February/March 2018 ® Volume 33, No. 2 The official newspaper of the American Volkssport Association — AVA: America’s Walking Club. Inside The Big Give, March 22 —

President’s Message ...... 2 New AVA stamps ...... 5 Your chance to make a difference 401K Program ...... 5, 36 By Nancy Wittenberg Tips ...... 9 Regions ...... 6-16, 21-24 n March 22, much earlier than we have all personally benefited from last year, the AVA will again AVA through our participation. New elementary school programs. join San Antonio and sur- rounding counties in The Big Give For AVA this is a nation-wide experi- Page 4 OS.A., a 24-hour day of giving. The ence. Last year individuals, clubs and Big Give is AVA’s only annual fund state associations came together to raising campaign. Because it connects raise nearly $68,000. The people to the causes that matter the December/January edition of The most to them, AVA is counting on all American Wanderer on page 3 listed of us to connect with AVA through a AVA’s significant accomplishments donation to the Big Give. I know our this past year due in large part to all of cause, our mission, is one that matters us – 393 individuals and 92 clubs who to us all. Because our clubs promote donated through The Big Give. This OptOutside photos. and organize non-competitive physi- year our goal is $70,000. We are look- Pages 17-20, 35, 36 cal fitness activities that encourage ing for 450 individuals and 100 clubs lifelong fun, fitness and friendship, to help us reach that goal. Big Give continued on page 4 The AVA’s Communication Toolbox

By Henry Rosales, Executive Director Another Tails on the Trails program. ne of our biggest challenges The AVA Publicity Committee will AVA Communications Tool Box Page 15 as a national organization is release a Request For Qualifications the lack of ability to commu- (RFQ) in early July, if not sooner, to The Checkpoint - The Checkpoint is nicate efficiently and effectively with seek the professional services of a the monthly National AVA newsletter Oour clubs and individual members. consulting firm that can help us create that is sent to all regional directors, With all the recent changes in opera- and implement a National club officers and anyone else who tions, like the new database, new Communications and Marketing plan. requests it. This is the main commu- invoicing procedures, new stamp The goal is to begin phase one of this nication tool of the AVA handles, and expanded and new pro- plan by January 2019. Headquarters. In the Checkpoint gram initiatives like the 401K, you will find any/all updates for oper- Connecticut offers a flat option for Olympiad (bid), AVA Community In the meantime, I ask your patience ations, programs, policies, training the Applachian Trail Program. Events (ACE events), convention, and support in utilizing what we cur- and NEC business. The Checkpoint is Crazy Horse, Appalachian Trail, and rently have in our communications not the publication where you will Page 22 the International Marching League toolbox until we have completed our find updates on walking or club events, it is time to implement the communications and marketing plan. events. You can request the communications and marketing Checkpoint by emailing Hector at strategies of the strategic plan. [email protected]. Communications Toolbox Sal will be there when you Walkcontinued on page 3 Thru History! (Part II)

By Linda Morzillo, Liz Walsh and Terry McFarland

e are excited that two “NO SINGLE ACT – NO PUB- walks at the 2019 AVA LIC MEASURE – EXCEPT THE Convention will highlight DECLARATION OF INDE- the Erie Canal. Part I of this article, PENDENCE AND THE FORMA- Wpublished in the previous TAW, TION OF THE UNITED STATES explained the history of this historic CONSTITUTION HAS DONE SO canal. This quote, a part of the special MUCH TO PROMOTE THE display at the New York State PUBLIC PROSPERITY AND TO Museum in Albany (open through PRODUCE A NEW ERA IN THE October, 2019), sums up why these HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY walks will be important events as you AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF Walk Thru History! THE ERIE CANAL.” - Jesse Hawley 1840 Sal continued on page 5 2 The American Wanderer February/March 2018

Greetings! I hope club event in Chattanooga, Effective July 1, 2017 that you and Tennessee. There was a good turnout President Vice President yours had a from the East Tennessee Wanderers, David Bonewitz Nancy Wittenberg wonderful holi- Georgia Walkers and Tuck-A-See 3837 Channel Harbor Rd. 12626 - 129th Street E. day season. Here Wanderers. It was great to meet new Louisville, TN 37777 Puyallup, WA 98374 we are in 2018 people and be able to walk and talk 865-984-1513 253-841-0580 with new and about the future of AVA. [email protected] [email protected] exciting oppor- tunities for us in On June 30, while in Florida, I trans- Secretary Treasurer AVA. We have ferred all my Southeast RD material Sam Korff Bob Morrison the new stamps which will save us to John McClellan and then hit the 74890 Palm Creek Rd. 6634 Milano Ct SE money and provide better information road to Mississippi to coordinate the Clatskanie, OR 97016 Olympia, WA 98513 503-728-0400 360-464-3426 in our books. (Please note the article transfer of YREs on the Mississippi [email protected] [email protected] on page 5 on “New stamps require Gulf Coast to the RD for future inclu- new stamping technique”.) We also sion in the Online Start Box. Sorry AVA Regional Directors have new programs. Our National that the Mississippi Gulf Coast Trails Program kicked off with the Volkswalking Club closed its doors. Contact the following regarding formation of new clubs, interpretation of rules Appalachian Trail and the first Virtual Sometimes this can’t be helped, but and policies, items to add to the Executive Council agenda, event sanctioning Online Program has started with we can try and learn from the experi- procedures. “401K: Invest in Your Health.” There ence. I am glad that we could “save” will be more to come in 2018 includ- these walks. Atlantic: (MD, PA, WV, VA, NJ, DE, DC) Pacific: (CA, HI, NV, AZ) ing increased support and involve- Mike Green Suzi Glass ment in other national programs, like From August 9–13, we were in Texas 320 Melbourne Way 5562 Vassar Drive Texas Trail Roundup (February 23- for AVA Orientation and Training, Souderton, PA 18964 San Jose, CA 95118 845-781-6861 408-592-3935 25), Crazy Horse (June 2-3), and U.S. and the first NEC/Board meeting for [email protected] [email protected] Freedom Walk Festival (October 19- this two-year leadership cycle. It was Deputy Regional Director Deputy Regional Director 21). Mark your calendar and join us at a lot of work for those days, but Dolores Grenier — [email protected] Carl Cordes — [email protected] these big events. believe it greatly pays off by getting everyone focused on the future and Mid-America: (MI, IL, IN, OH, KY) Rocky Mountain: (MT, WY, UT, CO) Hard to realize that it has been over thinking strategically. Arthur Bacon Sherry Sayers six months since convention and the 1562 Mule Road 1020 Parkway Lane beginning of this term of office for On September 26, we held a video Columbia, IL 62236 Woodland Park, CO 80863 the national officers and RDs. I’m not teleconference with the national lead- 571-345-8301 (c) 719-640-6744 [email protected] [email protected] sure if “time flies when you are hav- ership of America Walks, who advo- Deputy Regional Director Deputy Regional Director ing fun” or if “time races by when cate for walking and walkable com- Cheryl Elser — [email protected] Lynette Reagan — [email protected] you are way too busy.” In my case, I munities. Clearly we have common think it is some of both. Anyway, it interests and will be working to find a North Central: (WI, MN, IA, NE, ND, SD) South Central: (LA, AR, MO, OK, KS) seems appropriate at this point to pro- way to partner with America Walks Jerry Wilson Lucy Yother vide you with a rundown of the activ- that benefits both organizations. 2045 Atwood #409 Box 153 ities of the AVA President since con- Madison, WI 53704 Leavenworth, KS 66048 vention. It is not all inclusive, but October 12-15, Mindy and I partici- 608-695-6449 913-250-0866 covers the high points. pated in the U.S. Freedom Walk [email protected] [email protected] Festival, Arlington, Virginia. Since Deputy Regional Director Butch Spaulding — [email protected] Southeast: (NC, SC, TN, MS, AL, GA, FL) Shortly after convention on June 24, President’s Message continued John McClellan Mindy and I participated in a three- on page 3 Northeast: (ME, NH, VT, NY, MA, RI, CT) 995 Mori Court Chris Mellen Port Orange, FL 32127 90 Parham Road 781-686-0660 Tyngsboro, MA 01879 [email protected] 978-649-7633 Deputy Regional Director [email protected] Robert McDaniel — [email protected] Deputy Regional Director Carolyn Adams — [email protected] Southwest: (TX, NM) The official newspaper of the American Volkssport Association — Susan Medlin AVA: America’s Walking Club. Northwest: (WA, OR, ID, AK) 12527 Fern Creek Published bimonthly by the American AVA HQ by deadlines listed to receive Tom Baltes San Antonio, TX 78253 Volkssport Association (AVA) a non-profit, current issue. Send membership requests 829 NW 44th Ave 210-325-3523 educational association that promotes to AVA at the address below. Camas, WA 98607 [email protected] fun, fitness and friendship by providing Disclaimer: The articles and information 505-298-1256 Deputy Regional Director non-competitive walking and other sport- published in this newspaper have been [email protected] Ruthi Worsham — [email protected] ing events for everyone. The AVA repre- prepared and produced with the utmost Deputy Regional Director sents the United States as a member care. However, neither the AVA nor the editor Dennis Standridge — [email protected] country of the International Federation of can guarantee accuracy or completeness of Popular Sports (IVV) and administers all information. Opinions expressed in the ar- IVV programs in the United States. ticles herein are not necessarily those of the AVA. The American Wanderer, ISSN number Published by: Typesetting a la Macque 0748-7444, is published bi-monthly in For questions about Volkssporting in Europe contact our European Liaison, February, April, June, August, October Hans Dieter Fuhr AVA permits The American Wanderer and December by the American Volkssport Breslauer Str. 60, D-65203 Wiesbaden, Germany (TAW) article reprints to chartered AVA Association, Inc., 1001 Pat Booker Rd. 011-49-611-66894 • [email protected] clubs; cite TAW and issue date. Articles Suite 101, Universal City, TX 78148- and photographs should be submitted di- 4147. Periodicals postage at Universal National Headquarters staff rectly to The American Wanderer at City, TX and additional mailing office. [email protected]. Contact editor for submis- Postmaster: Send address changes to The sion guidelines. American Wanderer, 1001 Pat Booker Rd., Advertising rates are available on re- Suite 101, Universal City, TX 78148-4147. Executive Director ...... [email protected]...... Henry Rosales quest from the American Volkssport As- Accounting Manager ...... [email protected] ...... Erin Grosso sociation National Headquarters: 210- Copy and advertising deadlines: 659-2112; fax: 210-659-1212. ava.org or Accounting Specialist ...... [email protected]...... Marian DeVaul Events and Communications ...... [email protected] ...... Samanta Sanchez email [email protected]. February/March issue – Dec. 25 Subscriptions through Volkssports Asso- April/May issue – Feb. 25 Awards and Membership ...... [email protected] ...... Karen Winkle ciate membership are $25/individual and June/July issue – Apr. 25 Website Updates and Tech Support . . . . [email protected] ...... Hector Hernandez $30/family for one year. Canadian ad- August/September issue – June 25 General Comments ...... [email protected] dresses add $10. October/November issue – Aug. 25 Virtual Online Programs ...... [email protected] ...... Jan Renewals and address changes are due to December/January issue – Oct. 25 The American Wanderer ...... [email protected]...... Editor February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 3

President’s message Communications Toolbox continued from page 2 AVA is working to add another IML have a “motion tracking” system. I continued from page 1 event (San Antonio) in the United have been working to develop this The TAW – The States, it was important for me to system and now with the help of the A m e r i c a n actually experience an IML event. We MARD (Andy Bacon) we have a sys- Wanderer is the were quite impressed by the organiza- tem that will be implemented with the national AVA tion and by the walks. I spoke briefly approval of the NEC/Board. newspaper publi- to the international participants at the cation that is pub- closing ceremony. Clearly, we are using a “committee- lished every other centric” approach to make the month and the October 27-30, we participated in the changes needed to ensure a bright main communi- 27th annual Walk Around Florida. It future for AVA. One of the missing cation tool where was well done and great fun. I spoke pieces has been charters for AVA’s regional direc- briefly at the dinner and had numer- national committees. The committee tors and club ous opportunities to visit with the par- chairs have drafted charters for their members post ticipants. respective committees. These char- articles on past ters were the topic of one of our and upcoming Crazy Horse Memorial Spring Volksmarch, June 2-3. November 10-12, we participated in Electronic Information Meetings. I AVA events. The welcome. If your club would like the the Haunted Gettysburg event. This have reviewed and done a bit of addi- TAW also has other information like headquarters to post club event infor- was another very well run event that tional editing, and these final charters AVA merchandise, letters to the edi- mation on our Facebook pages, we greatly enjoyed. I spoke at the din- should have been approved by the tor, member accomplishments and please send the info directly to ner and visited with a number of the NEC/Board at the January meeting in letters from the AVA president, Samanta, [email protected], who participants to discuss AVA and the Orlando. Can’t say more about that regional directors and executive manages the Facebook pages. future. Following the conclusion of meeting since this article must be director. Unfortunately, not all club the Haunted Gettysburg event, with submitted in December. members receive the TAW. The TAW AVA Emails – Emails are the fifth the help of Tom Jackson (former is a benefit of AVA national member- communications tool. All regional ATRD), we walked a section of the Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t ship so only AVA national members directors, deputy directors, commit- Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania. comment on a walk held by the Neb- receive TAW and not all club mem- tee chairs and AVA employees have This gave us a jump-start on the new raska Wanderfreunde Trailblazers. At bers. This is the reason why some of an AVA email account. All email AT National Program and the oppor- their December 2 Lights Walk, they the same information in the addresses can be found on the AVA tunity to use the Online Start Box for had an amazing 689 walkers. I think Checkpoint is repeated in the TAW. website under the “About Us” the first time. Signup was easy and two factors went into this remarkable tab/AVA Committees, National overall use was a breeze. attendance. First was the use of social The AVA website – The AVA website Leadership and Headquarters staff. media to get the word out. Second is the third communication tool uti- Emails are the AVA’s current means The Electronic Information Meetings, was the fact that they asked walkers lized by the AVA. The website is for direct internal communication approved at the August 12 NEC/ to bring toilet paper, hats, gloves, updated daily with pertinent informa- between our club members and Board meeting, are being held on the socks, etc. to be donated to two tion on event changes, office clo- regional directors, committee chairs, third Tuesday of every month. By homeless shelters. I think this second sures, database problems, convention and headquarters employees. If conducting these no-cost meetings, point is the big take-away. All of us updates, new program procedures, the clubs have concerns about operations, we expect to be able to spend more have seen big events with hundreds of PayPal link, etc. If AVA systems are events, policies, committee activities time at the face-to-face meetings get- walkers raising money or awareness down or not working properly or or other they should first email their ting business done rather than for this cause or that one, and we there is an emergency, it will be post- regional director who will either attempting to gather information. wonder why we can’t get those num- ed on the AVA website homepage address their concerns or direct them With this new electronic meeting sys- bers out walking with us. Fact is that provided the internet is working. The to the proper director, committee tem, we have reduced the number of overall people are generous with their AVA website is also the main location chair or employee. AVA employees costly face-to-face meetings from time and money for a charity or a where you can find all types of club should also be emailed if clubs or three to the minimum of two per year cause. We have yet to tap into that information and forms as well as members need information on as called for in our bylaws. spirit for people to do something (i.e., NEC meeting minutes, the AVA audit- awards, merchandise, finances and walk) for their own benefit. I think we ed financial reports, and AVA policies anything related to the operation of It is clear that ideas and motions that have made a start with our “401K: and procedures. Due to the limita- the organization. come up from the clubs through the Invest in Your Health” program, but tions of the current website, limited RDs need to be studied and potential- much more needs to be done. If you information can be posted on the The telephone – The last tool in the ly refined by the various AVA com- have ideas of how to tap into this spir- main page. However, if you would toolbox is the traditional yet reliable mittees before the NEC/Board can it, please let me know. Meanwhile, like the AVA to post info on a “major telephone! The AVA headquarters make wise decisions on implementa- kudos to Jeane Miller and the club event” please send the request to receives phone calls Monday–Friday, tion. Likewise, we must ensure that Nebraska Wanderfreunde Trailblazers Hector, [email protected], who man- between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. we maintain a consistent focus on our for showing us how to draw a big ages the website pages. A new AVA Central time. When all else fails it is goals across all that we propose to do. walking crowd. website is under construction and recommended club members call the Thus, motions likely need to be vet- should be introduced in May. AVA office with questions, concerns ted by more than one committee. The At a more personal level, for the first and recommendations. If we do not example I frequently use is a motion time Mindy and I have signed up for The AVA Facebook page – Facebook have a solution we will find one and coming from the Club Support the Centurion Challenge for 2018. I is the fourth main communication get back to you as soon as possible. Committee may need to be passed know we will continue to be busy in tool for our social media customers through the Membership Committee 2018, so this should ensure that we and the public. The AVA’s Facebook A BIG THANKS to all our Big Give to ensure what is being proposed fits don’t forget to get out there and walk. main page (our official nonprofit donors because, if not for your con- with our membership plans, and then I encourage you to take the challenge page) is managed by headquarters. tinued support, the AVA could not the motion may need to be examined as well. In addition, we both signed This page is utilized primarily to post update systems, create new stamps, by the IT Committee to assess the up for the “401K: Invest in Your most of the same AVA updates posted initiate innovative programs, stream- impact it might have on our computer Health” program. It will be exciting on the website as well as to share line services, create a marketing plan, system. All of this needs to be done to be a part of this first AVA Virtual information on club events and urgent support clubs and the list goes on! before the NEC/Board can make a Online Program. notices. The AVA’s Facebook group wise decision on implementation. page serves as a forum for our AVA Enjoy your Spring walks, it’s my Obviously, this is more complex than That is it for this issue. Hope to see club members to post discussions, favorite time of the year to walk! I just popping a motion before the you out and about. I know that 2018 share pictures, and any pertinent club hope to visit with everyone this NEC/Board and expecting an imme- is going to be an exciting year for and event information. The AVA’s February 23-25, in San Antonio, diate vote. To keep things moving and you, me and AVA. So tie up those Facebook pages are not the forum to Texas for the Texas Trail RoundUp give all the appropriate committees walking shoes and let’s get going. discuss AVA operational or program- Walkfest and this June 2-3, at the the chance to ensure a motion isn’t matic challenges. However solutions Crazy Horse Memorial Spring going to be counterproductive in Happy trails, to better the organization are always Volksmarch. some fashion, it is essential that we David Bonewitz 4 The American Wanderer February/March 2018

Elementary school walking program

By Robert Cooper, Lynette Reagan and Deb Kruep

AVA has two elementary school walking programs, One of the students is also a Girl Scout. She (and kids did not want to walk — they wanted to run in thanks to Lynette Reagan of the Colorado Springs perhaps a few others from her troop) plan to walk the beautiful sunny outdoors. We did not walk far, Walking Club and Robert Cooper of the Asheville with the Asheville Amblers on New Year’s Day. The about 7/10 of a mile, but we had fun. Amblers. Each of these clubs has adopted a school club will celebrate its termination on National Trails and started junior walking clubs with the kids. Day by joining the Amblers for the Brevard Estate Week-two: We had 13 participants — seven stu- Walk. Families will be invited. dents, four teachers, one parent and one AVA partic- The Cardinals Walk Club started at Clyde ipant. Same trail [sidewalks] and again we had Elementary School, Clyde, North Carolina, on Presently, there are 27 students who have registered beautiful sunny skies and relatively warm temps for November 1. They meet at 2:45 p.m. on for the club. There are three adult sponsors, Robert Colorado in December. Wednesdays, warm-up in the gym, walk (the school Cooper and two colleagues. The Cardinals Walk track on nice days, alternating directions from week Club partner organizations include the Asheville to week; a loop inside the school on not-so-nice Amblers Walking Club, the Tarheel State Walkers, days), and then stretch in the gym. They have met the AVA: America’s Walking Club, and Safe Routes about five times. Average attendance has been 15 to School. Our monthly newsletter gives walking students. and health tips and includes invitations to Ambler and AVA events. Fifth Graders have been taught to lead the warm- In Colorado Springs we are off and running, or ups, and fourth graders rather walking, on Fridays after school at Jackson have been taught to lead Elementary School. the post-walk stretches. They even had a logo con- Week-one: We started the program on Friday, Because of testing and the holiday school schedule, test (pictured). December 1 with 32 participants — 18 students, 10 we did not walk any other Fridays in December, but parents/teachers, one grandparent and three com- watch this space for updates on our Friday adven- They began by walking munity AVA participants. The lead teacher, Marlee tures. We will be adding things to look for on the 1.1k, but realized they Cox, rallied the students and teachers to meet and walk — so far we have seen two green buses. We could walk 1.5k within the time frame during walk the perimeter of the school grounds. These will be adding the fun of Dr. Seuss’s And to Think I November. Each month they are increasing the Saw It on Mulberry Street to the classroom reading length of the club meeting by 10 minutes and and we will create our own Mulberry Street sight- increasing the length of the walk by 0.8k. So those ings [or testing our imagination] as we add distance who have walked the prescribed amount each of the and adventure to the Footloose Fridays. five meetings thus far have walked a total of 7.9k. The Asheville Amblers plan to give recognition to Are you interested in starting an elementary school walkers as they pass 10k and 10 meetings/events. walking group? You can by contacting avayouth@ ava.org.

AVA Special Program — Ice Cream Parlors Big Give continued from page 1 Runs January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019. Ice cream parlors have been a special part of America’s so- Because I believe in AVA’s mission as you do and because I continue to see the cial and cultural history. Reminisce with fellow walkers about being taken out by parents or grandparents for results in my own life and health, I am again contributing $10,000 towards a sundaes or enjoying banana splits after school with match to begin the Big Give. I ask you to join with me and our National friends. Maybe a special date or celebration happened Executive Council on March 22, by giving online at TheBigGiveSA.org. Here at an ice cream parlor. The challenge is to complete 20 are some ways you can do this: v different AVA sanctioned events that pass an ice cream Give online through TheBigGiveSA.org anytime from Thursday, March 15 parlor. Chains such as Dairy Queen, Friendly’s, and through Thursday, March 22 and designate your contribution for the March Shaklee’s count but each chain can be used only once. Mobile ice cream trucks do not 22 Big Give if earlier. qualify. The 3”x4” award patch will be mailed after completed program book is re- v Donate by mailing a check to AVA anytime through April 30, designating ceived. Further details on the requirements can be found at walknmass.org. To request The Big Give in the memo line. a program book or more info contact Mary Frink, 38 Carter Street, Unit 205, Everett, v MA 02149 and include your mailing and email addresses. Set up a peer-to-peer website through TheBigGiveSA.org and email your friends and family, to contribute through your site. It’s easy and information is on their website. v Look for information in the Checkpoint about special prizes the AVA can earn by giving online at certain times or other criteria. Reminder: SNOB Program v Encourage your club or state association to contribute. ends in 2018 Thank you for considering a donation. I know with your support we can reach our goal to help AVA grow. The SNOB Program will end December 31, 2018. While the concept was interesting, sales were weak and it was difficult to get all the stamps without going to the conventions.

SNOB books are no longer available and walkers holding a SNOB book must have 15 stamps in it before they can redeem the book. Complete your book by December 31, 2018, and send it to AVA Special AVA: America’s Walking Club! National Officer Book, 1001 Pat Booker Rd., Suite 101, Universal City, Texas 78148. If you have ques- tions contact SWRD Susan Medlin, 210-325-3523 or [email protected]. February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 5

Top five questions about New stamps require new 401K registration stamping technique

Didn’t receive email with the Walker Effective January 1, all our events will be using the new stamps which will save Tracker Sign-Up Instructions: The us money and provide a stamp with more information in our books. This is a email from [email protected] may have gone to great step forward for AVA, but with every improvement/change comes the need spam/junk mail. Check your spam/junk to adjust how we do business. These new stamps are no exception. Please be folder. It usually helps to create a contact aware that you will need to be careful how you use the new stamps. If you con- for [email protected]. Email [email protected] if tinue to do your stamping like you always have with our old stamps, you could you still haven’t received instructions easily end up with just a black mark in your books. within several business days. In particular, with the old stamps we all tended to press the stamp deeply into Different name and/or email address on the stamp pad and then press the stamp very hard on our books, rocking and PayPal account: If you use someone rolling the stamp to account for the uneven slugs in the stamp. With the new else’s PayPal account or a different email stamps, this technique could well result in a solid black mark since the new address, let the person know to be watching for the email from [email protected], or stamps do not have letters/numbers as deep as the old stamps, and most of the send an email to [email protected] to update the change of name and/or email stamps have smaller letters with less space between the letters. address. The suggested procedure for the new stamps is to ink the stamp lightly and do a Creating a walking account: You are not automatically registered on Walker trial stamp on a piece of paper (e.g., the walk directions) to ascertain imprint Tracker by using PayPal. You must create your individual account. Choose the quality. You may determine that the stamp has too much ink and have to repeat Register Now option to create, and choose a unique Username and Password. this process to determine the correct amount of force to ink the stamp as well as the Once registered, you will simply log in. correct amount of force to use to get a good imprint before stamping your book.

Username and email address clarification: The username will represent you Since this original caution was issued, we have implemented the new stamps on Walker Tracker and is something you create. It must only contain letters and across the AVA nation. The feedback that we have received has been quite pos- numbers, no special characters. Your password is also something you create and itive. Haven't heard of anyone messing up a book, and it seems like almost will be used with your username to log into your walking account. everyone likes the enhanced information available with these new stamps. These new stamps should give clubs ideas about how to customize the informa- Address and T-Shirt Size: Don’t worry if your mailing address or t-shirt size tion that folks will keep forever in their books. Pretty exciting for the walkers changes, there will be an opportunity to correct that information at a later date. and saving money for AVA and the clubs. Doesn't get much better than that. Unfortunately, you cannot change answers to the completed registration ques- tions. Thanks to Bob Schmick (Maryland Volkssport Association President) for point- ing out this “black line” issue and ATRD, Mike Green for bringing it to our Registration is now open for the 401K: Invest in Your Health Challenge, AVA’s attention. Thanks also to Chris Zegelin for developing this new improved stamp, first Virtual Online Program. The challenge began January 1. (See page 36 for to Hector Hernandez for learning how to operate the new stamp cutting equip- additional program information. ment and getting all these new stamps produced, and the rest of the folks in the office for working together to get the stamps shipped out to the clubs.

Sal the map of the Barge Canal continued from page 1 etched into the concrete) and the museum on Peebles Island, which tells its histo- The first walk will be during the convention where ry. walkers will be able to see the eastern terminus of the canal. Near the planned start point of the walk is Not only was the canal era the impressive Cohoes Falls, 90 feet high and 1000 important to this area as feet wide. Located very near the confluence of the there are some remnants of Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, one can appreciate the breastworks on Peebles need for locks to navigate a safe passage. On this Island dating from the walk, we will view and walk over Lock E2 in Revolutionary War. As you Waterford. This is the first of the Flight of Locks walk this area, be sure to (E2 to E6), in Waterford, New York, providing pas- read the plaques describing sage between the Hudson River and the Mohawk the roles of Thaddeus Present day canal boat. River. In about a half mile, this set of five locks Koscuiszko and John allows vessels to change their elevation 169 feet. Burgoyne. You truly will be Walking Thru History! tors – some are still in use. The historic ship canal Even today, this is the largest lift in the shortest dis- has been transformed by restaurants, bars and sports tance on any canal system in the world. (Note: The The Niagara Frontier Volkssport Club will host a venues. Thus, the Queen City of the Lakes owes its Troy Federal Lock on the Hudson River is some- post-convention walk which will feature the west- existence to the Erie Canal. In addition, walkers will times referred to as Lock E1, but it is not a part of ern end of the Erie Canal. At this point, water traffic be treated to many architectural gems, including the Erie Canal.) The lock system has been changed entered or exited Lake Erie and thus, the Great Louis Sullivan’s prototypical skyscraper. Buffalo over time. As walkers navigate through the city of Lakes. Large ships from the Midwest off-loaded locals have a slogan, “My city smells like Cohoes, they will pass a historic area that includes grain onto canal barges to be transported east. It is Cheerios,” because General Foods makes them in signs and remains of part of the original 16 locks said one could walk across the Buffalo River from Buffalo – except when they are making Fruit Loops. that afforded the original bypass around Cohoes boat deck to boat deck without getting one’s feet Falls. wet; it was such a hive of activity. A short time ago, If your travels take you on the New York State construction began on a parking lot for the Buffalo Thruway, I-90, you may wish to stop at recently The walk route will include Peebles Island State and Erie County Naval Museum and Historic Ships. restored locks during your journeys. Look for them Park and participants will again view Cohoes Falls, What a thrill it was when workers found the foun- when traveling eastbound near milepost 308 this time from the Waterford side. Other sights dations for the shops, taverns and warehouses that between Exit 41 and 40 or westbound between exits walkers will see include: an old mill repurposed into lined the Terminus of the Erie Canal. It has become 28 and 29 near milepost 187. the Harmony Mills Apartments, an old water tur- the focal point for this historic area and recreational bine, the site where the Cohoes Mastodon was venue. We are so excited that walkers will see these fasci- found, the old Champlain Tow Path, now used as a nating and historic sites. “You’ll always know your walk and bike trail, Waterford Harbor where boats Walkers will see an 1833 lighthouse in the adjacent neighbor, and you’ll always know your pal, if can moor along the terminal wall (be sure to notice marina area as well as some of the first grain eleva- you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal.” 6 The American Wanderer February/March 2018

Southeast John McClellan, Director [email protected] Doc says

© 2016, Robert C. Wright and Suzanne Wright, RN

Of many online sites for medical ad- ings F Mississippi Year Round vice, WebMD, webmd.com/fitness-ex- Wear comfortable shoes so you can ercise/walking-directory, advertises walk briskly whenever you can F itself as “The leading source for trust- Find a game, sport or activity you events go online in 2018 worthy and timely health and medical like F news and information.” Park a little farther, or get off the What sage advice will you find? bus or subway a stop or two away, With closure of the Gulf Coast Volkssporting Club this past summer, the Year Plenty, so we curated postings to share from your destination Round (YRE) events in Mississippi are migrating to the CVA Online Startbox the results. (OSB) starting January 1. The four venues that will continue are: Jackson 50 Plus, Or Not (Capital), Biloxi, Ocean Springs (downtown) and the Gulf Coast National Fitness Walking is… Even if you didn’t exercise, it’s not Seashore Park, also located in Ocean Springs. The site quotes Richard Stein, MD too late to start. Many difficulties of and an American Heart Association aging are linked to an inactive The AVA’s event sanctioning system reflects this move to the OSB for 2018. spokesman, who notes, “Fitness walk- lifestyle. And while your chronologi- New digital maps and directions of the existing routes have been transposed and ing is easy to do and can achieve the cal age may be 55, your biological age posted for download. Please note though that some changes were made after the same cardiovascular benefits as many can be 35 (or the opposite). printing of the annual Starting Point booklet. For example, the Starting Point forms of physical activity.” Before you start, check with your may still show addresses for old physical box locations – check the online sys- And author Dulce Zamora asks, doctor, especially if you have any risk tem for the address and directions to the actual start points. References to old “What could be easier than walking? factors for heart disease. physical box locations have been removed in the online listings. In the recent Fitness walking reaps as many re- “Something is better than nothing,” past, these walks had no special programs listed. I have added some, but there wards as other physical activities, and admits Melane Kinney Hoffmann, di- may be others that qualify – so if you complete one of these events in 2018 you don’t need special equipment or rector of health campaigns at AARP. please send me feedback, photos, etc. if you discover AVA Special Programs training.” “Everyone, even people who are to- that should be added. tally sedentary, if they get up and do Pace, Duration, Difficulty something, that’s better than sitting in As Southeast Regional Director, I am now the point-of-contact (POC) for these These three elements work together a recliner chair.” walks. You can contact me with any issues. Keep in mind that I live several hun- to determine workout intensity and dred miles away and I may not be able to assist immediately. We hope you con- how much walking does for you. Motivation tinue to enjoy these offerings in the Magnolia State. On a 1-10 scale, with 1 relaxed and Need an incentive? Here are some: F 10 thoroughly exhausted, Stein ad- Walk with others F See you on the trails! vises “starting a walk at level 2 or 3, Use an app or pedometer to track working up to level 6-8, and then cool- steps F ing down to a 2. …The recommenda- Walk wherever you can F tion is the same for everyone because Walk as part of family outings F as you get more and more fit, you ac- Set goals The big “Q” and other tually end up having to walk faster or steeper to keep that 6-8 up.” Health Condition? Regina Tan, DVM and CDC officer, Got one? For many, walking has ben- adventures says, “Absolutely everyone can bene- efits. Here are some WebMD listed: F fit from increasing his or her activity High blood pressure/ hypertension By Dennis Michele F level.” Diabetes F Cholesterol, both high levels of Do you need “Q” for A-to-Z AVA Special Programs but don’t look forward to Everything Counts triglycerides and low (good) levels doing another urban walk? Then the Asheville Amblers have the solution. Come If you’re too busy for a regular of HDL join us May 5-6 and do a walk of Quella Boundary, the Cherokee reservation in F workout, find other ways to be in mo- Overweight and obesity western North Carolina. The walk incudes trails along streams and a river, a fan- F tion. Research shows that all steps you Rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis tastic Cherokee museum, native village and garden as well as the glitz of a F take during the day add up to big Depression tourist area and a visit to a magnificent casino. Wildflowers will abound as health benefits. spring returns to the Smokies. F Adopt and walk a dog F Follow these doctors’ advice to Take stairs healthier Volkssporting. But that’s not all. We wouldn’t want you to come all this way for one event. That F Walk up to a person to talk (don’t same weekend we will be offering a walk on the campus of Western Carolina shout across the room or up the Contact us at 43224 Cardston Pl, Lees- University that combines fine buildings of contemporary design with lots of stairs, or send an email to someone burg, VA 20176-6459, or rwright2@ green space and the friendliest students you’ll ever meet. nearby) jhu.edu. F Walk and talk, even for small meet- Not enough to tempt you? We’ll throw in a walk at Highlands, North Carolina, which was the summer retreat for the wealthy from Georgia to escape the heat and humidity of summer. Walk will include not only the town, but wilderness trails and views and a nature center and trails. All three walks will be available for your walking enjoyment

So mark your calendars and plan to enjoy these three memorable walks. Look TAW email: [email protected] for more details in the next TAW plus pictures of some of the sights you’ll see. And while you’re marking your calendars, write in October 6-8 (Columbus Day TAW email address will only weekend) for three more great walks in western North Carolina. These walks Note:Note: will include folk art school, a scenic walk around Lake Hiawassee and the site accept pictures or articles. of an old growth forest of huge poplars. Again more details in future TAWs. Advertisers must go through Karen We look forward to having you join the Asheville Amblers for these events. Winkle, [email protected], to sign an advertising contract Southeast Region continued on page 7 and adhere to the deadline for changes to existing contracts. February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 7 Cape Girardeau and Sikeston South Central Lucy Yother, Director Missouri County Weekend [email protected] Are you collecting Missouri counties? tulip poplar and oak. After walking How about looking for new places to Wood Duck Swamp and Maple walk all in one weekend? Come Hollow Trail we will join the LaCroix spend a weekend near the boot heel of Recreation trail connecting several February and March walks Missouri where the Mississippi River city parks before returning to the runs wide. Three clubs have joined Conservation Center. Be sure to step together to host three walks and one inside the center and view the many plus April teaser swim. interactive nature displays.

Saturday, April 14 visit Sikeston, Sunday’s walk will begin at the Red The Tulsa Walking Club (TWC) will offer its first Traditional event of the year Missouri. Travel through time in this House Interpretive Center near the with our Bob Pugh Memorial Walk at Oxley Nature Center, on February 17. small Midwest town, view circa 1890 river. Cape Girardeau was the largest These nature trails are a club favorite, with wildlife often spotted. Be sure to homes and buildings in downtown. port on the Mississippi River between make plans to attend. There will also be a Cookie Potluck with everyone encour- You get two for the price of one; two St Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, aged to bring cookies. Yum! For more info, contact John Hanlan and Cathy counties in one walk, Scott and New Tennessee, and was a hub for steam- Childress, 918-857-4682 or [email protected]. Madrid. In 1789, El Camino Real boats and ferries. You will catch a (The King’s Highway) was marked glimpse of the mighty Mississippi The second Traditional event will be a multi-event weekend on March 17-18, out by orders from the King of Spain. from several different points along featuring walks in four north central counties in Oklahoma: Grant, Garfield, It followed an Indian trail from New the trail. Your first view will be at the Woods and Alfalfa counties. Hosting clubs are Lawton Walkers, Wandergruppe Madrid to St. Louis. In 1860, after Old Bridge. This iconic overlook is Walking Club, Sunflower Sod Stompers and Tulsa Walking Club. There will John Sikes had acquired land, he stat- all that remains of the original bridge. also be swim events available to make this a possible 10-event weekend. Don’t ed, “I, John Sikes, am going to start Cape Girardeau is home to Southeast miss out on the fun. For more info contact Teresa Arnold, 918-630-3206 or me a town and I am going to call it the Missouri State University, SEMO to [email protected]. Town of Sikeston.” By the early the locals. This university boasts two 1900s Sikeston boasted more million- lovely campuses. The new River April Teaser! Mark your calendars now for a multi-event, multi-state walking aires per capita than any other city of Campus, home to the ARTS, over- weekend on April 21-22. This will feature walks in Missouri, Oklahoma and its size. Magnificent homes were built looks the new bridge, a piece of art in Kansas: three clubs, three walks in three states. Swim events will also be avail- during that period, and both the 5k itself. You will meet all of Missouri’s able. Many AVA Special Programs qualifiers will be found, including two Lady and the 11k take you past many of famous celebrities on the Mississippi Liberty qualifiers. Come be a part of this exciting weekend. More details will be them. You also pass by the Sikeston River Tales Mural when strolling available in the next TAW. For more info, contact Rhonda Shockey, 918-855- Depot, renovated and now a museum. along the floodwall. The 10k portion 0195 or [email protected]. The Train Depot Museum is the city’s of the trail will lead you to Capaha cultural center and is filled with local Park and a tour around the lake, the Flyers for the above walks will be posted on the TWC website and available for history. The station was a supply original SEMO campus with its grand download at sites.google.com/site/tulsawalkingclub. depot of such importance in the Civil buildings and the stately homes sur- War that the track between Sikeston rounding the area. and Charleston was torn up to stop supplies from arriving in the area. For The weekend would not be complete Southeast Region lunch, drive down the road a stretch to without a Meet and Greet Saturday continued from page 6 Lambert’s, home of the famous evening for all to gather for food and “throwed rolls.” Cash only. fun. The hosts for the weekend are the Rolla Roadrunners, St Louis Stuttgart Walk like a tourist — Our second walk of the day will begin and Gateway Milers. Our host hotel is at the Conservation Nature Center in the Auburn Inn & Suites. We have a WAF 28 Cape Girardeau (Cape Girardeau block of rooms reserved. Come spend county). Our trail will take us along some time near the Missouri boot White Oak Trace nature trails travers- heel. For a brochure and more info go By Rosemary Barna, John McClellan, Alice Lawrence ing rolling hills marked by sinkholes, to gatewaymilers.org. hollows and ravines covered with Mark your calendars now for Walk Around Florida 28 to be held on November 2-4 in Orlando. How long has it been since you visited the #1 tourist destination in the world? Here is your chance to join the three Central Florida clubs while we walk like a tourist! AVA Special Program — National Parks Centennial Spend the weekend seeing many of our famous tourist attractions from a walk- er’s point-of-view. Walk along International Drive’s many restaurants, offering Runs January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018. everything from casual fare to haute cuisine, a diverse collection of specialty Sponsored by the Emerald City Wanderers. Walk 15 qualify- shops, attractions such as the Orlando Eye and where, when the sun sets, you ing events that include National Parks, as well as events that can find a place pulsing with energy, music and live entertainment. pass by a national monument or memorial; all listed on National Park Service website. Further, the challenge walker Walk through the beauti- may claim an event once each calendar year. Patch: 3"x4" ful grounds of the upon completion of challenge. Send request to Emerald City Universal Studios area Wanderers and mailed to POC Diane Hildebrand, PO Box 59592, Renton, WA 98058; [email protected]. Alternate POC, Mike and entertainment com- Nagan, [email protected]. For more info, walkingwithecw.org/. plex, CityWalk, and in the newly upgraded Disney entertainment complex, Disney Springs. WAF 28 AVA Special Program — Walk the Path of Inventions will offer four walks and a swim. Come a couple Runs January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018. It is easy days early or stay later and exciting to complete this program with only 20 different and enjoy any of the 40 walks. The walk qualifiers include but are not limited to: walks plus Central Florida Year going by well-known inventors or researchers homes, Round events from gravesites, labs, workplaces or museums; walks with named streets, parks, statues, and buildings of famous inventors or Daytona Beach to St. Petersburg, Universal, Disney or Sea World parks. Hotel researchers as part of the route; walks going by universities and colleges with pub- details and additional information will be available in early 2018. Pictured is lished research or notable work on inventions that have taken or presently are taking The Eye, a ride and entertainment complex near the hotel. place. Use each walk once. 4x5” patch. Send request to Finger Lakes Region Volkssport Club, Sue Connelly, 1041 Church Street, Cortland, NY 13045. For more info [email protected]. 8 The American Wanderer February/March 2018 Huntley Meadows Atlantic By Helen Garamone Mike Green, Director [email protected] Northern Virginia is usually known Dogs are not allowed on the wetland for bureaucrats, not beauty. It’s boardwalk trail. The park is a wildlife known for traffic, not tranquility. It’s sanctuary; also the boardwalk is nar- known for nightlife, not wildlife. row, with nowhere to go “off trail” if two dogs meet. Forget all that and be one of the more Atlantic Region conference than 200,000 annual visitors to The 10k walk also features Historic Huntley Meadows Park in Huntley, a summer retreat built by Alexandria, Virginia, this spring. The Thomson Francis Mason in 1825. The coming up Northern Virginia Volksmarchers will site was added to the National be offering a choice of a 5k or 10k Register of Historic Places in 1972 as By Dolores Grenier trail on Saturday, April 28. an outstanding example of the federal villa style. The property is open for The Atlantic Region’s biennial conference will be The largest park operated by the tours for a small fee. held March 16-18. The Virginia Volkssport Fairfax County Park Authority, Association hosts it over the St Paddy’s Day week- end in Northern Virginia.

The conference presents a host of events with three walks, a bike and swim. There will also be a Friday Meet and Greet buffet, Saturday banquet, silent auc- tion, and an afternoon workshop on the AVA’s newest program, 401K: Invest in Your Health Program, presented by Deb Kruep. Let’s not forget plenty of oppor- tunities to socialize and volunteer to serve the local Volkssport community.

The Loudoun and Fairfax Counties of Virginia are beautiful areas to explore and enjoy Year Round walks just minutes from Washington, D.C.

The conference will be held at the Embassy Suites Dulles North, 44610 Waxpool Road in Dulles.

For more info go to mdvolks.org/Atlantic/default.htm or contact POC Bob Wright, 703-737-2175 or [email protected]. Two Virginians enjoy a Saturday afternoon stroll along the Huntley Meadows boardwalk. Photo by Jim Garamone. Do you need a ‘z’? Huntley Meadows features a beaver- The Friends of Huntley Meadows created wetland with boardwalk, request a parking donation per vehi- wildlife observation platforms and an cle. No tickets, no towing and no A new YRE walking event at Zelienople/Harmony, Pennsylvania, to capture the interpretive trail system. The park lies fines. If you can’t donate the day of all elusive “Z” is hosted by the Mon Valley Trailblazers, a new club located in in a wet lowland carved by an ancient the walk, they request that you pay Southwestern Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. path of the Potomac River. The result- next time. ing freshwater wetland is such a rare Scheduled club events include two YREs: Great Allegheny Passage Bike and and special habitat that a plan to route If you’re using GPS, enter the street Walk from Pittsburgh through Ohiopyle State Park; and Washington, 5/10k a major divided highway through it address, 3701 Lockheed Blvd, walks through the city. Three Seasonal events include three trails with OLSB on was scuttled in the '80s. Alexandria, VA. The final destination the Three Rivers Heritage Trail in Pittsburgh; a 5k Snowshoe at the Nemacolin should show the corner of Harrison Woodlands Resort in Farmington; and Zelienople/Harmony Walks run from Walk starts from 9 a.m. to noon, fin- Lane and Lockheed Blvd. If a GPS April 1-December 31. Traditional events for 2018 include Cedar Creek Park, ish by 3 p.m. Register at the Visitor search is made for Huntley Meadows Belle Vernon; Ohiopyle State Park; and Mingo Creek Park, Washington, with a Center. Both distances are rated 1B. Park, by name, you will be directed star gazing party after the walk in Mingo Creek Park. into a neighborhood that dead-ends Some of the best wildlife watching in on the other side of the park. The Mon Valley Trailblazers the Washington metropolitan area is Club is a group of men, chil- enjoyed here. From the wetland So come enjoy the sights of the dren and women who identify boardwalk trail and observation largest non-tidal wetland in Northern the need for maintaining a tower, people have excellent views of Virginia. healthy community and work beaver dams, frogs, turtles and together to fulfill those needs. herons. Huntley Meadows is also For more info, contact Helen For more info or to get known as a prime birding spot with Garamone, 703-360-569 or 2hkgara- involved with the Mon Valley more than 200 species identified in [email protected]. Trailblazers Club, contact us the park. at 724-858-5965, monvalley- trailblazers @gmail.com or visit our website at MVTrailblazers.com. Atlantic Region continued on page 9

AVA Special Program — Water Fountains AVA Special Program — Doin' The Louisiana Purchase Runs January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018. Walk 20 sanc- tioned events that pass public water fountains or splash pads. Runs January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2018. Do Fountains can be natural or man-made. Fountains in yards will one walk in each of the 15 states that were made in not count. The water does not have to be running. No drinking whole or part from the territory of the Louisiana Pur- fountain, aerating fountain or waterfall will count. The info need- chase which makes up about 23 percent of the territory ed in the book includes the date, the place where the fountain is of the U.S. Regions included in this program are the found, city and state. No duplicate stamps and only one qualifier North Central, South Central, Rocky Mountain and per stamp. Patch: 3"x4". When requesting a book, include your Southwest. Walk 15 different sanctioned events — one email address for our information, if you have one. Sponsored by per each of the 15 states. Patch approximately 4"x6". Lawton Walkers, email [email protected], Sharon Snyder, 1714 NW 49th Street, Send request to Nebraska Wander Freunde Trailblazers. POC: Butch Spaulding, PO Lawton, OK 73505. Or [email protected], Suzi Bentley, 1104 SE Alta Lane, Box 8147, Omaha, NE 68108, email [email protected], phone 712-322-2797. Lawton, OK 73501. February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 9 Atlantic Region continued from page 8 Rocky Mountain Liberty Bell Wanderers host Sherry Sayers, Director [email protected] Port Jefferson jaunt in 2018

By Tina Jenneray Okay, so Suffolk County, (aka Long Long Island Sound in about 75 min- A new high – Start/finish Island), New York, is not exactly in utes to the ferry terminal located very Philadelphia’s backyard, and the fact close to the start point of the walk. that our club is sponsoring a walk With food and beverage service avail- in the bathroom way up north in Port Jefferson might able on board, it sounds to me like possibly seem a bit odd. But then, not getting there is half the fun! By Sherry Sayers really, when you consider that our group attempted to do this walk in For more info contact Bill Ridge, The Colorado Springs Walking Club sanctioned a walk on November 4 at 2016 but were met with such a raging [email protected] or go to liberty- Cheyenne Mountain State Park, however, as the date got closer, Lynette realized deluge from the outer bands of bellwanderers.net/. For web registra- she had also scheduled a trip to Florida during that same time. So, Dale and Hurricane Matthew pounding down tion for the event go to cva4u.org. Sharon Boone and I stepped up to answer the call (so to speak). out of the angry October sky that Saturday, November 4 dawned bright and sunny, but as I was driving to the park, the wind got stronger and stronger. By the time we got there for the start, wind gusts were reaching 60 miles per hour. We started to set up on a picnic table near the trail, but soon realized the wind was so strong it was ripping the start cards right out of our hands! We then elected to set up the start point next door in the bathroom, as at least this was sheltered enough not to blow us to Kansas. more than a few of us took about 10 It was also suggested by folks who As some of you know, Dale steps into a really inclement day and were on the same New York trip, that Boone and Kevin Ross of the retreated back up onto the bus to wait when in the area, curious trekkers Columbine Country Cruisers it out … “it” being either the rain or who would not consider another 46 started their Memorial Day the walk, whichever came first. miles on the road an inconvenience, walks out of the back of their Sherry Sayers stamping Charlie Gentile’s book might want to check out one or both car, but unfortunately this in the bathroom. But then Bill Ridge, our tour director of the walks in Southampton, New would not even have worked and quite an avid walker himself, York, a town that pretty much affords on this day. The bathroom ended up being our only option and I refused to stamp decided to sponsor it as a “virtual” one the beauty and luxury of upscale the books on the baby-changing table, so stamped them on the top of the sink. POC for anyone anywhere who living, shopping and dining in two Since it was a motion-detection faucet, the water came on every time I stamped would be interested in visiting this separate 5k walks. One walk passes the books. Fourteen hardy souls showed up to walk in that maelstrom and I historically bountiful port town once by numerous residences as well as a thank them for that, as well as Dale and Sharon helping out in the bathroom. It it becomes our official Year Round piece of beach and a stretch of took several days for the smell in my nose to go away. walk in January 2018. Agawam Lake; the other route takes you into a more “towny” atmosphere I would definitely call this a walk to remember, or more appropriately a start to The town is named after Thomas — past shops, restaurants, the town remember! Jefferson who was instrumental in hall and more charming private resi- financing the construction of the har- dences. bor. It was also known as a very suc- cessful shipbuilding center in the Again, when we were there it was mid-19th century and has since rein- raining off and on, and some of us TAW Tips! vented itself as a tourist attraction, chose to shop in an attempt to spend 5 KM — 10 KM For TAW purposes, we offering many historical houses (too more time inside than out in the ele- have chosen to indicate many to list) as well as statues, parks ments. We found the boutiques 5KM — 10KM walk distances using a and the shipyard docks as points of delightful even when much of what 5k — 10k small “k” ... no “m” and interest along the walk route, which is was offered was not quite affordable, 5 km — 10 km no space between the rated 2A. and we also enjoyed our various 5km — 10km number and the letter. lunch choices. So we didn’t let a little While Bill doesn’t think our group rain dampen our spirits and had fun will react to this new walk with anyway. Next time any of us visit immediate and abundant enthusiasm, again the sun will probably be shin- given its geographical logistics in ing. AVA Special Program — State Street Sashay relation to ours, he is hopeful that walkers from New York and For more info on this walk contact Runs from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. This is Connecticut clubs will consider it. POC Mike Green, mikeginf@ the Volkssports version of seeing if you can find 10 events Also, take advantage of the gmail.com or go to avaclubs.org/ that go along a street named State Street. Yes, it’s a simple program but it will remind you of the concept of American Bridgeport and Port Jefferson westpoint/. statehood. Events can be all in one state or all in different Steamboat Co., which ferries passen- states or in any combination of states. Participants can even gers 17 miles from Bridgeport across Happy trails! do the same event multiple times! We have already found over 100 events that start the route on State Street and there are many more events that include a State Street later in their routes. For a list of qualifying YREs and Seasonals, see http://centralmnvolkssports.wix.com/cmv. Patch: 4"x3-½". Send request to Central Minnesota Volkssports (CMV) Lois Head, Special Program Coordinator, PO Box TAW email: [email protected] 2162, St. Cloud, MN 56302-2162; [email protected] or 320-252 -7348. 10 The American Wanderer February/March 2018 R U counting counties? North Central By Sandy Spaulding Jerry Wilson, Director [email protected] Save the dates — October 5-7 by pro-slavery sympathizers. The Lane Trail also served as a conduit for The committee, that group from the the Underground Railroad. Stations Nebraska Trailblazers that brought were located in a three-room brick you the Eclipse Weekend, has decided house built on the site of the current to try a few Nebraska counties. You Elk’s parking lot, in David E. Sixty-nine, 70, 71, 72 may already have a head start. If you Dorrington’s barn on the NW corner did the Eclipse walks, you walked in of 16th and Stone, and in what is now and done! three different counties. If you have Wolfe’s Printing. We will walk down walked all of Nebraska’s Year Rounds Lane St. with its Victorian homes and and Seasonal events, you have anoth- old light posts and past the city’s er 11 counties. And if you have many murals depicting the city’s his- Eleven years ago the Madison Area Volkssport Association (Dairyland Walkers) walked some of Nebraska’s walks in tory. You will have a chance to visit initiated a new program with the ultimate goal of offering sanctioned events in the past, there have been other coun- the Richardson County Historical each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. The program was conceived by Tom Doyle, ties such as York and Washington. We Museum and the John Philip Falter and subsequent to his passing has been entitled the “Tom Doyle Walking will give you a chance to add four Museum. John Philip Falter was a Wisconsin Counties” program. Although many doubted that the club would be more in October. We have picked out Nebraska illustrator. The museum able to successfully complete the program, it will happen in 2018. some really special walks in the displays 129 of his Saturday Evening southeast corner of the state. Post Covers. The Dairyland Walkers will be hosting four Seasonal events in Wisconsin’s far north, which will complete the last of Wisconsin counties. Specific details on each of the walks can be found on its website, dairylandwalkers.com.

As has become its tradition, the Dairyland Walkers will hold a special weekend of walking during which each of the walks will be available. On Saturday, May 19 we will walk in Shawano with registration available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and finished by 3 p.m. The walk features Shawano’s Park Loop passing through a number of city parks, the restored Shawano Depot, Woodlawn Cemetery, the impressive Heritage County Park and the banks of the Wolf River.

The group then moves to Antigo where rooms have been reserved in the Super 8 motel (715-623-4188 under the Dairyland Walkers name). Following a tradi- tional wine and cheese party, we will all eat at a local Mexican restaurant. On Sunday, May 20, we will walk in Antigo with registration from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. with all walkers to be finished by 1 p.m. The walk features a number of city parks, the Queen of Peace Cemetery, the Springbrook Walking/Biking Path and passes the Langlade County Seat and the Langlade County Historical Society Museum. On Friday, October 5, we will travel The afternoon takes us to our third to Brownville, Nebraska, in Nemaha walk in Pawnee City in Pawnee Although the Seasonal walks in Menomonee and Forest Counties will not be County. Established in 1854 and County. A group of pioneers from hosted during the weekend, the directions, maps, and stamps for both of these incorporated in 1856, Brownville was Ohio, arriving in the Nebraska walks will be available and they are short distances from Shawano and Antigo. the largest town in the Nebraska Territory in 1854, traveled up the Our walking weekends are annual club highlights and have been thoroughly Territory, with a population of 1,309 Nemaha River until they came to a enjoyed by attendees. Come join us and find out why! by 1880. Bordering slave-holding Pawnee Indian village on Turkey Missouri, the town became an impor- Creek. The settlement they formed tant port on the Missouri River. nearby became a trading post for the South Dakota county walks Daniel Freeman, the first homestead- area. The city proudly claims the title er to file a claim under the Homestead to the only “Pawnee City” in the Act of 1862, staked his claim at United States. This hometown of The Prairie Wanderers will host walks in six counties in eastern South Dakota. a New Year’s Eve party in Larry, The Cable Guy, Pawnee City, The walks will take place on September 14, 15 and 16. The September 14 walks Brownville. This hamlet, with a pop- has an open air historic museum that will be in Roberts County (Hartford Beach State Park near Corona) and Day ulation of only 127, is now a tourist can be transformed into a “living pio- County (city of Webster). On September 15 we will move to Clark County (city destination, with historic homes neer village.” Our registration for this of Clark) and Kingsbury County (city of De Smet). On September 16 we move opened as museums, art studios and a walk is especially nice at the to Hamlin County (city of Estelline) and Moody County (city of Flandreau). All winery. The River Inn Resort is our Schillling Bridge Winery and six walks will be open during the three-day period. For logistical purposes we starting point. This is a floating bed Microbrewery. Whether your favorite ask that walkers able to do so follow the three-day schedule. If you are unable and breakfast with just 18 rooms. If libation is wine or beer, we have you to do so we will certainly work with you to accommodate your schedule during you want a one-of-a-kind experience, covered. this time frame. Three of the counties have never hosted a Volksmarch while make your reservations now. We have three have had events in prior years but mostly in the last century. reserved all of the rooms for Friday Our final walk will be Sunday morn- night for walkers, but the rooms will ing in Tecumseh. The Johnson The first walk each day will start at 8 a.m. and the second walk will start at 11 only be held until June. For reserva- County walk will give you time to do a.m. There will 5k and 10k options available for each of the six walks. There tions, call 402-825-6441 and talk to some shopping. It is on the Trail of will be a park entry fee for Hartford Beach State Park unless you have a state Captain Smith. Let him know you are Treasures, a flea market that stretches park sticker on your vehicle. with the walking group Nebraska across the state along Highway 136. Trailblazers. There is also camping The town goes all out for this event With the exception of Hartford Beach, all walks will take place in small town, available. with vendors throughout the down- middle America. All the cities are farming support communities. Their popula- town. But don’t worry, you can get tions have declined over the past years as farms grow in size and consequently Walk #2 is Saturday morning, your fill of history in this town also. fewer farmers are needed to grow and harvest the crops. Four of the counties October 6. We will visit Falls City, The historic downtown area and will feature the county courthouse as they are the county seat. Estelline and Nebraska, in Richardson County, museum will not disappoint. Hartford Beach are not county seats. All of the city walks will start at city parks. another town with lots of history. Due Walks will be on city sidewalks, streets, recreation trails and on the shoulders of to its location, the town became a stop Check our website for more informa- some lightly traveled rural roadways. on the Lane Trail, allowing free-soil tion at netrailblazers.club or check white settlers into the Kansas territory out the information on the AVA web- For more info or an emailed brochure, contact Gary Lofswold, GEL_601@hot- via Iowa and southeast Nebraska, site. We have included hotel informa- mail or 757-508-2537. Alternate contact is Dan Peters, [email protected] which allowed them to avoid the tion for you. or 605-670-0861. Missouri River approaches controlled

North Central Region continued on page 11 February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 11 North Central Region continued from page 10 NSTT winter snowshoe Volkssporting: starts the club’s 20th year On February 10, NorthStar Trail vided the program for nine years but One person’s journey Travelers (NSTT) will return to Afton stopped when participation began to State Park for a snowshoe event to plummet in the '90s. Since then NSTT By Diana Whited begin its 20th year of providing has offered three to 10 events every Volkssport events in Minnesota’s year offering the program in different Prior to retirement from my position as a school administrator several years ago, great state parks. Register after 10 state parks each year. I began my search for a group that would combine my desire for social contact a.m., and finish by 4 p.m. at the Trail and regular exercise, as well as my love of the outdoors. By luck, I ran across Center. For more info go to nstt.org or NSTT offers old-fashioned Volks- an article in the paper announcing an upcoming walk at a local state park spon- contact Linda at 651-773-8272. sport events, continuing to sign all sored by the Greater Des Moines Volkssport Association. Intrigued by the orga- trails, offering awards and food, nization’s name and the fact the walk was in a familiar setting, I decided to The event is sanctioned for 4k, and providing a social atmos- attend. I was welcomed by a group of lively, friendly people who were passion- including 3k and 1k options on phere that brings people back. In ate about their sport. One walk and I was hooked. mainly flat terrain through 2005 NSTT initiated a Give to prairie and forest edge. Award the Parks campaign to solicit As I imagine many newbies find, there are many facets to Volkssporting. I began for the event is a leather pin fea- donations from participants for my journey with the group by attending monthly walking events. Bison Days at turing a chickadee perched on a the park where each event is the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge, Walk for Wildlife with the Girl Scouts and the snowshoe (pictured). Our popular held. NSTT matches the dona- New Year’s Day Mall Walk were some of the first I attended. As I met more of sloppy joe lunch will be available tions from $25 to $50 per event. the members and listened to their Volkssporting stories, I soon learned there was for a donation to give you energy to At the end of 2017, event dona- so much more. In addition to Traditional events and Year Round and Seasonal go out and walk in the snow. tions surpassed $10,226 over 12 walks, the Des Moines chapter has monthly meetings that feature an educational years of the program. program and social time, has sponsored numerous road trips to conventions and A limited number of traditional snow- out of state walking events, as well as foreign travel opportunities. Volkswalks shoes will be available from the park NSTT uses a loop system for its have taken me to places I would never have found on my own. I now plan trips at no extra charge or bring your own. trails, breaking the event into at least around Volkswalks. Who knew? Newer smaller snowshoes will be two, or more, loops that bring walkers available for rent from the park. Or back to the registration area for the The best part of Volkssporting has been the friendships I have developed. A few walk the trails in your snow boots. checkpoint. The advantages are years ago, people I now count among my best friends were complete strangers. numerous: eliminates a remote Volkssporting offers many opportunities to bond — on the trail, working at an checkpoint; provides opportunity event, attending a social or traveling by bus to a convention. I attended my first for walkers to rest, get some water, AVA convention in 2017 and although I have never been a “convention person,” use the restrooms, eat lunch and I am already planning to be in Albany in 2019. just take time to talk to other atten- dees. When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2016, one of my first thoughts was how the diagnosis would affect my ability to join my friends on walks. My neu- NSTT also offers numerous “out of rologist encouraged me to continue my regular activities and shared research the box” activities, such as wine about the benefits of regular exercise for Parkinson’s patients. For me, walking tastings, nature tours, hobo soup provides instant relief from symptoms. I now walk with a new sense of purpose suppers, group camping and, this and count each walk as one more day I have beaten Parkinson’s. My Volkssport past year, offered its first week- friends have been caring and supportive and I look forward to continuing my long traveling guided walks pro- journey in Volkssporting. gram in the northwest corner of Minnesota. Twenty-nine walkers drove to the hinterlands and walked in all eight of the state parks in the region. We chartered boats and went to an island recreation area in the middle of Lake of the Woods that borders Minnesota and AVA: America’s Walking Club! Canada. Lunch and a photo op at Strap on your snowshoes and join us at the most northern point in contigu- Afton State Park on February 10. ous continental U.S. broke up the week of walks to give folks a rest. Afton State Park was established in The trip was so successful that the 1969 for visitors to experience unique club is looking into other areas and AVA Special Program — United States Post Offices natural features and enjoy outdoor ways to provide similar events. recreation. Just 40 minutes east of the Runs January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018. Walk 20 Twin Cities, the park lies along bluffs Come walk in Minnesota State Parks sanctioned events that pass a United States Post Office build- overlooking the St. Croix River, a with NSTT. Events this year include: ing. Buildings with some postal services will not count, i.e., National Wild and Scenic River that February 10, Afton State Park grocery stores, drug stores. The zip code could be on the build- is the border between Minnesota and Snowshoe; May 5, Sakatah Lake ing. No rural mailboxes, residential mailboxes or mail drop Wisconsin. Outcrops of limestone jut State Park walk; July 21-22, two boxes will count. If the building does not have a zip code on it, from the sides of deep, forested walks at Whitewater State Park; find it at this website: usps.com/zip4/ using street address, city and state. Include this ravines that drop 300 feet to the river. September 22-23, two walks at information in the book: date, zip code, city and state. No duplicate stamps and only Maplewood State Park; and October one qualifier per stamp. Patch: 3"x4". When requesting a book, include your email address for our information, if you have one. Sponsored by Lawton Walkers, email In 1998, the NorthStar Trail Travelers 27, our annual meeting and guided [email protected], Sharon Snyder, 1714 NW 49th Street, Lawton, OK 73505. was formed to take over the AVA club walk at Interstate State Park. Or [email protected], Suzi Bentley, 1104 SE Alta Lane, Lawton, OK 73501. charter from Minnesota State Parks and Trails. The state parks had pro- For more info go to nstt.org.

TAW TIPS! www.walkgdmva In text, the prefix for a website URL is no longer Moved? sites.google.com/site/walkgdmva needed. Only the critical Did you let AVA know your new address? info to link to your URL If not, email [email protected] with an address change http://sites.google.com/site/walkgdmva is necessary. so you get your next issue of TAW! 12 The American Wanderer February/March 2018

Kerrville Trailblazers’ old Southwest Susan Medlin, Director and new walk [email protected] By Carol Talpey

If you want to see parts of Kerrville you have never seen before, March 24 is your opportunity to walk through some new neighborhoods and parks. The Kerrville Trailblazers are calling this sanctioned event the “Old and New.” The Texas Trail Roundup Registration is at the Riverside Nature Center, which is adjacent to the Guadalupe River and the River Trail. The Center contains plants that are native presents a new half marathon to the Hill Country. Many should be in bloom for this early spring walk. The first item of interest after the start is the Doyle school, which has an excellent historical marker describing the history of the only Black school in the city. We hope you can join us for the Texas Jose compound, then head out the Nearby is a city park with a fountain and playground, which walkers will cir- Trail Roundup in San Antonio, Texas, back past the old mill, across the road cumnavigate. Not much further on is the Kroc Center where we will walk the February 23-25. We got a suggestion onto a lovely nature trail. Exit the trail circumference of the acreage on which it is built, while noting the buildings from one of our walkers last year to and pass the Churro, site of the annual which house gyms, exercise equipment, conference and dining rooms and out- transport the half marathon walkers to Mexican Rodeo. Walk through Mission door pools. Over $17 million was donated by Mrs. Kroc, widow of the founder Mission Espada and let them walk Pavilion and continue on the Mission of McDonald’s, for this project which is managed by the Salvation Army. back. Great idea! Walkers who chose Reach to Mission Concepcion. the half marathon will be driven to Continue passing Roosevelt Park to Further along the route, and part of the 10k, the walk passes by the Tivy High Mission Espada on Saturday morn- the Blue Star Art Complex. School football field and then past the Schreiner golf course, a beautiful munic- ipal course. The next park is on Lytle Street, a residential street that runs parallel to Town Creek. The walk ends by passing in front of the Notre Dame church, which has a historical marker, and then a historical marker in front of the Arcadia theater on Water Street, before arriving back at the Riverside Nature Center.

The Riverside Nature Center is at 150 Francisco Lemos Street, Kerrville, Texas. Start times are 8 a.m. to noon. The trail rating is 2A. Most of the walk is on side- walks, but includes a few areas that are not paved. AVA Special Programs include Take a Walk in a City Park, Hill Country Challenge, Walk Texas, Water Fountains and Amphitheaters. For more info, contact Edna Platte, 830-257- 2185 or 830-285-3615 (cell), or [email protected].

The Kerrville Trailblazers also offer six YRE’s. The walk box for these walks is located at the Inn of the Hills Hotel and Conference Center, 1001 Junction Highway in Kerrville. HHH holds Holiday Walk and

Joe and Jill Troyer, Margie Kent, Randy Baker, and Vorsha Sherfield stop for Potluck Lunch and Meeting a picture near the first check point with the old Lone Star Brewery visible in the distance behind them along the February 2017 Texas Trail Roundup. Photo by Martin Callahan. The Houston Happy Hikers held their annual Holiday Walk and Potluck Luncheon Meeting on Saturday, December 2, at the St. Paul’s UMC’s Jones ing, February 24. They walk back 21k We highly recommend the food at Hall in Houston’s Museum District. to the hotel, starting out on the his- Stella’s, home of artisanal pizza and toric Acequia Trail. craft brews. Departing the complex, walkers enjoy walking through the This dirt and gravel path runs by the historic King William neighborhood Acequia, a ditch built to water the before ending at the registration area. fields over 300 years ago and still in operation. Walkers can view the new The February 23 and 25 walks will art work under the 410 highway take place entirely in downtown San bridge. Enter Mission San Juan and Antonio and Volkssporters will have walk through the compound. Staying the opportunity to see beautiful and on the Acequia Trail, walkers head historic sites such as the Alamo, the through the woods to Acequia Park. San Antonio Riverwalk, Main Plaza Cross the river and head toward and El Mercado along the two trails. Mission San Jose on the Mission For more info on all three walks con- Reach Trail. View the new artwork tact Susan Medlin at 210-325-3523, under the Mission Road bridge on email [email protected], or go to Houston Happy Hikers smile for the camera after our annual holiday luncheon your way. Walk through Mission San texastrailroundup.org/. and meeting.

Walkers were greeted by the wafting smell of gingerbread and other Christmas cookies being prepared by the church in the kitchen next to our registration area. AVA National Program — Walking the United States With the sun shining brightly and no rain in the forecast, walkers enjoyed the routes through the Museum District, Rice University and Hermann Park. Earn special recognition! Complete an AVA walk in all 50 states or in all 50 state capitals and Wash- After the walk, the club celebrated with a potluck luncheon and meeting. After ington, D.C. The basic state or capital program earns a certificate. A separate book is required for a filling lunch, the club officers and members holding appointed positions were each program — request two books if participat- introduced. All officers were re-elected. The club fine-tuned the 2018 walk ing in both programs. An optional Deluxe Pack- schedule, door prizes were awarded, a club picture was taken and the meeting age is available upon completion that includes a was adjourned with the club looking forward to our 2018 walking seasons. state or capital certificate, a large patch, and a patriotic T-shirt. Details are on the back of each book. Order your "Walking the United States" record book directly from AVA Headquarters, Attn: AVA Headquarters, 1001 Pat Booker Rd., Suite 101, Universal Southwest Region continued on page 13 City, TX 78148-4147. Email [email protected]. February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 13 Southwest Region continued from page 12 The RRs’ Del Webb Hill WTSC and TVA Big Springs Country Retreat Walk Ranch for Children Walk By Martin Callahan The Randolph Roadrunners the beautiful paved nature trails and By Martin Callahan Volkssport club is hosting one more the full range of facilities available to 10k and 5k walk event this winter. the community. You can learn more Whatever of Texas Sporting The event takes place on February 10 about the Hill Country Retreat online Clubs is a small, family operat- at the Hill Country Retreat by Del at delwebb.com. ed club with a lot of heart. This Webb in northwest San Antonio. winter the club, in conjunction Registration for this walk is the com- You can earn credit for these AVA with the Texas Volkssports munity’s 28,000 square-foot amenity Special Programs: Boardwalks, Doin’ Association (TVA), is hosting a center located at the Resort at Hill The Louisiana Purchase and Walking series of walk and bike events Country Retreat, 4505 Del Webb the USA A-Z. from March 2-4 during the TVA Blvd, San Antonio. Biennial Meeting. For more info online about the TVA go to walktexas.org/.

The first event is a 10k and 5k walk at the Big Springs Ranch for Children at Leaky, Texas, on Friday, March 2. On Saturday, March 3 there will be a bike and walk event starting at the Sul Ross State University – Rio Grande College in Del Rio. The last event on Sunday, March 4 will be a walk event at the Kickapoo Caverns State Park in Linda Goodman, Gerry Kamicka and Ellen Brackettville. Ott stop for a picture at the gate at the en- trance to the Big Springs Ranch for Children Leakey is named in honor of along the trail at the Big Springs Ranch for John Leakey who first settled Children on the 2011 Leakey, Texas walk. the area with his family and Photo by Martin Callahan. other pioneers in 1856. Leakey is about 35 miles north of Uvalde and about 90 miles northwest of San Antonio. (l-r) Mike Schwencke with Dolly, Dee Hoedebecke, Richard Watkins, Lynda In 2010 the population was 425. For more info on Leakey, go to leakey-tx.com. Flournoy, and Kathy Schwencke with Rudy stop for a picture along the trail next to the wishing well on the 2016 Del Webb Walk in San Antonio, Texas. The walk start is at the Oma Bell Perry Community Center and RV Park at the Photo by Martin Callahan. Big Springs Ranch for Children, 10664 US Hwy 83 N, Leakey. In 1996 Miss The Del Webb walk is going to be a The Texas Trail Roundup is starting a Oma Bell Perry donated her 7,000 acre ranch to the Hill Country Youth Ranch “Cake Walk” to celebrate San new special program in January. Tails to become a children’s home for abused and homeless children. For more info Antonio’s 300th birthday. Can you on the Trails is for people who walk on the ranch go to thousandangels.org. think of a better way to celebrate a with dogs. To earn the patch, the birthday? There will be cakes of vari- human needs to complete 20 walks Volkssporters will explore a scenic canyon on the ranch along unimproved roads. Be ous kinds served with coffee in the with a dog. You can repeat a walk up sure to bring a walking stick and sturdy shoes as this walk is challenging. retreat house after the walk. If you to four times. The book has been find one of three “cupcakes” along approved by AVA for the use of the For info on all of these upcoming events and the Year Round events the club the walk trail you will win a cake to IVV certification stamp, but it is not sponsors contact Clay Baulch, 210-204-9301, or [email protected]. take home. an AVA Special Program. The books will be available for purchase at the San Marcos Mermaid Walk Volkssporters will follow a trail along Del Webb Walk event. For more info residential streets and a new extended on the new program online go to tex- nature trail in this beautiful Texas Hill astrailroundup.org/dogs/. Country community. The Hill Country Retreat opened in 2006 and Register from 8 a.m. till noon, finish is the first premier active adult com- by 3 p.m. For more info on all these munity for adults age 55 and over in events contact Ellen Ott, 210-723- San Antonio. You will be impressed 8574, [email protected] or go to with cascading waterfalls at the the club’s website randolphroadrun- entrance, the attractive ranch homes, ners.info/.

Southwest Region continued on page 14

AVA Special Program — Border Crossings

The San Marcos River Walkers invite you to a 5k/10k walk on March 17. Runs January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2023. The participant Starting at the City Park Rec Hall (170 Charles Austin Drive) the route follows must physically cross the border from one state to another while a trail passing mermaid statues in different locations throughout the downtown. on a Volkssport event. Walking, swimming, biking and cross-coun- Local artists were selected to decorate these seven foot statues in colorful native try ski events all count. Borders between counties do not count un- less they are in different states. International borders will count as flora and fauna themes. Pictured are four of the ten statues at the unveiling. The long as they are part of an IVV event. Submit a photo of your bor- starting point is on the Rec Hall porch facing the crystal clear San Marcos River. der crossing making it a personal mini photo album or keep notes There is plenty of parking and several restaurants are on the walk route which to make it a mini journal of your adventures in your passport. You is rated 1A. Start between 8 a.m. and noon and finish by 3 p.m. The walk is dif- may do the same border crossing on 15 different days by dressing ficult for wheelchairs but okay for strollers. Dogs must be on a leash and clean up in different clothes,wear a different hat, carry a stuffed animal, toy, etc; in each up is mandatory. Qualifying AVA Special Programs is: Take a Walk in a City photo. Walk 15 sanctioned events. Patch: 3"x4". Sponsored by the Michigan Pathfind- Park and others might be added when the Mermaids are in place and the trail ers, Tom Crabill, 10435 Oak Trail Rd., Ft. Wayne, Indiana 46845-6115, tjcrabill@com- route is determined. Come join us for this interesting display of public art. cast.net, 260-409-1659. Contact Barbara Piersol at (512) 396-4463 or [email protected]. 14 The American Wanderer February/March 2018 Southwest Region continued from page 13 Hill Country Volkssportsverein’s Boggy Creek Greenbelt and Easter Walk By Martin Callahan East Austin Volksmarch On Saturday, March 31 the Hill Country Volkssportsverin is host- By Barbara Byers ing its popular Easter walk in Comfort, Texas. This event is best There are shady trees, open expanses known for its Easter egg hunt of grass, picnic tables, and character- along the walk route. Comfort is istic Central Texas vegetation and about a 45-minute drive north- songbirds at Boggy Creek, a quiet west of San Antonio at the junc- place to wander. This is where our tion of State Highway 27, U.S. Colorado River Walkers 5k and 10k Highway 87 and Interstate events on Saturday, February 17 will Highway 10. begin. Hermann Altgelt established the The route will then go to Rosewood town in 1854 near the site of an Park, a little hidden gem off Pleasant Indian village. German settlers, Valley Road. The park is a 17-acre many of whom had a philosophy property in East Austin originally the opposed to a formal local govern- home site of Rudolph Bertram, a ment, settled the town. The town local store-owner and namesake for suffered a tragic loss of life in the town of Bertram, Texas. In 1875, 1862 at the Battle of Nueces Bertram built the 14-room limestone when a large number of men from blockhouse on the property, which Comfort were killed attempting to now functions as the Rosewood for many years as the “Colored cross into Mexico to enlist in the Mike Linnebur and Joan Ruffuni proudly Recreation Center. The house passed Branch.” In 1947, the building was Union Army. After the war the displaying the Easter eggs that they found to his daughter Emmie Huppertz. In renamed the George Washington bones of these Unionists were along the 2017 Comfort Easter Walk and 1928, it was purchased by the City of Carver Library in honor of the famous gathered and buried in Comfort, later turned in for a prize at the start/fin- Austin to create a segregated park for inventor and scientist. The library with a monument dedicated in ish. Photo by Martin Callahan. the African American community. In served African-Americans and others 1866. The “Treue der Union” 1929, a playground and after-school in the community until 1979, when a (Loyalty to the Union) monument is one of a few in the country that is allowed program was established at the site. new, modern library building was to fly the flag continually at half-mast. Throughout the '30s, the city added completed next door. At that time, other recreational amenities. In 1944, work began to convert the building to Register at the Comfort Community Park on Highway 27 West in Comfort. The the city started construction on the a cultural center. The museum opened traditional tasty breakfast and lunch will be available at family prices at the start property for Doris Miller Auditorium, in 1980 and was expanded with a new point. Volkssporters will follow a trail through the historic district, past the in honor of Doris “Dorie” Miller, a facility in 2001. If you have time to Treue der Union monument, out to the countryside and back to the finish. native Texan and first African spend in the city this deserves a visit. Volkssporters will also have the opportunity to shop in the numerous antique American awarded the Navy Cross in and handicraft shops along the route. WWII. The Texas State Cemetery, located a few blocks from the museum, origi- The 5k and 10k walk routes are rated 1+ and attractive B-awards will be avail- In 1973, the historic Henry Green nally was the burial place of Edward able for purchase. A limited number of large, colorful Easter eggs will be hidden Madison cabin was reassembled on Burleson, Texas Revolutionary gener- on the left side of the walk route. Volkssporters can exchange these eggs at the the park property, after having been al and Vice President of the Republic finish for a prize (limit one prize per participant). Walkers completing this walk discovered on its original site framed of Texas. It was expanded into are eligible for credit for their Louisiana Purchase and City Park AVA Special within a larger house that was being a Confederate cemetery during Program books. demolished. In 1974 the cabin was the Civil War and later expanded to named a State Historical Site by the include the graves and cenotaphs of For more info on this walk contact John Bohnert, 830-496-1746, or email Tina Texas Historical Commission. prominent Texans and their spouses. Bohnert, [email protected]. The cemetery is divided into two sec- As you walk in the neighborhoods tions. The smaller one contains about you will experience some of East 900 graves of prominent Texans, Austin’s economic and cultural diver- while the larger has over 2,000 sity as well as eclectic sensibility, the marked graves of Confederate veter- location with its proximity to the city Attending the 2018 IML in ans and widows. core and its natural beauty. This area is rapidly changing and a new study In keeping with the theme of mostly Sweden? (reported in Curbed Austin) ranks Black history you will also view part Austin as the 10th “fastest gentrify- of the Huston–Tillotson University, a By Susan Medlin ing” cities in the nation. As you walk private historically Black university the neighborhoods you will see new established in 1875. Huston–Tillotson If you are going to the IML in Borås, Sweden in April, we would like your help homes being constructed and the University is the first institution of with our presentation to the IML General Meeting. highrise residences with shops below higher learning for African Americans being built along Sixth and Seventh in Austin, Texas. On the second day, at the end of the general session, I will make a short presen- Streets. tation to the membership. I will show a two-three minute film on San Antonio, The last destination on the route will and then answer questions. The AVA president, his wife, my husband and I will For those walking the 10k, there is be the Austin Community College be there. We would really like to have more than four folks stand up; 20 or 30 more history as the route takes you to Eastview Campus. This college would really demonstrate support for this new IML. the George Washington Carver opened in 1999 and provides associ- Museum and Cultural Center. It is ate’s degrees and certificates in over If you are going to Borås and want to help, email me, [email protected]. I housed in the former George 180 areas. will provide a Team USA shirt for everyone who is willing to stand with us. Washington Carver Library, a small, wood-frame building constructed in This walk provides interesting local 1926 in another area of the city. In history and highlights the changes 1933, the building was moved to the that are occurring in the East Austin Southwest Region continued on page 15 east side of town to serve the African- landscapes. American Community. It was known February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 15 Southwest Region continued from page 14 Northwest Texas Trail Roundup Tails on Tom Baltes, Director [email protected] the Trails Special Program

By Martin Callahan

The Texas Trail Roundup (TTR) Volkssport club is starting a new “Tails on the 2018 NW Regional Walking Trails” Special Program in January 2018. To earn the colorful embroidered award patch, the human needs to complete 20 walks with a dog. You can repeat Festival – Save the dates! a walk up to four times. The book has been approved by AVA for the use of the IVV certification stamp, but is not an AVA special program. It is against IVV rules to give credit to non-humans. This book can’t be issued in the name of a The Evergreen State Volkssport Association (ESVA) and the Olympic Peninsula dog and must be issued in the name of a human. You are earning the credit for Explorers (OPE) are sponsoring the 2018 Northwest Regional Walking Festival walking the dog. in Port Angeles, Washington July 13 to 15. The festival will have five walks with multiple distances, a bike event and a swim event. One walk will be Once you’ve completed your through lavender farms near Sequim and another will be along the Port Angeles 20 walks, mail the book back jetty. There will be multiple walks in Olympic National Park along the scenic to Susan Ives at the TTR and Elwha River and to historic homesteads in the rainforest where you might see you will get the patch mailed Roosevelt Elk. There will also be a walk on a newly created beach and river to you. The TTR will also delta on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. All walks, the swim and bike events will be have the books for sale at available all three days of the festival. many local San Antonio-area walks. In addition, there will be informational and training sessions. The festival will include a “Howdy-Do” get together on Friday late-afternoon and a dinner on The program began on Saturday evening. On July 12 OPE will sponsor a pre-festival walk at a state January 1 and books will be park near Chimacum on the way to Port Angeles. Online and paper registration sold through December 31, will start February 1. Information and updates will be posted on the ESVA web- 2020. You may complete site: esva.online/news/2018-nw-regional-walking-festival-july-13-15-2018/. walks through December 31, 2021. Saying thanks You do not have to walk with the same dog every time By Tom Baltes (there is a small space in the The new Texas Trail Roundup “Tails on Trails” book to annotate the name Special Program embroidered color patch that Taking time to thank walkbox hosts is such an important part of our club’s hol- of your canine companion(s) Volkssporters can earn after completing 20 iday activity and I know it is for most clubs. Annually, the Vancouver USA if you wish) and it doesn’t walks with their canine companion starting on Volkssporters and All Weather Walkers prepare boxes of cookies at the holiday have to be your dog. If you January 1, 2018. season to give our hosts in appreciation for supporting several dozen Year accompany a dog walking friend on an entire walk, you can count that. Many Round events. Volkssporters have asked if they can use a stuffed toy dog instead of a real dog and the answer is no. TTR doesn’t have a patch for cat walkers, ferret walkers, gerbil walkers or giraffe walkers, but if you manage to walk 20 AVA sanctioned walks with a cat on a leash they will consider designing a special patch just for you.

If you’ve got a great photo of you and your dog on the trail, email it to Susan Ives at [email protected] or text her at 210-325-3498. Be sure to include your name, your dog’s name, the name of your club, and the location of the walk. The TTR will post the photo on their website to celebrate all of the AVA dog walk- ers!

Books can be ordered from Susan Ives, Texas Trail Roundup, 3614 Pinebluff, San Antonio, TX 78230. Contact her for cost at 210-325-3498 or e-mail [email protected] if you have any questions. You can also learn more about the program online at texastrailroundup.org/dogs/. TAW email

Tom presenting AVA Certificate to Nick Stanley from Lakeside Chalet [email protected] Restaurant.

This year, in addition to a nice box of homemade cookies the All Weather AVA Special Program — Points of Reference Walkers requested Certificates of Appreciation from the Regional Director to Runs from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. This is in- present to their seven walk hosts. I had the pleasure of presenting a certificate tended to encourage walkers to become more aware of where to Nick Stanley, who, with his wife Paula, have been graciously hosting several they fit in the world geographically, historically, chronologically Year Round events for at least 15 years. Over those years, their Lakeside Chalet and temperature-wise as they relocate from event site to event Restaurant in Camas, Washington, has served several thousand walkers using site – 15 in all. Points of Reference include directions as well the Lacamas Heritage Trail, Three Lakes and Round Lake walks. Many of our as dimensions of space, time, and temperature. Examples: walkers have taken time to enjoy their hospitality and great homestyle cooking West Point, Long Beach, Old German Town, Thermopolis – before or after a walk. It’s a real treat to dine with them, so put this stop on your Hot Springs State Park. So orient yourself on any type of Volkss- list of to-dos. In fact, it was in large part due to a December 2010 walk on the port where the route occurs in or passes by reference points. Lacamas Heritage Trail and comfortable feeling with the quaint Lakeside Chalet Events may be used multiple times each of the three years of the program’s duration Restaurant that convinced Louise and me to buy a house near the restaurant and when there are multiple qualifiers. (No street names, please.) For a list of qualifying YREs and Seasonals, see http://centralmnvolkssports.wix.com/cmv. Patch: 3-½”x4”. move to Camas in 2011. Send request to Central Minnesota Volkssports (CMV), Lois Head, Special Program Coordinator, PO Box 2162, St. Cloud, MN 56302-2162; [email protected] Have you thanked your hosts this year? If not, your RDs are happy to prepare or 320-252 -7348. certificates and a box of treats is always appreciated. Northwest Region continued on page 16 16 The American Wanderer February/March 2018 Northwest Region continued from page 15 Whidbey Walking Festival

Join The Northwest Tulip Trekkers, At Fort Casey, walk through the his- Welcoming a new walk in September 7-9, for a new and revised toric fort structures with original style Whidbey Walking Festival — a guns, passing the vintage lighthouse, eastern Washington weekend of new walks, views, and on to Camp Casey, walking along socials! This year we are expanding breathtaking bluffs and forests. our walks to various sites throughout The Colfax Historical Walk Whidbey Island (and beyond) to Take a short walk from Camp Casey became available for walkers explore more of what the area has to to the Coupeville Ferry Terminal for a on January 1. Colfax is located offer. Our 2018 Festival headquarters, leisurely ferry ride across the Sound one hour south of Spokane on will be at Camp Casey, just north of to Port Townsend. Walk through his- US195. The community was the Coupeville/Port Townsend Ferry toric districts and Victorian buildings, named for Schuyler Colfax, Terminal on the site of Fort Casey, a before riding the ferry back and 17th vice president of the former US Army base built at the turn returning to headquarters. We are United States. He served from of the 19th century. One of the his- cooperating with our neighboring 1869-1873 as Ulysses S. toric buildings will serve as our head- Olympic Peninsula Explorers Grant’s first vice president. quarters for the weekend. Camp Volkssport Club for this walk. The Casey is centrally located on the Annual Wooden Boat Festival is The route for this walk takes western shore of the island, and scheduled the same weekend in Port the participant through the his- makes a convenient spot to meet Townsend. toric downtown, by the before heading out for your walks. Perkins House and old hospi- You can gather to visit with old In addition to our five event walks, tal. The walk, which begins at friends or make new ones while there are four Year Round walks on the Whitman County Library watching abundant wildlife, marine Whidbey Island as well as many oth- in Colfax, was developed by a ship traffic, sea and panoramic moun- ers on your way to and from Whidbey library employee as a historic tain views. Island. walk for the community, which has been sanctioned for AVA/IVV credit. Shirley Cornelius, developer of the walk, will lead a guided walk for the community on April 21 Codger pole. at 1 p.m. This walk qualifies for several AVA Special Programs: Bridges Spanning the USA, US Post Offices, Vice Presidents Walk, Walk in a City Park and Water Fountains. It also qualifies for Evergreen State Volkssport Association Challenges: 39 Counties (Whitman), Womb to Tomb (School, Church). For more info and library hours go to lilaccityvolks.com.

AVA National Program — Centurion Achievement Challenge

The Centurion Achievement Challenge encourages and recognizes those who make a special, serious commit- ment to the “Fitness” aspect of our Fun Fitness Friendship slogan. Participate in 100 events in a single calendar year. AVA will recognize your accomplishment with a distinc- tive patch. A lifetime of fitness begins with a single stride. Just one of the big trees. You must be an AVA Associate Member (annual or lifetime) to participate. AVA mem- bership is separate from local club membership. For info contact Karen at AVA HQ, Walk from the historic Town of Join us Friday evening for a meet and 210-659-2112 or email [email protected]. Submit payment with a completed Centurion Coupeville on the east side of the greet along the shore. On Saturday registration form to: AVA Centurion Achievement Challenge, 1001 Pat Booker Rd, island through Ebey’s Landing afternoon, be sure to plan your walks Suite 101, Universal City, TX 78148. National Historical Reserve and so that you can enjoy our free brat enjoy expansive views of the prairie lunch at Camp Casey. and sound. Drive north to Deception AVA Special Program — Walk the USA – Street by Street Pass State Park enjoying the sights of You’ll find plenty of restaurants, the San Juan Islands and Puget lodging, shopping and social opportu- Runs January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2018. Sound. While in the park, be sure to nities on the island. Walkers walk all 50 states by walking streets named after stop along the route to visit the cities or states in the USA on any sanctioned AVA or IVV Civilian Conservation Corp Museum. We hope you’ll come walk with us! Traditional or Year Round event. Walkers will be allowed The CCC built several buildings in Visit our website, nwtrekkers.org, for to stamp a maximum of three (3) states per event so long the park that are still in use. updates as plans are finalized, for as the qualifier is walked for at least one (1) block. links to other information, accommo- Expand your qualifiers! Match a city-named street with Travel south to the Town of Freeland, dations and the pre-registration form the state that has a city with that name. If a walker walks on a Springfield street, for which started as a Socialist communi- that should be available late January. example, and already has the state of Illinois claimed in their book for this program, ty in the early 1900s. Then on to then they may want to use it for Missouri, Ohio, Massachusetts, Virginia or Oregon! South Whidbey State Park to walk the Send request to POC: Tulsa Walking Club, c/o Teresa Arnold, POC, 1001 E. Tacoma trails through old growth forests Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012; email: [email protected]. saved from bulldozers by tree-hug- ging citizens in the 1970’s.

AVA Special Program — A Walk in a City Park

Runs January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018. Walk 20 sanctioned events that pass by or through a city park. The city “Walking . . . is how the body park must have a name. No county, state or national parks will be accepted. Information needed in the book includes the date, the name of the park, city and state. No duplicate stamps and measures itself against the earth.” only one qualifier per stamp. Patch: 3"x4". When requesting a book, include your email address for our information, if you have one. Sponsored by Rebecca Solnit, Lawton Walkers, Sharon Snyder, 1714 NW 49th Street, Lawton, OK 73505, emai Wanderlust: A~ History of Walking [email protected]. Or Suzi Bentley, 1104 SE Alta Lane, Lawton, OK 73501, [email protected]. February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 17

Colorado Springs Walking Club enjoyed the Art on the Street displays.

AVA: America’s Walking Club!

Winston Wanderers at Triad Park, Kernersville, North Carolina.

Susquehanna Rover Volksmarch Club, Hershey Walkfest. Dallas Trekkers on “M” Street, Dallas, Texas.

53 club walks Daffodil Valley Volksports on a guided walk in Sumner, Washington. OptOutside continued on page 18 18 The American Wanderer February/March 2018

continued from page 17

Colorado River Walkers on historic walk in Georgetown, Texas.

Happy Wanderers and Mid Florida Milers at Mt. Dora, Florida.

Nebraska Wanderfruende at Hanscom Park, Omaha, Nebraska.

Cedar Milers had guided walk in southwest Portland.

Colorado Springs Walking Club enjoyed the Art on the Street displays. Germanna Volkssport Association, Rappahannok Rambles walk, Fredericksburg, Virginia. OptOutside continued on page 19 February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 19

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Kansas Jay Walkers saw bison at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City, Kansas.

Lake Country Wanderers (LCW), Twin Cities Volkssport and NorthStar Trail Travelers walked a LCW YRE at Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley, Minnesota.

Colorado River Walkers on a historic walk in Georgetown, Texas. Gateway Milers at Oakland Historic District walk in Belleville, Illinois.

OptOutside continued on page 18

Utah®KKaleidoscope ofo Color Buffalo Pathfinders at Clear Creek Trail in Buffalo, Wyoming. October 10-20, 2018 < 11 Days < Approxo $3500-$3700 ¯These walks were a fanfannttastic way to explolore e tthhe state & national parks of Utah. This was a ttyyyppical WAI addvvenntttureureÒFannttastic!° Dottttiee S. ~ UNFORGETTAABBLE UTAH 2015

/ŶĂĚĚŝƚŝŽŶ ƚŽ ǁĂůŬƐ ŝŶ ĨŽƵƌ ŽĨ hƚĂŚ͛Ɛ ŶĂƚŝŽŶĂů ƉĂƌŬƐ ;ƌĐŚĞƐ͕ ĂŶLJŽŶůĂŶĚƐ͕ ƌLJĐĞ Canyon, and Zion), and a fun visit to the fifth (Capitol Reef), we have included walks or visits to state parks in this area as well³Valley of Fire State Park (Nevada), Goosenecks Staate Park, Dead Horse Gap State Park, and Goblin Valley StState PParkk. Eachh park iis stunniing iin itits own righi ht! AAnd eachh day offers its own eye-popping experience of canyon-country excellence, inspiring us to dub this Adventure, Unnfffoorgettablee Utah. One of the surprises of this program, depending upon weather conditions, is the colorful fall foliage. From Bluff onward, the likelihood is strong for pockets, sometimes blankets, of yellows, day after dayͶcottonwoods, box elder, gambel oak, poplars, and perhaps a few late-turning aspens at the higher elevations.

Contact uus! 1.800.779.0353 [email protected] WalkingAdventures.com Girls just want to have fun at Daffodil Valley Volkssport Association in WAI is a registered seller of travel in Washinggtton (601 677 299) and California (2039567-40). Registration as a seller of travel does not conssttitute approval by either ssttate. Sumner, Washington. 20 The American Wanderer February/March 2018

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Chase Davis and Sharon Moats of Evergreen State Volkssport Association in Washington. John and Carolyn Warhol were trailmasters for the Daffodil Valley Volkssport Black Friday walk in Sumner, Washington.

Nebraska Wanderfruende at Hanscom Park, Omaha, Nebraska.

Kansas Jay Walkers at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City, Kansas.

Great Des Moines Volkssport Association, Waterways walk in Des Moines, Iowa.

Georgia Walkers. OptOutside continued on page 35 February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 21 Canal Walk in historic Pacific Suzi Glass, Director Walnut Creek, California [email protected] By Priscilla Fife

Join the Vaca Valley Volks for a walk around the historic city of There is history in your future Walnut Creek on Saturday, March 3. This is a totally new walk start- By Suzi Glass ing at The Orchards at Walnut Creek Shopping Center, located at 2800 Ygnacio Valley Rd, Walnut If you like a dose of history with your the 1880’s by the Southern Pacific Creek, California. This area is walking adventures, the Pacific Railroad (and the last of those depots named Shadelands after the Region has a great foursome for you still standing), is part of the town’s Shadelands Ranch established by in February and March. historic area. That area includes “The early American settler, Hiram Willcox Commercial,” the oldest Penniman, in 1856 as one of the Lana’i Island, Hawaii February 4, store in its original location in all of first and largest farms in by the International Wanderers Arizona. The place sent freight to sur- California’s Ygnacio Valley. Before recorded history, Lana’i was rounding forts and is now listed in the Penniman planted a variety of fruit under the control of the island of National Register of Historic Places. and nut trees, including prunes, Maui. Legend has it a Mauian prince Among the more famous customers which served as Penniman’s most was banished there by his father for of The Commercial was Geronimo. important and profitable crop. The his wild pranks in court. While on He frequented the store to satisfy his original name of Penniman’s ranch Lana’i, the prince chased out the sweet tooth. Since he didn’t trust the was Shadelands Fruit Farm. 18-hole Boundary Oaks Golf Course. ghosts that haunted the island, bring- white clerks, he bought 1 pound bags Eventually the family passed away Past the golf course, you walk ing peace, order and his ticket back to of sugar because he knew what that and in 1970 the foundation managing through Arbolado Park and then Maui and his father’s favor. amount felt like. More recent buyers the property gave the remaining 1.5 through more residential areas (watch Pineapple became the main crop of have been Rex Allen and Tanya acres of land and the ranchhouse to for a unique succulent garden and Lana’i in the '20s with James Dole Tucker. For this Guided Walk, contact the city of Walnut Creek. Today it is mid-century modern homes) until you buying the island. Dole established Wendy Breen 520-508-3889. managed by the Walnut Creek reach the Shadelands Ranch the world’s largest pineapple planta- Historical Society and has been open Museum. The ranchhouse was placed Healdsburg, California March 17, tion as Dole Food Company. to the public since 1972. on the National Register of Historic However, the last pineapple harvest by the Sonoma County Stompers Places in 2016. After viewing the occurred in 1992. As of 2012, 98 per- After Wappo and Pomo Native Built in 1972, the Shadelands devel- ranch house and grounds, the walk cent of Lana’i is owned by Larry Americans inhabited the area for opment was Walnut Creek’s first continues through a farmers market Ellison of Oracle Corporation fame. thousands of years, the land became business park and was originally and passes the Joint Genome He is improving both the infrastruc- part of a Mexican land grant. When designed as a traditional office and Institute, created in 1977 by the U.S. ture and resort areas there. For walk Mexico ceded California to the research and development center. It Department of Energy as a center for details and the extra fees, contact United States in 1848, the land grant has grown since, and The Orchards at DNA sequencing and currently serv- Scott Isom at 360-260-9393. was nullified. Healdsburg owes its Walnut Creek development is a con- ing over 1,200 scientists worldwide. existence to the California Gold tinuation of that growth. It is a Just down the block is Tony La Verne, California February 17, Rush, specifically those who did not lifestyle center with modern architec- LaRussa’s Animal Rescue by the Low Desert Roadrunners fare well as miners. People found tural and landscaping designs includ- Foundation, where you can adopt a What is now La Verne was part of a farming a more lucrative occupation ing a lovely park where our walk walking buddy. Completing the walk, 15,000-acre Rancho San Jose land than mining in the fertile land. begins. you will pass by the Three Graces grant received in the 1830’s. Among them was Harmon Heald, fountains and sculptures in an office Entrepreneur Issac Lord purchased a who purchased part of the original The 10k walk will take you through park. tract of the grant in the 1880’s, build- rancho, built a cabin and established a pleasant residential neighborhoods to ing a town and convincing the Santa general store and post office. He gave the Ygnacio Canal Trail where you The 5k route also visits pleasant Fe Railroad to run through it to Los the city its name when the settlement will meander along and across the neighborhoods, the Animal Rescue Angeles. He named the town was incorporated in 1867. The walk canal to the Lime Ridge Open Space. Foundation, farmers market and “Lordsburg” and founded Lordsburg includes the plaza area laid out by Lime Ridge Open Space is located on Shadelands Ranch Museum. Dog College. However, when the town Heald, a family-owned brewery, Bear the eastern edge of Walnut Creek on a owners skip the farmers market, but was incorporated in 1906, it was Republic Brewing Company, and city dominant ridge leading to Mount take a special detour to get a closer renamed La Verne. The area thrived parks. Details can be obtained from Diablo. It contains some of the last look at the Animal Rescue on the citrus industry until after Marilyn Nasi at 707-539-8083. remaining chaparral in Walnut Creek Foundation. World War II. The February walk and a rich diversity of plant and ani- includes Bonelli Regional Park and Whether you are into legends, rail- mal life. Lime Ridge gets its name This walk qualifies for these AVA Puddingstone Reservoir. For more road development, agriculture or from the limestone in the area that Special Programs: Animal Safari, info, contact Jean Vik at walk- Gold Rush history, walking in the was quarried by the Cowell Portland Bridges, City Parks, Food for [email protected]. Pacific Region will add to your Cement Company. Thought, Inventions, Treasure Hunt knowledge. and Water Fountains. Willcox, Arizona March 17, by the After passing by the open space you Thunder Mountain Trekkers walk through a tunnel under Ygnacio Everyone will enjoy the many dining The Willcox Railroad Depot, built in Valley Road and continue along the options at The Orchards after the canal trail passing the championship walk. Las Vegas Strip event

Join us as we explore the far reaches of the fabulous Las Vegas Strip. Many of iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, so be sure to bring your cameras. you have done our North Strip and South Strip walks, but let’s go a little farther to see one of the best-known and most photographed features of Las Vegas. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and finish by 2 p.m. Parking will be avail- able in the Harley-Davidson parking lot. Email us at [email protected] for Las Vegas High Rollers & Strollers are sponsoring a traditional event on more particulars. Saturday, April 7 in Las Vegas. We’ll start at the Harley-Davidson dealership on the far South Strip. The 6k–11k routes leave the dealership and follow Las We’ll have more details about this walk on our website: lvhrs.org. While you’re Vegas Boulevard. The 6k goes north for a quick circuit of some of the famous there, check out our other walks in and around the Las Vegas Valley. casinos on the South Strip. The longer route adds a walk through Town Square, an open-air shopping, dining and entertainment complex. Both loops pass by the We’ll see you on the trail!

Pacific Region continued on page 22 22 The American Wanderer February/March 2018 Pacific Region continued from page 21 Northeast Chris Mellen, Director Stilts and Cranes at Mare Island [email protected]

By Stephen Dmytriw

Vaca Valley Volks invites you to their annual Mare Island Flyway walk on Appalachian Trail in Connecticut: February 10-11, in conjunction with the 22nd annual San Francisco Bay On the level Flyway Festival. The Flyway Festival is held on Mare Island and is an annu- By Carol Endriss West al celebration of the migration through San Francisco Bay of more If you are looking for the eas- than one million shorebirds and hun- iest stretch of the 3,500 kilo- dreds of thousands of ducks, geese, meters (2,200 miles) of the hawks and other wildlife at the peak Unique undated Mare island Appalachian Trail (AT), seek of migration. In addition to our AVA Crane patch. no further. The Connecticut walk, there are guided and self-guid- Valley Volkssport Club has ed tours, wildlife shows, art exhibits, can be combined with the “Officers found the perfect eight kilo- lectures, and non-profit organizations Row” and Historic section 5k to make meters for you in Kent, and commercial vendors with items 10k. The other walk will go to the top Connecticut. This stretch for sale. of the hill to the old lighthouse site, to bunkers, circle around the Spirit Ship starts just north of where and geologic marker and the dry dock hardy thru-hikers scramble up area. The former Mare Island Naval and down the boulders of St. Shipyard was the U.S. Navy’s oldest Johns Ledges, and it ends installation in the Pacific and, during south of the village of World War II, turned out scores of Cornwall Bridge, just before ships and submarines. Warships dam- the trail starts a climb up aged in battle were also repaired and Silver Hill. This beautiful refitted in the base’s dry docks. It was wooded trail, on packed dirt an active navy base from 1854 until it with few roots or stones to trip closed in 1996. The dry docks and up even an amateur hiker, submarine slips are still standing and hugs the banks of the rushing The traditional patch with a can be seen on the walk. 140-mile long Housatonic Trailmaster Lee West scouting out eight flat Black Necked Stilt. River. kilometers of the AT along the beautiful The walk proceeds along “Officer’s Housatonic River in Connecticut. There are three suggested Traditionally, Vaca Valley Volks Row” where the higher-ranking offi- sassafras, black locust, hemlock and walk options, all on the level, from makes a dated patch available for the cers on the island lived. At 10,500 pine) dominates the landscape. The the St. Johns Ledges parking area, flyway walk, with a different bird square feet, Quarters A is the largest original forest was harvested for char- depending on how long you want to each year. This year will be no differ- of the 13 white Colonial Revival coal to fuel the iron industry’s blast be on the trail. If you wish to do the ent, and the featured bird for 2018 mansions which once lined Officers furnaces and foundries. For those typical 10k distance, walk 5k to the will be the Black Necked Stilt. But, in Row. Known as “The Admiral’s interested in learning more about the three-log bridge at the Stony Brook addition to our normal patch, we will Mansion,” it was once the home of early history of this area, Kent offers Campsites, and retrace your steps for also make a unique undated “Mare the highest-ranking officer on Mare two fascinating museums: the Sloane- 10k total. You’ll enjoy remains of old Island Crane” patch available, which Island. The other 12 quarters on the Stanley Museum (with Kent Iron cellar holes, crumbling stone walls reflects back on Mare Island’s history row had 7,500 square feet each and Furnace on its grounds), featuring the once lining farm fields, a lean-to as a Naval shipyard. The three cranes had the same basic floor plan, which collections of noted Connecticut where you can read the comments of depicted are the same ones that once included a partial basement. writer and artist Eric Sloane, and the thru-hikers (who pass through here in worked on Mare Island’s three dry Connecticut Antique Machinery the first weeks of August) and an docks. St. Peter’s Chapel is the oldest contin- Association museum, with displays uously operational chapel in the occasional shout from a river rafter highlighting early industrial and agri- asking “how far to the parking lot?” If According to legend, in 1835, a num- Navy. Built in 1901, it is a classic cultural methods. you are up for 6k more, continue 3k ber of Mexican General Vallejo’s example of Victorian Gothic architec- past Stony Brook Campsites to where horses were being ferried across the ture with its tidy brown shingle, The village of Kent offers a number the AT bears right onto the gravel strait from the Contra Costa shore to cream-colored trim, steep pitched of quaint restaurants, along with the River Road and then retrace your Benicia when the crude barge cap- roof and a soaring octagonal spire. Annie Bananie ice cream shop to steps. It’s also possible, of course, to sized. Weeks afterward, one horse, a The chapel is non-denominational reward walkers and hikers. Beyond hike the trail one-way (8k), spotting a white mare, was discovered grazing and houses one of the largest collec- the town, Kent Falls State Park and car in the small parking area south of on the hillside of the island across the tions of Tiffany glass under one roof. Macedonia Brook State Park offer yet Rt. 4/Rt. 7. channel from Vallejo. From that day, more woodland to explore. This is a the island was known as Mare’s We hope to see you for a weekend of great destination in late spring, sum- Over the years, the AT in Connecticut Island, later shortened to Mare Island. bird watching and history. There may mer and fall. even be wine tasting at the Mare has changed course. It formerly crossed the Housatonic River The one 5k will do the San Pablo Bay island Brewery. For more info, go to For further info, contact Lee or Carol (Mohican word meaning land beyond trail out to the water and back. This vacavolks.org. West, [email protected] or the mountains) at the now ruined CVVC Club president, Bob North Kent (Flanders) bridge, but McDougall, [email protected]. Join us since the late '30s has followed the for our monthly Saturday morning old farm path on the western bank of group walks; a schedule is available the river. Second growth forest (main- at avaclubs.org/cvvc. ly sycamore, maple, ash, black birch, TAW TIPS! Northeast Region continued on page 23 September 1, 2017 When typing dates always Sept 1, 2017 spell out the month with a comma after the day. There is Sept. 1, 2017 no need to put the year in September 1 unless the event is happening in a different year. TAW email: [email protected] February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 23 Northeast Region ESCV photos continued from page 22 Time to make the soup

By Verna Devine

On April 7, Walk’nMass will hold its annual soup walk in Holliston, Massachusetts. It was initiated several decades ago by Joyce Toomre as an incentive to attend a February Group Walk in Newton. Joyce invited the walkers to stop by her house after the walk to enjoy a cup of soup with their bag lunch. It has since grown with the walkers bringing a potluck soup or dessert. What was once an eagerly awaited late winter group walk has transitioned into an early spring traditional event to herald the Northeast’s walking season.

In 1894 a local newspaper described Holliston as the quintessential New England village. That’s quite impressive. As we walk thru the Mudville neigh- borhood, “Casey at the Bat” is brought to mind.

There will probably be a little nip in the air the first week of April, but the thought of all the delicious hot soup waiting for our return will warm us up. Troy, New York, home of Samuel Wilson (known as Uncle Sam of Amer- ican lore), is the site of one of the many Year Round events of The Empire For more info, go to walknmass.org. State Capital Volkssporters. Russell Sage College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, revived business and antique districts, Victorian architecture, monuments, Green Island Bridge (former railroad bridge), are just some of the sights along with wonderful views of the Hudson Valley. Troy is Empire State Capital also known as the Collar City due to its past shirt, collar, cuff and other textile production. In 1825, local resident Hannah Lord Montague in- vented a way to clean and starch collars and cuffs separately from other- Volkssporters event photos wise clean shirts. Photo by Linda Morzillo.

The Empire State Capital Volkssporters enjoyed a group walk on a beautiful day at the Saratoga National Historical Park on October 4. Pictured are walk- ers at Stop 9 of the park road. It is said that both the Hudson River and the The Empire State Capital Volkssporters held their annual Holi- surrounding scenery are very close to the way it was during 1777 when the day Walk in Schenectady followed by a luncheon at the historic Battle of Saratoga was fought. Photo by Linda Morzillo. Stockade Inn. Pictured are walkers on State Street headed to the checkpoint, the home of ESCV member Pat R., who graciously Editor’s note: This photo was included with the wrong caption in the last TAW. hosts the Cookie House. Photo by Linda Morzillo.

AVA Special Program — Ports of Call

Runs January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. Walk 24 AVA sanctioned events in cities that include “port” in their name or that pass a location that is now or historically has been an ocean, river or lake port. One entry per calendar year is permitted for Year Round and Seasonal events. Duplicate event numbers for multi-day traditional events are not al- lowed. Insert cards may be used and attached to the book- let, but no write-in entries will be accepted. Patch approximately 3"x4". Send request to Olympic Peninsula Explorers, and mail to Sharon Streitt, 1783 NW Rock Way, Poulsbo, WA 98370; [email protected].

The Annual Pizza Party of the Empire State Volkssports is held on the first Sunday in November. At the event we honor Volkssporters from our club who AVA Special Program — Lady Liberty have achieved important milestones in Volkswalking. Congratulations to Liz Walsh who completed her 50th state walk this year. Pictured are the 10k walkers Runs January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2018. Each walk along the walk route in Albany. Photo by Linda Morzillo. must be an AVA sanctioned event in which walkers walk by, or be able to see from the trail, any Statue of Liberty or replica. The qualifier must be stationary and non-moving, i.e. flags do not count, nor people costumed as Lady Liberty. Murals of the Statue of Liberty will also qualify. Complete 15 different events to receive award. POC: Tulsa Walking Club, c/o Teresa Arnold, POC, 1001 E. Tacoma Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012 email: [email protected]. 24 The American Wanderer February/March 2018

Walking the USA: A – Z, Mid-America Andy Bacon, Director in alphabetical order [email protected] By Jim Blessing

Hi! My good friend, Cliff Terry, suggested that I write about my recent comple- tion of the A-Z program. Probably like a lot of you, my wife and I started this program shortly after becoming Volkswalkers. The first go-around went quickly Library promotes Kokomo as we live in Carmel, Indiana, where many events are nearby, including the only “X.” Year Round Event

By Cliff Terry

On September 30, the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library and the Indy ‘G’ Walkers Club co-sponsored a guided walk in Kokomo, Indiana. The library made the club’s walk part of their 2017 Howard County Reads program, which featured the 2014 book titled Grandma Gatewood Walk by Ben Montgomery. The book covered the life of Emma Gatewood, the first woman to walk the Appalachian Trail at the age of 67 in 1955.

Over 40 people attended a short presentation prior to walking the YRE in Kokomo. The presentation described the social and health benefits of walking, the AVA awards program and the new special program for the Appalachian Trail. The guided walk covered both the 5k and 10k routes of the Kokomo YRE through the restored historic downtown, the Industrial Heritage Trail and beau- tiful Highland and Foster Parks. The library also produced a high-quality color brochure with a map, instructions, and photos of the interesting sites and histor- ical facts along the trail. The library has hosted the start point for the Kokomo Year Round walking event since 2015.

Jim Blessing in Roslyn, Washington – Northern Exposure TV site. Since I greatly enjoyed this program, I decided to make the second attempt more challenging. I decided to do the program in alphabetical order and not repeat any event that I did in my initial completion.

It started out easy, as I completed A-J in less than 11 months. All were close by or on short drives. After getting the Kendallville event three months later, I was stalled for five months before doing Lido Key and then Midland. New Harmony, Oxford and Plymouth were covered in a two-month spree four months later.

At this point, I was stalled for 10 months on “Q,” which had been the last letter on my first completion, Quaker City, Ohio. However, there is no longer any “Q” in the Midwest. This required a trip to Washington, which allowed us to walk Quincy, Roslyn, Seattle and Tacoma in an eight-day streak.

Next, I was stalled for nine months on U, which is the hardest letter to get in the Midwest, as only Texas and California have U Year Round events. I got Universal City on a baseball trip and then Valparaiso and Winona Lake 11 months later. In recognition for these efforts, a Certificate of Appreciation was presented to the library by Mid-America Regional Director Andy Bacon. Their active part- After this, both my wife (cancer) and myself (leg and feet numbness) suffered nership with AVA helps to introduce our sport to new walkers and improves the health issues that knocked us off stride. This caused a 31-month delay in com- quality of life in the community. The library is located at 220 Union Street, pleting the last three events (Xenia, Yellow Springs and Zionsville), all nearby Kokomo, Indiana. For more info on the YRE, contact Larry Schwindt at in the Midwest. [email protected]. What’s next? How about doing the 50 states in the order that they joined the Union?

The Bunny Hop Walk and Breakfast

In the St. Louis Metro East area we are not blessed with a lot of beautiful geo- You can work off that breakfast by walking through the town of O’Fallon, graphical sights such as mountains or oceans, so we use a lot of “gimmicks” as Illinois. Many of you military folk may be familiar with O’Fallon as Scott Air some people like to call our fun walks. So come and join Gateway Milers as we Force base is right next door. We will be featuring some new neighborhoods and try something new this Easter season. The Bunny Hop Walk and Breakfast will trails just completed in the area. The O’Fallon Merchants Association has asked be held on March 10. us to include them on our walk.

Our walk will begin at the Masonic Lodge. Come early and take advantage of At the registration you may pick up a bag to collect eggs from several of the the All You Can Eat Annual Breakfast presented by the Masons, and fill up on downtown merchants. These eggs may be filled with candy or prizes, and a little pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy. bird, (or should I say bunny), said possibly money. For more info go to gate- waymilers.org. February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 25

ALABAMA Sacramento Walking Sticks CONNECTICUT ILLINOIS PO Box 277303 Sacramento, CA 95827 Capital City Wanderers Barbara Nuss 916-283-4650 Connecticut Valley Volkssport Club Gateway Milers NFP PO Box 210911Montgomery, AL 36121 [email protected] PO Box 251 Glastonbury, CT 220 Clearwater Dr.Belleville, IL 62220 Bill and Beverly Gray 256-508-0246 06033 Bob McDougall 860-342-3062 William Badger 618-692-4337 [email protected] Shasta Sundial Strollers [email protected] [email protected] 215 Lake Blvd #524 Redding, CA 96003 ALASKA Cynthia Turbin 530-949-2810 DELAWARE Illinois Trekkers Volkssport Club [email protected] PO Box 603 O'Fallon, IL 62269 Anchorage Volkssport Club First State Webfooters Diane Prost 618-726-7030 PO Box 240893 Anchorage, AK 99524 Sierra Gold Striders PO Box 9348 Wilmington, DE 19809 [email protected] Mike Medolo 907-375-0447 PO Box 1253 Twain Harte, CA 95383 Kathy Szczesiak 302-388-5740 [email protected] Philip Jones 209-586-0597 [email protected] Kishwaukee Valley Wanderers [email protected] 403 Holly Ct. Genoa, IL 60135 ARIZONA FLORIDA Carolyn Tobinson 815-761-4660 Sonoma County Stompers [email protected] PO Box 6838 Santa Rosa, CA 95406 Saguaro Sun Striders Emerald Coast Volkssport Club Marilyn Nasi 707-539-8083 Lebanon Cedar Cruisers 17220 W Spencer House Lane [email protected] 390 S. Tyndall Parkway, #121 Surprise, AZ 85387 Panama City, FL 32404 604 Marcia Blvd.New Baden, IL 62265 William E. Malina 618-588-4097 Loralie Cruz 206-909-3944 South Bay Roadrunners DJ Moore 850-628-4016 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 6375 Elmhurst Dr. San Diego, CA 92120 Herman Husbands 619-287-0560 Ridgewalkers Walking Club Thunder Mountain Trekkers [email protected] First Coast Trail Forgers Walking Club 3288 S Sky Hawk Dr 9123 Sugar Meadow Trail 3109 Valerie Dr. Champaign, IL 61822 Kimberly Bradley 217-778-1718 Sierra Vista, AZ 85650 South Bay Striders Jacksonville, FL 32256-9622 Nancy Breen 520-508-3889 Diana Sherrill 904-608-4689 [email protected] 15680 Alum Rock Ave. San Jose, CA 95127 [email protected] [email protected] Chris Zegelin 408-259-5157 Windy City Walkers [email protected] Tucson Volkssport Klub Happy Wanderers 9725 S Karlov Avenue #610 Oak Lawn, IL 60453-3341 270 S Candlestick Dr Tucson, AZ 85748 Tahoe Trail Trekkers PO Box 290153 Port Orange, FL 32129 Fred Barton 520-298-4340 John McClellan 386-256-2160 Therese Glatzhofer 708-425-0211 371 Cuckoo Ct. Applegate, CA 95703 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Betsy McDevitt 530-412-4453 [email protected] INDIANA ARKANSAS Meandering Manatees Vaca Valley Volks 324 Elmwood Avenue Lehigh Acres, FL 33936 Bedford Hiking Club Ozark Hill Hikers 100 Quietwood DrVacaville, CA 95688 Beverley MacNeill 239-368-1673 PO Box 1555 Bedford, IN 47421 PO Box 5131 Bella Vista, AR 72714 Stephen Dmytriw 707-447-8067 [email protected] Alison Piper 812-277-0946 Bobbie Bohm 417-793-2243 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] COLORADO Mid-Florida Milers Walking Club CALIFORNIA PO Box 4575 Winter Park, FL 32793 Bloomington Flying Fish Volkssports Rosemary Barna 407-920-3174 4330 E Kinser Drive Colorado High Country Hikers [email protected] Bloomington, IN 47408 Bay Bandits Volksmarch Club 2615 Ingalls St, #302 Linda Woods 812-336-1673 PO Box 31704 San Francisco, CA 94131 Edgewater, CO 80214 Pensacola Volksmarch Club [email protected] Priscilla Fife 916-616-6003 Clifford Wigfield 303-668-0287 [email protected] or [email protected] PO Box 30024 Pensacola, FL 32503 [email protected] Annette Baisden 850-438-3906 Goodtime Trailblazers [email protected] 5958 Cross Creek Blvd. California Volkssport Association Inc. Colorado Springs Walking Club Indianapolis, IN 46217-3700 PO Box 1253 Twain Harte, CA 95383 6530 Delmonico Drive #301 Perdido Key Volksmarch Club Tom Martin 317-787-9776 Philip Jones 209-586-0597 Colorado Springs, CO 80919 [email protected] [email protected] 5468 North Shore Rd. Lynette Reagan 719-201-7554 W. Pensacola, FL 32507 [email protected] Rod Powell 850-637-1876 Hoosier Hikers Coronado Beachcombers [email protected] PO Box 11101 South Bend, IN 46634 6375 Elmhurst Dr, San Diego, CA 92120 Columbine Country Cruisers Robert Buzolich 574-339-9140 Herman Husbands 619-287-0560 2306 De Soto Road Pueblo, CO 81003 [email protected] [email protected] Suncoast Sandpipers Volkssport Club Dale Boone 719-544-6757 PO Box 2514 Largo, FL 33779-2514 [email protected] Alice Lawrence 727-595-2173 Indiana Volkssport Assn. Davis Dynamos [email protected] 2909 Rolling Meadows Lane 646 A Street Davis, CA 95616 Falcon Wanderers New Haven, IN 46774 Jo Ann Pelz 530-756-2315 PO Box 17162 GEORGIA Cheryl Elser 260-750-2177 [email protected] Colorado Springs, CO 80935-7162 [email protected] Connie Dueker 719-337-9434 Delta Tule Trekkers [email protected] Georgia Walkers 1496 Elizabeth Lane Indy 'G' Walkers 20862 E. Walnut Ave. Linden, CA 95236 PO Box 269001 Indianapolis, IN 46226 Dianne Driever 916-799-1087 Northern Front Range Wanderers East Point, GA 30344-1743 Connie Clark 469-713-4712 Cliff Terry 317-776-1848 [email protected] 2211 W Mulberry Street #238 [email protected] [email protected] Fort Collins, CO 80521 Green Valley Gaiters, Inc. Richard Perry 970-224-4135 HAWAII River City Ramblers PO Box 406 Calimesa, CA 92320 [email protected] 2003 N Heidelbach Ave Robert Gebo 951-924-2208 Evansville, IN 47711 [email protected] Rocky Mountain Wanderers Menehune Marchers Stanley Neu 812-425-3886 4766 S. Helena WayAurora, CO 80015 95-211 Kemu PlaceMililani, HI 96789 [email protected] Laguna Turf 'N Surf Walkers Katherine Svoboda 303-680-7118 Carol Romig 808-626-3575 24111 Leeward Dr Dana Point, CA 92629 [email protected] [email protected] Three Rivers Strollers Sherry Colvin 949-487-7673 IDAHO 1310 Pearl Street Auburn, IN 46706 [email protected] Woodland Wanderers Liz Winsley 260-925-5091 1020 Parkway Lane [email protected] Low Desert Roadrunners Woodland Park, CO 80863-9468 Treasure Valley Volkssports PO Box 77143Corona, CA 92877-0104 Frank Sayers 719-640-6744 5524 S. Onaga Place Boise, ID 83716 Whitewater Valley Walkers Sue Obradovitz 951-735-0457 [email protected] Juliann Fritchman 208-345-8259 PO Box 126 Brookville, IN 47012 [email protected] [email protected] Dennis Fritz 812-584-2687 [email protected] Placer Pacers PO Box 142 Auburn, CA 95604 Don Ratliff 916-645-8280 Clubs continued on page 26 [email protected] 26 The American Wanderer February/March 2018

MASSACHUSETTS St Louis-Stuttgart Volksmarch Club Finger Lakes Volkssports Club, The Clubs 1980 Avon Dr, Florissant, MO 63033 1041 Church Street Cortland, NY continued from page 25 Two Town Walking Club Donna Dasho 314-831-0726 13045 Sue Connelly 607-835-6595 IOWA 56 Ledgewood Dr, Danvers, MA 01923 [email protected] [email protected] Joseph Piffat 978-777-4619 MONTANA Niagara Frontier Volkssport Club Greater Des Moines Volkssport Assn. [email protected] 5270 Goodrich Rd. Clarence, NY 14031 PO Box 110 Des Moines, IA 50301 Barbara Stafford 716-741-9315 Diana Whited 515-783-5251 Walk 'N Mass Volkssport Club Madison County Volkssport Club [email protected] [email protected] 38 Carter Street, Unit 205 PO Box 72 Virginia City, MT 59755 Everett, MA 02149 Jayne Welton 406-599-5231 KANSAS Mary Frink 617-387-1577 [email protected] Volkssport Club at West Point [email protected] PO Box 30 West Point, NY 10996-0030 Miles City Volksmarch Nancy Patrick 845-446-4709 Kansas JayWalkers MICHIGAN 515 N. Earling Ave [email protected] PO Box 153 Leavenworth, KS 66048 Miles City, MT 59301 Lucy Yother 913-250-0866 NORTH CAROLINA Linda Wolff 406-234-5779 [email protected] Michigan Pathfinders 10435 Oak Trail Rd [email protected] Asheville Amblers Sunflower Sod Stompers Fort Wayne, IN 46845-6115 NEBRASKA 129 Blearchery Blvd PMB 176 PO Box 2576 Topeka, KS 66601-2576 Tom Crabill 260-409-1659 Asheville, NC 28805 Terri Tyler 785-233-4385 [email protected] Robert Cooper 828-627-9834 [email protected] Lincoln Volkssport Club, Inc. Washtenaw Wanderers Volkssport- 1519 North 58th St Lincoln, NE 68505 [email protected] KENTUCKY ing Club, 126 S Reese Street Rose Quackenbush 402-464-6972 South Lyon, MI 48178 Metrolina Walkers Rob Weaver 616-745-9627 Nebraska Wanderfreunde Trail- 10524 Worsley Lane Derby City Walkers [email protected] blazers, PO Box 8147 Charlotte, NC 28269 129 N. Ewing Ave. #17 Omaha, NE 68108 Joan Melville 704-564-1013 Louisville, KY 40206 MINNESOTA Lee Frantz 402-213-6274 [email protected] Pat OConnor 502-896-4127 [email protected] [email protected] Ready Set Walk! Club Central Minnesota Volkssports 105 7th Street Snow Hill, NC 28580 MAINE PO Box 2162 St. Cloud, MN 56302 Panhandle Walkers 627 Toledo St. Sidney, NE 69162 David Jones 252-747-5683 Lois Head 320-293-9441 [email protected] [email protected] Bev Sonntag 308-254-7000 Southern Maine Volkssport Assn. [email protected] PO Box 722 Westbrook, ME 04098 Rowan Roamers Denise Macaronas 207-774-3415 Lake Country Wanderers NEVADA 3050 NC 152 W [email protected] 25 - 66th Way NE Fridley, MN 55432 China Grove, NC 28023-6765 Bonnie Johnson 763-571-8041 Larry Brown 704-223-1357 MARYLAND [email protected] Las Vegas High Rollers & Strollers [email protected] PO Box 60745 Boulder City, NV 89006 NorthStar Trail Travelers Henry Korejwo 702-492-1815 Annapolis Amblers Tarheel State Walkers Volkssport Assn. 3951 Russell Ave. N [email protected] 824 Buckingham Dr. 27 Cane Creek Circle Minneapolis, MN 55412 Annapolis, MD 21146 NEW HAMPSHIRE Fairview, NC 28730 Wally Swanson 507-362-8760 Robert P. Schmick 410-960-6226 Dennis Michele 828-628-4343 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] NH Patriot Pathfinders Pelican Rapids CC Walking Club Antietam Pathfinders Volksmarch 21 Charlestown Rd Claremont, NH 03743 Triangle Trailblazers PO Box 501 Pelican Rapids, MN 56572 Bill Kennedy 603-542-6359 Club, Inc. 11424 Crystal Falls Dr 903-13 Shellbrook Court Joseph Hilber 218-731-6756 [email protected] Smithsburg, MD 21783 Raleigh, NC 27609 [email protected] Ann Shilling-Gwinnutt 301-302-5810 NEW JERSEY Keung Hui 919-610-1710 [email protected] [email protected] Twin Cities Volkssport 5817 Columbus Ave Baltimore Walking Club Garden State Wanderers Winston Wanderers Minneapolis, MN 55417 624 Camelot Drive Bel Air, MD 21015 19 Misty Pine Ln, Hamilton, NJ 08690 PO Box 725 Clemmons, NC 27012 Lee Moisant 612-861-3053 James Farley 410-638-7043 Vasily Serpikov 609-587-5251 Lloyd Tolbert 276-403-0608 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] MISSOURI NORTH DAKOTA Columbia Volksmarch Club Princeton Area Walkers 6887 Garland Ln, Columbia, MD 21045 470 D Ocean Blvd John Dye 410-290-6510 Clay-Platte Trackers of Kansas City Long Branch, NJ 07740 Bismarck-Mandan CVB [email protected] 1530 NE 51st St. Kansas City, MO 64118 Maureen Penta 908-309-8398 1600 Burnt Boat Drive Tom Alyea 816-719-4628 [email protected] Bismarck, ND 58503 [email protected] Freestate Happy Wanderers NEW MEXICO Rita Horner 701-222-4308 2311 Hidden Valley Lane [email protected] Silver Spring, MD 20904 Dogwood Trailblazers Robert Wolfe 301-879-6898 PO Box 8012 Joplin, MO 64802-8012 Double Eagle Hike & Bike Club Koda Manipe Volkssport Club [email protected] Carolyn Wolfe 417-658-6443 126 Bandelier Ave 304 South 5th Street [email protected] Los Alamos, NM 87547 Wahpeton, ND 58075-4625 Great Greenbelt Volksmarchers, Sarah Hoover 505-470-6041 Wayne Beyer 701-899-1700 Inc. 2126 Gatewood Place Global Adventurers [email protected] [email protected] Silver Spring, MD 20903 3000 Green Mountain Dr #107-112 Yvonne Pennington 571-217-9851 Branson, MO 65616 Kiwanis Club of Raton Red River Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Lawrence Lehman 425-271-3053 PO Box 634 Raton, NM 87740-0634 211 3rd St NE Barnesville, MN 56514 [email protected] Robert Mantz 575-445-3619 Tom Eaves 701-340-8324 Maryland Volkssport Assn. [email protected] [email protected] Ozark Plateau Walkers 824 Buckingham Dr OHIO Severna Park, MD 21146 PO Box 14271 Springfield, MO 65814 Sun Country Striders PO Box 6787 Robert Schmick 410-960-6226 Edwin Singh 209-499-6760 Las Cruces, NM 88006 [email protected] [email protected] Henriett Vargas 575-496-7690 Gemutlich Wanderers [email protected] 2821 Lombardi Ave SW Pace Setters Volkssport Club Seneca Valley Sugarloafers NEW YORK Canton, OH 44706 PO Box 3716 Gaithersburg, MD 20885 16711 Branson Dr Belton, MO 64012 Joann Moritz 330-495-5740 Anthony Laing 301-980-8932 Barb Ramsay 816-694-8598 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Empire State Capital Volkssporters Germania Volksmarch Gruppe Washington DC Area Volksmarch Rolla Roadrunners Volkssport Club PO Box 5464 Clifton Park, NY 12065 3529 West Kemper Rd 600 Penny Lane Rolla, MO 65401 Club, Inc. 6911 Kenyon Dr. Teresa Kennedy 518-370-0585 Cincinnati, OH 45251 Elizabeth McCartney 573-528-2157 Alexandria, VA 22307 [email protected] Patricia Galvin 513-825-1355 [email protected] Sandi Cahill 571-405-4808 [email protected] [email protected] Clubs continued on page 27 February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 27

Corvallis Cruisers Nittany Nomads Hill Country Volkssportverein Clubs continued from page 26 517 NW 10th St Corvallis, OR 97330 1716 Woodledge Circle PO Box 822 Comfort, TX 78013-0822 Heart of Ohio Hikers Rozy Weatherby 541-981-3794 State College, PA 16803 John Bohnert 830-995-2421 1541 Buck Trail Lane [email protected] Alma Mathis 540-420-1592 [email protected] Worthington, OH 43085 [email protected] Barbara Jurjans 614-530-1557 East County Windwalkers Hood County Hummers [email protected] PO Box 854Gresham, OR 97030-0192 Penn-Dutch Pacers Volksmarch Club 3606 DeCordova Ranch Road Louise Dix 541-951-0667 PO Box 7445 Lancaster, PA 17604 Granbury, TX 76049 Maumee Valley Volkssporters [email protected] Maria Roshon 717-330-8751 Irene Smith 817-326-5560 233 W. Dudley St.Maumee, OH 43537 [email protected] [email protected] Craig Gauger 419-350-4345 Eugene Springfield Mossback Volkssport [email protected] c/o WAAC 215 W C St Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Club Houston Happy Hikers Springfield, OR 97477 390 Old Quaker RoadEtters, PA 17319 PO Box 101 Orchard, TX 77464 Ohio Volkssport Assn. Sally Ross 541-726-7169 Sharon Miller 717-805-9540 Catherine Kellner 979-478-6203 143 Redder Ave Dayton, OH 45405 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Shane Conley 937-416-8059 [email protected] Oregon Trail State Volkssport Assn. The Steel Turtles Kerrville Trailblazers 1350 NE Greenway Drive 540 W Newton St Apt 2 PO Box 291136 Kerrville, TX 78029 Ohio Wander Freunde Gresham, OR 97030 Greensburg, PA 15601 Vorsha Sherfield 830-370-6279 268 Shade Dr Fairborn, OH 45324 Dar Parrow 503-484-6475 Stephen Edson 757-642-4350 [email protected] Dawn Gruber 937-879-0500 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] LoneStar Walkers Rogue Valley Walkers York White Rose Wanderers 27727 Ramblewood Olentangy Owls 35 Foots Creek Road 6541 Old Carlisle Rd Dover, PA 17315 San Antonio, TX 78261-2013 143 Darien Ave Columbus, OH 43228 Gold Hill, OR 97525 Pamela Copenhaver 717-817-9724 Heinz Johnson 830-980-5723 Sandi Latimer 614-878-4214 Jerri Wildfong 541-582-2607 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] SOUTH CAROLINA Midland Walkabout Tecumseh Trailblazers Rose City Roamers 4300 Boulder Dr, Midland, TX 79707 2325 Rebecca Drive 2216 NE 110th St. The Upstate Pathfinders Sammy Hunnicutt 432-210-9506 Springfield, OH 45503-2247 Vancouver, WA 98686 525 Crane Ave, Greenville, SC 29617 [email protected] Connie Bost 937-399-9204 Dick Baker 360-573-6048 Robert McDaniel 864-505-5051 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] NB-Marsch-und Wandergruppe 121 Legacy Hills SOUTH DAKOTA Valley Vagabonds, Inc. Silverton Walk Abouts New Braunfels, TX 78132 13317 Tradewinds Dr 1708 Wilshire Place Stayton, OR 97383 Jill Troyer 830-237-6230 Diane McDermott 503-769-5380 [email protected] Strongsville, OH 44136 Black Hills Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Deva M. Simon 440-915-0161 PO Box 2046 Rapid City, SD 57709 [email protected] Paul Holtsclaw 605-584-1849 Plano Walking Club Turnaround Trekkers [email protected] 4221 Whistler Dr Plano, TX 75093 Wandering Wheels Volkssports Club 74890 Palm Creek Rd Maggie Cole 469-233-0161 Clatskanie, OR 97016 [email protected] 1942 Evangeline Drive Prairie Wanderers Volkssport Club Martha Korff 503-728-0400 Miamisburg, OH 45342 46527 280th St Lennox, SD 57039 [email protected] Jim Medzviega 937-435-0469 Dan Peters 605-670-0861 Randolph Roadrunners [email protected] [email protected] PO Box 2744 Valley Volkswalkers Universal City, TX 78148-1744 Xenia Walking Club PO Box 22191 Milwaukie, OR 97269 TENNESSEE Ellen Ott 210-723-8574 1323 White Oak Circle Xenia, OH 45385 Karen Highfield 503-492-6531 [email protected] [email protected] Linda Blanton 937-372-1302 East Tennessee Wanderers [email protected] Rockport City Trailways Willamette Wanderers 3837 Channel Harbor Rd 622 E Market St. Rockport, TX 78382 OKLAHOMA PO Box 13982Salem, OR 97309-1982 Louisville, TN 37777 Brittany Elkins 361-463-8632 Jim Westcott 503-581-8444 Linda Nelson 865-617-9945 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Lawton Walkers San Angelo Volkswalkers 1714 NW 49th St. Lawton, OK 73505 Yachats Coastal Gems Volkssport Club Tuck-A-See Wanderers 3319 Lindenwood Dr Sharon Snyder 580-357-2930 PO Box 896 Yachats, OR 97498 1028 Caldwell Ln, Nashville, TN 37204 San Angelo, TX 76904 [email protected] Sally Ross 541-726-7169 Deborah Fleming 615-269-6225 Charles Winkelspecht 325-944-9619 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Tulsa Walking Club TEXAS PO Box 701856Tulsa, OK 74170-1856 PENNSYLVANIA San Marcoss River Walkers Rhonda Shockey 918-855-0195 100 East Laurel Lane [email protected] Chester County Red Rovers AVA - Foreign Region San Marcos, TX 78666 Barbara Piersol 512-396-4463 Wandergruppe Walking Club 230 Second AvePhoenixville, PA 19460 1001 Pat Booker Rd. Ste. 101 Universal City, TX 78148 [email protected] PO Box 950181 Jeanne Clancy 610-415-9248 [email protected] Oklahoma City, OK 73195 Selma Pathfinders Joe Fountain 405-664-8571 AVA Headquarters 12235 White Ash Street [email protected] Cumberland Valley Lead Foot Club 1001 Pat Booker Rd. Ste. 101 1287 Shippensburg Rd Universal City, TX 78148-4147 San Antonio, TX 78245 Biglerville, PA 17307 Henry Rosales 210-659-2112 Mike Schwencke 210-382-0367 World Wide Walkers [email protected] 3613 East 55th StreetTulsa, OK 74135 Lorraine Jackson 717-677-6511 [email protected] City of McAllen Parks and Rec. Dept. Kenneth Miles 918-745-0212 Sparkling City Strollers [email protected] 1000 S. Ware Rd McAllen, TX 78501 Keystone State Volkssport Assn. Denny Meline 956-681-3314 862 N. Rife Aransas Pass, TX 78336 OREGON 870 Bucks Valley Road [email protected] Myra Verneuil 361-230-9591 Newport, PA 17074 [email protected] Marcy Lucas 717-979-3960 Colorado River Walkers Albany Fitwalkers [email protected] PO Box 13051Austin, TX 78711-3051 Star Trekkers of Irving PO Box 1218 Albany, OR 97321 Carol Obianwu 512-928-9301 805 Glenn Drive Euless, TX 76039 Don Reed 541-926-8327 Liberty Bell Wanderers [email protected] Gary Silkworth 817-571-9786 [email protected] 533 Winthrop Rd, Collegeville, PA 19426 [email protected] Dave Brown 610-906-6252 Dallas Trekkers, Inc. Cedar Milers [email protected] PO Box 851445 Mesquite, TX 75185 Tarrant County Walkers 1195 SW Jay Ct Aloha, OR 97003 Deborah Carter 214-549-0851 917 Forest Oaks LaneHurst, TX 76053 Dan Webster 503-591-5893 Mon Valley Trailblazers [email protected] Brooke Hudson 817-944-5191 [email protected] 533 Delaware St Monessen, PA 15062 [email protected] Lori Lamberski 724-858-5965 East Texas Trekkers, Inc. Columbia River Volkssport Club [email protected] PO Box 7042 Tyler, TX 75711 Texas County Walkers, Inc. 11410 SE 90th Ave, # 1511 Helen Hull 972-530-1026 3321 Dartmoor Dr. Dallas, TX 75229 Happy Valley, OR 97086-4604 [email protected] David Sheppard 972-285-8102 Ed Hainline 360-921-1909 [email protected] [email protected] Clubs continued on page 28 28 The American Wanderer February/March 2018

Cavalier Volkssporting Club WASHINGTON Lilac City Volkssport Assn. Clubs continued from page 27 450 Whitehead Rd. PO Box 4362 Spokane, WA 99202 Texas Trail Roundup Charlottesville, VA 22904 All Weather Walkers Allan G. Heritage 509-465-2690 3614 Pinebluff San Antonio, TX 78230 Erica Goode 434-924-3791 PO Box 241 Vancouver, WA 98666 [email protected] John Ives 210-849-9498 [email protected] Janet Traweek 360-833-2429 [email protected] [email protected] NW Tulip Trekkers Ft Belvoir - DFMWR PO Box 1603 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 Texas Volkssport Assn. 5820 - 21st St, Ste 202 Border Crossers Tim Fisher 425-626-0492 27727 Ramblewood Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5928 74890 Palm Creek Rd [email protected] San Antonio, TX 78261-2013 Kristin Mayer 703-805-4151 Clatskanie, OR 97016 Heinz Johnson 830-980-5723 [email protected] Sam Korff 503-728-0400 Olympic Peninsula Explorers [email protected] [email protected] PO Box 1706 Sequim, WA 98382 Gator Volksmarsch Club George Christensen 360-697-2172 Texas Wanderers PO Box 16953 Chesapeake, VA 23328 Capitol Volkssport Club [email protected] 102 Wildridge Trail Don Bradford 757-576-0966 6634 Milano Court SE Universal City, TX 78148 [email protected] Olympia, WA 98513 Over-The-Hill-Gang Volkssport Club Gerald Kamicka 210-658-2160 Elizabeth Morrison 360-748-3886 32506 Meridian E Graham, WA 9833 [email protected] Germanna Volkssport Association [email protected] Diane Wagner 253-875-3064 PO Box 7674 Fredericksburg, VA 22404 [email protected] Volkssportverein Friedrichsburg Sharon Vines 540-809-6227 Central Washington Sun Striders 320 Morning Glory Drive [email protected] PO Box 10523 Yakima, WA 98909 Sea-Tac Volkssports Club Fredericksburg, TX 78624 Joe Blazek 509-899-6535 PO Box 25101 Federal Way, WA 98093 David Roberts 830-992-7584 Lee Lepus Volksverband [email protected] Frances Carson 206-788-7969 [email protected] PO Box 2031 Petersburg, VA 23803 [email protected] Dee Schrum 804-768-0055 Daffodil Valley Volkssport Association West Texas Trail Walkers [email protected] 8718 159th St. E. Puyallup, WA 98375 Sound Steppers Volkssport Club 8819 London Heights John Warhol 253-845-6592 PO Box 3405 Lynnwood, WA 98046 San Antonio, TX 78254 Loudoun Walking & Volkssport Club [email protected] Sandi Severtsen 206-406-1762 Susan Noonan 210-286-8897 43224 Cardston Place [email protected] [email protected] Leesburg, VA 20176-6459 Emerald City Wanderers Bob Wright 703-737-2175 PO Box 16221 Seattle, WA 98116 The Pathfinder Volkssport Club of Whatever of Texas Sporting Club [email protected] Tony Holt 425-221-0105 the NW, 6611 22 St. Ct NE PO Box 2178 Uvalde, TX 78802 [email protected] Tacoma, WA 98422 Clay Baulch 210-204-9301 Northern Virginia Volksmarchers Elisabeth Wittenberg 253-924-1563 [email protected] PO Box 7096 Fairfax Station, VA 22039 Evergreen State Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Helen Garamone 703-360-5692 2815 Lincoln Pl. NERenton, WA 98056 UTAH [email protected] Sharon Moats 425-235-0528 Third Planet Volkstours [email protected] 35806 1st Ave. S Federal Way, WA 98003 Peninsula Pathfinders of Virginia Gadabout Dorman Batson 253-517-9634 302 Queens Crescent 3897 N. 1050 West Ogden, UT 84414 Evergreen Wanderers [email protected] Williamsburg, VA 23185 Myra Tams 801-782-8580 PO Box 111943 Tacoma, WA 98411 Sandy Croushore 757-476-5789 [email protected] Charles Repik 253-582-7474 Vancouver USA Volkssporters [email protected] [email protected] PO Box 2121 Vancouver, WA 98668 Golden Spike Striders Tom Baltes 505-298-1256 U.S. Freedom Walk Festival Club 1904 West 2400 South Four-Plus Foolhardy Folks [email protected] PO Box 17208 Arlington, VA 22216 Syracuse, UT 84075-9269 PO Box 424 Renton, WA 98057 Dolores Grenier 703-582-9066 Daniel Norgail 801-774-6102 Bill Campbell 253-709-8444 Volkssport USA [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 591 Birch St, Oak Harbor, WA 98277 Curtis D. Myron 360-679-3638 VERMONT Virginia Vagabonds FS Family Wanderers [email protected] 3 Delmont Court Hampton, VA 23666 6311 20th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98115 Annette Tollett 757-814-1417 WISCONSIN Twin State Volkssport Assn. Michelle Roberts 206-552-1775 [email protected] [email protected] PO Box 151South Ryegate, VT 05069 Madison Area Volkssport Assn. Carolyn Adams 802-757-2500 Virginia Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Interlaken Trailblazers Volkssport Club 4306 Fox Bluff Court 3 Delmont Court Hampton, VA 23666 16408 NE 29th StBellevue, WA 98008 Middleton, WI 53562 VIRGINIA Annette Tollett 757-814-1417 Katie Sell 425-753-1772 Don Suloff 608-821-0263 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Bad Pennies, The Wood and Dale Wanderers International Wanderers Menominee River Volkssport Club PO Box 2393 Merrifield, VA 22116 PO Box 2422 Woodbridge, VA 22195 PO Box 871000 Vancouver, WA 98687 1249 Garfield St, Niagara, WI 54151 Matthew Pernick 703-620-5892 Tim Miner 571-212-0804 Dan Friesen 360-891-0670 Gilbert Engel 715-251-3300 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Canterbury Trails Key Peninsula Volkssport WYOMING 270 Hickory Hill Lane PO Box 164 Wauna, WA 98395-0164 Glasgow, VA 24555 Neal Van Der Voorn 253-857-3655 Buffalo Pathfinders Nancy Stikes 540-258-2233 [email protected] [email protected] 1197 N. Burritt Ave. Buffalo, WY 82834 Lois Petersen 307-684-9160

Many people nowadays live in a series of interiors disconnected from each other. On… foot everything AVA Special Program — The Appalachian Trail stays connected, for while walking Runs January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2028. Redeem books by December 31, 2029. The Appalachian National one occupies the spaces between Scenic Trail is roughly 3,500 km long and goes through 14 states from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin those interiors in the same way one in Maine. Walkers must hike/walk a section of the trail in each state. A qualifying AVA walk is one that goes on the AT or a occupies those interiors. One lives in blue-blazed trail for at least 4k and will count for only one the whole world rather than in state; the sponsoring club will determine which one. Complete 14 required events. Each AVA stamp can only appear once in interiors built up against it. the book. Due to the unique nature of this program, partici- pants have space in the program book to add a picture, notes, and other local stamps such as the park or AT Passport stamp. The patch is 4x6”. For details and books, con- ~Rebecca Solnit tact Susan Medlin, 12527 Fern Creek, San Antonio, Texas, 78253, 210-325-3523 or email [email protected]. February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 29

A number ahead of the For further info or brochure, please contact the event POC. A box around a listing Event codes are: W = Walk; NW = Night Walk; GW = Guided Walk; GNW = Guided Night Walk; S = Swim; B = Bike; code indicates the indicates a multiple M = Marathon; XC = Cross Country Ski; SS = Snowshoe; GB = Guided Bike; RSB = Roller Skate/Blade; number of events. GLW=Global Walk; NECW=Nat’l Executive Council Walk; RLD = Round Long Distance; SB = Seasonal Bike. event weekend. ALASKA HAWAII

2/24/18 W Anchorage Peggy Kugel 907-887-3200 2/1/18 GW Hilo, Hawaii Scott Isom 360-260-9393 Anchorage Volkssport Club [email protected] 2/2/18 W Lahaina, Maui International Wanderers 2/4/18 W Lahaina, Maui [email protected] ARIZONA 2/19/18 W Honolulu Carol 808-626-3575 Menehune Marchers [email protected] 2/10/18 W Buckeye Loralie Cruz 206-909-3944 3/24/18 GW Wahiawa Carol Romig 808-626-3575 Saguaro Sun Striders [email protected] Menehune Marchers [email protected] 3/14/18 GW Phoenix Loralie Cruz 206-909-3944 7/4/18 W Kaneohe Carol Romig 808-626-3575 Saguaro Sun Striders [email protected] Menehune Marchers [email protected] 3/17/18 GW Willcox Wendy Breen 520-508-3889 ILLINOIS Thunder Mountain Trekkers [email protected]

CALIFORNIA 2/3/18 W Belleville Deb Kruep 618-277-0830 Gateway Milers NFP [email protected] 2/10-11/18 W Vallejo Howard McGill 707-447-9431 3/10/18 W O'Fallon Regina Gorom 618-334-6851 Vaca Valley Volks [email protected] Gateway Milers NFP [email protected] 2/17/18 W LaVerne Jean Vik 951-317-7860 4/14/18 GW Urbana Kimberly Bradley 217-778-1718 Low Desert Roadrunners [email protected] Ridgewalkers Walking Club [email protected] 2/17/18 W San Francisco Lui Yakas 415-385-4481 INDIANA Bay Bandits Volksmarch Club [email protected] 2/24-25/18 W Stockton Joan Sykes 209-931-0557 Delta Tule Trekkers [email protected] 2/24/18 W North Liberty Bob Buzolich 574-339-9140 3/3/18 W Walnut Creek Priscilla Fife 916-616-6003 Hoosier Hikers [email protected] Vaca Valley Volks [email protected] 3/24/18 TGW Westfield Cliff TerrY 317-776-1848 3/17/18 W Anaheim Sue Obradovitz 951-333-6806 Indy 'G' Walkers [email protected] Low Desert Roadrunners [email protected] 4/7/18 W Madison Cliff TerrY 317-776-1848 3/17/18 W Healdsburg Marilyn Nasi 707-486-8528 Indiana Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Sonoma County Stompers [email protected] 4/14/18 W Nashville Linda Woods 812-336-1673 3/24-25/18 W Roseville Judy Stroud 916-773-9371 Bloomington Flying Fish Volkssports [email protected] Placer Pacers [email protected] 5/5/18 TGW Westfield Cliff Terry 317-776-1848 Indy 'G' Walkers [email protected] COLORADO 5/12/18 W Metamora Dennis Fritz 812-584-2687 Whitewater Valley Walkers [email protected] 2/10/18 W Colorado Springs Debra Hare 719-661-6517 6/2/18 W Bluffton Cliff Terry 317-776-1848 Falcon Wanderers [email protected] Indiana Volkssport Assn. [email protected] 3/10/18 W Colorado Springs Chris Dueker 719-337-9434 6/16/18 TGW Cicero Cliff Terry 317-776-1848 Falcon Wanderers [email protected] Indy 'G' Walkers [email protected] 4/21/18 W Colorado Springs Carol Kinate 719-648-9015 IOWA Falcon Wanderers [email protected]

DELAWARE 2/17/18 W Des Moines Corrine Nelson 515-276-6317 Greater Des Moines Volkssport [email protected] 4/21/18 W Dover Jim McDonald 410-596-3853 3/17/18 W Urbandale Peggy Doane 515-967-5169 First State Webfooters [email protected] Greater Des Moines Volkssport Assn. [email protected] 5/5/18 GB Bondurant Diana Whited 515-783-5251 DISTRICT of COLUMBIA Greater Des Moines Volkssport Assn. [email protected] 5/19/18 W Dallas Center Diana Whited 515-783-5251 Greater Des Moines Volkssport Assn. [email protected] 3/10-11/18 W Washington Dolores Grenier 703-209-0174 6/30/18 GB Redfield Diana Whited 515-783-5251 U.S. Freedom Walk Festival Club [email protected] Greater Des Moines Volkssport Assn. [email protected] 5/5/18 W Washington Dolores Grenier 703-209-0174 U.S. Freedom Walk Festival Club [email protected] KANSAS FLORIDA 2/18/18 W Lawrence Terri Tyler 785-233-4385 Sunflower Sod Stompers [email protected] 2/10/18 W Orange Park Patty Leseur 904-460-3088 4/21/18 3-NS Independence Terri Tyler 785-233-4385 First Coast Trail Forgers Walking Club [email protected] 4/22/18 W Independence Sunflower Sod Stompers 2/10/18 GB Titusville John McClellan 781-686-0660 [email protected] Happy Wanderers [email protected] 2/10/18 GW Anna Maria Island Alice Lawrence 727-595-2173 MARYLAND Suncoast Sandpipers Volkssport Club [email protected] 2/17/18 W Orlando Mike Lanpher 407-695-9181 Mid-Florida Milers Walking [email protected] 3/31/18 W Baltimore - Patterson Park Frank Kupres 410-592-3171 2/24/18 W Fernandina Beach Diana Sherrill 904-608-4689 3/31/18 W Baltimore - Harbor East Marie Kupres 410-592-3171 First Coast Trail Forgers Walking [email protected] Baltimore Walking Club [email protected] 3/3/18 W Palatka John McClellan 781-686-0660 4/7/18 W Westminster Ward Parr 301-337-5764 Happy Wanderers [email protected] Seneca Valley Sugarloafers [email protected] 3/17/18 W Montverde Mike Lanpher 407-304-6394 4/14/18 W Ellicott City John Dye 410-290-6510 Mid-Florida Milers Walking [email protected] Columbia Volksmarch Club [email protected] 3/31/18 W Lakeland Alice Lawrence 727-542-9742 4/28/18 W Laurel Yvonne Pennington 571-217-9851 Suncoast Sandpipers Volkssport Club [email protected] Great Greenbelt Volksmarchers, Inc. [email protected] 4/21/18 W Jacksonville Kristin K Raasch904-563-6953 4/29/18 W Beltsville Rita Goerling 301-776-6484 First Coast Trail Forgers Walking Club [email protected] Freestate Happy Wanderers [email protected] 5/16/18 NW Greenbelt Yvonne Pennington 571-217-9851 GEORGIA Great Greenbelt Volksmarchers, Inc. [email protected] 6/20/18 NW Greenbelt Yvonne Pennington 571-217-9851 Great Greenbelt Volksmarchers, Inc. [email protected] 2/16-19/18 W Americus Connie Clark 469-713-4712 7/18/18 NW Greenbelt Yvonne Pennington 571-217-9851 2/16-19/18 W Plains Georgia Walkers Great Greenbelt Volksmarchers, Inc. [email protected] 2/16-19/18 W Andersonville [email protected] 2/16-19/18 W Albany Events continued on page 30 30 The American Wanderer February/March 2018

OKLAHOMA Events continued from page 29 2/17/18 W Tulsa C.Childress 918-857-4682 MASSACHUSETTS Tulsa Walking Club [email protected] 3/16-17/18 3-NS Enid Terri Tyler 785-233-4385 Sunflower Sod Stompers [email protected] 4/7/18 W Holliston Beate Hait 508-429-3564 3/17/18 W Medford Roland Ouellette 214-649-4150 Walk 'N Mass Volkssport Club [email protected] Lawton Walkers [email protected] MINNESOTA 3/17/18 W Enid Ken Miles 918-745-0212 World Wide Walkers [email protected] 3/18/18 W TBA Teresa Arnold 918-355-5820 2/3/18 W Minneapolis Bonita Johnson 763-229-3584 Tulsa Walking Club [email protected] Lake Country Wanderers [email protected] 3/18/18 W Alva Barbara Klein 405-361-8332 2/10/18 SS Afton State Park Donna Seline 612-529-0552 Wandergruppe Walking Club [email protected] NorthStar Trail Travelers [email protected] 4/20-22/18 3-S Miami Ken Miles 918-745-0212 2/24/18 W Bloomington Beth Montgomery952-926-3426 World Wide Walkers [email protected] Twin Cities Volkssport [email protected] 4/21/18 W Miami Rhonda Shockey 918-298-3000 4/28/18 W Mound Lee Moisant 612-861-3053 Tulsa Walking Club [email protected] Twin Cities Volkssport [email protected] 5/19/18 W Blackwell Woody Woodard 918-260-4366 5/5/18 W Waterville-Sakatah Lake St Pk Wally Swanson 507-362-8760 Tulsa Walking Club [email protected] NorthStar Trail Travelers [email protected] 5/12/18 W White Bear Lake Eugene Schutte 651-429-6938 OREGON Twin Cities Volkssport [email protected] 5/19/18 W Minneapolis Bonnie Johnson 763-229-3584 2/3/18 W Portland Ed Hainline 360-921-1909 Lake Country Wanderers [email protected] Columbia River Volkssport Club [email protected] 6/23/18 W St Paul Lynne Grigor 763-780-4567 2/10/18 W Portland Pat Jewett 503-453-6018 Twin Cities Volkssport [email protected] Columbia River Volkssport Club [email protected] 7/14/18 W St. Cloud Chuck Head 320-252-7348 3/17/18 W Beaverton Dan Webster 503-591-5893 Central Minnesota Volkssports [email protected] Cedar Milers [email protected] 7/21/18 W Elba Donna Seline 612-529-0552 4/5/18 GW Oregon City Dick Baker 360-991-8806 7/22/18 W Whitewater State Park NorthStar Trail Travelers Rose City Roamers [email protected] [email protected] 4/7/18 W Sandy Louise Dix 541-951-0667 MISSOURI East County Windwalkers [email protected] 5/5/18 W Madras Annette St-Pierre 503-780-4568 5/6/18 W Terrebonne Columbia River Volkssport Club 4/21/18 W Neosho Carolyn Wolfe 417-658-6443 [email protected] Dogwood Trailblazers [email protected] 5/12/18 W Portland John 503-936-0940 5/19/18 W Maplewood Cindy Stucky 636-208-3425 Columbia River Volkssport Club [email protected] Gateway Milers NFP [email protected] 5/19/18 W Keizer Susan Hoskins 503-364-3475 NEBRASKA Willamette Wanderers [email protected] 6/2/18 W Brooks Don Reed 541-926-8327 Albany Fitwalkers [email protected] 3/3/18 W Papillion Lee Frantz 402-213-6274 6/9/18 W Portland Dick Baker 360-991-8806 Nebraska Wanderfreunde Trailblazers [email protected] Rose City Roamers [email protected] 3/17/18 W Lincoln Rose Quackenbush 402-464-6972 6/16/18 W Gresham Carolyn 503-649-7675 Lincoln Volkssport Club, Inc. [email protected] Columbia River Volkssport Club [email protected] 4/7/18 W Gretna Lee Frantz 402-213-6274 6/23/18 W Albany don reed 541-926-8327 Nebraska Wanderfreunde Trailblazers [email protected] Albany Fitwalkers [email protected] 5/12/18 W Omaha Lee Frantz 402-213-6274 6/30/18 GW Newport Maryann Brown 541-961-4279 Nebraska Wanderfreunde Trailblazers [email protected] Yachats Coastal Gems Volkssport [email protected] 7/21/18 W Astoria Sam Korff 503-728-0400 NEW MEXICO Turnaround Trekkers [email protected] PENNSYLVANIA 5/30-6/3/18 W Ruidoso Derrill Rothermich 915-217-7477 6/1/18 W Cloudcroft Sun Country Striders 6/2/18 W Ruidoso [email protected] 2/3-4/18 W York Brenda Weirich 717-891-1945 6/3/18 W Ft Stanton 2/3-4/18 S York White Rose Wanderers [email protected] 2/17/18 W Lititz David Barber 717-626-6103 OHIO Penn-Dutch Pacers Volksmarch Club [email protected] 5/4-6/18 W Wrightsville Pam Copenhaver 717-817-9724 3/17/18 W Englewood Dawn Gruber 937-879-0500 York White Rose Wanderers [email protected] Ohio Wander Freunde [email protected] 5/4-6/18 B Columbia Sharon Miller 717-805-9540 4/22/18 W Dayton Shane Conley 937-416-8059 5/4-6/18 W Marietta [email protected] Ohio Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Club 4/28/18 W Cincinnati Patty Galvin 513-825-1355 5/4-6/18 W Columbia Maria Roshon 717-330-8751 Germania Volksmarch Gruppe [email protected] Penn-Dutch Pacers Volksmarch Club [email protected] 5/5/18 W Bowling Green Craig Gauger 419-350-4345 6/9/18 W Ohiopyle Lori Lamberski 724-858-5965 Maumee Valley Volkssporters [email protected] Mon Valley Trailblazers [email protected] 5/5/18 W Springfield Connie Bost 937-399-9204 SOUTH DAKOTA Tecumseh Trailblazers [email protected] 5/12/18 W Kent D Simon 440-915-0161 Valley Vagabonds, Inc. [email protected] 2/3/18 SS Rochford Diane Johannesen 307-290-0746 5/26/18 W Xenia Linda Blanton 937-372-1302 Black Hills Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Xenia Walking Club [email protected] 5/19/18 W Rapid City Doug Kapaun 605-721-7191 5/28/18 W Union City Dawn Gruber 937-879-0500 Black Hills Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Ohio Wander Freunde [email protected] 5/19/18 W Bruce Larry Gerjets 605-651-0316 6/9/18 W West Milton Dawn Gruber 937-879-0500 Prairie Wanderers Volkssport Club [email protected] Ohio Wander Freunde [email protected] 6/2-3/18 W Crazy Horse Diane Johannesen 307-290-0746 6/16/18 W Spencer Nancy Burkholder 330-262-1202 Black Hills Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Gemutlich Wanderers [email protected] 6/9/18 W Lead Jeff Hendricks 605-593-3504 6/16/18 W Wellingtom D Simon 440-915-0161 Black Hills Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Valley Vagabonds, Inc. [email protected] 7/28/18 W Custer Reta Thovson 605-574-3278 7/7/18 W Greenfield Linda Blanton 937-372-1302 Black Hills Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Xenia Walking Club [email protected] 7/14/18 W Coshocton Barbara Jurjans 614-530-1557 TEXAS Heart of Ohio Hikers [email protected] 7/21/18 W Kettering Jim Medzviega 937-435-0469 2/10/18 W San Antonio Ellen Ott 210-723-8574 Wandering Wheels Volkssports Club [email protected] Randolph Roadrunners [email protected] 2/17/18 W Austin Barbara Byers 206-979-6920 Colorado River Walkers [email protected] Events continued on page 30 February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 31

3/31/18 W Auburn David Madsen 206-789-1960 Events continued from page 30 Emerald City Wanderers [email protected] 2/23/18 W San Antonio Susan Medlin 210-325-3523 4/14/18 W Woodinville Katie Sell 425-753-1772 2/24/18 W San Antonio Texas Trail Roundup Interlaken Trailblazers Volkssport Club [email protected] 2/25/18 W San Antonio [email protected] 4/20-22/18 3-W Othello Cheri Overman 253-709-7835 3/2/18 W Leakey Clay Baulch 210-204-9301 Four-Plus Foolhardy Folks [email protected] 3/3/18 W Del Rio Whatever of Texas Sporting Club 4/28/18 W Battle Ground Tom Baltes 505-298-1256 3/3/18 GB Del Rio [email protected] Vancouver USA Volkssporters [email protected] 3/4/18 W Brackettville 4/29/18 GW Dallas Mountain Ranch Ed Hainline 360-921-1909 3/10/18 W Gladewater Helen Hull 972-530-1026 Columbia River Volkssport Club [email protected] East Texas Trekkers, Inc. [email protected] 5/12/18 W Enumclaw John Warhol 253-845-6592 3/10/18 2-W Llano David Roberts 410-693-9829 Daffodil Valley Volkssport Association [email protected] Volkssportverein Friedrichsburg [email protected] 6/2/18 W Newcastle Katie Sell 425-753-1772 3/17/18 W San Marcos Barbara Piersol 512-396-4463 Interlaken Trailblazers Volkssport Club [email protected] San Marcos River Walkers [email protected] 6/9/18 W Shoreline Neil Smith 206-214-5274 3/17/18 W Dallas Helen Hull 972-530-1026 Sound Steppers Volkssport Club [email protected] Dallas Trekkers, Inc. [email protected] 7/4/18 GW Seattle Mike Nagan 206-851-2101 3/24/18 W Kerrville Edna Platte 830-257-3615 Emerald City Wanderers [email protected] Kerrville Trailblazers [email protected] 7/4/18 W Vancouver Burt Paynter 360-798-8485 Vancouver USA Volkssporters [email protected] VIRGINIA 7/12-16/18 W Chimacum Janet Lenfant 360-461-9028 Olympic Peninsula Explorers [email protected] 7/13-15/18 4-W Port Angeles Sharon Moats 425-235-0528 3/16-18/18 W Dulles Pat Hyland 703-971-6468 Evergreen State Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Virginia Volkssport Assn. [email protected] 7/21-22/18 2-W Newhalem Vik Petzal 360-779-7170 3/16-18/18 B Dulles Steve Brown 703-801-9617 Four-Plus Foolhardy Folks [email protected] Virginia Volkssport Assn. [email protected] 7/28/18 W Longview Sam Korff 503-728-0400 3/16-18/18 2-W Dulles Bob Wright 703-737-2175 Border Crossers [email protected] 3/16-18/18 S Virginia Volkssport Assn. [email protected] 3/24/18 W Gloucester Annette Tollett 757-814-1417 WISCONSIN Virginia Vagabonds [email protected] 4/7/18 W Newport News Annette Tollett 757-814-1417 Virginia Vagabonds [email protected] 2/17/18 W Madison Terry Wendt 608-849-5702 4/14/18 W Quinton Dee Schrum 804-731-2863 Madison Area Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Lee Lepus Volksverband [email protected] 4/28/18 W DeForest Mary Liebig 608-846-2299 4/15/18 W Charlottesville Erica Goode 434-924-7762 Madison Area Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Cavalier Volkssporting Club [email protected] 6/9/18 W Mazomanie Don suloff 608-821-0263 4/21/18 W Hampton William Lowell 757-357-5355 Madison Area Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Peninsula Pathfinders of Virginia [email protected] 7/8/18 W Beaver Dam Jill Ruef 608-643-6142 4/28/18 W Fredericksburg Sharon Vines 540-809-6227 Madison Area Volkssport Assn. [email protected] Germanna Volkssport Association [email protected] WYOMING 4/28/18 W Alexandria Helen Garamone 703-360-5692 Northern Virginia Volksmarchers [email protected] 5/5-6/18 2-W Onancock Don Bradford 757-576-0966 7/21/18 W Four Corners Allan Ward 307-283-3733 Gator Volksmarsch Club [email protected] Black Hills Volkssport Assn. [email protected] WASHINGTON

2/17/18 W South Prairie John Warhol 253-845-6592 Daffodil Valley Volkssport Association [email protected] 3/24/18 W Vancouver Jan Breneman 360-835-9686 All Weather Walkers janbreneman.gmAIL.COM AVA: America’s Walking Club!

Changes to YREs and Seasonal Events can be found on the AVA website — ava.org. Click on Events menu tab, on the drop down menu click on Starting Point Changes link.

CALIFORNIA NORTH CAROLINA PENNSYLVANIA WASHINGTON

California Volkssport Association Inc. Tarheel State Walkers Volkssport Assn. Keystone State Volkssport Assn. Evergreen State Volkssport Assn. PO Box 1253, Twain Harte, CA 95383 27 Cane Creek Circle 870 Bucks Valley Road 2815 Lincoln Pl. NE, Renton, WA 98056 Philip Jones 209-586-0597 Fairview, NC 28730 Newport, PA 17074 Sharon Moats 425-235-0528 [email protected] Dennis Michele 828-628-4343 Marcy Lucas 717-979-3960 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] INDIANA TEXAS OHIO

Indiana Volkssport Assn. Texas Volkssport Assn. 2909 Rolling Meadows Lane Ohio Volkssport Assn. 27727 Ramblewood New Haven, IN 46774 143 Redder Ave, Dayton, OH 45405 San Antonio, TX 78261-2013 Cheryl Elser 260-749-6304 Shane Conley 937-416-8059 Heinz Johnson 830-980-5723 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] MARYLAND OREGON VIRGINIA

Maryland Volkssport Assn. Oregon Trail State Volkssport Assn. Virginia Volkssport Assn. 824 Buckingham Dr, 1350 NE Greenway Drive 3 Delmont Court, Hampton, VA 23666 Severna Park MD 21146 Gresham, OR 97030 Annette Tollett 757-814-1417 Robert Schmick 410-960-6226 Dar Parrow 503-484-6475 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 32 The American Wanderer February/March 2018

10 Events Gerjets Janet Brookings SD Peeck William Rochester NY Schauer Patricia Bend OR Helmann Scott Rapid City SD Popolizio Barbara Halfmoon NY Stone Cheri Clackamas OR Leonardi Claudia Indian Shrs FL Barger Tresha Buda TX 375 Events 750 Events Bauer Jeff Graham WA Parkinson Carol Bloomington IN Carpenter Bryce Graham WA 150 Events Carpenter Cindy Graham WA Barber Muriel O'Fallon IL Medlin Susan San Antonio TX Darkenwald Linda OLympia WA Berry Katherine Rockville MD Dieck Frank San Antonio TX Dunn Linda Clifton Park NY Blessing James Carmel IN 800 Events Dougherty Jenny Webster NY Gerjets Janet Brookings SD Breece Brooks Dale City VA Erwin Irene Madison WI Hartman Lori Worthington OH Paige Janet Federal Way WA Ball Linda Auburn WA Flood Carol Kerrville TX Modgling Loraine Kerrville TX 400 Events Maul Rosalie O'Fallon IL Gennrich Jeanie Clermont FL Parkinson Carol Bloomington IN Schauer Ronald Bend OR Kraft Colin Fort Worth TX Stanford Irene Maple Valley WA Vannienwenhove Gerald Lady Lake FL Kraynik Leslie W Chester PA 175 Events Bashaw Donna Lancaster PA Magill Ken Edmonds WA Bruce Larry St. Louis MO 850 Events Obernuefemann Gary St Peters MO Fletcher John Lompoc CA Obernuefemann Mary St Peters MO Dibrell Joseph Seguin TX Gregory Cathy Liberty MO Russell Duane Leavenworth WA Sovereign Melinda Edmonds WA Dibrell Holly Seguin TX Gregory Robert Liberty MO Valachovic Eileen Lake Alfred FL Dunn Linda Clifton Park NY Willemsen Dee Windsor Hghts IA 900 Events Wiggs Susan Vancouver WA Ellis Robert Vancouver WA Green Tamara Greenville OH 425 Events 30 Events Ekstedt Cecile Doylestown PA Hunter John Orlando FL Gruber Dawn Fairborn OH Magocs Stephen Knoxville TN Bonewitz Mindy Louisville TN Reedy Gloria Dover PA Brown Mary Jo Stillwater NY Schwencke Kathy San Antonio TX Fletcher John Lompoc CA Russell Duane Leavenworth WA Conner Theresa Bothell WA Stanford Irene Maple Valley WA Kugel Peggy Anchorage AK Finley Carroll Webb City MO Steinberg Sheila Meadow Vista CA Stucky Thomas St Louis MO 950 Events Frame Thomas Sacramento CA WaguespackJan New Braunfels TX Gennrich Jeanie Clermont FL 450 Events Hammer Beth Universal Cy TX 200 Events Baltes Louise Camas WA Holford Becky Council Blfs IA Harty Leora Newport News VA Bonewitz Joel Louisville TN Johnson Darrin Coon Rapids MN Hiles Sandy Portland OR Cook John Belleville NJ Davis Joyce Kerrville TX Kent Vicki Joplin MO Lovelace Elsie Marietta GA Dibrell Holly Seguin TX Ellsberg Patrick Vancouver WA Laing Anthony Olney MD Dibrell Joseph Seguin TX Popolizio Michael Halfmoon NY 1000 Events Lease Rose Auburn CA Dittrich Anne Sharpsburg MD Stucky Thomas St Louis MO Morris Debbie Platte City MO Magocs Stephen Knoxville TN Roshon Jessica Lancaster PA 475 Events Baltes Louise Camas WA St Martin Pamela Rocklin CA 225 Events Helmann Scott Rapid City SD van den TopJan Anchorage AK Lovelace Elsie Marietta GA van den TopJeraldine Anchorage AK Gromala David Federal Way WA Day Carol SueTulsa OK Roberts Michelle Seattle WA 1050 Events 50 Events Dibrell Joseph Seguin TX Sutton Tess Tacoma WA Dibrell Holly Seguin TX Dittrich Anne Sharpsburg MD 500 Events Lovelace Elsie Marietta GA Burch Susie Piqua OH Erdman Phil Morgan Hill CA Rogers David Austin TX Burch Dean Piqua OH Metherell Cathy Orlando FL Fritz Sharon Julian CA 1100 Events Higgins Maureen Daytona Bch FL Prim James Saginaw TX Morrison Elizabeth Chehalis WA Hinkle Rebecca Molina FL Prim Bitasia Saginaw TX Reed Donald Albany OR Johnson Darrin Coon Rapids MN Tellefson Warren Auburn CA Elser Cheryl New Haven IN Roberts Michelle Seattle WA Killingsworth Phil Seattle WA Lovelace Elsie Marietta GA Sutton Tess Tacoma WA Killingsworth Susan Seattle WA 250 Events Reiling Terry Ashville NC Laing Anthony Olney MD 525 Events Lupsiewicz Philip Pepperell MA 1150 Events Dibrell Joseph Seguin TX Lupsiewicz Alida Pepperell MA Dibrell Holly Seguin TX Parkinson Wayne Bloomington IN Giddings Jeffrey Rockville MD Johnston Myrna Sacramento CA York Lewis Tulsa OK Shearin Lorraine Bedford IN Lange Brenda Lansing KS Kinney Emily Granbury TX St Martin Pamela Rocklin CA Peak Debra Odenton MD LaCroix Jay Meadow Vista CA 1200 Events Steele Jane Easton MO Metherell Cathy Orlando FL van den Top Jeraldine Anchorage AK 550 Events Perkins Trudy Severn MD van den Top Jan Anchorage AK McAllister Victor Rolla MO Perkins Richard Severn MD Parr J. Ward Rockville MD 75 Events Schwencke H Mike San Antonio TX Friedenreich Catherine Charlotte NC Zahn Ann Williamsburg VA Gilligan Colleen Federal Way WA 1250 Events Lange Brenda Lansing KS Callahan Mike Springfield OH 275 Events Schmidt Andrew Poughkeepsie NY Daugherty Cindy Florissent MO Sloan Donald Davis CA Geyer Julianne New Oxford PA Giesecke Carol Dover DE Miller Lester Etters PA Johnston Myrna Sacramento CA Jones Clark Dayton OH 575 Events Schmick Robert Severna Pk MD LaCroix Jay Meadow VistaCA Laing Anthony Olney MD Perkins Richard Severn MD 1300 Events Parkinson Wayne Bloomington IN Stapleton Margaret Mt Vernon WA Copenhaver Pamela York PA Roshon Maria Lancaster PA Copenhaver James York PA Warner Khammai Georgetown TX 300 Events Friedenreich Catherine Charlotte NC Kuschke William Buda TX Withers Donna Spokane WA 1400 Events 100 Events Woods Richard Sylvania OH Dennis Linda Austin TX Extine Mike Olympia WA 600 Events Perkins Margery Middletown OH Baker Polly Indianapolis IN Stapleton Margaret Mt Vernon WA Burmeister Ariel West TX Woodard Linda Sand Springs OK 1500 Events Burmeister John West TX Copenhaver James York PA Cook Ellexis Belleville NJ 325 Events Copenhaver Pamela York PA Filingeri Judy Boerne TX Hilde Bob Kent WA Pelking Holly San Jose CA Gerjets Larry Brookings SD Hilde Barbara Kent WA Kent Steve Joplin MO Prim David Saginaw TX 1600 Events McLean Charlie Buckner MO 700 Events 125 Events Stapleton Margaret Mt Vernon WA Morrison Sheila Olympia WA 350 Events Gant James Joplin MO Pelking Holly San Jose CA Castlebury Carol Austin TX Needles Susan San Antonio TX Gee Teddy Kansas City MO Neily Darrell Adelphi MD Blessing James Carmel IN Gerjets Larry Brookings SD McLean Charlie Buckner MO IVV Event Awards continued on page 33 February/March 2018 The American Wanderer 33

3000 Events 3800 Events IVV Event Awards continued from page 32 1700 Events 2100 Events Miller Sharon Etters PA Engelhardt Kathleen Sacramento CA 3200 Events 4000 Events Miles Judy Tulsa OK Pritchard Gary Huntsville AL Reiling Holly Ashville NC Warhol Carolyn Puyallup WA Warhol John Puyallup WA Baltes Thomas Camas WA Kelly Karen Tualatin OR 2500 Events Webber Herbert Auburn CA 3400 Events 4600 Events 1800 Events Brantley Duncan McDonough GA McTaggart Marilyn Centerville OH Haseloff Robert Seguin TX 2600 Events Cairns John Clifton Park NY 3600 Events 5600 Events Lehman John Topeka KS Pritchard Marietta Huntsville AL Jensen Linda Clarksville MD Malina William New Baden IL Brown Dorothy Tulsa OK Kelly Joseph Tualatin OR 1900 Events Johnson Bonita Fridley MN Terry Cliff Noblesville IN 5700 Events Wolf Jeanette Beaverton OR 3700 Events Lehman John Topeka KS Pritchard Marietta Huntsville AL 2700 Events Kelly Joseph Tualatin OR Engelhardt Kathleen Sacramento CA 2000 Events 6300 Events Jensen Linda Clarksville MD

Pritchard Gary Huntsville AL Miles Kenneth Tulsa OK Quinlan Michael Bowie MD Wittenberg Elisabeth Tacoma WA

AVA Special Program — Underground Railroad AVA Special Program – Walk Like An Olympian

Runs from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019. The Underground Railroad AVA Runs January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2021. Just like Special Program gives walkers an opportunity to explore this dark time in American the Olympians, you can earn bronze, silver, or gold by walking history. The Underground Railroad is the name for the secret routes in cities that have hosted a modern Olympic Games route fugitives took to escape to freedom. It is not a real railroad, and/or American cities with the same name as host cities (i.e. but rather a series of safe hiding places called “stations.” Walk Athens, Georgia or Moscow, Idaho). Ten walks are required 15 AVA sanctioned events that pass a museum, historical site, for Bronze, 15 for Silver and 20 for Gold “medals” affixed to historical marker or any other building that pertains to the Un- the 3x4” patch. Each event may be used two times in a calen- derground Railroad. Examples such as a safe house (station) or dar year. Check the South Bay Striders website a church that may have hidden slaves until they could be moved (SBStriders.org) for a list of current qualifying walks and pos- safely to the next station. Request books from Derby City Walkers Volksmarch Club, sible American locations. Sponsored by the South Bay Striders. For details and c/o Frances Taylor, 4943 Winding Spring Circle, Louisville, KY 40245. For more info books, email Suzi Glass at [email protected] or write to WLO c/o Suzi Glass, email [email protected] or 502-494-3594. 5562 Vassar Drive, San Jose, CA 95118.

AVA National Program — Walking the USA A-Z AVA Special Program — Treasure Hunt Walk 26 cities — A to Z. For example walk in Albany for A, Zanesville for Z, etc. The Runs January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. Seek 15 program will continue indefinitely as long as there is in- Volksmarching treasure hunt events! This is designed to enable terest. Once you have completed the event book you qual- participants to appreciate the riches and gems that exist – hid- ify to receive a beautiful patch. Note: X is a wildcard and den or magically made real – at the most magnificent places can be a walk at any event that is not already marked for that have been named in honor of the distinctive minerals that the program. Xenia is still an option. Make a copy of your we value or covet. What qualifies? 1) Remarkable minerals that book prior to mailing the original to: AVA Headquarters, have the potential to be turned into items of lasting beauty or Attn: A-Z Program, 1001 Pat Booker Road, Suite 101, Universal City, TX 78148-4147. something functionally beneficial. 2) Places named with slang Direct questions to [email protected]. allusions used to refer to precious metals such as diamonds. 3) Places with names or features related to the unearthing of the precious treasures of minerals and gems, medicinal elements or building materials. (No street names, please.) For a list of qualifying YREs and Seasonals, see http://cen- AVA Special Program — Bridges – Spanning the USA tralmnvolkssports.wix.com/cmv. Patch: 3-½ x4 Send request to Central Minnesota Volkssports (CMV), Lois Head, Special Program Coordinator, PO Box 2162, St. Cloud, MN 56302-2162; [email protected] or 320-252-7348. Runs January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018. Acknowledge our dependence on bridges where the route ” ”. goes over or under a bridge. Bridges can be across any waterway, ravine, mountain stream, marsh, road or rail- road to allow passage of motor vehicles, pedestrians, and/or railcars. If multiple bridges are on one event, one paid per event stamp can be used for each location, and one stamp is allowed per bridge location per year. The 4"x3" patch depicts the San Francisco Golden Gate and the Brooklyn bridges to emphasize the countrywide aspect of the program. Send request to Central Washington Sun Striders c/o Millie Haupt, 2510 So. 52nd Ave., Yakima WA 98903. [email protected]. Rules: Your dog must be a regular Walkers have been great at support- participant with you on your Volks- ing the Tails on the Trails column. marches. The story should be no We have used up our queue for future more than 500 words; include the columns. So think about sending in dog’s name, owner’s name, address AVA Special Program — Vice Presidential Walks an article about your walking bud- and club. Submit a photo of your dog ding. Pull out the camera at your next with the story. The photo should be Runs January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018. This walk, get a good photo of you and high resolution, about 300 dpi and program honors U.S. Vice Presidents. Qualifying events your “best friend,” write a good arti- about 500k-1mb in size, and attached must pass a site with a significant connection to one of the Vice Presidents. Examples: Bennington, VT passing sign cle and send it in! Handwritten submis- to the email. quoting Coolidge. Annapolis state house for Agnew. St. sions will not be accepted. Emailed Paul, MN for Mondale. Adlai Stevenson Park in Aurora, We want to hear from you if you submissions should include the bring your family pet along for exer- IL. Dallastown, PA and Dallas, TX for George Dallas. No photo as an attachment. walking event can be used twice. Requires only 12 different Vice Presidents to com- cise and camaraderie on the trail. Tell plete book. Award is a color patch based on photo of Harry Truman walking in Wash- us about your K9 walking partner. Note: Send to The American Wan- ington, D.C. Sponsored by Twin State Volkssport; Pat Stark, 307 Wilder St., White derer at [email protected]. River Jct. VT 05001. Checks payable to TSVA. 34 The American Wanderer February/March 2018

500 KM 3500 KM Schneider David Tucson AZ Hedges John Tucson AZ Sherrill Diana Jacksonville FL Lang Nira Vancouver WA Adams Michael Tacoma WA Beam Deborah Bluffton SC Stone Cheri Clackamas OR Adams Jan Tacoma WA Beard Glenn Lakewood WA Stucky Cindy St Louis MO 14000 KM Adams Norm Aberdeen WA Cannon Michael GermanTown MD Turner Mert Aberdeen WA Donhiser Liam Rapid City SD Faierstein Ruth Rockville MD 6500 KM Pugh Mickey Tulsa OK Goerling Rita Laurel MD Fleming Deborah Nashville TN Williams Jerry DuPont WA Graves Tristann Vancouver WA Granada Marlene Arlington VA Hauptman Laurie Orlando FL La Fleur Lois O'Fallon IL Avonrude Bonnie Tyler TX 15000 KM Haviland John Vacaville CA Peterson Connie Port Royal PA Carlson Bonita Morris IL Haviland Linda Vacaville CA Prem Beverly Iowa City IA Cline Bettie Milwaukie OR Smith Neil Edmonds WA Lehnert Pat Olympia WA Reuter Joanne De Forest WI Furlong Ralph Tacoma WA York Lewis Tulsa OK Loving Mary Henderson CO Siegrist Raymond Oneonta NY Furlong Sheila Tacoma WA Loving Craig Henderson CO Swift Tom Stockton CA Medlin Susan San Antonio TX 16000 KM Porter Sandra Olathe KS Turner Mert Aberdeen WA Saintsing Brenda Thomasville NC Ransier Christina Hanover PA Schneider David Tucson AZ Regalado Minerva Bastrop TX 4000 KM Miles Judy Tulsa OK Riyeff David Janesville WI 7000 KM Morrison Robert Olympia WA Morzillo Linda Saratoga Sprgs NY Schmidt Rodney Seattle WA Bryant Franja Bellevue WA Pernick Matthew Oakton VA Wadsworth Peggy Uwchland PA Cady Stevan Eagle River AK Cline Bettie Milwaukie OR Romig Carol Mililani HI Wadsworth Dennis Uwchland PA Haagensen Cindy Madison WI Frisinger Charles Warsaw IN West Glenda Seattle WA Hobbs Connie Rapid City SD LeDoux Rosemarie Renton WA 17000 KM 1000 KM Liebig Mary Windsor WI LeDoux Robert Renton WA Payton Bob Coupville WA Maul Rosalie O'Fallon IL Perkins Jerry Waring TX Schneider David Tucson AZ Hess Steve Dayton OH Adams Norm Aberdeen WA Roberts Michelle Seattle WA Tomac D. J. Rapid City SD 18000 KM Baltes Thomas Camas WA Soenke Carole Sacramento CA Becker Vickie Madison SD Stucky Thomas St Louis MO 7500 KM Becker Carl Madison SD Swift Tom Stockton CA Plott Karen Fairfax VA Ellis Robert Vancouver WA Turner Mert Aberdeen WA Ball Linda Auburn WA Schwindt Julan Kokomo IN Keiser Carmelita Landisville PA Williamson Darrel Highlands Rch CO Burkholder Nancy Wooster OH Lunt Linda Shrewsbury MA 19000 KM 4500 KM Nasi Marilyn Santa Rosa CA Peeck Wendy Rochester NY Reisdorff Nancy Aurora CO Trier Rachel Ballston Lake NY Brown Mark Honolulu HI Trier Thad Ballston Lake NY Craven Margo Attleboro MA 8000 KM Brown Molly Honolulu HI Wakefield Kristi Sacramento CA Damiani Roy Sagamore Bch MA Derheim David Columbia MD Izbicki Joanne Lexington MA 1500 KM Baillie Harold Sierra Vista AZ 21000 KM Paronis Irena Darien IL Church Bonnie Gladstone OR Pugmire Linda Shoreline WA Damiani Patricia Sagamore Bch MA Cooper Robert Clyde NC Sayers Timothy Woodland Pk CO Glass John San Jose CA Myron Curtis Oak Harbor WA Deuprey Dan San Diego CA Turner Mert Aberdeen WA Heady Valerie Ft Collins CO Paynter Walker Vancouver WA Epperson Janet Albany OR Vertucci Audrey San Antonio TX Ley Richard Silver Sprg MD Perkins Michael Middletown OH Erlenbush Linda Freeburg IL Watson Karen Schenectady NY Rudacille Raymond York PA Skinner Eileen Clifton Park NY Nelson Kenneth Platte City MO Zeitler Mary Austin TX Severtsen Sandi Shoreline WA Spaulding Angier Council Bluffs IA Nelson Wilma Platte City MO 5000 KM Snurr Jane Mechanicsburg PA Warhol Carolyn Puyallup WA Parkes Shirley Kansas City MO Thomas Retha Joplin MO Sandgathe Gail Springfield OR WellenreiterJames Lititz PA 22000 KM Schwab Louetta Quinlan TX Agars Mary Rensselaer NY Schwab Bruce Quinlan TX 9000 KM Briggum Barbara Virginia Bch VA Kupres Marie Kingsville MD Wakefield Kristi Sacramento CA Craven Margo Attleboro MA Myron Curtis Oak Harbor WA Yost Chris Scotia NY Grey Susan Glenville NY Hiles Sandy Portland OR Simon Deva Strongsville OH 2000 KM Izbicki Joanne Lexington MA Holmes Jane Mount Joy PA Jensen Joanne Sacramento CA Klein Barbara Okla.City OK 25000 KM Kresnicka Mary Green Valley AZ Ogur Sherry Mountlake Terr WA Donhiser Kathleen Rapid City SD Moore Grace Bowling Green KY Ohl Jean Vancouver WA Penta Maureen Long Branch NJ Leonard Marcia Deerfield Bch FL Paronis Irena Darien IL Reed Patricia Saratoga Sprgs NY Zewe Michael Port Angeles WA Stoneback Linda Federal Way WA Ray Sara York PA Varnon Janet Greenfield MA Rich Robina Lake Oswego OR 30000 KM 2500 KM Riyeff Kim Janesville WI 10000 KM Schneider David Tucson AZ Shrive Becky Seminole FL Wood Ethel Portland OR Baltes Thomas Camas WA Hess Lina Dayton OH Sorensen Bev Everett WA Beason Judith Kansas City MO McClellan John Port Orange FL 32000 KM Turner Mert Aberdeen WA Brinkmann Eric Madison SD Merwarth Gloria Fernandina Bch FL Wardle Duane Pittsboro IN Brown James Green Island NY Merwarth Mark Fernandina Bch FL Kuntz Eleanor Plym. Meeting PA Chatigny Mark Martinez CA 5500 KM Chatigny Marguerite Martinez CA 11000 KM 35000 KM Colburn Kris Orting WA Cox Cameron Webster NY Brown Troy Federal Way WA Baltes Louise Camas WA Davis Chase Lacey WA Greutert Catherine Seattle WA Baltes Thomas Camas WA Baughman Christine Alexandria VA Gross Jim La Crosse IN Grey Susan Glenville NY Heller Patricia Schertz TX Lanpher Michael Winter Sprgs FL Harding Jenny Spokane WA Hilde Barbara Kent WA Johnson Bonita Fridley MN Neu Stanley Evansville IN Hendricks Jeffrey Rapid City SD Hilde Bob Kent WA Pepia Joseph Mt Vernon WA Weaver Roxie South Lyon MI Jensen Joanne Sacramento CA 40000 KM Prost Diane Fairview Hghts IL Webert Sue-Lon Vashon WA Schneider David Tucson AZ Sherrill Diana Jacksonville FL 12000 KM Gebo Robert Moreno ValleyCA 3000 KM Thornbery Diane Madison WI Turner Mert Aberdeen WA 45000 KM Sayers Frank Woodland Pk CO Armstrong Curtis Stoughton WI 6000 KM Beason Judith Kansas City MO 13000 KM Haseloff Robert Seguin TX Kresnicka Ronald Green Valley AZ Kugel Peggy Anchorage AK Gygi Reesa Henderson NV 110000 KM Lee Jeri Camano Island WA Jensen Joanne Sacramento CA Augustyn Sharon Silver Sprg MD Turner Mert Aberdeen WA Koosmann Laurel Kent WA Badger Linda Edwardsville IL Ray Lynn York PA Welker Nancy Copperas Cove TX Moore John Bowling Green KY Gall Phyllis Gladstone MO Payton Sue Coupeville WA Gurtner Dawn Alexandria VA December 2017/January 2018 The American Wanderer 35

continued from page 20

Colorado Springs Walking Club enjoyed the Art on the Street displays.

East Tennesse Wanderers Greenway night walk in Alcoa, Tennessee.

Freestate Happy Wanders, the Crossroads of Maryland in Laurel, Maryland.

Walkers on Indian Mound, SunCoast Sandpipers, Safety Harbor, Florida.

Village and Parks walk in Zionsville, Indiana, with the Indy ‘G’ Walkers. Asheville Amblers at Black Mountain, North Carolina. OptOutside continued on page 36 36 The American Wanderer February/March 2018

continued from page 35

Saguaro Sun Striders walk in Deems Hill East Tennessee Wanderers on Greenway Night walk in Alcoa, Tennessee. Recreation Area, Phoenix, Arizona.

Kansas Jay Walkers saw bison at Tallgrass Prairie Nature Preserve near Strong City, Kansas.

       Sacramento Riverwalk in Redding, California, with the Shasta       Sundial Strollers.    

    

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