert

I'll leave you this month with a few more interesting pictures from around the Museum including some from our new White Blaze exhibit.  Enjoy...

Golden Ragwort in bloom

Old Blaze Markers

AT Museum Volunteer Newsletter - Volume 1, Issue 7

Volume 1, Issue 7 - May, 2014

Business has been booming.  We have had quite a few visitors in our first month and a half of being open and the sales and donations have been very satisfying.  The weather is (finally) getting Spring like and the people are heading to the parks to spend their leisure time.  As this issue comes to publication,  I'm hiking through the woods of Western PA in the Allegheny National Park on the North Country Trail.  I'm able to do this due to the time you most generously donate as Docents and Volunteers.  Thanks to you, I'm much obliged.  

Spring is trying so hard to come to the Museum

____________________________________________

The Passing of One of Our Own

Katy Sexton - 1940-2014

It is with deepest sorrow and utmost sympathy that I must announce the passing of one of our Docents.  Katy Sexton, wife of our Treasurer, Jay, passed away early on May 1st after a short, but grave illness.  Katy was a common fixture at the Museum, usually serving as Greeter alongside Jay during the season.  Jay and Katy also presented one of our Public Programs during past seasons.  Drawing on their many years of leading children into the wilderness, Jay and Katy would provide a wealth of information and many stories of their adventures over the years about distance hiking with children and youth groups.  She will be sorely missed and our sympathies go out to Jay and his family in this time of loss.  
____________________________________________

Programs Page Added to Newsletter Site

You may notice a new link at the top of the page.  This link will lead you to our Programs Page.  Here you will find dates and descriptions of our Summer Public Programs which run between Memorial Day and Labor Day, (but can extend further into the season), usually on Sundays at 2:00pm.  If you have something you would like to present, please let me know and we will get you on the schedule.  If you have time on a Sunday afternoon, please consider coming by the Museum to learn something new about the trail, the park, or any manner of interesting things.  

____________________________________________

AT Museum Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2014

The fourth class of Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame honorees will be inducted on Friday, June 6, at the annual Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet at the Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. 

Honorees in the 2014 Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame class are A. Rufus Morgan of Franklin, North Carolina; Charles R. Rinaldi of Boca Raton, Florida; Clarence S. Stein of New York City, New York; and Pamela A. Underhill of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

To read more about each of the honorees, check out this press release.  
To get your tickets, go here.

____________________________________________

Hall of Fame Weekend Events

Saturday, June 7th will be our Hall of Fame Festival.  Here are some of the things we have planned.

9:00am - Hikes to Sunset Rocks and Pole Steeple 
We are looking for volunteers to lead these two hikes.  If you are interested, let me know.

10:00am - Blazing the AT
Program includes a 1930s film featuring Myron Avery.  Museum

1:00pm to 4:00pm - Meet the Honorees
2014 Hall of Fame honorees, their families or representatives give talks and answer questions at sessions devoted to each of the honorees.  Furnace Pavilion

Thru Hiker Reunion Gathering
for the classes of 1989, 1984, 1979 and 1974.  Museum and Group Camp area

Richard Judy
Author of the new novel THRU: An Appalachian Trail Love Story.  Furnace Pavilion

Evening - Brats and Pot Luck Supper with Campfire
Bring a dish to share and trail memories to talk about.  Everyone is welcome - Group Camp area.  

____________________________________________

The Golden Ratio of the Trail

One of the things I love about working here at the AT Museum is I get to meet the most interesting individuals.  This was the case last week when I was hanging out at the picnic tables by the General Store and two hikers came up.  One was or very own Jack Harbaugh, aka Sequoia.  The other was Rags to Riches (Rags for short) a Thru Hiker who had started sometime in February.  

Once the conversation went through its usual check offs of gear, miles, start time, etc, the topic of the Halfway Point of the trail came up.  It seems Rags has another goal in mind for his hiking accomplishments.  That goal is the Golden Ration of the Trail.  Now, not having a strong background in mathematics or art, I had no idea what the Golden Ratio was.  

The Golden Ration or 2185.3 * .618 = 1350.5

When I asked Rags to explain a little more about the mystical point of the trail, he got a piece of paper out and started writing down all these formulas and calculations.  For me, it was like he was speaking Klingon.  I nodded my head a little and in my mind I started calling him Big Rags (like Big Bang, since his calculations started to remind me of Sheldon Cooper of that popular TV show) and once he left, I googled the topic and learned a little more about in the layman's terms I needed to understand.  

Golden Ratio in Art

Golden Ratio in Nature

The Golden Ratio is an interesting concept that is found over and over again in nature and artists and builders have used it in their works to create more aesthetically pleasing subjects.  When I asked my daughter (an artist) about it, she knew about it immediately.  Oh well.

I put it all in the back of my mind over the next couple of days as I hiked the trail east of the Susquehanna, but it kept coming back to me.  On my last day of the hike, I ran into Big Rags again.  We once more talked about the Golden Ratio and after some quick calculator functions, figured that the Golden Ratio of the Trail is at Mile Marker 1350.5, which is in New Jersey somewhere near Glenwood, NJ.  

So if a hiker has made the halfway point and needs a new goal to strive for, tell them about the Golden Ratio and when they get to New Jersey, they can celebrate another milestone of their hike.  

______________________________________________

Things Coming Down the Trail

May 25th, 2014 - Public Program - Myron Avery, Celebrating an AT Veteran - 2pm

May 26th, 2014 - Road Scholars Hike - 9:30am-4pm

May 28th, 2014 - Big Spring Middle School Field Trip to Park

June 1st, 2014 - Public Program - Social Networking and the Hiker - 2pm

June 6th, 2014 - Hall of Fame Banquet - Allenberry Resort, Boiling Springs, PA.  Tickets

June 7th, 2014 - AT Museum Festival

June 8th, 2014 - Public Program - Like Your Own Hike - 2pm

June 9th, 2014 - Road Scholars Hike - 9:30am-4pm

June 15th, 2014 - Warrior Hike (tentative) - Potluck dishes requested

June 23rd, 2014 - Road Scholars Hike - 9:20am-4pm

June 29th, 2014 - Public Program - Hiker Picnic - Potluck dishes requested
June 30th, 2014 - Road Scholars Hike - 9:30am-4pm (tentative)

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"

____________________________________________

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

____________________________________________

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

____________________________________________

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.  
____________________________________________

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.  
____________________________________________

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.  

____________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________

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.  

______________________________________________

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

AT Museum Volunteer Newsletter - Volume 1, Issue 5

Volume 1, Issue 5 - March, 2014

Welcome back.  The snow is melting (hopefully), the sun is shining (please) and the month of our opening is at hand.  It has been an interesting winter, but spring is on its way and the museum is ready to get back into action.

3/14/14 - Opening day approaches

____________________________________________

Quick Reminders: AT Museum Cleanup Day

March 22nd, 2014 and we will work from about 9:00 am until about 1:00 pm or so.  

I think we are all set as far as cleaning supplies go.  If you have a rake or broom, that can always help.  We have rubber gloves, but if you want to bring work gloves, please do so.  Hopefully we won't need to bring any snow shovels.

AT Museum Volunteer Orientation

March 29th, 2014 9:00 am to Noon or so, at the Ironmaster's Mansion.  Current, new and prospective Docents invited.  

____________________________________________

Docent Shifts Starting to Fill

It was very nice to see all of you signing up for shifts for the coming season.  I hope everyone is finding the VolunteerSpot website to be comfortable to work with.  It looks like our first two days in March are covered and four of the eight days in April have at least one person signed up.  

If you can spare the time on a Saturday or Sunday in April, it would be great to get that month all lined up.  Thanks for all who are committing their time, it is so greatly appreciated.  Sign up here.

____________________________________________

Road Scholar Hiking Guides

One of the partnerships the Museum has established is to provide hiking guides to the Road Scholar Adventures in Learning Groups.  They offer lifelong learning and one of their adventures starts right here in PA.  

For each of these hikes (there are eight of them from March to October) we try to provide at least two hiking guides (and we can have as many as are interested), who hike along with the group and talk about the interesting things of the trail, like the Clubs and trail maintenance, the meaning of the blazes, the interesting ruins of Camp Michaux and anything else that comes to mind.  

Once the hike is finished, we open the museum to the group and let them look around some and enjoy our exhibits.  It all ends up as a great day of hiking and talking about the trail we all love.  If this is something you are interested in helping out with, I have set up a Road Scholar event on the VolunteerSpot Group page.  

____________________________________________

Ed Garvey Collection Comes to the Museum
by Joe Harold

According to Larry Luxenberg, the museum has been hopefully waiting to take possession (long term loan) of the multitude of artifacts that Ed Garvey (one of our 2011 Hall of Fame inductees) for about 15 years.  Last month, we received the word that we could have the items, but we would need to act fast, as the house they were stored in (one built by Ed himself) was going to undergo some extensive renovation, so the time was now to get the artifacts.

We quickly assembled an all-star crew consisting of Jim Sample, Ron Bungay, Carol Bungay, Mike Wingeart and myself to head to Falls Church and gather the items for transport to the museum.  

L-R, Jim, Mike, Carol, Sharon and Ron

Jim went down the day before and spent 12 hours working with Sharon Garvey to get most of the items boxed and ready to go.  The rest of us came on Friday, loaded up and headed to the museum.  Just as we arrived, rain started falling.  We cleared the path of ice and unloaded all the trucks with 45 items.  It was quite a haul and you could just smell the history wafting off the artifacts.  

Carol recording our efforts

Mike's improvised hands free rain avoidance device

Once we got everything up into the second floor we could relax a little.  After Ron and Mike did some checking of the basement in preparation of the upcoming renovation we all headed to the Holly Inn in nearby Mt Holly Springs for a nice lunch before we all dispersed to our separate homes.  It was a good day for the Museum.

Everything unloaded and drying off

____________________________________________

Help with Presentation Programs

We are still looking for a couple of people to help out with the Program Sessions on Sundays during our season (mainly from Memorial Day to Labor Day).  If we can find one person to handle all the publicity and another person  to handle setup & equipment at the museum (or lawn, or Ironmasters) each Sunday, Gwen will contact potential presenters to fill the calendar.  Once the calendar is filled, those two people will handle the events as they come up on the calendar.  I will be around to help as usual, but it would be great if we could get a couple to handle the details throughout the season.  
____________________________________________

A Famous Hiker Leaves Us

We have lost a historical figure of the trail recently.  Bill Irwin, the blind hiker who completed the whole trail with only his dog Orient passed away after a battle with cancer.  You can read more about it here.  We feature two books at the museum telling the story of Bill's hike and about his companion Orient.  Be sure to check them out at the museum.

______________________________________________

Things Coming Down the Trail

March 20th, 2014 - KTA Film Festival, Camp Hill, PA
March 22nd, 2014 - Spring Cleanup

March 29th, 2014 - Docent Orientation (both experienced and new)

March 29th, 2014 - AT Museum opens for the season
March 31st, 2014 - Road Scholar Hike - Big Flat to Museum NOBO.
April - Start remodeling the bottom floor
April 12th, 2014 - Elizabethtown College visits Museum
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 here.
May 5th, 2014 - Road Scholar Hike - Big Flat to Museum NOBO.

AT Museum Volunteer Newsletter - Volume 1, Issue 4

Volume 1, Issue 4 - February, 2014

Welcome back.  March 29th will be here before we know it.  As the winter winds down, it is time to start thinking about opening day and all we need to do to be ready.  

Snowy, sleepy museum (2/11/14)

____________________________________________

Reminder: Hall of Fame Nominations

One last reminder.  All nominations should be in by the end of the month (Feb 28th).  

online form. 

paper form.  
____________________________________________

AT Museum Cleanup Day

It isn't too early to sign up for the AT Museum's annual cleanup day, where we scrub the winter off of the whole museum from top to bottom and get ready for our fifth season.  The date is March 22nd, 2014 and we will work from about 9:00 am until about 1:00 pm or so.  

You can find the signup link on our VolunteerSpot Group page or follow this direct link.

Please help us out if are free to do so.

____________________________________________

AT Museum Volunteer Orientation

On opening day (March 29th, 2014) we will also be conducting our annual volunteer orientation.  This session is to bring any new Docents up to speed as well as a refresher for the veterans.  We have a few new things to talk about and review and all ideas and suggestions are welcome and encouraged.  The session will be from 9:00 am to about 1:00 pm and refreshments will be provided.  You can sign up at the Group page to attend and to help with the refreshments if you want.  Here is a direct link.

____________________________________________

Credit Card Purchases come to the Museum

One of the things we will be covering at the Orientation is our new Credit Card ability.  During the off season we signed up to use PayAnywhere to process our credit card sales at a reasonable transaction rate.  

To make this work, we needed a tablet of some kind (either iPad or Android) and Randy Motz aka Windtalker found a friend who offered an iPad to donate.  That didn't pan out, but Randy and his wife Georgia Harris, aka Mom, donated the funds to buy a brand new (open box) Samsung Tablet.  I have tested out the setup and it works great.  

It is a pretty simple application and I am hoping it will help to increase sales of our retail items.  

Thanks Windtalker and Mom for your dedication to the museum.  We couldn't have done this without you.  

(Randy and Georgia are the authors of Solemates: Lessons of Life,Love & Marriage from the Appalachian Trail, a book we sell at the museum.  We also carry some of Randy's music CDs)

____________________________________________

THRU: An Appalachian Trail Love Story

The AT Museum has entered the publishing business.  Our first publication is THRU: An Appalachian Trail Love Story by Richard Judy. Richard has graciously offered to let all proceeds of the sales go to the Museum.  The book is now available on Amazon.com and if you have designated the AT Museum as your charity at Amazon Smile, we will receive another 0.5% of the sale from Amazon.  Follow this link to buy the book on Amazon Smile (make sure you designate AT Museum (EIN 30-0127417) as your charity and I promise you will have a very enjoyable read.  Here is the link. 

We will also be promoting and selling the book at the Museum as well as the ATC and other places and will have a prominent display of the books this upcoming season.  

____________________________________________

Park Manager Promoted

Jason Zimmerman, the Park Manager here at Pine Grove Furnace State Park has been promoted and will no longer be working at the Furnace.  We would like to congratulate Jason on his hard earned promotion and thank him for all he has done for the Museum and the park.  Our success is surely the result of his help with the Museum.  We wish you good luck Jason, and thank you for all you have done for the Park and the Museum.  

We look forward to continuing our excellent relationship with your replacement.

____________________________________________

Programs Committee Chairman Needed

We are still looking for someone to take on the challenge of being the next Programs Committee Chairman.  The duties and responsibilities would be to find people to present their programs and schedule them on Sundays during the season.  For more information contact Gwen Loose.

______________________________________________

Things Coming Down the Trail

February 28th, 2014 - Deadline for Hall of Fame nominations

March 22nd, 2014 - Spring Cleanup

March 29th, 2014 - Docent Orientation (both experienced and new)

March 29th, 2014 - AT Museum opens for the season
April - Start remodeling the bottom floor
April 27th, 2014 - 5th Annual Ironmaster's Challenge - Sign up here.