The Niagara Bruce Trail Club

	Summer 2005
Editor: Doug Bolton     email bolton@niagaradsl.com    phone 905 892 8043

Web Version: John Lye email jlye@brocku.ca

Deadline for inclusion in the issue is August 1.

President's Message

— Keith Rae

It was a thrill to accept the presidency at the Annual General Meeting of our NBTC at Rockway Community Centre on the afternoon of April 17. Some 50 people attended, including the entire complement of directors. We even had a few visitors from the Iroquoia who are intrigued with the pot luck dinner concept which is a tradition with us and this one was, as ever, delicious and varied. Some discussion centred around hiking. We have a hike schedule to be proud of. We have terrific people leading hikes. Many do as many as 5 hikes in each season of the year. Some lead a hike practically every week of the year. Our Winter schedule consisted of 62 scheduled hikes, regular weekly hikes numbering 4 each week - about 50 over a 3 month span, for a total of roughly 112 hikes. Our hike director, Eibert Dykstra, deserves great credit for the hike schedules which he consistently produces.

There was a suggestion that sometimes hike leaders seem to be in a race! This can happen. I have been guilty of it especially when you have some fit, keen hikers behind you, champing at the bit. So Iet’s bear in mind the needs of all our hikers when leading. Our Club has had superb leadership over the years. I have come to know the 2001-2003 president Jim Rainforth and 2003-2005 president Andy Panko quite well while serving as vice-president these past two years.

Each has unique strengths and as a Club of some 570 we have benefited greatly. So now it’s my turn and with the current board and the interest and dedication of the entire Club I hope we can grow in membership and continue to attract good people as volunteers while enjoying the fellowship which springs from our enterprise

Bits and pieces

• Thanks to Dave Dewey of Thorold for underwriting the cost of the bus for the Fort to Fort hike in April
• Get on board with Everett Collins and the Laura Secord Hike June 25 as outlined in the hike schedule.
• Read more about the NBTC Garage Sales.

Social Director Liz Reaker — right above with assistants Mary Hartman, Wilma Litke, and Mary Leighton, coordinated our pot luck to perfection at the AGM

Bruce Trail Association and other Club news

Audits:      The Bruce Trail Association is planning to conduct an audit of some sections of the Trail in 2005. If you might be interested in helping out with this project in some capacity, please get in touch with Peter Leeney orC. They can be contacted at:

Peter Leeney Phone 905-822-1877, peter.leeney@utoronto.ca.
or
George Gordon Phone 705-696-9821, georgegordon@personainternet.com

The Grand Valley Club Trail      The Niagara Club’s Neighbour, The Grand Valley Club Trail extends 250 km from Lake Erie to Alton. It consists of 4 sections (from south to north): Towpath, Carolinian Crest, Black Walnut and Pinnacle.This year, GVTA will organize, for the first time, end to end events for the Towpath and Carolinian Crest sections. Towpath ETE is to take place on 01 & 02 Oct 2005 and Carolinian Crest on 15 & 16 Oct 2005. It will be bus supported, with checkpoints & refreshments. A chevron is awarded for each completed section. Registration fee is $20 per weekend. Please send a cheque payable to GVTA to: The Grand Valley Trails Association, 75 King St S, P. 0. Box 40068, RPO Waterloo Square,Waterloo, N2J 4V1. Include your name, address, telephone # and e-mail address. Info: www.gvta.on.ca, irena.barbir@sympatico.ca or call 519-576-6156.

Monthly Report — Media Relations

— Dean Douglas

In the last month I have endeavoured to increase the awareness of the NBTC through various activities. I did a brief interview for the club on CKTB and did get a few calls about the club.  They are airing our upcoming hikes  apparently on Fridays as requested , although I have not personally heard them -- they are indeed  getting announced.  In addition the hike schedule has been returned to the "PEOPLE" page in the Friday Standard,  the "Datebook" page on Tues. in the Welland Tribune  and  the "It's Happening" page in the Friday edition of the local paper Niagara This Week.  I have not as yet contacted the Niagara Falls Review but will do so in the future. In addition we will be present at the "Niagara Circle Fest"--a sort of beginning of Spring bike/run/jog/walk affair at Firemen’s Park in Niagara Falls  on Sunday, May 1.

  I may be looking for a little help with our displays on that particular day.  I have tentatively firmed this up with the Parks & Rec. Dep't  of Niagara Falls.                              

The Making of the Bruce Trail

"A new book, THE MAKING OF THE BRUCE TRAIL: 1954 - 2004,  by Dr. Norman Pearson, a founder, is available from Norman Pearson & Associates Limited, 550 George Street, Port Stanley, On., N5L 1H4, for $26.75 (paperback, 137 pages plus 22 illustrations) by cheque or money order.   The publisher will pay GST and postage. Please send a cheque payable to GVTA to: The Grand Valley Trails Association, 75 King St S, P. 0. Box 40068, RPO Waterloo Square,Waterloo, N2J 4V1. Include your name, address, telephone # and e-mail address. Info: www.gvta.on.ca, irena.barbir@sympatico.ca or call 519-576-6156.

Welcome New Members

A warm welcome to these new Niagara Bruce Trail Club members for Dec, Jan and Feb:

June Garage Sales

Fort to Fort Hike April 9th and 10th 2005

Lynda’s Notes: We've walked through snow, ice and down pours on this hike.  It's been a long time coming for such a beautiful two days. The buses arrived on time, each of the 24 that signed up for the 57km arrived at the finish unscathed — what more could one ask for?! Gord designed the hike badge and Keith made the presentation.

Early Finishers: Keith Rae badges Fred Azzorpardi, Dick Lauchner, Vito Fasano, Marion Roggeband, Linda Bank, Everett Collins, and Marion Hanover.

Three friends from Toronto. Lynda, second from left, had Carol Grecco, Grace Schwortkop and Sharon Kerr join us for the hike. Keith on right.

Fort to Fort photo’s from Fred Azzopardi

Many thanks to "pointers" Eibert Dykstra, Bernice Theissen, Mary Tennant (her 8th year), Everett Collins, Mary & Barry Leighton (their 5th year), Shirley & Gord Orr (their 12th year). We had a few Niagara members complete the hike: Vitto Sasano, Mary Warrin, Catherine Warriner, Harry Kohli, Fred Azzopardi, Marion Roggeband, Paul Hutchinson, Marion Hanoven, Lynda Bonnar and Paul Davies.  Are we good or what?

We had a couple different types of volunteers as well.  #1 Dave Dewey called me to announce that he wants to pay $300 for the buses we used for the Fort to Fort.  WOW, I was shocked at such an unexpected gesture.  On behalf of the Bruce Trail Association, we thank you Dave.  #2 for the second year in a row Marion Roggeband, Vitto Sasano and Fred Azzopardi hiked the entire 57 km on the Saturday then came with us Sunday to do that stretch - (for some of us that hurts just to think about it!) The hikers, pointers, and I thank Frank Delogu for his many years of helping at BT functions for many years, Thank you everyone and happy hiking.

— Lynda Bonnar, Hike Coordinator

Parking at Morning Star Mill

Hike leaders involved in organized hikes using the Mill parking lot are asked that parking be on the grass on the east side of the property. Apparently, leaving a number of cars for long periods on weekends does not leave enough parking for visitors to the Mill.

— Jim Rainforth

Your Board of Directors

Picture taken outside the Rockway Community Centre

Back row: Eibert Dykstra, Dave Waters, Doug Bolton, Andrew Panko Behind Diane: Ian Cooper. Middle Row: Diane Sauder, Grace Bevan, Steve Stevenson, June Green, Dean Douglas Front Row: Lori Forstinger, Keith Rae, Cecile Dillon, and Margaret Kalogeropoulis Full information on the Board

Andy Panko presents outgoing past President Jim Rainforth

Credit

Credit is extended to Ron Massey not only for the pictures that appear in this issue but for the many he has taken in the past. Jim Rainforth will be greatly missed at our monthly meetings. However we have learned on good authority that he will be available for advice. He probably won’t even charge us a consulting fee. Thanks Jim for your many years of service to the club.

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HTML mark-up by John Lye   May 14, 2005