Our Stories

WI’s Roving Trail Crew wraps up an “Award Winning” year on the NCT

Bill Menke, NCTA’s Wisconsin Regional Trail Coordinator recently prepared a 2012 summary report for the Brule-St. Croix Roving Trail Crew (or the “Rovers”).  Below is an excerpt from his report (PDF, 1.5MB).

2012 Crew Statistics

“If 2011 was known as “The Year of The Bridges”, then by all logic 2012 will be known as “The Year of The Puncheon.”  During seven of the eight trips, we constructed Type 3 Puncheon in what we have been calling the Spring Creek West segment (Spring Creek to Moose River). Except for one month, when we took a break and constructed tread within the new addition to Copper Falls State Park, we became experts in straightening twisted beams and screwing down deck boards. In total, we built 16 structures totaling 2,100 feet.

There were 28 different participants on the crew this year. I was amazed when working up the data for these statistics to see how many people had participated so fully.

There are three individuals who at-tended all 8 trips (40 days) this year. They are: Dick Kroener (Rosemount, MN); Dave Schlosser (Port Washington, WI; and myself (entered just for historical purposes). Just behind these three are John Pearson (Solon Springs) with 7 full trips and Don Penly (Madison) with 6 full trips. This year we were very fortunate to have Greg Polzin (Solon Springs, WI) join us for the first time in May and then go on to make 5 full trips. Greg is big and strong and feels sorry for the rest of us “old guys”—always doing more than his share. Welcome Greg!  We were also fortunate to attract a number of others who participated for the first time. These include: Pete Bock-Minong, WI (1 trip + 5 days), Harlan Liljequist-Brooklyn Center, MN (1 trip), Beth Nason-Solon Springs, WI (1 day), Jim Noble-Brule, WI (1 trip + 4 days), Jim Olmsted-Mt. Horeb, WI (2 part days), Amanda Preston-Rochester, MN (1 trip), Ray Rivera-Rochester, MN (1 trip), Dominick Truscott-Superior, WI (2 days), Barbara Unger-Madison, WI (1 trip), and Bill Vitaniemi-Dodgeville, WI (1 trip).  Other faithful, returning crew members who pitched in this year are (alphabetical order): Phil Anderson (1 trip + 9 days), Jim Antonson (3 trips + 1 day), Bob Gould (2 trips) Bob Leedle and Jane Leedle (2 trips), Lynne Nason and Peter Nason (1 day), Phil Nimps (1 trip), Joann Pearson (7 days), Ron and Linda Sootsman (1 trip), and Mark VanHornweder (2 trips + 4 days).  It’s particularly gratifying to have the local chapter members, who don’t normally camp with us, turn out so routinely in 2012. They really make the crew as strong as it is. It was also especially gratifying to have so many new people join our ranks. We welcome each of you and hope you will come back whenever you can.

Regardless of how much time each person is able to contribute, each of you make a valuable contribution. The crew cannot function without such wonderful volunteers. THANK YOU to each and every one of you.

In total the Rovers tallied up a whop-ping 2,771 volunteer hours with a calculated value of $60,380.”

The Rovers win the Midwest Region’s Volunteer Group Hartzog Award

Because of the Rovers’ exceptional, long-term contribution to the NCT in Wisconsin (and in other states too), they are award winners!

“The Rovers were nominated by our NPS Volunteer Coordinator, Dan Watson for the (Hartzog) Volunteer Group Award. In mid October, Dan announced that we had won the Midwest Region Award in the group category—facing a record number of nominations (28). Our nomination has now been submitted to Washington DC to compete at the National level.”

Congratulations to Bill and all of the Rovers’ volunteers!