Baldy town Boarding house - The Philmont Staff Association
Transcription
Baldy town Boarding house - The Philmont Staff Association
PHILMONT STAFF ASSOCIATION 17 DEER RUN ROAD CIMARRON NM 87714 www.philstaff.org NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID CIMARRON NM PERMIT 8 high countrY Volume 39, Number 3 June 2016 The Magazine of the P h i l m o n t S ta ff A s s o c i at i o n ® Baldy Town Boarding House High Country ▫ June 2016 High Country ▫ June 2016 ® High Country®—Volume 39, Number 3 June 2016 In This Issue Ed Pease, Editor Emeritus Mark Stinnett, Editor Mark Dierker, Layout Editor Dollie O’Neill, Associate Editor Bill Cass, Copy Editor Dave Kenneke, Staff Contributor Kevin “Levi” Thomas, Cartoonist Contributing Editors Robert Birkby, David Caffey, Bill Cass, Gregory Hobbs, Warren Smith, Mary Stuever, Stephen Zimmer Contributors to This Issue Bobbie Hobbs, Vince Matthews Larry Murphy, Mitch Standard © 2016, The Philmont Staff Association, Inc. 17 Deer Run Road, Cimarron, NM 87714 All rights reserved. E-mail: [email protected] Philmont Staff Association® Board Of Directors John Murphy, President Colleen Nutter, Vice President, Membership Tim Rosseisen, Vice President, Service Adam Fromm, Secretary Matt Lindsey, Treasurer National Directors Amy Boyle, Ken Davis, Bryan Delaney Catherine Hubbard, Lee Huckstep Dr. Dan Miller, Steve Rick Regional Directors Northeast: Kathleen Seitz, Rick Touchette Central: Mitch Standard, Phil Winegardner Southern: Anne Marie Pinkenburg, Doug Wahl Western: Nancy Stickelman, Michael Waggoner Jim Lynch, Immediate Past President Mark Anderson, Philmont Staff Advisor Ex Officio Members Emery Corley, Legal Advisor Douglas Fasching, Technology Manager Dollie O’Neill, Executive Director PSA® FELLOWS Bob Harvey Fellow PAUL and MARY JANE HARVEY Glenn A. Fowler Fellow BRUCE BARNES George A. Bullock Fellow WILLIAM D. BRYCE Joe Davis Fellow BILL CASS John A. Maxbauer, Jr. Fellow ANONYMOUS 2 High Country ▫ June 2016 8 14 17 20 26 Articles Distinguished Alumni How We Are Known 1960 CHQ Tornado Building HOmE Bound for New Mexico Regular Features 3 4 24 32 35 36 38 From the E.D. PSA News Ranch Roundup Short Stuff Good Campsite Trail Talk From the Editor Other 4 5 6 12 16 39 Bulletin Board PSA Reunion Notice of Elections From the PSA Store Worth Remembering Meet the Staff On the Cover: Architect’s rendering of the proposed new PSA office building, part of the new museum and education center complex. See “Building HOmE” on p. 20. Members Only Access Username: NewOffice Password: BuildingHome16 From the E.D. My Favorite Things of 87714 What an exciting time to be a member of the Philmont Staff Association! Another summer kicks off at Philmont, the launching of our new “Building HOmE” capital campaign, elections for the PSA Board of Directors and another year of awarding college scholarships – these are just a few of my favorite things in this pile of rocks. Magic! Another summer brings longer days, warmer sunsets, the many shades of green and more smiling faces along with the attitude of “I am happy to be here.” I call this the “magic of Philmont,” and it truly is incredible to watch the “Phil-energy” come together in the formation of our Philmont staff. I feel honored to be here to witness this new energy roll in like a thunderstorm. This energy is electrifying and motivating to say the least. I am so excited to be selected to serve in the role as executive director of the PSA and to be a moment in time of this “magic of Philmont.” Building HOmE! The PSA Office and Museum Expansion Project capital campaign is launched! How exciting is it that the museum is expanding into a bigger and beautiful state of the art educational complex? Then we add that the PSA will be building our very own office space to call our own. It is almost too much excitement to handle – almost. Icing on the cake, if you ask me. Elections! It’s not just an election year for the president of the United States of America, but for the PSA! We have a full ballot of candidates running for a three-year term (January 2017-December 2019). Get to know our candidates, read their bios, ask questions and vote! Every member of the PSA gets a vote and your vote matters! Family! “The PSA unites the Philmont staff – past, present and future – for the purpose of serving the adventure, heritage, and experience of Philmont and the Boy Scouts of America.” It’s good to dust off our mission statement every now and then, but I also like to think that we are more than a mission statement – we are “family.” A family that gives back, serves, awards scholarships, has “family” reunions, promotes Philmont and honestly just does a lot of “good stuff” because, well, that is what families do. So, regardless of whether you are visiting Philmont this summer or later in another year, stay connected and reach out to your “Phil-family.” Enjoy your summer – I know I will! It truly is an honor to serve this wonderful organization. Thank you for being a member of the Philmont Staff Association – we couldn’t do what “we do” without you! Dollie O’Neill Executive Director High Country ▫ June 2016 3 PSA® News Summer Staff On Board Recent Phil-staffer Katie Gavin and firstyear staff member Virginia Henderson will join Executive Director Dollie O’Neill in staffing the PSA office this summer. Katie served on the staff from 2013-2015 as a PC at Miners Park, head rock at Dean Cow, and head rock at Cimarroncito. She’s majoring in new media marketing at UMass Amherst. Virginia hails from the other coast, where she attends the University of California, Santa Barbara. Special thanks to former staffers Jake Koch and Lizzy Standard, who have been working in the PSA office throughout the spring. PSA® Website and E-Mail Address Changes Friday, July 8 through Sunday, July 10 Philmont Training Center Reminder: the PSA website has moved! We are now a .org instead of a .com: What to Expect: www.philstaff.org New PSA E-mail Addresses: PSA Office: [email protected] High Country: [email protected] Website Manager: [email protected] BULLETIN BOARD Upcoming PSA® Events PSA Annual Reunion July 8-10, 2016 – Philmont Training Center Contact: Dollie O’Neill at [email protected] PSA Summer Trek July 10-16, 2016 – Philmont Scout Ranch Contacts: Lee Huckstep at [email protected] or Doug Latimer at [email protected] • Lots of food, fun and fellowship • PSA annual meeting • Updates on latest developments at the ranch • Chatauqua Performance, sponsored by New Mexico Humanities Council, by PSA member Baldwin Burr • Backcountry trip to see new staff cabin • Day hike to Hart Peak • Annual PSA Silent Auction • Silver Sage Awards presentation • Music by fellow former Phil-staffers • Housing at PTC Tent Cities • Last looks at the current Philmont Museum and Seton Memorial Library before new construction starts • Checking out the latest gear at award-winning Tooth of Time Traders Open to all PSA® members and their families What’s Your Cost? Dayton Area Reunion August 12-13, 2016 – Dayton, Ohio Contact: Scott Tritt at [email protected] Adults (18 and over) – only $100.00 PSA Volunteer Vacation (SOLD OUT) September 17-24, 2016 – Philmont Scout Ranch Children 5 and under – FREE! PSA Autumn Adventure Trek October 9-14, 2016 – Philmont Scout Ranch Contacts: Stephen and Cynthia Truemper at [email protected] or [email protected] 4 JOIN US FOR THE 2016 PSA REUNION AT THE RANCH!! High Country ▫ June 2016 Children 6-17 – only $30.00 REGISTER NOW AT WWW.PHILSTAFF.ORG High Country ▫ June 2016 5 Notice of Elections The Philmont Staff Association will conduct elections in July 2016 for all positions on the Board of Directors. Those elected will serve three-year terms beginning January 1, 2017, and concluding December 31, 2019. As required by the association’s constitution and bylaws, the Nominating Committee has proposed at least one candidate for each officer position and two candidates for each director position (listed below). Candidate bios are included in the insert in this issue of High Country. Per our constitution, additional nominations may be made within 30 days by submission of the nominee’s name, biography or summary of qualifications, and valid signatures of at least 25 currently registered members of the association. Additional nominations meeting these requirements must be received at the PSA office by July 1. Election Timeline July 1 July 8 August 1 August 8 Deadline for additional nominations to be received. Ballots mailed to membership. Deadline for ballots to be received at PSA office. Election results announced. National Officer Nominees: President: John Murphy Secretary: Kathy Seitz Treasurer: Matt Lindsay Vice President-Membership: Amy Boyle Vice President-Service: Bryan Delaney Vice President-Development: Mariah Hughes National Director Nominees (seven to be elected): Ray Batchelor Doug Palmer Sarah Burgess Anne Marie Pinkenburg Alli DietzDave Romack Adam Fromm Tim Rosseisen Cathy Hubbard Nancy Coleman Stickelman Lee Huckstep David Wilson Julie Huiras Mascitti Phil Winegardner Regional Director Nominees (two from each region to be elected): Northeast Ken Davis Fr. Don Hummel George Segelken Rick Touchette 6 Central Jeff Ash Caitlyn Lowe Mitch Standard Scott Tritt High Country ▫ June 2016 Southern Charles Aldredge Amy Hall Dr. Dan Miller Joy Pendley Western Tom Giugni Ryan King Piper Niehaus Mike Waggoner High Country ▫ June 2016 7 2016 Distinguished Staff Alumni Award by Mark Stinnett High Country Editor Former Phil-staffer Will Hobbs, nationally recognized author of nineteen outdoor adventure novels for teens and young adults (opposite page), has been selected as the 2016 recipient of the association’s Distinguished Staff Alumni Award. Presented annually by the PSA on recommendation of the Presidents Committee and approval of the Board of Directors, the “DSAA” recognizes “distinguished or exceptional personal success or achievement on a state, national or international level by a current or former Philmont staff member in any field of human endeavor, other than service to Philmont, that brings honor and credit to the legacy of the Philmont staff.” Will is the fifth recipient of the DSAA. He joins the ranks of the late Steve Fossett, world record aviator, sailor and Will on his annual week-long backpacking trip in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. 8 High Country ▫ June 2016 Will with Freedom, a rescued bald eagle that inspired “Liberty” in his wildlife rescue/rehab novel, Jackie’s Wild Seattle. adventurer; Wally Berg, internationally recognized mountaineer, explorer and expedition leader; Rick Searfoss, former NASA astronaut, space shuttle pilot and shuttle mission commander, and Robert Birkby, outdoor writer, conservationist and author of several editions of the Boy Scout Handbook and Fieldbook. The son of an Air Force engineer, Will moved around a lot as a kid, with stints in Alaska and northern California providing opportunities for outdoor activities and adventure. Camping and backpacking in the Sierras and a canoe trip with his Explorer post to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota made lasting impressions. Will joined the Philmont staff in 1964 as a backcountry staff member at New Dean. He worked as a training ranger the following year and then spent the summers of 1966 and 1967 as a camp director at Rayado (starting camp) and French Henry. After finishing college at Stanford, he moved to Durango, Colo., where he taught reading and English for seventeen years, mostly for seventh and eighth graders. High Country ▫ June 2016 Recognition for Will Hobbs • Seven of his novels, Bearstone, Downriver, The Big Wander, Beardance, Far North, The Maze, and Jason’s Gold, named as Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association. • Two of his novels, Far North and Downriver, named to the American Library Association’s list of 100 Best Books for Teens from the last half of the twentieth century. • Recipient of the Mystery Writers of America’s prestigious Edgar Allen Poe Award in 1998 for Best Young Adult Mystery for his novel, Ghost Canoe. The Edgar Allen Poe Awards, commonly called the Edgars, are presented annually to honor the best in mystery fiction and nonfiction. Another of his novels, The Maze, was a finalist for the same award in 1999. Other Edgar Award recipients include authors such as Stephen King, Mary Higgins Clark, and Ken Follett. Sixteen-year-old backcountry staffer Will Hobbs at New Dean Camp in 1964. Along the way, Will became an avid outdoorsman. Backpacking, hiking, whitewater rafting, and fishing in the areas near his home in southwestern Colorado and beyond fueled his eventual turn to writing outdoor adventure tales. Will has made ten rafting trips, rowing his own whitewater raft, down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Will published his first book, Changes in Latitudes, in 1988. After publication of his second novel, Bearstone, in 1989, Will left teaching and started writing full-time in 1990. He has since authored seventeen additional novels and two picture books for young readers, all with outdoor themes and settings. All of his books are still in print. Will’s books take young readers to wild places and inspire them to appreciate our natural world while experiencing grand adventures. “About half of my ideas for stories come from my own life experiences, and the other half come from reading, as I learn more about whatever 10 High Country ▫ June 2016 has sparked my interest,” Will says on his website. His trophy shelf at home must be sagging with the weight of recognitions Will’s books have achieved (see page 11). Awards from the Mystery Writers of America, Western Writers of America, and the American Library Association testify to the breadth of his work and the influence he has had on young readers. When notified of his selection, Will said, “As I read the names and accomplishments of the previous honorees, I was amazed I’d been selected to join this list. It’s a wonderful honor to have my outdoor novels for young people recognized as having brought ‘honor and credit to the legacy of the Philmont staff.’” They do, indeed. Our sincere congratulations to Will Hobbs, 2016 PSA Distinguished Staff Alumni Award recipient. That trophy shelf will have to sag a little more with the addition of his engraved “distinguished staff” from the PSA! • Recipient of the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award for Juvenile Fiction in 1996 for Far North. Considered among the most prestigious awards in American literature, the Spur Awards recognize distinguished writing about the American West. Other Spur Award recipients include authors such as Stephen Ambrose, Larry McMurtry, and Tony Hillerman. • Four-time recipient of the Colorado Book Award for Beardance, Far North, Beardream, and Ghost Canoe. • Recipient of multiple other regional and western state book awards, including the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, Heartland Award, Southwest Book Award, and California Young Reader Medal. • Nominations to state book awards in more than thirty states. High Country ▫ June 2016 11 Stock up this summer at the PSA® Store! PSA Nalgene Water Bottles Nike Polo – NEW! Nike Dri-Fit Polo, sapphire blue. Stay cool when things heat up. Engineered with Dri-fit fabric which provides moisture management technology. This comfortable micro-pique polo has an exceptionally soft hand. The design features a flat knit collar, three-button placket, open hem sleeves. The contrast Swoosh design trademark is embroidered on the left sleeve. Made of 4.4-oz, 100% polyester. Sizes: X-Small, S, M, L, XL, XXL. $45 Stay hydrated with a PSA Nalgene water bottle. Available in a 22-oz. flip-top or a 32-oz. wide-mouth bottle with the PSA logo. BPA free. $12 PSA Stainless Steel Mug NEW! 16-oz. stainless steel outer shell tumbler. Double wall plastic inner liner insulation. Plastic lid with spill prevention slide lock. Debossed outer line body ring design. Colors: black, stainless steel silver. $15 PSA Polo Shirts Our popular PSA polo shirt is now available in gray and green. This shortsleeved shirt is dri-wicking and protected with Scotchgard. Available in men’s and women’s sizes. $30 “Future Philmont Staff” Stuffed Animals We have the perfect gift for the future Philmont staff member in your life! Each PSA stuffed animal has a removable hoodie with “Future Philmont Staff” embroidered on the front. Available in four 7”- 8” animals: Bear, T-Rex, Horse, and Wolf. $12 87714 Performance T-Shirts This performance, wicking t-shirt features our 87714 logo on the upper left chest. Graphite color. Available in men’s sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL. $16 SUMMER SALE! Get these items for just $8 through July 15: All Books ● PSA Map Stationery Set ● Ansel Adams Poster 12 High Country ▫ June 2016 Buckle Sale! Bronze: $25 each Pewter: $20 each Visit the PSA® Store at www.philstaff.org! High Country ▫ June 2016 13 How We Are Known Story and Photos by Bobbie Hobbs “You wouldn’t believe all the junk in there!” I am visiting the Chase Ranch while attending a PSA spring meeting after Gretchen Sammis’ death. Philmont is cataloging and preserving her ancestral homestead. This young Philmont staff member’s comments give me chills. “It is taking forever to go through their stuff.” He touches on my greatest fear, being defined by my possessions after I die. I don’t want to be known or judged by what I leave. These two women held the wilderness at bay year after year. What Gretchen and her long-time friend, Ruby Gobble, gathered and enjoyed is now layered in dust. Elegant silver filigreed trays, a table for twelve with cracked leather chairs, a wind-up phonograph from a bygone era, Meissen china, walnut furniture, and family photographs held in gold and silver frames lit through a sunny bay window. Philmont’s ranch manager describes Gretchen as “probably the most interesting woman I’ve ever met.” Companionship out here means traveling vast distances. Relationships involve people who can help and offer solace, as well as accept differences. Deep friendships are nurtured over long winters. Gretchen was the fourth and last generation of the Chase family. They built in the 1860s on land at the threshold of the high sagebrush plains and the Sangres. The Blood of Christ mountain range. Its landscape dwarfs the ranch dwellings, 14 High Country ▫ June 2016 where buff canyon walls start climbing amid towering cottonwoods. Gretchen and Ruby managed the Chase Ranch together. Any time of year they must have talked long into the night about where to move the cattle, how to pay the bills, who will take the truck to town. Where do old cowgirls go? Nothing stays in place when the wind roars up this canyon. The earth moves and all grapples and struggles to remain rooted on this wind-swept plain. Ponderosa permanently bend to the wind’s direction. Connection to the land, like personal relationships, can’t be taken for granted. Those in the high desert learn to read clouds in a place where sun and rain occur at the same time and there’s never enough water. The midden of the Chase Ranch is right out the back door. What if you lived Where do old cowgirls go? The Chase Ranch, now operated by Philmont under a 100-year lease. in a place where you threw whatever you broke down a hill? And every time you walk out the door you can see all the dishes and the glasses you’ve loved, and shattered, turn into lavender and blue in the bright desert sun? Today, on the cusp of spring, young budding iridescent cottonwood leaves overhang the house. I smell the dampness of last year’s grasses. The sun is shining through blowing seed heads. Vines seek support to grow, climb the old adobe home, tighten their grip on the exterior wall of what has become a museum. They knit, weave, cling, and testify to western self-reliance. Elegant heavy white lawn chairs rest under the cottonwoods. In an ancient metate Gretchen and Ruby have placed an engraved rock. It says, “You may be old, but you are not as old as this rock.” The brand of the Chase Ranch is a heart. A short time after Gretchen died, Ruby followed her, leaving no one left to work the ranch. Gretchen’s ashes are scattered among the graves of her ancestors. Now, according to her will, Philmont carries forward a great and neighborly trust — to tell the story of her family, her dear friend, and this great land. Author Bobbie Hobbs served on the PTC staff in the 1960s. You are not as old as this rock. High Country ▫ June 2016 15 Worth Remembering From the inscription on the plaque to commemorate the gift of the Philmont Ranch and the Philtower Building to the Boy Scouts of America: These properties Are donated and dedicated to The Boy Scouts of America for Encouraging the perpetuation of Faith – Self-Reliance – Integrity – Freedom Principles used to build this great country by The American Pioneer So that These future citizens may Through thoughtful adult guidance And by the inspiration of nature Visualize and form a code of living to Diligently maintain these high ideals and Our proper destiny. Waite Phillips (1946) The tornado just after it dropped its payload on the far side of Tooth Ridge. The 1960 CHQ Tornado Story and photos by Vince Matthews Several rangers left the dining hall after finishing supper on Saturday evening, June 25, and were expounding on world affairs as they headed back to Ranger City (two rows of platform/wall tents on either side of a wooden locker building). The wind started picking up with consequent dust in the air. Fellow ranger Larry Gibbs said that he had to duck into a room in the quadrangle (a stucco building with an open center) because the dust was bothering his contact lenses. We all stepped in with him. As we looked out the window, the intensity of the wind and dust built rapidly to the point where we could see nothing but violently blowing dust. Suddenly, almost like magic, the wind stopped, and it was clear. 16 High Country ▫ June 2016 We left the building and immediately saw that all 300 tents in Tent City were flattened or gone. As we looked to the west, we saw a funnel moving away from headquarters. Tents, sleeping bags, camping gear and clothing were swirling around in the funnel as it moved steadily across the ground toward Tooth of Time. I ran out to the ranger locker building, which was undamaged, and got my camera out of my locker. By the time I was able to snap a picture, the funnel had hit Tooth Ridge, traveled up the ridge and dropped its payload on the far side, and was continuing up into the clouds. 1960 was the year of the Boy Scout National Jamboree in Colorado Springs. A group of 155 Scouts from Santa Fe was participating in a weekend “shakeout” at Philmont in preparation for the jamboree High Country ▫ June 2016 17 Tent City immediately after the tornado hit. About 300 tents were lost. in July. They were camped in the field just east of Ranger City and were cooking dinner on charcoal stoves when the tornado hit them. We immediately turned our attention to helping them because they were hard hit. The area where the Santa Fe Scouts were located was tragic testimony to the tornado’s fury. Three Scouts were hospitalized in Raton, eight were kept overnight in the health lodge, and a score of others with minor injuries were treated and released. Several Scouts had sought refuge under a vehicle which the tornado lifted off them. One of the most seriously injured had been hiding under the vehicle. One Scout reported that the wind ripped his shoes off his feet. I found a butcher knife that the tornado buried in the ground up to its hilt. A tent pole was hurled into a wire fence where a strand of wire split it lengthwise down the middle for about a foot. Chasing down and extinguishing the burning charcoal briquettes became an immediate priority. The newly finished Protestant Chapel was destroyed, but held services the next morning. 18 High Country ▫ June 2016 Half of Ranger City on the morning after. The author’s tent had been on the second platform. As you can imagine, life at headquarters was disrupted for a while. Lots of folks were without shelter, extra clothing, sleeping gear and accessories. For weeks, the ranch sent wranglers with pack trains to the other side of Tooth Ridge to recover items carried and dropped there by the funnel. I can’t say that Philmont was prepared for the likelihood of this unusual natural disaster (termed a ‘freak’ by the newspapers), but Director of Camping Jack Rhea’s leadership provided an exemplary emergency response. About the Author: Vince Matthews served on the staff as a PC at Black Mountain in 1959, ranger in 1960, ACD at Porcupine in 1961, and CD at Cyphers Mine in 1962 and 1963. He later taught in five institutions of higher education, worked as an executive in four natural resource companies, and retired as director of the Colorado Geological Survey in 2013. He now lives in Leadville, Colo. Editor’s Note: At least two tornados have struck the Philmont/Cimarron area since 1938. Photo of Santa Fe Scouts’ camping area taken by the ranch’s official photographer, Dan Sheehan, in the immediate aftermath of the tornado. Note folks with buckets of water extinguishing numerous hot spots. High Country ▫ June 2016 19 Building HOmE The PSA® Office and Museum Expansion Project For more than 40 years, PSA members have dreamed of having their own building at Philmont – a place at the ranch that we could call our own HOmE. Now, with help from all of us, that dream is about to become reality. 20 High Country ▫ June 2016 On these pages: Architect’s renderings of the new Philmont Museum & Seton Memorial Library & Education Center complex, including the proposed new PSA office (upper left). Construction is set to begin in August on this tremendous new gateway for Philmont visitors. High Country ▫ June 2016 21 Join Us in Building Our New HOmE! by Mitch Standard What an exciting time to be a member of the Philmont Staff Association! We have been invited by the Philmont Ranch Committee and Philmont management to construct our own stand-alone PSA office building as part of the Philmont museum upgrade and expansion. We couldn’t receive a greater stamp of approval for the contributions being made by the PSA and our members for Philmont and its programs. The museum expansion will triple the size of the current facility and will become a true educational center for Philmont participants, staff, academic researchers and community members. Philmont’s invitation to the PSA to locate our own office in this stunning new complex is probably the most public recognition possible for the value of the partnership we have created with the ranch. The new PSA office will include several offices and work areas, a reception area and a large meeting room. We’ll have terrific views of the Tooth of Time and the Camping Headquarters entrance from our front entry and a full wall of windows in the meeting room. The office 22 High Country ▫ June 2016 will connect to the museum and Seton Library via a paved brick plaza that forms the main entry to the complex. To make all of this happen, and to support Philmont as well, the PSA has launched a new “Building HOmE” capital campaign to raise $1.2 million over the next three years. In keeping with our primary mission of serving Philmont, a half million dollars, or more than forty percent, of the funds we raise will go directly to Philmont to support the museum expansion project. The balance will go to building our PSA HOmE, furnishing it, and endowing its future maintenance costs. By now, members have received brochures and pledge cards in the mail. Pledges and gifts can also be made through our website at www.philstaff.org. By giving as generously as you can, you will both help Philmont and give yourself your own “place” at the ranch. For a “flyover” of the overall museum project, check out the video we’ve posted on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/PCO3gtzNkUQ You’ll see what an honor it is for us to be part of such an incredible project. Join us as we build our permanent HOmE! April 14, 2016 Dear Fellow Phil Staffers, After many years of service to the ranch, we are entering a new and exciting phase for your Philmont Staff Association. Working closely with ranch management, we were granted permission to locate a new PSA HOmE office as part of the Seton Museum and Library Expansion project. The Seton and our PSA HOmE will be at the center of an educational center which will serve as a central gateway for Philmont visitors. This is a great honor for the Philmont Staff Association and it shows how much a part of the fabric of the ranch we have become through years of talent, treasure and time being given by you—our members. Building our HOmE: The PSA Office & Museum Expansion Project is a chance for each of you to be a crucial part of the future of Philmont and your PSA. Construction is scheduled to begin as soon as August of this year! Construction of the new PSA office will take approximately 18 months to complete—imagine having our own building to serve our members and continue to pursue our mission of supporting the people, place and programs that are Philmont. We aren’t there yet, though—in order to complete our dream, we must raise $1.2 million. What a legacy we can create with this project! It is a tough goal, but I know our membership is up to any challenge. I hope you will join me and your PSA board by making a multi-year pledge to make our long-held dream a reality. I know that all of us bring different skills and gifts to the table in our association— the testament to this is in our past successful campaigns. Together we can build this project for the ranch, the members and future members to come. I thank you in advance for your support. IWTGBTP! John Murphy President Philmont Staff Association High Country ▫ June 2016 23 Ranch Roundup Baldy Boundary Settled Philmont and the Pueblo of Sandia have signed an agreement to resolve a century-old discrepancy in title documents defining their property border on Baldy Mountain and ownership of its Deep Tunnel Mine. The Pueblo became Philmont’s neighbor when it purchased the East Moreno Ranch some years back to provide recreation and hunting opportunities for its members. The ranches share a border along the summit of Baldy Mountain. However, a lawsuit later filed against the Pueblo by the former ranch owner revealed a discrepancy in old deeds conveying property rights on both the mountaintop and at both ends of its historic Deep Tunnel Mine, which opens on the east side at Copper Park Camp. On the mountain ridge tops, the original grants and deeds had conveyed title with reference to points at which the watershed divided. However, subsequent surveys opted for straight lines between fixed points instead of curving boundaries along winding crests. That might have worked if the surveyed lines had all connected – except they didn’t. The “gap” persisted for decades in title documents and came to light in the Pueblo’s litigation. Regarding the Deep Tunnel Mine, title was a bit murky as well. Arguments could have been made that the Pueblo owned the mine entrance on the Philmont side, and that Philmont had claims to mine property at the western entry. Rather than go to war in court, Philmont management and the tribe’s 24 High Country ▫ June 2016 leaders began discussions to resolve the title issue by agreement. After four years of off-and-on again negotiations, Philmont General Manager Kevin Dowling and Director of Program Mark Anderson met in Albuquerque in March with the tribe’s governor and war chiefs, with all signing off on an agreement to clearly establish each side’s property rights and ranch borders. The agreement, to be filed in the Colfax County deed records, returns to the original intent of the Beaubien and Miranda land grant and fixes the border on the summit of Baldy where the watersheds divide. In addition, each party granted the other a 300-foot easement on either side of the boundary so that hikers could freely roam the summit without fear of “trespassing” on the other’s lands. As for the Deep Tunnel Mine, the agreement fixes the dividing line in the middle of the mountain, with Philmont owning all rights in the mine east of that line, and the Sandias owning all to the west. Each party ceded to the other any claims to the mine or its entrances on “the other side” of that agreed dividing line. In short, the legal title and our border on the mountain are now officially what most of us always thought they were. Personnel Update Eric Martinez, Philmont’s chief ranger for the past two summers, has joined the Philmont professional staff as the new associate director of program responsible for seasonal staff and base camp operations. Eric started on the seasonal staff in 2008 and worked his way up through ranger leadership positions to the chief ranger post in 2014. He has also worked as the winter adventure coordinator at Philmont and as Okpik director at Northern Tier. Eric holds a bachelor’s deEric Martinez gree in outdoor leadership and resort management from Western Colorado University. Over the fall and winter months, he’s been on the road all over the country training advisors in Philmont’s PASS and PAW programs. More than 1,200 trek leaders and advisors have benefited from Eric’s instruction in the highly successful start to that program. Clean, Dry and Shaded Campers coming to the ranch this summer will be greeted by new facilities in Tent City that should make a decided difference in their base camp experience. The new tent city shower house (top right), with individual shower and changing rooms similar to the designs previously used at PTC and Cito, opens in a central location between trailbound and homebound tent cities. Perhaps most welcome will be new roofed shelters (also pictured) that have been constructed throughout the tent cities for each section of six tents. With a picnic table under each, the shelters will provide much-needed shade and rain protection. Notes From All Over Some trek slots for 2016 are still available – check out the camping section on the Philmont website if you can get a crew together quickly . . . backcountry staff are scheduled to scatter June 5-7, with first crews arriving on 608 . . . Philmont maps have a new boundary shape in 2016 with the incorporation of Cimarroncita within our borders . . . construction is slated to start on the new museum complex immediately after the last crews leave on August 22 . . . the museum will move some exhibits and re-open in temporary quarters in the Hardesty Casa Centrale building for crews visiting in 2017. High Country ▫ June 2016 25 Philmont History Bound for New Mexico by Larry Murphy Editor’s Note: The following stories (part of a continuing series) originally appeared in The Springer Tribune in a series entitled “Colfax County Sketches,” and were later collected and published in the book Out in God’s Country: A History of Colfax County, New Mexico, © 1969, Springer Publishing Co., Inc. They are reprinted by permission. Westward Across the Plains Tanned buckskin-clad drivers inspected every inch of their equipment to be sure that no spoke would crack, no strap break, no screw pull loose. Certain that every possible item had been crammed into their great wagons, packers roped down the loads, while local merchants stood by to fill any remaining space. Entrepreneurs in distinctive black attire whispered last-minute instructions to avoid duties and make the best deals in Santa Fe to their representatives. Mexicans who had herded in mules, horses or oxen from outlying pastures raced to harness their teams. Final farewells from tearful wives and excited children increased as the men moved to their places. Then from the front a call of “Ready?” rang out up and down the line, and a hundred voices soon answered, “All’s set!” With every wagon poised, the captain’s cry of “stretch out” blurred the noises of barking dogs and crying women. The Santa Fe caravan was heading west. The sound of a departing train was 26 High Country ▫ June 2016 heard in several frontier Missouri towns. Franklin gave birth to the trade and nurtured it for several seasons. Located just west of Franklin, Independence became the next point of embarkation for plains travelers. Other towns later vied for a role in the Mexican commerce. Westport and Kansas City grew and prospered during the early 1840s as traders took advantage of their location further west. The establishment of Forts Osage and Leavenworth on either side of Kansas City lent a further advantage to the area. A few caravans which started from Little Rock, Arkansas, followed a southerly route through Texas to Santa Fe. Normally the caravan left Missouri in the spring, sold during the summer in the southwest, and returned by late fall. Leaving before the snows had melted on the plains was impossible, but too late a departure could mean encountering a winter storm before reaching the settle- ments on the return trip. In reality no marked trail stretched across the flatlands, but caravan leaders explored their own route along the river bottoms and across grassy prairies. The need to find pastures for livestock frequently necessitated detours, as did the muddy ruts of a previous caravan. Often traveling two or even four abreast, a single caravan covered a span as wide as fifty yards. “One need only compare the various records to discover that the Santa Fe Trail was not a road or even a trace,” the trade’s most recent historian has written, “but a series of tracks meandering over the plains in only the most general single course.” For nearly every caravan, the first important stop was Council Grove, 150 miles or ten days west of Independence. Although beautiful to see, traders kept busy making final preparations at the site before entering the wilderness. Electing one of their members as caravan leader, the men also established regulations regarding the plan of march, setting up camp, assigning guards, and defending themselves against Indian attack. West of Council Grove travelers entered the wilds. Only well-established campsites marked the route, for few landmarks broke the monotonous prairies which stretched for hundreds of miles in every direction. Boredom posed the greatest psychological problem, as man and beast alike tired of dreary scenery and restricted company. Nerves and tempers frequently frayed. But here too the real adventure began. Indians might appear at any time. What looked like a tree against the horizon might be a native scout, an antelope, or buffalo – or maybe even the mountains. High Country ▫ June 2016 27 Perils of the Santa Fe Trail Anywhere west of Council Grove, traders were likely to encounter Indians, the most dramatic and frequently recorded kind of danger. Technically at peace after 1825, the eastern Osages seldom disturbed merchants, but their western neighbors, the Pawnee, Comanche and Kiowa, continually threatened war. Travelers seldom knew of the natives’ presence until a group of five to a dozen suddenly appeared from a nearby hill, riding rapidly toward the caravan. To attack an entire train, especially one guarded by soldiers, was risky, so the Indians normally conversed through signs for a few minutes while they appraised the party’s strength. But henceforth the number of night guards doubled. No one dared stray far from their wagons. As early as 1822, Captain William Becknell told of eight men he had sent to recover some strayed horses. Two of the company spotted some Indians, whom they tried to outrun. The natives soon overtook the pair, however, stripped them naked, administered a “barbarous” whipping, and stole their mounts. Fortunately, the naked, helpless men were luckier than many and successfully rejoined their party. Four members of Captain Bennett Riley’s military escort learned the danger of leaving the caravan during the 1829 trek. When their enlistments were up, they insisted on leaving the train midway across the plains to return to Missouri. Final destination: “View of Santa Fe Plaza in the 1850s (End of the Trail),” by Gerald Cassidy, circa 1930, oil on canvas, 47 3/4 x 60 1/4 in. Collection of the New Mexico Museum of Art. Gift of the New Mexico Historical Society, 1977 (350.23P) Photo by Blair Clark. Used with permission. 28 High Country ▫ June 2016 Photo: The “Point of Rocks” landmark on the Cimarron branch, located in Colfax County northeast of Springer. Photo © Annie Adkins, http://anniepics.imagekind.com. Used with permission. Only eight or ten miles out of camp, some thirty Indians suddenly attacked them. An attempt to talk peace failed when one soldier was fatally shot while trying to shake hands. The remainder removed their packs and prepared to defend themselves against the screaming attackers, who by then were riding rapidly around them. Slowly retreating toward their group’s encampment, the survivors succeeded in killing one Indian before they were rescued by a search party. Their efforts thus temporarily thwarted, the natives waited until Riley had sent part of his men in search of their dead comrade’s body before they attacked the entire caravan, driving off its livestock. In all, fifty-four oxen, twenty horses, and several mules were lost. The soldiers never located their companion’s corpse either, but the survivors now willingly agreed to remain with the escort until it returned from the Mexican border. As they neared the Arkansas River, the leaders of each caravan had to decide between two possible routes. The longer one, probably used by the first few caravans and always the more popular, proceeded along the Arkansas to the Bent brothers’ famous fort near the present town of Las Animas, Colo. From there they headed south toward Raton Pass, where they could follow the edge of the Sangre de Cristos through Colfax County toward Santa Fe. Although longer and slower, this road offered protection from the Indians as well as a reliable water supply which appealed to many caravan leaders. The second route had been first blazed by William Becknell years before. Called the “Dry Cimarron branch,” it departed from the Arkansas River in Kansas and crossed directly across the arid plains of Texas and eastern New Mexico to Wagon Mound, N. M., where it rejoined the mountain route. Although many who selected it suffered from a lack of water or fell victim to the Comanches or Kiowas who frequented the area, this route was faster and easier on the wagons than the rougher mountain one. High Country ▫ June 2016 29 “Directions to Santa Fe” by Jim Carson. © Jim Carson Studio. Used with permission. The Last Miles to Santa Fe Soon after crossing Raton Pass, caravans passed through the area which would eventually become Colfax County. No identity separated the area from the hundreds of miles through which the wagons had passed, but early travelers were overjoyed to see the mountains, find plentiful supplies of wood, and rest beneath the cool shade of a Rocky Mountain stream. Frequently they recorded stops along the Ponil, Cimarron, Rayado and Canadian rivers. The exact path of the road during those early days cannot be ascertained with any certainty, but several tracks now visible only from the air indicate frequent use of the area fronting the Sangre de Cristo mountains from Cimarron to Rayado, where the area’s first permanent settlement was eventually established. For some, the Cimarron area marked the point of departure from the regular Santa Fe route. While surveying the road 30 High Country ▫ June 2016 in 1825, George Sibley noted a “gap” in the mountains through which a “trace” or primitive trail ran to Taos. Exactly what the surveyor was referring to is speculative, but the Taos Trail was evidently either the Cimarron Canyon or Moras Canyon, just south of Rayado. Because Sibley reported that wagons could pass through the gap with “some labour,” he probably did not mean the narrow and extremely rough Cimarron Canyon, not generally used until after prospectors discovered gold in the 1860s. A narrow dry stream bed winding to the rim of La Grulla Mesa, Moras Canyon was on the other hand frequently traversed by Taos travelers during the post-Mexican era, and was more likely the “gap” referred to. Early trappers and traders hauled goods via this route directly to Taos, where they could be sold at the annual fairs or in American-owned stores. Those who scurried over the mountains via this trail might even reach Santa Fe before their fellows who continued along the eastern side of the Rockies. Santa Fe traders found no permanent settlements in the Colfax County area before 1844, although there was one notable attempt to found a ranch. In 1830 one Samuel Chambers, a veteran Santa Fe trader and mountaineer who had been jailed with Robert McKnight’s ill-fated trading party in 1812, petitioned the Mexican government for permission to colonize the Ponil River. Examining his request, the New Mexico Departmental Assembly noted that Indian hostilities in the area threatened to exterminate anyone who might reside there. Until a sufficient military force could be secured to provide protection, they, therefore, decreed that no such ranches might be established along the northern frontier. Another week’s travel carried Santa Fe travelers from the Canadian River toward their destination. As they ap- proached the capital, a sudden excitement swept through the caravan. Men dirty from months of travel now bathed, changed into their best clean shirts, put on Sunday suits, and glued their hair in place with bear grease. Wagoneers piled as many goods as they could into each wagon to reduce import duties as the caravan rolled down the last hill and into the ancient city. An unusual bustle also characterized the normally quiet Mexican town when the annual train arrived. Cries of “Los Americanos,” and “los Carros” ran through its narrow crooked streets. Crowds of citizens flocked to stare at the newly-arrived gringos, most of whom stared back at the strange surroundings with just as much interest. While their employees spied out the loveliest senoritas and the liveliest dance halls, merchants wrangled with customs officials who appraised goods and exacted duties. At last the long trek was over. “End of the Santa Fe Trail” by Jim Carson. © Jim Carson Studio. Used with permission. High Country ▫ June 2016 31 Short Stuff More on Mapping Thank you for the fun article (“Missing in Mapping,” I-Camp, April 2016 issue). I had a lot of fun making the first in-house Philmont GIS map. It was a strange project to be assigned to work with the Philmont mapping program. I actually got into the GIS side of camp through my degree in forestry to originally map the forestry work that had been done on the ranch. I kind of fell into the role as the Philmont seasonal map guy along with Dave Allen, the full-time pro-tech. We did a lot of research into the maps when we went to make Philmont’s first in-house GIS maps. We actually went back to the maps of Philmont from Waite Phillips’ time, and all the maps used after. Referencing those, we found that Mountain Lion Canyon tends to change locations, but we believe it is in the right spot now. When we went to make the vegetation layer of the property, we had the option of buying a program for several thousands of dollars, or making it by hand. It took me around 80 hours to draw the vegetation layer of Philmont based on satellite imagery. I remember sitting there tracing trees from space while watching it snow outside, just waiting for the next Kanik crew to arrive. Dave and I made most of what became those first Philmont GIS maps during the off-season and I was actually a Kanik guide with a special assignment to GIS. Ute Gulch was misspelled for a few years after the new maps were first published. At one point in the draft of 32 High Country ▫ June 2016 the maps we accidentally had the tallest mountain on earth at Philmont, with an elevation of 100,000 feet. I forget who found that error. We used to print a full-size update each week and put it in the CHQ admin building with a big red marker so people would help us find errors. To ensure they were looking, intentional errors were added. I miss Mullins Creek! My favorite two changes to the map, however, are to the iconic point at the top of the ranch. If you look at the older maps it was a point with a flat side. The new maps are shaped differently. That change is actually from my mapping of the actual boundary fences of Philmont, which were done while working the fire rehab projects. The day I mapped that area, I had to cut up four trees that had fallen on the road since I had driven in that day. Also, the boundary on what used to be the Atmore Ranch [now Express Ranch] was modified. Older maps showed the trail leaving Philmont and reentering the property. It turned out to be an angle was wrong on the fence. When it was fixed it added 66 acres to Philmont. I guess the most interesting thing about the whole Philmont GIS project to me is that the ranch claims to be 137,000+ acres, but the actual boundary as defined by the GIS software is more like 135,000 acres??? The reason we no longer have North, Central, and South maps is that it was about $7 a map to make them the size of the old sectional maps. Changing them to the standard print size, we ended up using a new printer and it brought that down to about $1.40 a map. It took several attempts to find an ink that would stay on the water-resistant paper. Once we figured out how to get the maps to stay on the paper, we eventually went to the two-sided north and south maps. Mic Mullins, Program Director Heart of Virginia Council DID YOU KNOW? Artist Jim Carson, whose works appear on pp. 30-31, told High Country, “I am a western artist because as a Scout I went to Philmont and fell in love with the western landscape.” View his art at: www.jimcarsonstudio.com. ‘65 Flood Issue Update Regarding the photo of the French Henry CD lassoing a bear featured on page 63 in your August 2015 special edition flood issue, that is none other than Greg Hobbs, Silver Sage Award recipient and recently retired senior associate justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. Ned Gold Warren, Ohio Olympic Memories 1965 was my first year on staff at Philmont, though I had twice been there as a camper. We came in a few days early for camp director training at camping headquarters. This was Joe Davis’ first job at Philmont, too. I don’t think he knew what he was getting into. With that big smile and handshake, “Men!” he said, many times. Many times. We would surely overcome anything with his enthusiasm. Nothing to worry about. There was no such thing as adversity, according to Mr. Davis. Olympia was just a name to me. It was just upstream from Rayado, an old settlement. I pictured a lazy little camp with a meandering stream and maybe some wildlife, a few aspen. I hadn’t High Country ▫ June 2016 33 thought about rocks, rocks and more rocks. Olympia sounded like a mountain top or maybe a little oasis but it was certainly not that. The three of us arrived, all under age 21. Situated on what seemed the top of Rayado Creek, nothing much was happening except for the bleakness of the water, which kept rising, and rising, and rising. Not pretty water. Fast muddy water with brush. Black. Very loud and noisy at night. It began to dawn on us that we were in some trouble. There was electricity, and who needs anything else if you have electricity? At least for a while there was electricity. And Mr. Davis knew we were there. We figured out how the radio worked and were able to speak to Paul Felty, the voice of civilization at Camping Headquarters. It was called Control Center, though I don’t know that they were actually in control of anything. Paul essentially said not to worry, that our flood couldn’t amount to much. The water kept rising. The critters sought higher ground. We were concerned about rattlesnakes. The flood didn’t peak for some days, and by then we had to wait for shipments of food and Olympia Camp, summer 2013. Photo by Brad Upton. 34 High Country ▫ June 2016 water from Rayado. We had no campers, of course, and after a few days it became clear that we had a wet and smelly mess, and that was about all. Except we had ourselves, the three of us. Being so young, none of us verbalized our fear, though it was present. The pride of youth, I suppose. Amazingly there had not been even the slightest hint of friction, not one bit. Nor would there be. We were at Olympia for around ten days. At that point Mr. Davis came out to see us and said we were going to Miners Park, quite the contrast in western beauty, to work with Dave Girardi. We had a good summer, a very good summer despite it all. I recently discovered that campers are going out of Olympia again. What? Surely not. Yet there is some logic to it. Being very close to Rayado is convenient, and there needs to be a place to get one’s bearings. Perhaps Olympia has some natural beauty after all besides the little Rayado. Good luck to you, campers, whoever you may be, and enjoy our old spot. John Lester Kansas City, Mo. Another Good Campsite If you ever find yourself thinking about being smack-dab in the middle of Philmont, you’d probably end up on Deer Lake Mesa – and what better place to be than camping at Deer Lake Camp. Bordering a natural lake surrounded by tall Ponderosa, old growth pinon, and oak, the camp offers breathtaking views of “Cito,” Bear, Black and Trail Peaks. First opened as a trail camp in 1999, evidence of seasonal logging camps from the 1930s and 40s can be found scattered across the area. Despite its central location, Deer Lake Camp is a little way off the main trails through the ranch. Most trekkers through the central country hit Harlan and Vaca to the east or Devils Wash Basin or Deer Lake Mesa Camp to the west. There is sometimes confusion between Deer Lake Mesa Camp and Deer Lake Camp. Deer Lake Mesa Camp has a small “dirt tank” with a spring and a well as a water source. Deer Lake is by far the larger of the two reservoirs, and offers a back-up water source of a large rain catchment built in 2013. Even during drier years, the lake affords spring nesting sites for dozens of species of waterfowl that return every year, calling Philmont – HOmE! Dave Kenneke High Country ▫ June 2016 35 Trail Talk General David L. Goldfein (Ranger 1980) has been nominated by President Barack Obama to become the next U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff. In making the announcement, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter called Goldfein “one of the most 1980s proven strategic thinkers across our joint force.” General Goldfein currently serves as the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, a position he has held since August 2015. He has more than 4,200 cockpit hours as a pilot and has flown combat missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. His previous posts include command of two fighter wings, Director of Operations for Air Combat Command, and commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command in southwest Asia. High Country plans to run a profile article on General Goldfein in the August issue. 36 High Country ▫ June 2016 Michael Growney (Medic 1999, Phil-Doc 2013-2016) finished medical school at the University of Kansas and then completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology in Greenville, S. Car. He currently practices as a general ob/gyn at Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, Colo. He has returned as a “Phil-Doc” each of the past four summers, and writes, “I love every bit of it! Being a Phil-Doc is a volunteer position, but every year I say that I get more than I give just by being able to return to Philmont.” Address: 4 Royal Troon Ct., Pueblo CO 81001. E-mail: [email protected] 1990s Dan Johnson (CHQ Services 99) graduated from West Virginia Univ. in 2002 with a degree in wildlife management. He then started work in the nuisance wildlife field and has been removing animals from homes and repairing the damage done for the past 14 years. He writes, “Working at Philmont, one truly learns the value of being nice to others. As a seasonal staff member, I constantly reminded myself that [Philmont] is the highlight of the participant’s Scouting career, and should be treated as such.” Address: 8302 Penobscot Rd., Richmond VA 23227. E-mail: [email protected] recipient of the BSA’s Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope awards. Address: 4834 Smith Stewart Rd., Vienna OH 44473. E-mail: [email protected] David Clay Pruitt (Logistics 2002) became a professional Scouter after college and has now served fourteen years. He writes, “After I graduated, I was wondering what I was going to do with my life and the direction I wanted to go, and I remembered a conversation I had while at Philmont about interviewing for a professional Scouting position. I then contacted my local Scout service center, interviewed for a position, and was hired. A big part was the time I spent on the staff at Philmont. I have recruited kids now that have received their Eagle rank, sent youth and adults to Philmont, and started new Scout units in communities that have changed lives. All this was due to my time at Philmont.” Address: 10605 Gander Grove Way #301, Knoxville TN 37932. E-mail: [email protected] 2010s Robert Burton (Welcome Center 2016) received his On The Back Cover The Baldy Town Boarding House, opened last year, now serves as quarters and living area for the Baldy Town staff. Also known as the “Baldy Majal” or “Taj Mabaldy.” Photo courtesy Philmont News and Photo Services. J.D. degree in 1975 from St. Mary’s School of Law. He remains active in Scouting as a troop committee member. Address: 3120 Brincrest Dr., Farmers Branch TX 75234. E-mail: [email protected] Anthony Ely (Chase Ranch 2016) has attended Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind. He is involved with College Mentors for students at his school and is still involved with Scouting. He is a Vigil Honor member of the OA. He writes: “Philmont has allowed me to prepare for my next job by teaching me the importance of working well with others.” Address: 3200 E. Shaffer Ave., Terre Haute IN 47805. E-mail: [email protected] 2000s Thomas E. James, Jr., M.D. (PTC Faculty 2006) is a practicing internist in Howland, Ohio. He served as his council president in 2016, has held positions on various BSA area and regional committees, and has worked as a staff physician at national jamborees since 1989. Dr. James is a High Country ▫ June 2016 37 Meet the Staff From the Editor High Country is a labor of love for lots of folks who help our editor and writers. Meet the rest of the team behind each issue: Changes “Nothing in this world is permanent but change.” – Waite Phillips And you’ve probably noticed some of that change – hopefully for the better – with this issue of High Country. After almost 40 years of black and white issues, our magazine is joining the 21st century and will now come to you, each and every issue, in full color. Believe it or not, we’ve actually been paying an extra charge to convert our color layouts to B&W for the print version! To take advantage of that muchappreciated authorization from our board of directors, in most issues we’re going to use our middle-of-the-magazine doublepage spread (pp. 20-21) to display a full cross-page “bleed” of an outstanding Phil-photo relating to one of our articles. Sometimes, we’ll just use it for a great picture that we’ll all appreciate. We’re also making some layout changes to make our look more that of a true magazine and less that of a hybrid newsletter. Some of those are subtle (you probably missed the modifications to our page footers), while others may have been readily noticeable (elimination of top and bottom margin lines on each page, for example). These aren’t changes just for the sake of change or to satisfy the editor’s whims. Opening up our layout space gives us more options to better display more of the outstanding photography demonstrated each year by both staff and campers. We also get a little more room for content, which we’ll use to avoid “scrunchiness” – compressing space between lines of text to make a story fit into a space that’s really too small for it. 38 High Country ▫ June 2016 What isn’t going to change is the commitment to excellence and quality of content that our humble staff (see opposite page) brings to each and every issue of HC. We remain focused on keeping you in the loop on what’s happening at your HOmE while sharing the staff stories that form our common bond. A little news, a little history, a little adventure, a little fun – that’s what you can expect every time we land in your mailbox or inbox. Mark Stinnett Editor HIGH COUNTRY SUBMISSIONS If you have a great photo or a story to tell, please share it with us! E-mail submissions are preferred, but we take hard copies, too. Articles: Typewritten in Word format preferred; max. 2,000-2,500 words. Photos: Send as .jpg attachment in high resolution (300 dpi or greater). Trail Talk: Send us updates about you. Include all staff positions and years. E-MAIL: [email protected] Mark Dierker, Layout Editor Making sure we comply with Rule No. 2 at Philmont (”always look good”), Mark fits all the stuff we send him into our final 40-page package. He works as manager of photo acquisitions for McGrawHill Higher Education in Dubuque, Iowa. This is his storm-chaser selfie – all the storm chasers have one. Who knew? Dollie O’Neill, Associate Editor The newbie on the HC staff, our equally new executive director helps each issue with ads, insert materials, PSA and ranch news, photo identifications, Trail Talk submissions and proofreading. Oh, and there’s also that small task of labeling and mailing 2,000 copies to readers! Bill Cass, Copy Editor A retired advertising executive and author of three Philmont-related books, Bill serves as our magazine’s “eye for detail.” After Mark and Mark work through 8-9 drafts for each issue, Bill gets the “final” proof and scours it for accuracy and style compliance before we go to press. He resides in West Chester, Pa. Dave Kenneke, Staff Contributor He’s on the staff and he contributes, so that’s what we call him. When not writing for High Country, Dave moonlights as Philmont’s Facilities and Maintenance Superintendent. As his frequent travels across the ranch permit, Dave shares photos and stories for our “Good Campsite” series. Kevin Thomas, Cartoonist Named in his cartoons only as “Levi,” his former Philmont interpretive name from back in the day when we made up our own, Kevin has been capturing the lighter side of Phil-life for High Country since at least 1992. In his other life, he works as a data analyst in Milwaukee, Wis. Ed Pease, Editor Emeritus After serving as High Country editor for seven years, Ed finally gets a break from all those organizing, writing and editing chores that are part and parcel of each issue. We’re keeping him the loop, though – and hope that he will bless us with an occasional inspirational column. Our favorite former Congressman still lives in D.C. High Country ▫ June 2016 39 NOMINEES FOR PSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS – 2016 ELECTIONS The following nominees have been proffered by the Nominating Committee. FOR ADDITIONAL NOMINEES TO BE ADDED TO THE BALLOT, THE NOMINEE’S NAME AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH (SIMILAR TO THESE), TOGETHER WITH SUPPORTING SIGNATURES OF AT LEAST 25 ACTIVE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS, MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE PSA OFFICE NO LATER THAN JULY 1, 2016. BALLOTS WILL BE MAILED TO ALL MEMBERS ON JULY 8, 2016. NOMINEE BIOS ARE ALSO POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PHILSTAFF.ORG NATIONAL OFFICER NOMINEES: President: John Murphy (Tyler TX). Current Position: President. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1972-‐1974). “Hoping to continue my service in order to complete the PSA Building / Seton Project, and build membership to the 5,000 member level. In addition, I would like to further our relationship with ranch management to make sure the PSA of the future continues to be an active partner.” Vice President – Membership: Amy Boyle (Lander WY). Current Position: National Director. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Asst. Group Leader (1978), PTC Group Leader (1980). “I have served on the PSA Board for six years as Regional Director. I have served on both the Service Committee and Membership Committee and coordinated the planning for the 2010 Colfax Colloquium. I believe my understanding of the PSA’s goals and programs will aid me in spearheading the membership efforts.” Vice President – Service: Bryan Delaney (Atlanta GA). Current Position: National Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1998-‐2003), Camping Projects Mgr. (2004-‐2010). “I have served as a Southern Regional and National Director of the PSA, and have served in a leadership role for various PSA reunions and service projects. I am also the chair of the personnel committee of my church, St. Mark UMC. I believe that I will bring experience, creativity, and leadership to the role of VP-‐Service.” Vice President – Development: Mariah Hughes (Golden CO). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: Rayado Ranger (1987), CD (1989-‐90), Director of Conservation (1992), plus others. “I have extensive experience in fundraising and growing membership for both government agencies and nonprofits, as well as experience managing boards, large groups of volunteers, and coordinating events of many different sizes (from 5 to 20,000+). I have also served on boards for chambers and community organizations.” Secretary: Kathy Seitz (South Glastonbury CT). Current Position: Northeast Region Director. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Food Service (1981), Trading Post (1982), Services (1983). “I have worked with a very large Boy Scout troop for 10 years, and have worked with the Scoutmasters and planned some big trips: Gettysburg, Washington DC, and Philmont. I have worked on the Administration Committee for longer than I have served on the Board, and would like to continue that work: publications, annual reports and website are all things we address on that committee.” Treasurer: Matt Lindsey (Nacogdoches TX). Current Position: Treasurer. Years/Positions on Staff: Wrangler (1987). “Since working at Philmont I have completed 13 treks as an adviser as well as trips to the other high adventure bases, including completing the Grand Portage at Northern Tier. I have worked as a department head in private industry and served as a department chair at SFA University with budget authority. I served on the PSA Finance Committee for 6 years and learned about PSA budget processes.” -‐1-‐ NATIONAL DIRECTOR NOMINEES (Seven to be elected – listed alphabetically): Ray Batchelor (Grand Prairie TX). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Dining Hall (1961), PTC Cub/Trek Ranger (1962), PTC Trek Director (1963), PTC Faculty (1980-‐1985), NJLIC Scoutmaster (1982), Logistics Asst. Mgr. (2013). “Eagle Scout, OA Distinguished Service Award, Engineering Manager, Project Manager, Six Sigma Certified, PSA Board of Directors 2000-‐2013, Region Director 2000-‐2007, National Director 2007-‐2013, Scholarship Committee Chair 2001-‐2013, Finance Committee 2015. I would like to contribute to the Finance Committee with a broad background in finance and development.” Sarah Burgess (Coldspring TX). Current Position: Scholarship Committee. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (2003-‐04), Ranger Trainer (2005), Rayado Trek Coord. (2006), Assoc. Chief Ranger (2007-‐2009), Sustainability Resource Specialist (2010-‐11), STEM Educator Coord. (2013-‐14), Assoc. Director of Conservation for Environmental Education (2015-‐16). “Most recently, I have worked for University of Wisconsin Extension as a Research Naturalist at Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center, focusing on researching grant opportunities and writing proposals for experiential education conferences about using modern mobile technology to connect today’s students to the outdoors in new and innovative ways. I have also worked with Kiwanis Club in college and in Cimarron. I have enjoyed serving on the Scholarship Committee and look forward to opportunities to expand my depth of knowledge about the PSA through serving on its other operating committees such as Membership and Development.” Alli Dietz (Denver CO). Current Position: Communications Committee Member. Years/Positions on Staff: PC Beaubien, Hunting Lodge (2010-‐11), CD Apache Springs, Baldy Town (2012-‐13), Backcountry Mgr. (2014). “My background in marketing (both digital and traditional) will undoubtedly help me succeed as a PSA board member. Throughout my career in marketing (and volunteering to do marketing for non-‐profits) I have been able to design and test different marketing campaigns which in turn informs my next campaign. Seeing the changes throughout my five summers and also working on managerial levels helped me understand how to negotiate while being a strong servant leader. I have new ideas that will help attract new members as well as serve members who have been with the PSA a long time.” Adam Fromm (Arlington VA). Current Position: Secretary. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger, OATC Foreman (1999-‐2001). “I have served as the PSA’s secretary for the last 3 years and previously as a Northeast Regional Director. I want to continue our efforts to enhance the PSA’s brand among Philmont staff and the Scouting movement and encouraging participation in programs at the ranch and to apply for staff. I have worked with organizations in communications, branding, governance and other capacities." Cathy Hubbard (Middleton WI). Current Position: National Director. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Dining Hall (1976), Ranger (1977), Infirmary – R.N. (2012, 2014-‐15). “I have served on the PSA Board for 8 years now, and have run the Staff Amigo Program for the last 5 years. I have hosted/ helped organize regional reunions in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio. My passion is in finding ways to bring Philmont to our members across the country. I have missed one board weekend meeting in 8 years.” Lee Huckstep (Houston TX). Current Position: National Director. Years/Positions on Staff: CHQ Food Service (1971), Commissary Mgr. – Cimarroncito (1972), Postmaster (1974), Asst. Registrar (1976), CD Phillips Junction (1977). “I am on the altar guild at my church and assist in various capacities helping Houston’s homeless. I also devote a lot of time to the PSA promoting and organizing the PSA Trek and Volunteer Vacation, and have organized special events such as the Tulsa Reunion and the Celebration of the Lives of Waite and Genevieve Phillips in Los Angeles. Including the early treks, I have coordinated 13 PSA treks and participated in 10 PSA treks. I want to help in rejuvenating the PSA Annual Reunion and the PSA Jamboree Week Reunion.” -‐2-‐ Julie Huiras Mascitti (Madison WI). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Group Leader (1980), PTC Services Mgr. (1981), News & Info. Svcs. Mgr. (1982). “My current position as administrative assistant at Ronald McDonald House Charities in Madison includes managing some of the big and little things one might regularly do at home, such as paying bills, keeping track of children, and petting the dog. I’ve initiated fundraising and awareness events for community organizations, Scouts, school, sports, and personal occasions, including a benefit concert for a baby who needed brain surgery, and campaigns for the Wisconsin chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As a National Director, I’m willing to take on current strategies and help innovate new ones. Promoting Philmont and the PSA comes easily thanks to treasured relationships with people, program, and of course, the land.” Doug Palmer (Arroyo Seco NM). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: Assoc. Director of Program -‐ Backcountry (1988-‐2011). “During my 40-‐year career as a professional in the service of the Boy Scouts of America, I was expected to be involved in my community. It is the professional job to “recruit, train, guide and inspire volunteers” in order to expand the program of Scouting to youth. I believe the PSA has a similar role to seek out and actively involve present and past Phil-‐staff who will then continue to serve the needs of the ranch. Betty and I continue to be involved in Casting for Recovery, an organization that provides a free weekend retreat for breast cancer survivors designed around the sport of fly fishing.” Anne Marie Pinkenburg (Fort Worth TX). Current Position: Southern Region Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1992-‐93), Training Ranger (1994), Mountain Trek Coord. (1995, 1997), Autumn Adventure Guide (1997). “I have served on the PSA Board for the past three years, and greatly enjoyed being on the Scholarship Committee. I would like to continue serving on the board so that I can share member ideas with the PSA, and help PSA develop in a way that reflects what members want and need. Working as Mountain Trek Coordinator and as a speech language pathologist in multiple countries has helped me develop my organizational skills and I will continue to conscientiously complete all tasks related to the position.” Dave Romack (Arlington TX). Current Position: Treks Committee. Years/Positions on Staff: Commissary Warehouse (1961), Ponil Commissary Director (1962), PTC Faculty (3 years). “I enjoyed a 41-‐year career with IBM in technical sales, customer technical support, education and training, and consulting planner. I am a member of the PSA Service Committee having been a facilitator of the PSA treks for several years. I also did the planning, organization, and setup for the 2007 PSA Annual Meeting and Reunion in Dallas TX. I am currently serving as chair of the deacons and president of the church men’s group.” Tim Rosseisen (Breckenridge CO). Current Position: Vice President – Service. Years/Positions on Staff: Climbing PC (1985-‐1987), Head Rock Dean Cow (1988), CD Dean Cow, Cimarroncito (1989-‐90), CD Beaubien (1991-‐92), Health Lodge Chief of Support (1993), Health Lodge Support Staff (1995). “I am a member of my local Scout troop as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout counselor. I have served on the PSA as Vice President of Service, overseeing reunions, scholarships and staff scholarship committees, as well as reunions at the ranch. I also serve as Philmont’s Fly Fishing Invitational chairman, as well as the chairman for Philmont’s wounded veterans fishing program (helping wounded veterans from across the country). I would like to serve on the Service Committee to help with reunions as well as the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee I recently helped facilitate.” Nancy Coleman Stickelman (Las Vegas NV). Current Position: National Director & Amigos Committee Chair. Years/Positions on Staff: PC Head of Dean, Fish Camp (1997-‐98), CD Head of Dean, Fish Camp, French Henry, Cyphers Mine (1999-‐2002), Autumn Adventure (2001-‐02), Backcountry Mgr. (2003). “I completed my college internship with the Atlanta Area Council BSA and have volunteered for Scouting everywhere I’ve lived. 2012-‐ 2013 I was President of the Las Vegas NW MOMS Club, a 501C3, and this year I am the Vice President. I would be interested in continuing to work with the membership committee. I would enjoy helping to plan events and see if we can incorporate either some child care or a family style event where it would be easy to bring kids.” -‐3-‐ David Wilson (Orem UT). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: LDS Chaplain and Chaplain Coordinator (2002-‐2014), PTC Faculty (2005-‐2009). “CEO for non-‐profit organization emphasizing energy efficiency and conservation. Active Scouter locally, regionally and nationally. Active blogger for BSA Venturing program. I actively help recruit staff each year through job fairs at the Brigham Young University and association with past staff.” Phil Winegardner (Overland Park KS). Current Position: Central Region Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1969), Training Ranger (1970), CD Fish Camp (1971-‐72), CD Baldy Town (1973), CD Cimarroncito (1974). “I believe working for two large international firms for the past 35 years has provided me with a great ability to work and cooperate with others across a wide base – both geographically and age generations. Serving now as a Central Region Director, I have assisted on both the Administrative and Service Committees. For the Service Committee, I was a member of the Iowa PSA Fall Phestival planning team; this event was a huge success. Currently, I am serving as co-‐leader of the brand new PSA Volunteer Vacation program.” REGIONAL DIRECTOR NOMINEES (two from each region to be elected – listed alphabetically by region): NORTHEAST REGION: Ken Davis (Alexandria VA). Current Position: National Director. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Dining Hall, Tent City, Asst. Secretary, Asst. Program Mgr. (1960-‐63, 1965-‐66). “Sixty years continuous registered service with BSA including Scoutmaster, District Commissioner, Council Training Chairman, Jamboree Chairman and Philmont Chairman. Member of the National OA Committee since 1974. I have served as PSA board member since 2005. I have managed administrative offices in the civilian government and the US Army responsible for budget, information technology, personnel, travel, training, organizational review and planning and carrying out of events and projects and managing programs over extended periods. Author of the “History of the PSA.” Fr. Don Hummel (Paramus NJ). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: Catholic Chaplain (1992-‐ 2016). “I am currently serving as Chaplain at Paramus Catholic High School, the largest private high school in New Jersey. Fire Service Chaplaincy, Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, Office of Emergency Management Chaplaincy, American Cancer Society, Knights of Columbus, Guest House Board (treatment center for addictions), Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse. I am accustomed to conference call meetings having served on the Northeast Regional Board Membership Standards Committee for a number of years. Committee service as the board deems most appropriate but service and/or membership probably make the most sense.” George Segelken (Doylestown PA). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1971-‐73), Logistics (1974). “Currently I’m a Unit Commissioner (trained) for a pack, two regular troops and a special needs troop; the BSA High Adventure person for Tohickon District and a member of the Washington Crossing Council’s High Adventure Committee. I managed managers for most of my corporate career and have extensive operational auditing experience (auditing field offices and service providers). I think Philmont holds a special place in the hearts of most former staffers. I’d like to see the PSA develop that inkling to stay connected and to “give back” into increased PSA membership. Rick Touchette (Coeymans NY). Current Position: Northeast Region Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1971), PC Cyphers, Miranda, Urraca (1972-‐75), CD Abreu, Fish Camp (1976-‐77). “Serving my first term on the Albany County Legislature representing the 37th Legislative District, which is coterminous with the Town of Coeymans. My 30 years of not-‐for-‐profit management leadership and my service on local and national boards provides broad and diverse experience for the PSA board service. I have participated in a number of PSA treks and Northern Tier exchange programs, regional reunions, the LA and Tulsa reunions, and am active in the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. I would like to continue serving on the Service Committee and Scholarship Committee.” -‐4-‐ CENTRAL REGION: Jeff Ash (Clive IA). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: PC Baldy (1974), Ranger (1975), PC Head of Dean (1976), Logistics (1977). “I've spent most of my adult military life leading, mentoring and developing individuals and teams. As I no longer have a military commitment, I am seeking another outlet to keep me involved in something that is bigger than myself. I served a couple of years as Cubmaster to the pack were my two sons belonged. Service will likely do things that are of interest to me – making our organization stronger and continuing to build on our legacy at the ranch.” Caitlin Lowe (Lincoln NE). Current Position: Service & Membership Committee Member. Years/Positions on Staff: PC (2007-‐08), NPS (2009), CD Fish Camp, Abreu, Beaubien (2010-‐12), Backcountry Mgr. (2013). “Within the past two years I have worked a variety of jobs, three of which were nonprofit organizations including the Arbor Day Foundation, Nebraska Cornhusker Council, and currently at the Nature Explore Program. In addition to immeasurable value of what I learned while on staff at Philmont, my previous job experiences have fueled my authentic passion to give, support, and care for the communities in my life. Lastly, like many, I have a healthy sense of urgency to stay actively involved in the Philmont community and provide an outlet for others to do the same. I look forward to continuing work with the PSA in a capacity that will best suit the group and its members.” Mitch Standard (Macomb IL). Current Position: Central Region Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1984), PC Miners (1985). “I have sat on our church council in various capacities including the positions of president and vice president of our congregation. Along with my wife I am currently heading up the committee for the PSA giving campaign for the Building HOmE: The PSA Offices and Philmont Museum Expansion project. I assisted with the planning of the 2015 Iowa PSA Reunion tracing the footsteps of Waite Phillips. I’ve given many presentations to local Scout units for general information and training for their treks to Philmont.” Scott Tritt (Dayton OH). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: CHQ Services (1979). “My Scouting experience encompasses Den Leader, Cubmaster, Woodbadge training and for the past 17 years I have been an Assistant Scoutmaster. I was a council contingent leader for Florida Seabase twice and Philmont twice. I have participated in four PSA treks. I would like to serve on either the service or development committees; supporting the staff Amigos program is something I would like to expand on.” SOUTHERN REGION: Charles Aldredge (Lewisville TX). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1976), Training Ranger (1977), CD Cyphers Mine (1978), Asst. Chief Ranger (1979-‐80). “My professional responsibilities centered around coordinating folks with different tasks and abilities, from different companies and a wide variety of client types to achieve a common goal-‐ compromise was a must, sometimes with gentle urging into the “right” decision. I have served on and led training staff and advisory groups within my company and professionally, and have had presentation and speaking roles at conferences and marketing opportunities. Being retired, I now have free time, and more importantly, an open schedule, to spend how I wish. I don’t think I have any compelling reason to pick any one committee in which to participate -‐ hat with the free time allows me to be flexible.” Amy Hall (Edmond OK). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Small Fry Director (1996-‐97), Asst. PTC Program Director (1998, 2000-‐01), Fall Session/Tooth of Time Traders (2001), PTC Program Co-‐ Director (2003-‐04). “As an educator, I donated a great deal of my personal time serving on various committees within the school and to several events outside of the school to connect with my students. I am looking forward to my oldest child joining Cub Scouts (soon!) and being able to volunteer in some capacity with his pack. I would gladly serve on the Membership Committee if elected as a board member. I am organized, outgoing and, as a former PTC staffer, I could offer my time and energy to represent and recruit members from all parts of the ranch.” -‐5-‐ Dr. Dan Miller (New Smyrna Beach FL). Current Position: National Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Physician (2006-‐16), PTC Faculty (2005-‐16). “Practicing medicine (ophthalmology) in New Smyrna Beach FL, since 1985. Scoutmaster in 3 World Jamborees, Camp Lanoche physician 1996-‐present. Seeking District Chairman of our local BSA district, Executive Committee Central Florida Council 1996-‐present, faculty at PTC, Philmont Ambassador. I am very close to retirement. This is a chance to serve BSA and PSA.” Joy Pendley (Norman OK). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1985-‐86). “Most recently I served on the Norman Public School Sexual Assault Taskforce where we developed policy around curriculum and response for schools in the district. I have facilitated search conferences for the OKC Homeless Alliance, the Chickasaw Nation and the OU Center for Social Justice. This kind of planning experience gives me something to contribute the PSA and Philmont. I would be useful in developing programs under the Service Committee, such as the Amigos program or reunions or events.” WESTERN REGION: Thomas Giugni (Fairfield CA). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: NAYLE Faculty (2007-‐10), Philmont Leadership Challenge Faculty (2011-‐13), Logistics Trip Planner (2011-‐12), Logistics Mgr. (2013-‐16). “Unlike many members of our association, I did not find out about Philmont until I was an adult Scouter and did not have an opportunity to join the PSA until I began to serve as volunteer faculty at the Training Center. Presently, I serve as a Council Executive Board Member-‐at-‐large, Council Youth Protection Champion and the chair of the Leadership Development Task Force with Scouting U at the BSA National Office. I am exposed to hundreds of new seasonal staff members who are not yet members of the PSA. I will be available to personally assist in the recruiting of new seasonal staff members as members of the PSA, as well as help in PSA recruiting activities during the summer.” Ryan King (Denver CO). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: OATC Foreman (1997-‐98), Conservation Asst. Director (1999), Director of Conservation (2000-‐02), Special Projects Mgr. (2003), Assoc. Director of Program (2004-‐05). “I’ve served on several nonprofit and city boards and as an executive director. I’ve recently gone through an Executive Nonprofit Leadership Program at Harvard and understand the interworking of a nonprofit. I also just joined the Board of Directors of the American Hiking Society. As a nonprofit Executive Director, I feel I can bring a skillset, which lends to understanding the administrative side of an organization, and an understanding of what a staff goes through.” Piper Niehaus (Denver CO). Current Position: Communications Committee Member. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (2006-‐2008), Ranger Trainer (2009), Rayado Trek Coordinator (2010). “I have been living in Denver and working for technology companies as a product manager and web developer. My experience in web development would be an asset, since much of the communication between the PSA and its members is remote. Additionally, I’m a board member at Bikes Together, Denver’s nonprofit community bike center, giving me insight into the challenges that nonprofits face. I have also been leading backpacking trips for urban youth as a guide for Big City Mountaineers.” Michael Waggoner (Centerville UT). Current Position: Western Region Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Conservation (1994-‐95), Ranger (1998-‐2005). “I have previously served for 6 years on the PSA and will continue to be involved and help accommodate growth and change within the organization. I helped create the $19.73 club. I think it is important to always be thinking outside of the box and come up with new ways to grow the organization. I will commit to attending the conference calls, regional reunions and when possible the annual reunions.” FOR QUESTIONS OR INFORMATION ABOUT THE ELECTION SCHEDULE, CONTACT PSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DOLLIE O’NEILL AT 575-‐376-‐1138 OR [email protected] -‐6-‐