President's Corner - November 2023

Dear Member,

I want to thank you for your efforts in furthering our mission of providing, preserving, protecting, and
promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania.

I hope you have been enjoying the colors of fall on one of many Pennsylvania hiking trails, especially
those who attended the fall KTA Keystone HikeFest in Johnstown, PA. We want to thank our staff
who put in many hours planning the weekend and programs.

At our fall weekend the KTA Council met to approve the KTA 2023-2024 budget, elect new board
members Joanne Heimer, Julie Queen, Anthony Vigliano, and Jim Hyland and Officers President
Wayne Gross, Vice President Karen Lutz, Secretary Julie Queen, and Treasurer Anthony Vigliano, and
carry out other business. At the Annual Meeting the KTA membership elected the KTA
Representatives At Large to the Council for Fall Meeting 2023 to Fall Meeting 2025: Joyce Appel,
Katie Barker, Pradip Bhatnagar, Rita Black, Steve Black, Kathy Borrell, Chris Brubaker, Blase
Hartman, Patricia Huston, Ted Ligenza, Cyril Quatrone, and Donna Thompson. We want to extend
our thanks to Bob Merrill,  Jack Hauler, and Ben Cramer for their service on the Board.

Of particular great news announced was the generous bequest by KTA member George Probst who
passed away earlier this year. The Board will be planning the best way to invest this gift for the long term to benefit the members, clubs, and Pennsylvania hiking opportunities in order to further our mission. His gift, like others who have donated to the endowment fund, on going donations, and other financial support help ensure hiking experiences throughout Pennsylvania.

Congratulations to all hiking award recipients and especially to Ingrid Cantarella-Fox for receiving the
KTA Citation Award for Lifetime Achievement at our Annual Fall Meeting. And a special thanks to
those who participated in our Trail Cares throughout the year.

It's not too early to start working on your hiking award to receive it at the Fall 2024 Keystone HikeFest.
In addition, throughout the coming year, please consider your fellow hikers and clubs for nomination
for Certificates of Achievement, Volunteer of the Year, Club of the Year, and the KTA Citation Award
for Lifetime Achievement. You can also plan to take on a 100-Mile Trail Challenge during the coming
year.

Congratulations to Horse-Shoe Trail Conservancy for being the winner of our roll call of the clubs at
our Annual Meeting for having the largest membership in attendance.

​For the trails and those who wander on them!

Thanks,
Wayne E. Gross
President, Board of Directors 
Keystone Trails Association
The Statewide voice of Pennsylvania Hikers