The AERC now has a program in place where you can register the hours you are dedicating to trail construction and maintenance. Instructions as to how to access the AERC web page and log on are provided on this page (see below).
The program was designed and put in place by Jim Holland and Mike Maul. When you see these guys at a ride give them a big thanks. Keeping track of our hours dedicated to trail preservation is just another step in being able to show our land managers that endurance riders do care about the environment.
Jim and Mike tried to keep the form short and simple. Of course we are open to any suggestions that may enhance the program.
Volunteer hours on the trail? Make your time count!
At the AERC home page, http://aerc.org, click on the link in the upper right under the last grey horse where it says "member login." Enter your login ID and your password.
If you don't already have a login and password, click on the link below the password box and activate your member page. If you have forgotten your login/password, e-mail mmaul@flash.net or click on OK, then enter your AERC number in the request for a password reminder and you will get the information by e-mail.
Click on the Volunteer tab just to the right of Services in the green menu bar. Click on the "Enter Hours" link at the left.
For each day you worked as a volunteer, enter the data requested and click on the "Done" link in the middle at the bottom. You can't enter a range of days; you have to enter each day separately and click "Done."
If you were a leader for a group, you can enter data for the other members of your group. All you need is the volunteer's AERC number. Suggestions for improvements and problems should be e-mailed to Jim Holland at lanconn@tds.net.
Trail Master news
This August we will have a Trail Master class in Texas and in September we will have the last Trail Master class for 2006 in California. These classes are full and have a waiting list. If you have an interest in attending a Trail Master class in 2007 please contact Terry Silver at 901-268-1127.
In cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, Roger Taylor has worked out an agreement with the BLM to use the BLM facilities at New Mexico's Fort Stanton as a permanent training site for Trail Masters in that region. There are plenty of trails to work on, classroom facilities, a kitchen and bunking availableŅa perfect setting for our class work.
We expect to have our first Trail Master teachers' clinic at Fort Stanton early in 2007. If you are a Trail Master and want to become an instructor please tell Terry Silver.
Plans for our Trail Master course at Glenville State College in Glenville, West Virginia, are coming together for next year. Amanda Stewart is the Trail Master instruction for this course. You will need to make arrangements through Terry Silver.
This has been a banner year for the AERC and its trail efforts -- five Trail Master classes, and now there are two permanent training sites in place. I would expert 2007 to be just as active and hopefully we will be able to add two more training sites to fill our needs.
It takes a lot of money to see all of this take place. Your board of directors has been very supportive of the Trail Master program. At the same time, we can always use funding for the Trails Fund which supports trail grants. More on trail grants in next month's Endurance News. Remember: All you need is a horse and a trail.
