Vision Statement. The NCTA will. develop a corridor of consistently and clearly marked treadways, blending with local character acte appropriate.

Transcription

1

2

3 Vision Statement The North Country Trail Association (NCTA) will be the primary organization charged with developing, maintaining, protecting, and promoting the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST). The NCTA will coordinate, unite and empower volunteers and partner organizations, landowners and agencies along the length of the trail to fulfill its mission. Our vision for the North Country National Scenic Trail is that of the premier footpath of national significance, offering a superb experience for hikers and backpackers in a permanently protected corridor, traversing and interpreting the richly diverse environmental, cultural, and historic features of the northern United States. The NCTA will develop a corridor of consistently and clearly marked treadways, blending with local character acte as appropriate. maintain the NCNST through highly successful sful partnerships among the various entities, providing funding, management and service. protect, permanently whenever possible, the NCNST as a public hiking trail showcasing and interpreting the rich variety of historical, cultural and environmental features in the northern United States promote the NCNST as a continuous hiking trail of the highest caliber with foot traffic accorded the highest priority to the exclusion of other uses except in short, specifically designated segments.

4 Accomplishments: 2009 was a good year for NCTA! Here are highlights: NCTA is sporting a new look with a brand and logo emphasizing your adventure starts nearby, and our unique connection to America s northern heartlands, serving our rugged red plaid nation. A new NCTA website is spearheading much expanded social networking on all things North Country Trail. More volunteers contributed more hours to the Trail than ever. Volunteer hours rose a whopping 22% over 2008! Their efforts are valued at $1.214 million! And if you like more numbers that s $3.64 returned on every dollar invested by the National Park Service. Member giving rose 26% in Private donations rose 4% over 2008 and now constitute 11% of NCTA s revenue. NCTA s revenues exceeded projections again, and expenses came in $500 less than budgeted, enabling the association to enter 2010 with a surplus of $64,000. NCTA s revenues diversified, with the NPS contribution down to 42%. Volunteer Adventures hosted six projects attended by 69 volunteers! Two new NCTA chapters were formed The Arrowhead Chapter in northern Minnesota and in the westernmost U.P. of Michigan there is now the Ni-Miikanaake Chapter (Ojibwa for I make a trail ).

5 70 year-old Eb Eberhart, aka Nimblewill Nomad, completed the North Country Trail in less than ten months, becoming the 8th ever to hike the entire length. Senator Carl Levin (MI-D) attended two National Trails Day 09 events in northern Michigan. Longtime NCTA stalwart and Spirit of the NCT Joan Young nears completion of her quest to hike the entire trail, expected in August, Bonita Curtner began her quest to finish the Trail in two years. The Sheyenne River Valley Chapter hosted an outstanding annual conference in North Dakota, where 154 NCTAer s experienced prairie hiking on a big sky scale Premier hiking segments of the North Country Trail are now being highlighted on the NCTA website. Major media coverage included Wisconsin and Minnesota Public TV as well as in following Nimblewill Nomad. The Golden Aspen Spike was driven by the Itasca Moraine Chapter, capping an eight-year effort to close the 40 mile gap between the Chippewa National Forest and Itasca State Park. Grand Traverse Hiking Club Chapter completed their Hodenpyl/ Manistee River Re-route, 15.5 miles of exquisitely constructed trail.

6

7 Accomplishments cont d: Urban NCNST signs installed in Mellen and Solon Springs, WI and Lowell, MI. Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and the NCTA, heralding a new era of cooperation in managing the shared 400-plus miles of trail in New York s southern tier. Central New York Chapter s Al Larmann received the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award. North Country Trail Hikers Club s Lorana Jinkerson wrote and published Nettie does the NCT, the first children s book about the trail and a finalist for best book award from USA Book News. Membership stability More than half of NCTA s members have belonged to NCTA for 6-plus years! And more than 80% will renew again this year! Buckeye Trail Association is protecting over 3 miles of shared Buckeye and North Country Trail with acquisition of the 190 acre Pretty Run property in Vinton County. The Tour de NCT, is underway in PA, with a group of NCTAers seeking to complete every mile of off-road NCT in Pennsylvania. Nearly 30 volunteers certified in Wilderness First Aid and Chainsaw Safety. Americorps supports pilot project in Pennsylvania for communications coordinator. 100% of the NCTA s Board of Directors contributed to the Annual Appeal.

8 Benefits What does the NCTA membership get you? Representation in Washington: NCTA s team works hard to educate members of Congress and others regarding trail needs, issues and a national hiking agenda. North Country folks care passionately about the outdoors, conservation and growing and preserving recreational opportunities. NCTA works on your behalf to ensure a future for hiking and wild places to hike in. Trail-building expertise: Building and maintaining a durable hiking trail takes some know-how, and the training is free for NCTA members and volunteers. Community: the collective knowledge of trails, backpacking, nature, long distance hiking, routes, and expeditions everything from how to hike light to which chicken a la king dinner tastes best. You re part of a large extended family when you belong to the NCTA, and you re never far from a friend, a dry bed and a warm supper anywhere along the trail. Maps and planning support: Someone s got to do it keep track of 4600 miles worth of trail route, trailhead locations, water sources, campsites, etc. ROI: every membership dollar invested returns $8 to the trail. 30% of your dues are returned directly to local chapters. Media attention NCTA generates media impressions whenever a newsworthy event (and sometimes not!) happens along the trail. Telling the story in local communities generates more support for the trail. 4 issues of the North Star. Discounts on Trail Shop maps and merchandise. NCTA members are supporting millions of dollars of effort focused on bringing the North Country Trail to life in communities near you.

9 Financial Year in Review 2009 Revenue ($1,000 s) Revenue 8.9% 14.4% 10.8% 11.2% 54.8% Membership Donations Government Grants Other Grants Other Revenue $114.7 $89.1 $437.7 $85.8 $ % 11.2% 54.8% 10.8% 8.9% TOTAL REVENUE $ % Cost of Goods Sold Gross Profit $7.8 $ Expenses es es Expenses 21.9% 21.1% 1.9% Administration Advocacy Chapters Development GIS/Cartography Outreach Trail Management $152.7 $14.0 $142.1 $4.9 $36.4 $216.1 $ % 1.9% 19.6% 0.7% 5.0% 29.8% 21.9% TOTAL EXPENSE $ % Net Income Current Assets Current Liabilities Cash Position $64.8 $365.5 $31.7 $ % 29.8% 5.0% 0.7% Grants/Donations G Gr ran an nts tts ts/d s/d /Do on nat atio ion ns s over ove ver $5 ver $ $5,000 5,0,000 0 C ollco o com Fo ounda unda un dati dati tion on Colcom Foundation Min M iin inne nne neso sota sota ta D NR, RT NR R TP Gr G ran ran nt Minnesota DNR, RTP Grant Key eyst stone one Tr on T rai ails ails ls A ss so oc cia iattiion on Keystone Trails Association Sc ch hee eels ls A ll S ll po p ort rts Scheels All Sports Hub bbard barrd ba d County Cou ount untty M Mi inn inn nnes ne es sot sot ota Hubbard Minnesota $ 30,, $30,000 $ $2 20 0,,60, $20,600 $ 18,3 18, $18,300 $ $8 8,200 8,2,, $8,200 $5 $ 5, $5,000

10 Agenda What s next for the NCTA? Here are some of our major priorities... Extending the eastern terminus of the Trail from Crown Point, New York into Vermont to connect with the Appalachian Trail. Gaining Congressional approval for designating Minnesota s northeastern Arrowhead as part of the NCNST (Superior Hiking, Border Route and Kekekabic Trails). Stemming illegal ORV use on the Trail. Supporting the Sea to Sea hiking trail concept. Engaging trail communities to embrace the Gateway community/trail town concept. Finalizing and gaining approval for the NCNST s 150 mile route through New York s Adirondack State Park. Completing the stewardship planning process incorporating the new willing seller authority. Obtaining National Park Service unit status for the NCNST. Trailwide implementation of NCTA s new trail project management system.

11

12