At this year's midyear meeting the AERC Board of Directors approved, at the request of the Trails and Land Management Committee, the addition of a Trail Advocate of the Year award. The 2009 winner will be named at the AERC convention in Reno next month.
In the past several years many AERC members have come forward and are now active in trail advocacy and trail preservation work for AERC. Trail advocacy and preservation comes in many forms.
Trail advocacy is the process of giving of one's time, communicating with land managers or other trail user groups, advocating and explaining the inherent rights of equestrian use on trails. This means one attends endless planning sessions with land managers, writing letters of support for the preservation of trail access, and so forth.
Trail preservation is hands-on work with trails. (That is the fun part of trail advocacy.) Off the horse, on the ground and actually making an improvement to the condition of a trail.
For one to be selected as the Trail Advocate of the Year the Trails Committee is asking that nominations be sent to me at Trailmaster1@hughes.net by February 15, 2010. The nominee should be an AERC member in good standing. Nominations should include the following:
1. A documented history of the nominee's advocacy for trails.
2. A documented history of trail preservation (hands-on work on trails).
3. Include in the nomination at least two other persons, with their phone numbers, who are familiar with the nominee's work on trails and trail advocacy.
4. Please note whether the nominee is an AERC-certified Trail Master. The AERC Trail Master program is just a part of learning how to become a trail advocate and trail preservationist.
We expect this to be a very competitive process, so the more information you can include with the nomination, the better the chances will be for the nominee to be chosen as the AERC Trail Advocate of the Year. Good luck with your nominations and if you need to speak to me about the process you may reach me at 812-499-6904.
Remember: All you need is a horse and a trail.
New members: join online by clicking here or phone the office toll-free, 866-271-2372.
Renewing? Click here, or give the office staff a call at 866-271-2372.
How far will you ride this year? Join AERC and we'll help you count the miles!
