[at-l] Indiana Hikers (esp. 2000milers) please read!

[tmcginnis@ucclan.state.in.us (Thomas McGinnis)]

          Last night I was elected to chair the Hoosier Hikers' 
          Council. If you're not aware of it, the HHC membership 
          numbers in the low hundreds, but is moving a statewide 
          petition (re "Horse Wars") signed by individuals and 
          organizations (including recently The American Hiking 
          Society) numbering many thousands. I was/am flattered, and am 
          not at all convinced of the wisdom of their request or my 
          acceptance, but I am now faced with having given up cavalier 
          independence as an individual board member for responsible 
          leadership, stewardship, and productive harmony. I take it 
          seriously.
          
          Without offering really anything in return, I hereby request 
          your help. As a young organization, the HHC has already 
          accomplished much for Hoosier hikers -- as seen in miles and 
          miles of recovered forest trail and the steady development of 
          the Knobstone, as well as less obvious results including a 
          genuine sensitivity and receptiveness on the part of state 
          forest and recreation officials. But all of this has been 
          done with a small cadre of movers who are, justifiably, a bit 
          tired. They wish to hand over the organization to the next 
          set of leaders, and maybe thats you. A good course has been 
          set, all thats needed now is more hands at the tiller and the 
          lines.
          
          Play a part! I know there is a role for you. Haven't done 
          trail work on the AT and feel a curiousity about how much 
          fun/sweat could be involved? Call for directions for this 
          weekend's clear/blaze hike on another section of the 
          Knobstone one measly hour south of Indy. There's another one 
          planned in three weeks for a new trail on the unsettled side 
          of Brookville reservoir -- 24 miles in backcountry, all fresh 
          and new, and blazed by you!
          
          Sore yet from your own yardwork? We have accounts/expense/tax 
          questions that will take US twelve years to answer, but 
          someone knowledgeable would be able to work them out in 
          nothing flat. Website production. Work a race water stop! 
          Design a teeshirt. Recording Secretary. Or whatever YOU think 
          you can easily contribute. There's lots here, and involved 
          committments are not necessarily needed.
          
          And then here's a biggie, and hopefully a fun one. I 
          volunteered to set up a panel of AT backpackers (especially 
          but not exclusively 2000milers) for the HHC annual meeting to 
          be held in Indy's Eagle Creek Park (the largest(?) municipal 
          park in the country) on Saturday, February 20. Approximately 
          9:00 to 2:00. A 60-90 minute afternoon panel of AT 
          knowledgeables would bring 'em out in droves, to a meeting 
          which would hunger for topics besides "How do we further 
          cajole more budget emphasis out of the Hoosier National 
          Forest for foot travel only paths?" Please please please 
          respond!!! You can help a lot just with this one thing, 
          because it would give us a very balanced agenda and an 
          attractive meeting all the way around.
          
          And as has been said by others, while you're directly 
          assisting in the development and recovery of Indiana trails 
          (whether by loping or lobbying), you are ALSO lessening the 
          pressure on all of the other recreation resources we choose 
          from, including our beloved AT. And that, my friend, is a 
          super-sized good feeling waiting to happen. It's yours for 
          the taking!
          
          Whether you have a hour or a day or weekend, whether you 
          could assist for an event or a season or a year or two, 
          please give me a call (317) 322-0119 or simply respond to me 
          here. And thanks!
          
          Tom McGinnis
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