Our Stories

2024 Volunteer Awards: Communicator

The Communicator Award is presented to a volunteer for exemplary work in promoting the trail or the NCTA through a communications medium (e.g. newsletter, website, brochure, etc.) or personal contacts over a 3-year period or more.

Robyn Gallimore-Jones

Robyn has worked in graphic design for over 20 years and the Wampum Chapter has relied on her creativity since 2021. She designed the Chapter hiking patch, a multitude of flyers for events, and new shirts for trail maintainers. She creates ads for local publications – one of which appeared in a traveler’s guide that reached approximately 30,000 people in Ohio. Robyn is also a trail adopter and frequently attends outreach events. Her designs are always professional, and she does a wonderful job positively representing her fellow volunteers and the North Country Trail.

Eric Longman

It seems as though every single day Eric is communicating with someone about the North Country Trail, from Chief Noonday Chapter members to hikers to city officials to NCTA staff. If a tree is down, he is among the first to organize a team to take care of it. When newsworthy information arises, he shares it with his fellow members and volunteers. When someone has gone out of their way to do something good, Eric recognizes them. As Chapter Vice President, he has a wonderful grasp on broader goals, yet his attention to detail and prioritization of communication are truly what are helping advance the Chapter. The trail is absolutely better known and better cared for in Southern Michigan thanks to Eric’s leadership and friendly nature.

Learn more about how the you can honor NCTA volunteers for their service on and for the North Country National Scenic Trail, and submit a nomination at northcountrytrail.org/volunteer-awards.