October News

How fortunate we are to live in one of the most beautiful places in the country as the cooler temperatures and shorter days create a gorgeous palette of red, orange, and yellow! It is also signaling an end to the year as we prepare for our annual business meeting in early November. We will be reflecting on all the accomplishments of the committees in 2023 and voting in new members on the Executive Committee. We appreciate all the support we get from you, our members, by participating in adventures, maintaining trails, joining webinars, and following us on our social media platforms. November also brings us National Native American History Month and we have some resources to share with you. And, if you're looking for opportunities to give back to the outdoor community, continue reading for some ways you can get involved in the Chapter.

Annual Business Meeting

Please join us! Our AMC Western MA Annual Business Meeting will be held virtually (online) on Thursday, November 2, 2023 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. We will get together and share all the accomplishments of the committees, vote on officers and committee chairs, and hear from the AMC headquarters about what's happening in the Club. The 2024 Executive Committee slate can be found here, and any five Chapter members desiring to place an additional candidate in nomination may do so by sending an email to the Chair no later than five days before the Annual Meeting, a nomination paper stating the office to be filled, the proposed candidate, and written verification of consent from the nominee to serve if elected. We also have a special guest speaker, Nancy Condon. Nancy wrote a book called "Paddle for Water: Canoeing Across America with a Message and a Man I Never Intended to Marry", which is about her cross-country canoe trip following the waterways traveled by Lewis and Clark with her now-husband, Tom. She will share her harrowing journey as they traveled 5000 miles across the US by canoe. Register for the meeting here.

National Native American History Month

November is a time we love to gather with family and friends for Thanksgiving, to enjoy turkey and all the trimmings, football games and pumpkin pie. But, it is also the perfect time to reflect on the history of our land, and remember that we are not the first inhabitants, and that the story of Thanksgiving that we were taught as children is not an accurate account of what happened as Europeans came across the ocean and landed in Massachusetts. It's a great time to learn more about what actually happened and to listen to the voices of the indigenous people who still live here. Our website has a trove of resources on our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion page regarding the Native American history in western Massachusetts, including a video, "Indigenous Voices from the Connecticut River Valley", where you can hear from present-day native Americans who live and work here.

Volunteer Opportunities in the Chapter

Match your skills to one of our open volunteer roles, and join us in making a difference for people and nature! We'd love to add your talents and enthusiasm to help keep the AMC Western MA Chapter a vibrant part of the outdoors in our community. Find out more or express your interest by dropping a line to info@amc-wma.org. You can also check out the volunteer page on our website. Current volunteer opportunities on the Executive Committee:

• Member at Large
• Membership Chair/Co-Chair
• Conservation Chair/Co-Chair
• Secretary
• Hiking/Outings Chair