New York-North Jersey Chapter Handbook for Officers & Committee Chairs

        The committees in this section are represented on the Executive Committee by the Executive for Public Service.

Editor's Note: Committee descriptions marked '!' are out of date and may need updating. It is the responsibility of the current committee chairs to update their committee description ASAP.

AMC OUTINGS FOR URBAN KIDS (AOK)

PURPOSE:

        The purpose of AOK is to provide an outdoor experience for urban kids.

TERMS OF OFFICE/SUCCESSION:

        The Chair is appointed by the Executive Committee for a one to three year term.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Committee Members are appointed by the Chair for one to three year terms.
    Committee Members duties include being an active participant in:

1. the planning and implementation of AOK activities;
2. proposing and reviewing AOK policies and procedures, and advising the Chair on the disposition of such policies and procedures;
3. attending AOK meetings.

Leaders are appointed by the Chair for one to three year terms.
    Leader duties include planning, implementing, and leading AOK outings.
    Leader qualifications include:

1. being trained as an AOK leader;
2. particpating in at least two AOK outings as an Assistant Leader,
3. attaining a positive performance assessment by the relevant outing Leaders.

Assistant Leaders are appointed by the Chair for one to three year terms.
    Assistant Leader duties include particpating in AOK outings.
    Assistant Leader qualifications include being trained as an AOK leader.

Agency Coordinators are appointed by the Chair for one to three year terms.
    Agency Coordinator duties include:

1. contacting agencies to solicit their providing children to attend AOK outings;
2. maintaining communication with the agency; negotiating outing dates and locations;
3. assigning an AOK leader to each outing.
    Agency Coordinator qualifications include:
1. being briefed on AOK operations;
2. being personable;
3. having the ability to make an outing happen by being persistant.

FUNDING:

AOK does not have its own checking account; requests for reimbursement are processed as follows:

1. hard copy receipts are mailed to the Chapter Treasurer;
2. a request for reimbursement is e-mailed to the Chapter Treasurer and the AOK Chair;
3. the AOK Chair e-mails an authorization for reimbusement to the the Chapter Treasurer;
4. the Chapter Treasurer makes the reimbursement to the requestor and so notifies the AOK Chair via e-mail.

MEETINGS:

        Committee Members meet several times per year, usually monthly during the planning season (winter and early spring), and bi-monthly otherwise.

EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES:

        AOK Leaders and Assistant Leaders maintain an inventory of day packs and other equipment that might be useful on an AOK outing.

OPERATIONS:

        AOK is public service program of the Appalachian Mountain Club designed to link urban youth groups with AMC leaders interested in sharing the wonder and adventure of the outdoors; typical activities being hikes in the woods, swimming, and canoeing on a lake. The youngsters we serve are boys and girls from the New York - New Jersey metropolitan area who range in age from 6 to 16 (nominally).

        Children are grouped by age so that the level of strenuousness of the activity can be appropriately chosen. Multiple age groups can be accommodated on the same day and using the same transportation. The AMC provides leaders and other volunteers experienced in the outdoors, and specially trained in the requirements of the the AOK program; the sending agency is expected to provide one or more adult supervisors familiar with the children. Transportation is mainly the responsibility of the sending agency, although AOK is prepared to subsidize a portion of such costs (up to $200 per outing), if necessary.

        Typical AOK procedure is:

1. Discuss the scheduling, transportation, and other details with a representative of the sending agency;

2. Once the event is scheduled, a meeting among the children, participating sending agency personnel, and an AOK leader is arranged during which the AOK leader will provide pertinent details about the outing, such as the location of the outing, what to bring, what to wear, precautionary measures, etc. A major portion of this meeting will be a dialog during which the children are encouraged to express any particular interests and to ask questions. Checklists and other materials will be distributed at this meeting.

3. When the children and sending agency personnel arrive at the location of the outing, they will be greeted by the AOK leaders, who will provide last minute information and reminders. During the outing the AOK leaders will provide guidance and instruction, as necessary, and will encourage questions from the children.

M. Cohen 8/2000

CONSERVATION

PURPOSE:

TERMS OF OFFICE/SUCCESSION:

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

FUNDING:

MEETINGS:

ACTIVITIES:

MEMBERSHIP IN OTHER COMMITTEES/ORGANIZATIONS:

CHAPTER EQUIPMENT USE:

CUSTOMARY MEETINGS:

B. Tyler 1992

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES

PURPOSE:

        To provide communication between the AMC and the Environmental Advocates (EA). And to advocate for open space, trail and water use issues on the EA Board.

ACTIVITY:

        The AMC Representative to the EA sits on the EA Board and communicates to the EA the priorities and issues as the AMC sees them. In turn, the representative works on behalf of the EA and communicates back to the AMC, the EA needs and concerns - including financial.

        The EA has grown over the last 30 years that the AMC has been involved with it into the premier environmental lobbying organization in Albany. They also carry out door to door canvassing in various parts of the state and environmental education.

L. Gross 3/2000

NEW YORK - NEW JERSEY TRAIL CONFERENCE

PURPOSE:

        To attend the Trail Conference Meetings every two months and act as liaison between Trail Conference and Chapter Trails Committee and other interested Chapter committee's as appropriate.

J. Driller, 3/2000

PROGRAM

PURPOSE:

        The purpose of the Program Committee is to provide programs of a general interest for the membership.

TERMS OF OFFICE/SUCCESSION:

1. The Chair is appointed by the Executive Committee for a two year term.

2. If possible, the chair recommends a successor to the Executive Committee.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

        Individual members are asked to do a specific job for a specific event.

MEETING SCHEDULE:

        None. Most events are planned over the phone or by letter.

PLANNING ACTIVITIES/EVENTS AND FUNCTIONS:

1. Members are encouraged to submit ideas for programs to the Chair.

2. When an event is tentatively scheduled, the date is cleared with the Publications Chair prior to confirmation.

FUNDING:

        Each event should be self-supporting. A fee is charged to participants to cover its cost (i.e renting the meeting place and any refreshments provided).

J. Schwarz 5/2000

TRAILS

PURPOSE:

1. The purpose of the Trails Committee is to coordinate and supervise the maintenance of approximately 120 miles of trails ranging from sections of the Appalachian Trail to an urban trail in a public park in the Bronx.

2. Maintenance and reporting standards are set and enforced throughout the trail network. The Chapter reports to the NY-NJ Trail Conference regarding maintenance of assigned trails in the East of Hudson, West of Hudson and New Jersey areas. Maintenance of urban trails is at the discretion of the involved municipalities (i.e. the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City of New York re. the Siwanoy Trail).

3. The Trails Committee is also involved in non-Trail Conference activities such as the Urban/Suburban Trails program in Pelham Bay Park and Westchester.

TERMS OF OFFICE/SUCCESSION:

1. The Chair is appointed by the Executive Committee for an indefinite term.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

1. The committee is composed of the Chair plus four regional supervisors: East of Hudson, West of Hudson, New Jersey and Urban (includes suburban trails as well).

2. There are about 65 individual maintainers or regular group workers. A position or two for trail crew and/or consultant for problems is a consideration.

FUNDING:

        Funding is through the Chapter. A budget is submitted to the Chapter Executive Committee and expenses are paid by the Chapter Treasurer.

MEETINGS:

1. There are usually 8-10 group trail work trips in spring and fall; about half of them are urban.

2. Participate in Get-Acquainted nights and other get-togethers such as Public Service Night.

SCHEDULING OF TRIPS:

1. Group work in the schedule.
   1. These trips are planned by Chair or supervisors and are placed in Chapter Schedule for anyone to attend.
   2. Leaders of these trips must be approved by the Chair or trail supervisor.

2. Individual work on an "adopted" trail sections (usually a 2-4 mile section).
   Individual work trips are planned by the individual maintainers at their own convenience (alone or with friends) and are not in the schedule.

REPORTING:

        Supervisors keep a list of individual maintainers and receive trail reports from trail maintainers twice a year. They work with the individual maintainers to ensure compliance with trail work standards.

LEADER TRAINING/INSTRUCTION:

1. From participants, potential leaders are noticed for their good trail work, interest and potential.

2. There is one indoor workshop on trail maintenance.

3. The NY-NJ Trail Conference manual is used as a guide.

PUBLICITY:

        The Chair writes a column (Trail Corner in TRAILS & Waves) recommending work trips, conference work trips and Club-wide summer work, trail work and service projects.

EQUIPMENT:

1. The Chapter owns a supply of basic equipment including saws, clippers, swizzle sticks, etc. as well as a gasoline-powered weed whacker. The tools are housed by the area supervisors. Many of the tools are kept by the Urban Trails Supervisor as they are most often used in the urban area. Suburban and rural workers are more likely to own their own tools. Supervisors are expected to provide the Chair with current equipment lists.

2. Individual maintainers are expected to supply their own basic tools and to report to the supervisor when more specialized work - and therefore, tools - are required.

3. Persons attending a workshop may bring their own tools, but most often the Chapter supplies tools.

MEMBERSHIP IN OTHER COMMITTEES/ORGANIZATIONS:

        The Chair serves on the Club Trails Committee. The Club-wide Trails Committee has 4 regular meeting per year. Three of these meetings are at Club-wide meeting; the fourth is at Pinkham Notch in June. It's good to attend these meetings to keep in touch with the Club-wide Trails Chair, read the minutes and send back input in the form of notes.

CHAPTER EQUIPMENT USED:

1. Postage meter is most often used for large mailings.

2. The roster of maintainers is kept on the Chapter database.

J. Levin 5/2000