Keystone Trails Association Annual Report

Transcription

1 Keystone Trails Association Annual Report Keystone Trails Association, a volunteer-directed, public service organization is a federation of membership organizations and individuals dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania, and to representing and advocating the interests and concerns of the Pennsylvania hiking community.

2 Contents Highlights...page 3 Programs and Events.page 4 Advocacy...page 11 Trail Care page 13 Membership..page 15 Financials Treasurer Report....page 16 Budget page 17

3 Highlights The KTA office was moved from Harrisburg to Mechanicsburg New Programs were added: Trek The Tiadaghton Quehanna Elk Quest The many successes reflected in our hiking history typify KTA s relevance as the voice of PA s hikers and trails here in our Commonwealth. Our mission of providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania through outreach, policy, stewardship, trail care and advocacy defines who we are. Annual Programs were offered: Spring Hiking Weekend Prowl the Sproul KTA Trail Challenge Fall Hiking Weekend The staff finished their first full year together The KTA budget was in the black by over $ or approximately 4% of budget KTA participated in community events: Earth Day, Jubilee Day, Duncannon Trails Day, Art & Wine Walk Keystone Trails Association Annual Report - 3 -

4 A Closer Look at KTA s Programs for Fall Hiking Weekend at Doubling Gap in Newville, PA The Fall Hiking Weekend in 2015 had 101 participants compared to 113 in Participants Series 1 Income was $11,475.00, expenses were $7,372.00, netting $ Revenue 18% 32% 50% Income Expense Net Keystone Trails Association Annual Report - 4 -

5 2. Spring Hiking Weekend in Wellsboro, PA The Spring Hiking Weekend had 141 participants in 2016 compared to 145 in Participants Series 1 Income was $21,020.00, expenses were $15,423.00, netting $5, Revenue 13% 50% 37% Income Expense Net Keystone Trails Association Annual Report - 5 -

6 3. Trek the Tiadaghton in Waterville, PA This was the first year this program was offered. Participation was disappointing as only 21 people attended. Income was $1,570.00, expenses were $2,082.00, netting ($512.00). Revenue -12% 38% 50% Income Expense Net Keystone Trails Association Annual Report - 6 -

7 4. Prowl the Sproul in Renovo, PA 72 participants attended the Prowl the Sproul Hiking Weekend in 2016 compared to 76 in Participants Participants Income was $3,121.00, expenses were $2,402.00, netting $ Revenue 12% 38% 50% Income Expense Net Keystone Trails Association Annual Report - 7 -

8 5. KTA Trail Challenge in Lancaster/York Counties Registration began months later than normal due to uncertainties and controversy over Holtwood Recreation Area. A rebranding of the event (name change) also contributed to some confusion. The event had 586 participants in 2015 but that fell to 421 this year. Participants Year Income was $30,060.00, expenses were $18,336.00, netting $11, Last year we netted approximately $23, Revenue 20% 50% 30% Income Expense Net Keystone Trails Association Annual Report - 8 -

9 6. Quehanna Elk Quest in Elk County This was the first year this program was offered. 15 people attended (the limit was set at 19) and 3 members of the Board of Directors led hikes. Income was $3,222.00, expenses were $2,805.00, netting $ Revenue 6% 44% 50% Income Expense Net Keystone Trails Association Annual Report - 9 -

10 7. Fall Hiking Weekend in Emlenton, PA The participation in 2016 was 105 while in people attended. Participants Year Income was $12,268.00, while expenses were approximately $4,807.00, for a net of $7, Revenue 30% 50% 20% Income Expense Net Keystone Trails Association Annual Report

11 Advocacy KTA works with Pennsylvania s General Assembly, Legislative Committees, Advisory Committees and state agencies to ensure the protection of trails, the preservation and promotion of the hiking experience and the safeguarding of our natural areas. Sunday Hunting Public Private Partnerships on State Parks Endangered Species LWCF Clean Water Act Holtwood Recreation Area DCNR s FRMP Keystone Trails Association Annual Report

12 KTA was involved in seven major advocacies efforts in this fiscal year. 1. Sunday Hunting KTA staff personally visited offices of members of the PA House of representatives, testified at a Senate hearing, sent out position papers and talking points, and most recently opposed an amendment to a hunting license fee increase bill. All efforts to pass Sunday Hunting were defeated. 2. HB 2013 (Public Private Partnerships) An effort was made to take authority away from DCNR and give it to the legislature on issues relating to Public Private Partnerships on State Parks. This would open our parks up to development of amusements parks, golf courses, office buildings, etc. KTA sent s to all 200+ House members opposing this legislation. Working with our conservation partners this effort was defeated. 3. Endangered Species Amendments - related to changing the process for endangered species designation in Pennsylvania. The Amendments would undermine the ability of our wildlife management agencies to protect the mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians of the Commonwealth. KTA is part of a coalition of groups opposing this effort. 4. Land and Water Conservation Fund KTA wrote op-eds and lobbied in Washington DC with the Wilderness Society, Appalachian Mountain Club and other groups for reauthorization and funding of this federal legislation. 5. Clean Water Act - KTA wrote op-eds and letters supporting The Clean Water Act (CWA) which establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. There were congressional efforts to weaken this law. 6. Holtwood Recreation Area There was a change in ownership of the Holtwood Recreation Area and the new owners initially posted the property in early Our 50k race went through this property and in 2015 the 25k portion of the event began here. KTA communicated with state and federal officials along with partners such as the Lancaster County Conservancy to have the property opened for use. However, delays and controversy cost us in participation in the event (see above). 7. DCNR Forest Resource Management Plan KTA provided both written comments and testimony in DCNR s new plan. Keystone Trails Association Annual Report

13 Trail Care The Keystone Trails Association offers a robust trail care program with volunteer opportunities available on trails across the state. Beginning in 1984, the Trail Care Program was created to lend a hand to local trail clubs wherever there was exceptional need for a trail crew. That summer an eight-week work program kicked off the first trail care season in what would become one of the Keystone Trails Association s most successful initiatives. Today the Keystone Trails Association offers many opportunities for volunteers to do their part in maintaining Pennsylvania s hiking trails, including Code Orange trail care days, Trail Care weekends and weeklong Summer Trail Crews. Keystone Trails Association Annual Report

14 2016 Report The KTA Trail Care Program continues to have a dedicated corps of experienced volunteers who come to multiple events, augmented by people who come to only one. This year the participation levels were somewhat down when compared with previous years. Out of 108 participants, 47 were first time volunteers to the program, 83 came to only 1 event and 25 people came to 2 or more. The figures for the 2015 season were 118, 53, 86, and 32 and for the 2014 season were 115, 43, 81, and 34. The KTA Trail Care Program needs to continue to attract first time volunteers, entice this year s first timers to return to future events and encourage people who come to only 1 event to come to 2 or more, thus expanding the steadfast corps of experienced volunteers. The total work hours for this season came in at 2,708 (2,957 for 2015) with 1,279 (1,556 in 2015) coming from week-long crews. Highlights: Thunder Swamp Trail Crew (one week) cleared over 100 blow downs to clear the main loop and also brushcut halfway around the main loop, with only 5 volunteers. The Donut Hole/Chuck Keiper Trails Crew (one week) had only 4 volunteers, and very little maintenance is done on either trail outside of the annual KTA Trail Crew week. Volunteers did excellent work on both the West Rim and Tuscarora Trails. The well-attended Trail Care on the Black Forest Trail yielded significant good work both clearing sections of the trail and improving treadway. Keystone Trails Association Annual Report

15 Membership We have 41 active (dues-paying) member clubs Our October 2016 digital newsletter was sent to 4,853 individuals, with a 30% open rate. Our open rates are consistently significantly higher than industry standard (20.98% for nonprofit membership organizations). Membership at Fiscal Year Close 9/30/2016 (Late Renewals Not Shown) Membership Type Number Number 12/21/2015 Regular Keep Trails Alive (excl. Life) Life Life Family 6 5 Family Introductory Individual / Family 132 / Brush Cutter Blaze Cutter Family Blaze Painter Blaze Painter Family 22 8 Trail Builder 7 7 Trail Builder Family 1 1 Trail Challenge Youth 2 1 Current Donors* TOTAL *Donors do not pay for membership, but contribute a comparable sum during the year. No organization survives without active, devoted and energetic members. When it comes to hiking and hiking trails, that's you! Individuals, hiking and outdoors clubs, and sympathetic businesses and other organizations are welcome as members of KTA. Our Affiliated Clubs are local hiking clubs (Member Organizations) or businesses and other supporters (Partner Members) who work with us to promote hiking trails and their use and preservation. There might be one right in your neighborhood. Keystone Trails Association relies heavily on its members' dues payments and charitable donations to fund its work in support of Pennsylvania's hiking trails. Every member of our organization realizes the importance of trail safety and preservation, and with their contributions restore, preserve, and beautify our state's footpaths for generations to come. Keystone Trails Association Annual Report

16 Keystone Trails Association, Treasurer Report October 15, 2016 Dear Fellow Keystone Trails Association member; Attached you will find copies of the Association s internal financial statements for the twelve month period of the year ending September 30, These statements have been prepared by Dan Grabenstein, the Association s bookkeeper and have been reviewed by me. My comments are as follows: For the year ending September 30, 2016, Keystone Trail Association the unaudited statements show a gain of $9, compared to a loss of ($14,094) for the year ending September 30, I note that these are unaudited statements and are subject to audit and there will be some corrections. For the period total revenue was $205,175 compared to a budget of $167,655 or a positive variance of $37,520. Individual memberships were $17,524 above budget but about $10,000 of that positive number can be explained in the timing of membership renewals; which went out late in the prior year resulting in the dollars being received and reported in this year. Retail and wholesale sales finished slightly above budget, the Spring and Fall meetings were both above budget and resulted in gains for the organization, and in spite of a difficult start to the registration period the Tail Challenge was only $940 short of budget. Major areas of short fall were Trail Challenge Sponsorships, ($4,200) and Prowl the Sproul ($1,379) On the expense side, per the statement KTA had a negative variance of ($26,034) as total expenses were $182,624 compared to a budget of $156,590. The major areas of negative variance were the office move and utilities ($1,678), KTA trail challenge ($12,336), Quehanna Elk Quest ($2,459 which is an incorrect post by the bookkeeper and will be corrected via the audit), membership development ($2,240 not included in budget but needed, and Trail Care ($4,593 as approved by council at last October meeting) Again, I repeat myself, but the financial statement will be audited as normal business practice requires. We will have the audited statement by December of this year and will report on the results. There will be adjustments to the final numbers via the audit. A few have been noted above; in addition with the office move some needed items were donated. Accounting rules require that these items be recognized as revenue and either expensed or capitalized and depreciated over the use full life of the asset. This was not done and over the audit items with a value of $5,000 or more will be capitalized and depreciated in the fiscal year just closed. The total effect of this adjustment is not known at this time. Sincerely, Ernest W. Werstler, Jr. Keystone Trails Association Annual Report

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19 Keystone Trails Association Established East Main St Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania kta-hike.org