Our Stories

2025 NCTA Volunteer Awards: Lifetime Achievement

This award is presented to individuals who have shown 15+ years of true dedication, exceptional service, and outstanding contributions toward the dream of the North Country Trail, or the success and growth of the Association.

John Heiam and Lois Goldstein

John and Lois were dedicated volunteers with the NCTA Grand Traverse Chapter for many years. They served in committee and board roles at the national level, offered significant financial support to the NCTA, and were beloved friends to many. They said “yes” a lot, mainly to serving in leadership roles with their Chapter. John attended a number of Hike the Hill events in Washington DC, effectively and passionately advocating for the trail. The couple was among the first to embrace the Association’s growing fundraising efforts by making significant gifts and hosting events at their home. They were instrumental at the start of the NCTA’s Endowment Fund. Hardly a weekend would go by without them leading a hike or local river trip. The number of folks in the Traverse City (Michigan) area who benefited from their efforts is incalculable, yet they did so quietly because they simply believed it was the right thing to do. When John and Lois passed away in a tragic car accident in late 2023, the NCTA was notified of a final gift. As Legacy Society members, they chose to include the Association in their wills. This ended up being close to $400,000, which the NCTA added to the Endowment Fund John helped start. John and Lois’s legacy will live on. We only wish they were here to receive this recognition.

Becky and Daryl Heise

Becky and Daryl have been volunteering for the North Country Trail in North Dakota for more than 20 years. Becky has held nearly every officer position with the NCTA Sheyenne River Valley Chapter since 2004. She participates in workdays, researches landowners and prospective routes, and helps develop trail easements. Daryl has been a critical member of the Chapter’s maintenance committee for more than 15 years, and has often donated his own equipment. Thanks to Becky’s three-year leadership of the Recreational Trail Grant Project, the Chapter successfully obtained 24 easements, protecting 29 miles of trail. Additionally, she helped install a number of structures funded by this grant, and helped research and design the informational panels. Becky is a fantastic marketing volunteer, having written narrative for the website, brochures, grants, news articles, and annual reports. She tables events, brainstorms ideas for new hikes and events, and serves on the editorial committee of the North Star. Both Becky and Daryl have received a variety of NCTA volunteer awards over the years for their dedication, and the NCTA is honored to recognize her at this most esteemed level.

Larry Pio

For nearly 25 years, Larry has exercised extraordinary generosity of time, talent, and treasure for the NCTA and its Chief Noonday Chapter. There is scarcely a foot of trail in the Chapter’s territory that Larry has not trod and helped build, repair, maintain, improve, or promote. There is scarcely a work or outreach project he has not led or taken part in. He is ever on the lookout for things that need to be done, then either handles them himself, or organizes and delegates to get them done. Early on, Larry joined the Chapters’ Trail Adopter team, and tended to three miles, largely alone for approximately 20 years. He’s a certified sawyer, program and project leader, and energetic participant. For 19 years, he produced and distributed the Chapter newsletter, and eventually brought it into the digital age. He won’t hesitate to table events or give presentations to promote trail use and volunteerism. Larry is calm, sensible, and attentive. This effective style and kind demeanor has led him to a number of Chapter and national leadership positions, including the NCTA Board of Directors. He and his wife Suzanne have generously supported the NCTA for a number of years. His low-key yet rich career with the Chapter and Association are more than worthy of celebration and recognition through this award.

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