Park Service Area Ranger wants to come talk with the club

[jmcclave]

Jim,

My Ranger, Katie Donahue, wanted me to ask you if your club has any meetings coming up that she could come and speak to the club members about the hang gliding sites?

Thanks,

Charlie

[jmcclave]

I got the previous email from Charlie Burke who I have been dealing with on the Edith Gap site clearing. Katie Donahue is the head ranger for the area and she would like to attend a club meeting and talk with us about the local hang gliding sites. This is an ideal opportunity to have an open dialog about Woodstock, Edith Gap, and other current and potential sites. Rather than wait until the next meeting, I suggest we have a special session with the folks like Patrick Terry who have interest in improving existing sites or opening up new sites. We should try to get this scheduled in early April.

Thanks,
Jim

[John Anderson]

... and I think we should have as much of a club turnout as can be joggled. (Having said that, of cuss, I will probably be outta town for some of April) She probably imagines a large group to speak to/with, and we should try not to disappoint. Esp since we could possibly have a sympathetic Ranger in our manger.

[sailin]

Jim,
Can you please PM me Katie Donahue and Charlie Burke's contact info. I would like to get in touch with the Club BOD and other interested club members and get this meeting set up. I agree we should not wait until our next scheduled club meeting, but we also need to get our ducks in a row as a BOD/Club to be best prepared for the meeting.

thanks,
Jon

[silverwings]

It would be good to find out where she is coming from and desired day of week/time so that we could pick a meeting location that doable for all concerned.

[dbodner]

We, of course, should accomodate anything she wants. But, depending on the subject, she may prefer having a conversation with the BOD, or some select subgroup, rather than the entire club.

If this is a meet-and-greet, then we should get as much attendance as possible. But, if her intent is to get into serious discussions, those might work best with a smaller group--as long as we have both HG and PG representation.

And she's a Forest Ranger, not a Park Ranger, right?

[sailin]

That's exactly what we plan to do John. I, or one of us on the BOD, is going to reach out to her and get an idea of her schedule and location and then figure out when and where to proceed with the meeting. It will be great if we can get large club participation with this meeting. Once some more information is gathered it will be posted on the forum ASAP so members can get their schedules in order and hopefully be able to attend.

Jon

[sailin]

Dave, I must have been writing as you were posting Sounds right on track to me.

Jon

[jmcclave]

Jon,

Can I get your contact information along with the other folks your want to get introduced to Charlie Burke? I will do the introduction via email tomorrow so you can introduce yourself to Charlie and work the logistics for the meeting with his boss.

I am at:

Jim_mcclave@sra.com
Or
Jmwucb@gmail.com

Thanks,
Jim

[sailin]

I sent you an email Jim. Thank you for passing this info on and the great work you have been doing at the Edith Gap site.

thanks,
Jon

[Dan T]

Great job guys. Maybe we should hold our next club meeting, or Board meeting if a smaller group is determined to be advantageous, at a restaurant in Woodstock? This would make her commute an easy one and it would demonstrate that we contribute to the local community.

Since she is involved in Edith's Gap she must be a USFS Ranger, not a Park Service Ranger. The Parks Service handles Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park.

[RichH]

Jim I would be very careful with the discussions about new sites until a you have a plan for improving the launch site that Katie has approved. My guess only... she may be concerned about the condition (erosion and trash/carpets) of the Woodstock launch and it will be very important that the club addresses that possible concern before leaping ahead with other proposals.

[RichH]

Jim I would be very careful with the discussions about new sites until a you have a plan for improving the launch site that Katie has approved. My guess only... she may be concerned about the condition (erosion and trash/carpets) of the Woodstock launch and it will be very important that the club addresses that possible concern before leaping ahead with other proposals.

[jmcclave]

Rich,

Thanks for the feedback. We have addressed the issue with the carpets.

The USFS has been very helpful in reopening Edith's Gap. They have done a significant amount of cutting and they are going in next week to cut another 20 feet out of the north side of the launch. They are looking to understand our sport and how we can work together.

Jim

[deveil]

Several of us had the pleasure of meeting and spending a little time with Katie when she sat in for part of a USFS chainsaw certification course back about this time last year.

http://chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f ... tie#p28874

A totally charming person, I noticed no horns and she even laughed at some of my attempts at humor - an obviously tolerant person. As I recall, she even cracked back at me a time or two. Relax

[RichH]

I have met with Katie as well and you are correct she is a very nice person.. Last year we walked the launch site together when we were discussing possible site improvements and I feel confident Katie is looking for a solution to the condition of the current launch..and is probably looking for a partnership with the clubs in the area. I have not seen the current plan but if it goes beyond the scheme of what Katie can accomplish within her own scope it will need to go above her for review...(which could take a significant period of time) ..My advice keep the plan simple one that Katie can accomplish within her own responsibilities and try to move Woodstock improvement up in the order of priority.. Best of luck!!