President's Trailhead August 2024, Wayne Gross

Dear Member,
Get out there and bring a friend on a hike!   

Thank you for your efforts in furthering our mission of providing, preserving, protecting, and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Each of you, through trail maintenance in your club and throughout the state, advocacy on issues affecting our trails, and by just leading hikes, are making a difference at a grassroots level.

Our 40th anniversary KTA Trail Care program in 2024 continues in full swing. There are a number of remaining trail cares this summer and fall. Plan to participate in one or more of the remaining trail cares that Jenn Ulmer has lined up for us—even if it's for only one day. Check out our website for details.

Planning continues for the Scott Farm, which will eventually become KTA's headquarters. KTA has started preparing the Scott Farm Trailhead Master Site Plan. The professionals are preparing a draft plan for the Board's consideration and presentation at the Fall KTA Meeting.

It's time to start nominating members and clubs for our various service awards. Please see the article from our Awards Committee. The awards include Certificates of Achievement, Volunteer of the Year, Club of the Year, and the Citation Award for lifetime achievement. They will be presented at our fall KTA Annual Meeting. 

Make sure you plan to submit for your hiking award or encourage others who have completed hiking trails to submit for their award. Our website also lists the hiking awards. Check them out and work toward earning one this year. A complete list of KTA hikes, events, training courses, activities, and trail care opportunities exists.  There is so much to do. Please visit our website, sign up for one or more, and bring a friend.

Your gift to our Keystone Trails Endowment fund this year will positively impact our mission, particularly toward member Club mini-grants presented this year.  
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Our KTA Fall Annual Meeting will be among the many hikes and activities at the Keystone  Hiking & Outdoor Weekend in the Susquehanna Riverlands of Pennsylvania on October 18-20.  Please put these dates on your calendar and check out our website to register so you can plan to attend.  
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On behalf of the Board and the membership, I want to thank our Executive Director, Brook, and all our staff for their beautiful job in furthering our mission.

For the trails and those who wander on them!  See you on the Trail!


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