Paid Volunteer Work with the ATC

[irritable_badger]

Hi everyone, it's been a long time since I've been on WhiteBlaze, been super busy since my hike and simply haven't had the time to contribute to the forum.

I wanted to let anyone who may be interested know that ATC is offering to pay volunteers to participate in their Boundary Maintenance and Monitoring program.

There have been some major staffing changes at ATC and now they have no one to oversee the Boundary (aka Corridor) program so the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office (MARO) of ATC is offering to pay volunteers to work on the Boundary.

For those of you unfamiliar with ATC's Boundary program visit their website for more info (search for corridor motoring). It's a fun job and you get to see parts of the Trail you would normally not see (even if you have hiked the Trail seven times) These paid positions are not listed under the 'Job Posting' section of the site so you will need to contact the person currently in charge of the program.

For more information please contact Karen Lutz at klutz@appalachiantrail.org
or call her directly (717) 258-5771.

This is a great opportunity to get involved with the Trial and a great chance for experienced AT Hikers to see parts of the Trail they didn't even know existed.

If you are interested please do not hesitate to contact Miss Karen Lutz (who is on vacation this week) but will return any phone calls she receives and reply to any emails she receives.

If you are interested now is the time to leave a message with Miss Lutz as they expect the positions to go quickly.

Thanks,

Irritable_Badger

[The Mechanical Man]

Hi everyone, it's been a long time since I've been on WhiteBlaze, been super busy since my hike and simply haven't had the time to contribute to the forum.

I wanted to let anyone who may be interested know that ATC is offering to pay volunteers to participate in their Boundary Maintenance and Monitoring program.

There have been some major staffing changes at ATC and now they have no one to oversee the Boundary (aka Corridor) program so the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office (MARO) of ATC is offering to pay volunteers to work on the Boundary.

For those of you unfamiliar with ATC's Boundary program visit their website for more info (search for corridor motoring). It's a fun job and you get to see parts of the Trail you would normally not see (even if you have hiked the Trail seven times) These paid positions are not listed under the 'Job Posting' section of the site so you will need to contact the person currently in charge of the program.

For more information please contact Karen Lutz at klutz@appalachiantrail.org
or call her directly (717) 258-5771.

This is a great opportunity to get involved with the Trial and a great chance for experienced AT Hikers to see parts of the Trail they didn't even know existed.

If you are interested please do not hesitate to contact Miss Karen Lutz (who is on vacation this week) but will return any phone calls she receives and reply to any emails she receives.

If you are interested now is the time to leave a message with Miss Lutz as they expect the positions to go quickly.

Thanks,

Irritable_Badger

Getting paid to do something I love, sounds great.

With 20 + years of AT trailwork related experience in Northern Pennsylvania, Karen knows me well.

I have many volunteered many hours of corridor boundry monitoring, ridgerunner support, new trail building, etc.

I will look into this issue, and also ask the ATC folks if any of my past volunteer hours could be considered, .........."Retroactive" ? :-?

[Tabasco]

If you are being paid, then you are not a volunteer.

[irritable_badger]

We'll technically you're right. But it's still called a volunteer position.

Just like our military is called volunteer but they still get paid.

[ATInsubordinate]

Since when does ATC have the ability (or the authority) to use federal NPS boundary mgmt. funds to now "pay" trail club volunteers to do the work they used to actually do as "volunteers" ?!? Makes no sense to me. We could sure use their paid boundary maintainers up here in the 100 Mile Wilderness!!!

[irritable_badger]

Agreed! It's an odd situation and seems a bit unfair to many of us other volunteers - who do the work for no compensation because of our love of the Trail.

Don't know how they got the authority (or the funds) to do this. I'm not privy to the internal workings of that place.

One thing is for certain, this, and other events taking place at ATC, are causing lots of hard feelings towards the Trail itself and that is terribly unfortunate. The emotional attachment many people feel towards the Trail is becoming entwined with bad feelings towards ATC and that is bad.

The ATC does have a wonderful (legitimate) job opening for someone to manage their land protection programs though! If you can go weeks without sleep, have an advanced degree, are tough as nails, and thoroughly educated in land conservation law then it could be the job for you: http://www.appalachiantrail.org/atf/cf/%7BB8A229E6-1CDC-41B7-A615-2D5911950E45%7D/Land%20Protection%20Manager.pdf

[Bama Jack & Sadie]

Could it be there is some compensation but by calling it a paid volunteer role there is minimal compensation that would not be subject to minimum wage, fica etc and also exempt from OSHA oversight? Just a thought.

[irritable_badger]

It's possible I suppose, but as I understand it the VIP (Volunteers in Parks) program that provides medical insurance in the event of a volunteer getting injured is null and void if that "volunteer" is being compensated for their work.

The ATC may be acting oddly in general, but I don't think they're batty enough to pay someone "under the table" for this work. They're going to have to legitimately hire them or assume all the liability if the "volunteers" are injured - which is a real possibility, especially if they are doing Corridor Maintenance, not just monitoring.

Ask anyone who's spent time on the Boundary and they'll tell you that, outside of rock work and chainsawing the big blow downs, Boundary Maintenance is probably the most dangerous work on the AT; for lots of reasons. ATC would be terribly foolish to try and "fly under the radar" with these positions. I don't think they're that foolish - could be wrong though :D.

[ATInsubordinate]

What happened to the AT Boundary Field Crew that comes up every fall to assist the New England trail club boundary volunteers? Where are these "paid" volunteers of Ms. Lutz's going to be working? Is this ATC's idea of a fall field season? Sounds as if ATC's new "legitimate" job postied on their website is more of an office/administrative position requiring only "occassional" field work. How exactly is that going to work??!!

[ATInsubordinate]

http://www.matc.org/corridor.htm

[irritable_badger]

The "Land Protection Manager" position described on their website is a complete farce - it reads more like the description of an entire department or division - it's not going to work. And yes, that's ATC's answer for the Corridor program.

Some people at ATC think the description is so all encompassing on purpose, so that it can't be filled. The reasons for this are still unclear but whoever wrote that description obviously has no idea of the issues involved in either program (Corridor or Trust for Appalachian Trail Lands).

The team that came up to New England every year no longer exists. They fired the Boundary Manager and the only person left in the program is working on data related issues (which will be extremely valuable to the Corridor program in the future).

There are no seasonals, no program leader, and no ATC field people at all assigned to the Corridor - no one expects a fall Boundary season this year. You guys are probably going to be on your own this year as the "paid volunteers" are going to be working in PA.

[ATInsubordinate]

:confused: How does the ATC have the authority to "fire" the Boundary Field Crew. Doesn't the National Park Service pay for that program in full?

[The Mechanical Man]

This problem will not just go away by itself.

I'll bet the phone is ringing off the hook by now at the ATC regional office in Boiling Springs.

If anyone has any questions on this issue, here is the phone number,............. (717-258-5771)

[Jack Tarlin]

Is it just me or does ATInsubordinate remind anyone of another frequent poster here, a fine older gentleman from Maine. :D

Just curious.

[irritable_badger]

The NPS does fund the entire Corridor program but according to the "Cooperative Task Agreement" (Cooperative Agreement Number H0500000002) the NPS basically only provides money and law enforcement if required. They outsourced everything else, including staffing, to ATC.

[irritable_badger]

:confused: How does the ATC have the authority to "fire" the Boundary Field Crew. Doesn't the National Park Service pay for that program in full?

Actually the Boundary Field Crew was "involuntary separated" from ATC. "Fired" is not politically correct anymore I suppose.

[ATInsubordinate]

What the heck does "involunatrily separated" mean? Is that really true? The AT Boundary Crew has been ivoluntarly separated. Who do the volunteers go to for help then with tough boundary maintenance, especillay in the more remote areas where it's just not possible for a volunteer to even bushwack along the boundary let along cut a path & repaint the old worn out paint marks.

[irritable_badger]

"Involuntarily Separated" means that they were fired; "IS", as is known is the human resources world. You aren't supposed to use the word "fired" anymore - it has been stricken from the Management Speak lexicon.

Yes it is really true. Feel free to contact ATC HQ in Harpers Ferry and speak to Dave Startzell, Steve Paradis (pronounced Par-a-Day), or Stacey Marshall for more info. (ATC forced their HR person to quit or I'd tell you to contact her instead).

You can also contact Pam Underhill at the NPS Appalachian Trial Park Office (ATPO) in Harpers Ferry or Laura Bellville (ATC's Director of Conservation) at the VARO office for more information about the current status of the Corridor program and field crew.

If volunteers need help it's probably best to contact Pam Underhill at ATPO as she is the person who signs the Corridor program checks for the NPS. Otherwise like I said, you guys are on your own until ATC fills the "Land Protection Manager" position. Even then all you'll get is someone to call and gripe at; as you noted, the position is administrative and the person who gets the job won't be able to assist you in the field.

[LIhikers]

From the sounds of this I guess Sally Nasar is no longer at ATC.
Is that right?

[irritable_badger]

From the sounds of this I guess Sally Nasar is no longer at ATC.
Is that right?

That is correct. Sally Naser is no longer with ATC. She was involuntarily separated some time ago. ATC sent a letter/email about this to their "favorite" clubs immediately after Sally was terminated.

Not all the clubs were included in the letter/email but lots of people who do not work for ATC or volunteer on the Trail received the letter.

No one is sure why it worked out like that, but it did. Seemed pretty odd to those who did receive the letter (such as former ATC employees and people who had never volunteered for the ATC).

[ATInsubordinate]

:mad: Wht]y can't Pam Underhill then just hire the AT Boundary Fields Crew and eliminate the ATC middle man. Sounds like a much more effective use of federal tax payer dollars. I thought one of ATC's key roles was to serve as the GUARANTOR to the tax paying public that the the Park Service lands purchased to buffer the AT footpath were being effectrively managed and cared for!?

[irritable_badger]

You''ve just ask the $20,000 question. Why can't Pam fix this mess and get the Corridor program back in line...

I'm not sure, but I know that the previous Boundary Manager was being offered a contract position with NPS but after one phone call from the Director of the VARO office NPS is no longer interested in offering that person a position.

There is a great recording of the phone call's and voice mails involved if you know the right people to ask. Unfortunately it seems like the ATC tail is wagging the dog that is NPS (that's a quote from a very popular volunteer).

ATC's mission became an "own goal" about three years ago. They have become an institution and are no longer interested in much beyond ensuring their own continued existence. Their annual report is available online and they spent six figures sending out unsolicited letters to potential donors/members... They seem to have lost sight of the Trail (the reason for their existence) and can't seem to see beyond their balance sheet.

[lotsofhikes]

WHAT??!! Fired Sally!!!! Paying Volunteers!!!!!! What the heck? Anyone know why ALL the clubs weren't notified?? Land protection plus boundary manager?? You've got to be kidding! I need to take a long walk....feel like I just fell down a rabbit hole. This is simply crazy. ATC must fire people because they do a GREAT job. Certainly a different approach. This is unbelievable....gotta take a walk -- quick.....

[Old Hillwalker]

A little over two years ago I accepted the position of AT Corridor Monitor Coordinator after spending time as a Corridor Monitor. I accepted this position because of Sally's involvement in this program. We got more boundary reclaimed in Western New Hampshire, and the Mahoosucs than had been accomplished since the original survey. This very independent woman could be a bit rough, abrasive at times, but totally committed to the AT Corridor. Her operating style of and direct outspokenness assaulted some people's sense of authority in the ATC resulting in her being "dismissed".

Now that the AT corridor seems to be going back to the "benign neglect" paradigm it doesn't seem to bode well for the future of the AT land protection.

A couple of weeks ago I turned in my monitoring equipment and a few hundred survey maps. I can no longer work for an organization who in my opinion has lost sight of the fact that they are supposed to be working for the trail, and now are only working for a paycheck.

I am now the former AT Corridor Monitor for the trail from Woodstock, VT to Ore Hill, NH.

I remain an AT trail maintainer however, caring for two trail sections near my home.

[WalkinHome]

In my humble opinion, it appears that the ATC, second only to the AMC New Hampshire huts and fees, is an organization that people love to hate. Here is a group of folks, none getting rich that I know of, that have done a more than credible job of putting and holding together the largest, skinniest national park in the country. The ATC is adept at pulling in funding from a variety of resources and applying them to the ATC vision of good Trail stewardship. Do they always succeed? Probably not but is it for the lack of trying? Maybe lining their pockets? Being downright mean? I know this NOT to be the case. Maybe they make a mistake now and then. Hey, we are human-cut us we bleed-let he who has not sinned…….

Hillwalker sounds like a fine person and I can appreciate the hard work he has done and continues to do in support of the AT. I know that Maine has benefited from the crew he writes of doing Corridor Monitoring as I am a volunteer monitor, maintainer and a few other things myself and enjoy the heck out of it. I cannot speak to the “politics” of the issue of hiring/firing/dissolution of the paid crew (and what the heck is wrong with a paid crew anyway????) that he addresses but that can happen in any organization. Personalities can intrude into the decision making process. I suspect, but don’t know that the paid crew may have been funded with a finite resource and that funding has gone away. There may be many reasons that this has gone the way it has. So why is everyone jumping on the conspiracy bandwagon and maligning the ATC? Rant over. Let the flaming begin.

[lotsofhikes]

There's no rant, Hillwalker. It appears you've had quite a different experience with ATC than some of the rest of us, that's all. Everyone else here has experienced a major loss -- of a friend, a dedicated ATC staffer, and most especially an individual who has almost single handedly, dragged the boundary program out of the dust. Sally's enabled us to have knowledge and skills that allowed us to perform boundary work with a high degree of performance results and consequently satisfaction. The loss we feel is personal and it hurts.

[LIhikers]

There's no rant, Hillwalker. It appears you've had quite a different experience with ATC than some of the rest of us, that's all. Everyone else here has experienced a major loss -- of a friend, a dedicated ATC staffer, and most especially an individual who has almost single handedly, dragged the boundary program out of the dust. Sally's enabled us to have knowledge and skills that allowed us to perform boundary work with a high degree of performance results and consequently satisfaction. The loss we feel is personal and it hurts.

Amen to that.
It's because of Sally that my wife and I are corridor monitors.
We won't stop doing what we enjoy so much but it sure seems futile if no one is at the helm. I hope ATC find someone for the position who can fill some pretty big shoes!

[lotsofhikes]

First, a correction. My previous response was to "Walkinhome" not "Hillwalker".

Now to LIhikers: Look at the job description ATC published. It combines the ATC land conservation program manager responsibilities with the NPS/ATC Boundary Program Manager responsibilities. Anyone who's worked with Sally knows that she engaged 110% of her energies on the boundary and supporting all the clubs involved. So, one of the major concerns of many of us is, how can one person effectively cover both roles especially with the conservation program being in a state of disarray and delinquent on stewarding the conservation properties? So, the boundary program, which was really up and running, has just taken a huge hit. Anyone who wants to can argue that but, if you do, please do so only if you've been out in the field with Sally and have "worked" the program the way it MUST be worked. So, finding someone who can fill Sally's "gigantic (figuratively speaking) shoes" along with doing the conservation program is like finding the bionic woman or man -- won't happen.

[tamarac_sld]

With over 111,000 acres of NPS-ATPO managed corridor lands spread throughout the eleven states from Virginia to Maine, NPS-ATPO has a major liability. ATC supported the NPS when it sought additional agency and congressional earmarks for over $9 million to contract professional land surveyors to monument, mark, and map an Exterior Corridor Boundary Survey (ECBS) now totaling 1,373 miles of boundaries.

Although the monitoring aspect of corridor land management remains a delegated responsibility accepted by the volunteer trail maintaining clubs and ATC, the Board was wary in 1983, and did not accept boundary survey maintenance as part of its responsibility under the NPS delegation agreement first signed in 1984 and renewed several times since.

Less than five percent of ATC volunteers hours contributed annually to trail maintenance are devoted to the required task of corridor monitoring and/or non-delegated boundary maintenance, a situation that ATC’s Boundary Manager is trying to improve upon with more publicity about this vital program. Just as with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s expanded emphasis on the entire Corridor, it’s important for all involved in Trail management and the overall AT community to recognize the vital connection between an effectively run boundary management program at the local level and the long term protection of not only the physical Trail, but also the multitude of the resources that the corridor lands protect.

With over 80-percent of the boundary surveys now being ten or more years old, the original boundary markings are being lost to time, elements, overgrown vegetation, and external threats. No other single management program would help better ensure the integrity of the A.T. corridor than having a well marked and maintained boundary to protect the $158 million federal investment and to inform adjacent landowners, land developers, and non-traditional recreational trail users as well as municipalities, counties and other land management agencies that these corridor lands are protected National Park System lands.

On the A.T. corridor lands between VA and ME, the estimated breakdown by region of boundary mileage that was monitored by volunteers in 2007 was 35% in New England; 48% in the Mid-Atlantic, and 20% in southwest/central VA. In terms of boundary maintenance work completed, far less mileage was recovered in 2007 by ATC Boundary Field staff than in year’s prior due in large part to the labor intensive recovery efforts undertaken in the Mahoosuc Range of NH. After 20 years of natural succession along the surveyed boundaries in areas like this, it takes a 3-person paid ATC boundary crew over 6 days to reclaim 1 mile of the external corridor boundary. Due to the long standing absence of volunteer monitoring and/or maintenance help by local volunteers in places like the Mahoosucs, the reality is that particular boundary was at the greatest risk trailwide of being breached by adjacent liquidation logging activities. Traditionally, ATC has only run only 2-person field crew to assist the clubs between VA & ME with this difficult task, but as the boundaries become more and more overgrown, it has become next to impossible for boundaries like these to be recovered by the average volunteer monitor. Continuing to rely solely on dwindling annual cyclic maintenance funds from NPS is not the long term solution to ensuring the long term future of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the role that its surveyed boundaries were meant to provide. Three years of boundary recovery by ATC in the Mahoosucs since 2005 still leaves over 70% of the Mahoosuc boundaries vulnerable to the very real threat of liquidation logging. If funding can be found, a minimum of 5 more straight months by a paid boundary recovery crew are needed before the Mahoosucs can be considered “safe” again and able to then be monitored by local volunteers. There are currently 28 miles of boundary and AMC-NH has only one active corridor monitor. (see Appalachian Trail Journeys, January-February 2008, part of joint initiative to recruit more volunteers and to reclaim the exterior corridor boundary lines).