Walter Anderson, IAT/SIA Geologist, and Dick Anderson represented all the Chapters of the IAT/SIA at the recent ATC Conference. The Conference, held in Vermont, is a biennial opportunity for members of AT trail maintaining clubs to come together and discuss trail issues, participate in AT hiking opportunities and hold an annual meeting. Approximately 1000 ATC members attended the Conference.
The IAT/SIA has been a perennial participant in these conferences since our founding in 1994. This year our participation included an information table which displayed posters explaining the principals and route of the trail and numerous, free printed handouts supplied by IAT/SIA Chapters. The table was continuously staffed by Walter, Dick and Jack Stinson a Maine Chapter member from nearby Hanover, New Hampshire. Our information table was perfectly located and our supply of handouts was totally depleted by Sunday evening. Attendees showed a great deal of interest in the IAT/SIA and in our recent visit to the British Isles.
We also gave two hours of presentations. Subjects included; the new Power Point presentation of the overview of the IAT/SIA, a review of our recent visit to the British Isles and some spectacular pictures of Newfoundland’s Lewis Hills area.
We also co-hosted the 2000 Miler reception with the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA). That was a nice social event where Dick got to make a little speech about the importance of long distance hikers, after being introduced by Bill O’Brien who represented ALDHA in organizing the event. The reception was attended by ALDHA Coordinator and IAT/SIA and ECT thru-hiker JoJo Koby-Burley and her husband Frank Burley. Many of the leaders of the ATC were also in attendance including Bob Almond, Chair of the ATC Board of Directors, Steve Paradis Chief Operating Officer of ATC and several other ATC Board members and staff leaders.
Walter and Dick both thought the participation of IAT/SIA was very positive. The Long Trail Club and the ATC deserve high praise for a very successful and well managed conference.
Pictures accompanying this article were taken by Walter Anderson.
ATC Welcome Sign
ATC Sign
IAT/SIA Booth
Dick Anderson with Dave Startzell, Executive Director ATC and Jack Stinson
JoJo Koby-Burley, IAT/SIA and ECT Thru hiker and ALDHA Coordinator with Dick Anderson
IAT/SIA Booth
Gene Espy second thru-hiker of the AT with Dick
2000 Miler reception
ATC - Business Meeting
A wonderful place for coffee in Castleton, Vermont
Inside the diner
| 
