march, april, may 2015 “time to walk” followup thoughts on...
TRANSCRIPT
March, April, May 2015
Penn Dutch Pacers Volksmarch Club • Lancaster, Pa
the pacer pulse
From the left Diane and Ed Sandnes (York), Pat Eby (Rovers),Tom Jackson (AT Dir), Pam and Jim Copenhaver (York),
Alice Eckardt (Rovers), Barb (PDP), Ann (PDP)
Lititz WalkResults 5K 10K TOTALSAward &Credit 12 39 51
Credit Only 28 75 103
Non IVV 1 17 18
TOTALS 41 131 172
“Time to Walk” FollowupAlthough the sun that was forecast never showed itsface during our December 13th walk in Lititz a lot ofwalkers certainly used this opportunity to show theirfaces in Lititz duringPDP's last doubleheader walk in 2014.Walkers showed upin droves drivenapparently by severalcompelling reasons.First and foremost wesuspect that the mostcompelling reason172 walkers showed up in Lititz is Lititz itself.Lititz has an indescribable feel that everyone wants tobe part of. Lititz is a vibrant American small town andthere's little wonder that in 2013 Lititz was celebrated
as “Ameri-ca's CoolestSmallTown”.Another ofthose com-pellingreasonsbesides theusual awe-someness ofa PDP walkwas that theLititz walkwas a desig-nated Timeto WalkSpecialProgramwalk and weare sure thatquite a fewof those whoattended
Continued on Page 2, Column 1,
We were trying to think of one word that would help usdescribe the PDP membership meeting that was held atIsaac's on the Manheim Pike in January to those who chose
not to attend. The word wecame up with wasDISAPPOINTING.As we have done for yearsnow, the Januarymembership meeting hasbeen held at a localrestaurant so that we canshare a meal together as wellas take care of club businessand in even number years we
also hold officer elections.This January was probably the most critical dinner meetingin PDP's history even though there were no elections. Aswe related to you in detail in the last newsletter (and havebeen intimating almost ad infinitum for years) PDP hascome to a critical juncture where not only our long timetrailmasters retired (withtwo years notice BTW)but we also have othersthat want a change or areaging-out of theirresponsibilities and wehave no one comingforward to fill these vitalpositions which meansthat we had some toughdecisions to make. Welaid out what the possibilities were and that we would bemaking critical decisions regarding the future of YOURclub at the January meeting. Since we figured that thewalking events that PDP has produced over its 25 yearhistory had some value especially to club members whohave put down hard cash to be a member we figured thatthere was at least a better than even chance that folks wouldshow up to show their support and present ideas for keepingthe club viable and maybe even volunteer for not only forthe trailmaster positions and maybe some of the othercritical jobs, offices and positions that have been filled foryears by folks who would like to make a change and allowothers to take a turn. It is the synergy of all these jobs,
Thoughts on theJanuary Meeting
Continued on Page 2, Column 2,
March, April, May 2015 - 2
were motivated to attend bythis program. In fact we ranout of the Time to Walkpatches and sold all butthree or four of the PDP 'A'award patches. Success allaround.We reported 126 walkers onthe trail at the appointedTime to Walk time of 10:11AM. In fact nine walkersdocumented the fact thatthey were on the trail with aphoto by the town clockexactly at the appointedhour of 10:11 AM. Be sureto see the photo accompany-ing this article.Among the participants were walkers from surround-ing area volksmarch clubs: the Liberty Bell Wanderersfrom the Philadelphia area, the Susquehanna Roversfrom the Harrisburg area, and the York White RoseWanderers from the York area and many other Mid-Atlantic clubs as well.
Back Row (left to right) - Ron Nelson (in red) / Janet Nelson / Betty Good (in white) / ?- man in far back / ? - man in green jacket.Front Row (left to right) - Pat Crisfulla / Jennifer Quinn / Dee McKnight / ?-Youngster
?- woman in white & blue hat / Joyce Deibert
Cont’d from Page 1 – “Time to Walk”…
offices and positions, all these dedicated people, that areessential to not only keeping the club going but that alsoallows PDP to continue to provide quality walkingexperiences in South Central PA.The disappointing part that we alluded to earlier comesfrom the fact that we had the fewest people attend thisdinner meeting of any in recent memory which we guesspoints to the whole problem that we seem to be having. Ifwe can't get people out to a meeting to try to solve theproblem then our dilemma becomes even more baffling.How can we possibly move forward? And to an even
greater degree why would we want to.There was discussion at the meeting of some possible
job shuffling that could result in the job oftrailmaster being filled with someone new
volunteering to do the job possibly beingvacated. Those developments are certainly a
move in the right direction but there are alot of things that need clarified andironed out and that need to fall in place
in order to make that happen.So the January meeting although maybe
leading to a temporary solution depending on theresults of the negotiation regarding the job swap, did
not move us any closer to sanctioning any walks for2015 nor did it move us any closer to solving our long
term problem which basically revolves around dwindlingparticipation and apathy among our members. Any ideas?We’d love to hear them.
Cont’d from Page 1 – Thought on the January…
Our club has established a new Year-Round-Event walk withinSusquehannock State Park in Drumore Township, southernLancaster County. The walk was created in support of thePennsylvania State Parks & Forests Challenge, a specialchallenge created by the KSVA to encourage participation inmember club sponsored events. The challenge will runfor two years, through 2016, and is currently made upof twenty separate YREs and seasonal eventssponsored by member clubs. Each event has itsown unique embroidered patch as an ‘A’award. Ours shows the petroglyphsassociated with the Suquehannock Indianswho once resided in this area. In addition,participants who complete ten qualifying eventswill receive a separate embroidered patch fromKSVA. More information about the Challenge can befound on the KSVA web site http://www.ksva.net.
The 224-acre Susquehannock State Park is on a wooded plateauoverlooking the Susquehanna River in southern Lancaster County.Besides the outstanding view, the park offers a variety ofrecreational opportunities for year-round fun.
Panoramic views of the Susquehanna River can be seen from the380 feet high overlooks of the park complex. Hawk PointOverlook offers visitors a glimpse of the Conowingo Reservoir, thenorthernmost and largest of several hydroelectric impoundments onthe lower Susquehanna. Located downriver on the far left of
New YRE @ Susquehannock State Park
Continued on Page 3, Column 1,
SAD NOTE: Just as we were going to press with thisedition we found out that Mary Angeline who sharedpublicity duties with her sister Rose died on February
22nd after a brain injury from a fall in her home. We willremember Mary in the next edition of The Pacer Pulse.
March, April, May 2015 - 3
ByPete Byrne
PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS
-PeteMilestones
EVENTS
10 EventsJessica Roshon
75 EventsAngela and Charles Horn
125 EventsTiernan Barber
250 EventsCharlotte Haugh
350 EventsDavid Barber
525 EventsRuss Bechtold
700 EventsRose Grumbling
DISTANCE
2500 KMCharlotte Haugh
7000 KMRose Grumbling
Darn Groundhog! Sixmore weeks of this?! Ineed to get outside and getsome exercise, but fivelayers of sweaters, vests,and coats cramp my style -and it’s hard to walk when
you’re shivering.I’m hopeful thatSpring is justaround the corner.
It looks like we’vestepped back fromthe brink ofextinction. DaveBarber has agreedto take on theresponsibilities of
Trailmaster, withmentoring from ourTrailmasters Emeritus,Barry Weatherholtz andDon Young. Dave’sformer duties as YREStatistician will be
assumed by GinnyHunsberger. Our thanks toboth of you for stepping upand saying, “I will.”
One of the moreinteresting ideas thatsurfaced during our “wheredo we go from here”discussions is that of EventCoordinator, in which anymember who would like tohave a traditional event ata certain location takes fullresponsibility for creatingthe event, from identifyingand arranging for a startpoint, to suggesting a trail,to helping with the design
of the award, to helpingwith the brochure, throughto ensuring that there aresufficient volunteers tohold the event. As we’vesaid many times, the dozenor so core volunteers whohave been carrying thisclub for years are sufferingburn-out. If YOU want theclub to hold traditionalwalks then YOU need tocontribute. Start byattending our monthlymeetings to learn how itworks. I hope to see youthere.
Hawk Point, visitors can see Mount Johnson Island, the world’s first bald eagle sanctuary.For many years, Mount Johnson Island hosted a pair of nesting bald eagles. Visitors canuse the optical viewer or binoculars to spot eagles, osprey, turkey vultures and blackvultures that regularly soar by these cliffs using columns of rising air called thermals.
Wisslers Run Overlook gives an excellent view of the Susquehanna’s naturally rockyriverbed. The overlook also provides a view of the Muddy Run pump storagehydroelectric plant with the impressive 21-span Norman Wood Bridge and Holtwood Damin the background. An osprey nest can be seen on the large power line towers in front ofthe overlook.
More than 80 picnic tables and 20 grills are spread throughout both sunny and shadedareas of the park. Parking, water fountains, restrooms, a playground, volleyball court,horseshoe pits, and two softball fields with backstops and benches are easily accessible.Two large picnic pavilions with grills, water, electric outlets and lights can accommodatelarger groups and special events.
Scenic hiking trails offer a variety of interesting habitats and evidence of past use of thearea. Native holly, rhododendron, spring and summer wildflowers, and a variety of otherplant life await discovery. Sit quietly or walk along a trail to observe deer, songbirds,lizards, and many other forms of wildlife. From the overlooks, watch for vultures, hawks,osprey, and even bald eagles. Several trails also feature remnants of old homestead sites.
Our YRE utilizes portions of the park’s hiking trails to create two 5 km trails. One trail,the ‘clockwise’ loop, takes the walker to both Hawk Point and Wisslers Run overlooks asit circumnavigates the perimeter of the park. The other trail, the ‘counter clockwise’ loopuses trails in the interior of the park, although it too goes to Hawk Point overlook. Bothtrails present rocky and root-strewn footing and significant hills, which makes this eventunsuitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Solitary walking is discouraged because manyareas of the park are remote, with little or no cell phone coverage. The walk is availablefrom 8 a.m. until dusk year round, although walking is discouraged after snowfall orheavy rains.
If you’ve been looking for a more challenging walk in the great outdoors, come toSusquehannock State Park and enjoy nature.
PLEASE NOTE: Although this walk is a YRE it will NOT be open until the snow and iceare gone from the trail. Please check the PDP website to see when the walk will be open.
Cont’d from Page 2 – New YRE …
March, April, May 2015 - 4
Four reasons walking has become America's 'untrendiesttrend.' Hint: It's not just health.December 3, 2014 | Walking is going places.
Humans’ most common pastime--forsaken fordecades as too slow and too much effort-- isnow recognized as a health breakthrough, aneconomic catalyst and a route to happiness.Real Simple magazine (circulation: 2 million)declared “walking America’s untrendiesttrend” in its February 2014 cover story. Amonth later Builder magazine (a constructiontrade journal) announced on its cover,“Walkability. Why we care…and why youshould too.” The reason? Simple:“Increasingly, the market is demanding placeswhere homeowners can hoof it.”The New Yorker weighed in last Septemberquoting the new book A Philosophy ofWalking, which asserts that walking “makes itpossible to recover the pure sensation of being,to rediscover the simple joy of existing.”This sheer pleasure of walking is highlightedin one of the year’s top music videos, “Happy”by soul singer Pharrell Williams. It’s anexuberant celebration of life on foot showingall kinds of people (including Magic Johnson,Steve Carrell and Jimmy Kimmel) strutting,stepping, striding and sashaying down citystreets. It’s been viewed 465 million times onYou Tube.There is sure to be continuing coverage of footpower next year when the Surgeon General’soffice releases a Call to Action on the healthand social benefits of walking and walkablecommunities--a step some are comparing to the1964 Surgeon General’s Report on the dangersof smoking.Already the federal Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention recommends all adultsengage in 30 minutes of physical activity suchas walking five days a week based on theproven connection between moderate physicalactivity and lower incidences of major medicalproblems--not just heart disease, diabetes andobesity, as you’d expect, but also depression,dementia, anxiety, colon cancer, osteoporosisand other serious conditions.This flurry of attention about walking is morethan a flash-in-the-pan. Evidence that millionsof Americans’ are now rediscovering walkingfor transportation, fitness and fun is as solid asthe sidewalk beneath our feet.
Americans Are Getting Back on their Feet
“Walking is the most common form ofphysical activity across incomes and ages andeducation levels,” explained Thomas Schmidof the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention at the Pro-Walk, Pro-Bike Pro-Place conference in Pittsburgh this fall. TheCDC’s most recent research shows the numberof Americans who take a walk at least once aweek rose from 56 percent in 2005 to 62percent in 2010-- which represents almost 20
The Incredible Benefits of Humankind's Most Basic Form of Exercise—Walking
Continued on Page 10, Column 1
million more people on their feet.Speaking on the same panel, Paul Herberlingof the US Department of Transportation notedthat 10.4 percent of all trips Americans makeare on foot--and 28 percent of trips under amile. For young people, it’s 17 percent ofpercent of all trips. Americans walk mostfrequently for exercise, errands and recreation,according to the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration.Last year the first-ever Walking Summit washeld in Washington DC, drawing more than400 people from 41 states and Canadarepresenting 235 organizations ranging fromthe PGA Tour to the Sioux Falls (SouthDakota) Department of Health. A secondsummit is scheduled for October 28-30, 2015in Washington, DC.The 2013 summit, which sold out weeks in anadvance, marked the birth of a new walkingmovement committed to: 1) encouragingeveryone to walk more; and 2) boostingpolicies, practices and investments that makecommunities everywhere more walkable. Itwas convened by the Every Body Walk!Collaborative, a joint effort of more than 100influential organizations across many fields topromote walking as part of the solution toproblems ranging from chronic disease andhealth care costs to climate change and thedecline of community.The Every Body Walk! Collaborative(EBWC), which was catalyzed by KaiserPermanente includes major institutions likeAARP, NAACP, the PTA and the AmericanCollege of Sports Medicine as well asgrassroots organizations . America Walks, acoalition of pedestrian advocacy groups, helpslead EBWC.“In addition to the health benefits of gettingregular physical activity, people’s health canbe correlated to having strong relationships,and living in connected communities withhigh levels of social cohesion,” said KaiserPermanente vice-president Tyler Norris at thePro-Walk Pro-Bike Pro-Place conference.“Among the important determinants of thissense of belonging is ‘Do I know myneighbors?’ A walkable community fostersthese connections every day by helping usmeet people we otherwise wouldn’t.”Americans overwhelmingly view walking as agood thing, according to a national surveyfrom GfK Research sponsored by KaiserPermanente. Here are some of benefits ofwalking shown in the survey:
* Good for my health (94 percent) * Good way to lose weight (91 percent) * Great way to relax (89 percent) * Helps reduce anxiety (87 percent) * Reduces feelings of depression (85percent)
Americans Are Voting With Their Feet
Even the American dream is being remodeledto meet the public’s growing enthusiasm forwalking. Sixty percent of Americans wouldprefer to live in a neighborhood with stores andservices within easy walking distance,according to a recent survey from the NationalAssociation of Realtors, nearly twice as manywho want to live where stores can be reachedonly by car.This is especially true for the millennialgeneration, who are now entering theworkforce and housing market in largenumbers. “With drastically different views oftransportation from those of generations thatcame before them, millennials are transformingcommunities,” notes another report from theNational Association of Realtors….”Millennials own fewer cars and drive less thantheir predecessors. They’d rather walk, bike,car-share and use public transportation--andwant to live where that’s all easy.”
Why Walking? Why Now?
What’s driving the growing passion forwalking? “It’s a convergence of factors”, saysChristopher Leinberger, a real estate developer,George Washington University businessprofessor and a leading advocate that walkablecommunities are crucial to our futureprosperity:
1. The well-established link between walkingand better health, which is reinforced by recentresearch pointing to the dangers of sitting forlong periods. A comprehensive study charting240,000 Americans between ages 50 and 71published in the Journal of Clinical Nutritionfound that “overall [time] sitting wasassociated with all-cause mortality”.2. The accelerating costs of owning one, two ormore cars, which many Americans, especiallyyounger people, find a poor investment of theirresources. Transportation is now the highestcost in family budgets (19 percent) next tohousing (32 percent). In auto-dependentcommunities--where walking is inconvenientand unsafe-- transportation costs (25 percent)approach housing costs (32 percent).3. Metropolitan areas with many walkableneighborhoods do better economically thanthose with just a few. Leinberger’s recentreport Foot Traffic Ahead finds that walkablemetropolitan areas “have substantially higherGDPs per capita” as well as a higherpercentage of college graduates. Office spacein walkable locations enjoys a 74 percent rent-per-square-foot premium over offices in auto-oriented developments in America’s 30 largestmetropolitan regions.4. More people discovering the personalsatisfactions of walking. “Seeing friends on thestreet, walking to work, strolling out for dinneror nightlife,” are among the pleasures of
March, April, May 2015 - 5
YRE & Seasonal Walk Results
713 average
trend
As we have done pretty much everyyear at this time we take a look athow our YRE and Seasonal walks didthe previous year. You can see thestats for the nine individual YRE andSeasonal walks that were compiled byour YRE Chair David Barber and areshown in the spread sheet above. Youcan also see the 2014 stats comparedto those from 2013 & 2012.Unfortunately 2014 continued thedownward trend that you can seeclearly on the bar chart below that
shows the YRE and Seasonal resultsfor the last 16 years.Our average participation at our YREand Seasonal walks over those 16years is 713. As you can see from thechart since 2007 yearly participationhas been below the average and in2014 participation was 236 or 33%below PDP’s average participation.We’ve had two bumps since 2007 onein 2008 (still below the average)followed by a downward trend whichbottomed out in 2011. Then another
bump in 2012 with a continuingdownward trend through last year.The 2014 figure suffered even thoughthe Atlantic Region Conference washeld in Lancaster and quite a fewattendees took advantage of PDPYREs and Seasonal events while inLancaster.There is a new YRE atSusquehannock State Park in 2015. Itremains to be seen whether that newwalk will give a bump to 2015 yearend figures.
March, April, May 2015 - 6
2015 - 2016 Atlantic Region Calendar
March 2015Date Type Sponsoring Club Event Location Contact Phone18 M PDP Meeting • Wellness Center Conference Room #1, 2nd Floor ••Lancaster Health Campus at 7:00 PM21 W Columbia Volksmarch Club Columbia PA 410-290-651028 2W Baltimore Walking Club Baltimore MD 410-592-317128 W Virginia Vagabonds Hampdon VA 757-766-3065
April 2015Date Type Sponsoring Club Event Location Contact Phone11 W Lee Lepus Volksverband Richmond VA 804-768-005512 W Cavalier Volkssporting Club Charlottesville VA 434-924-379115 M PDP Meeting • Wellness Center Conference Room #1, 2nd Floor ••Lancaster Health Campus at 7:00 PM18 W Baltimore Walking Club Darlington MD 410-638-704318 W Pennisula Pathfinders of Virginia Hampton VA 757-851-925218-19 W Liberty Bell Wanderers Wyomissing PA 610-496-672325 W Peninsula Pathfinders of Virginia Hampton VA 757-851-925225 W Freestate Happy Wanderers Laurel MD 301-490-585025 W First State Webfooters Smyrna DE 302-359-721725 W Gater Volksmarch Club Cheasapeake VA 757-421-007026 W Princetown Area Walkers Princeton NJ 609-658-7724
May 2015Date Type Sponsoring Club Event Location Contact Phone02 W Germana Volkssport Association Quantico VA 540-455-077202 W Seneca Valey Sugarloafers Westminster MD 301-926-091503 W Princeton Area Walkers Westfiled NJ 609-259-236509 W Virginia Vagabonds Newport News VA 757-766-306516 W Liberty Bell Wanderers Huntingdon Valley PA 610-287-306516 W Northern Virginia Volksmarchers Lorton VA 703-455-187823 W Virginia Volkssport Association Staurts Draft VA 757-814-141724 W Virginia Volkssport Association Monterey VA 757-814-141725 W Virginia Volkssport Association Harrisonburg VA 757-814-141730 W Peninsula Pathfinders of Virginia Gloucester VA 757-357-535530 W Loudon Walking & Volkssport Club Sterling VA 703-737-2175
June 2015Date Type Sponsoring Club Event Location Contact Phone06 W Freestate Happy Wanderers Millersville Md - Kinder Farm 410-437-216420 W Gator Volksmarch Club Chesapeake VA 757-421-0070
July 2015Date Type Sponsoring Club Event Location Contact Phone11 W Virginia Vagabonds Williamsburg VA 757-766-3065
August 2015Date Type Sponsoring Club Event Location Contact Phone01 W Columbia Volksmarch Club Columbia MD 410-290-651008 W Finger Lakes Volksmarch Club Montrose PA 607-754-197922 W Great Greenbelt Volksmarchers Greenbelt MD 301-937-3549
September 2015Date Type Sponsoring Club Event Location Contact Phone07 W Virginia Volkssport Association King George VA 757-814-141712 W Germanna Volkssport Association Colonial Beach VA 540-455-077212 W Princeton Area Walkers Hillsborough NJ 908-208-982112 W Northern Virginia Volksmarchers Burke VA 703-644-018912 W Germanna Volkssport Association Colonial Beach VA 540-455-077212 W Gator Volksmarch Club Norfolk VA 757-421-007019 W Cumberland Valley Lead Foot Mt. Holly Springs MD 717-677-651119 W Peninsula Pathfiners of Virginia Newport News VA 757-930-453826 W Seneca Valley Sugarloafers Frederick MD - Oktoberfest 301-431-666826 W Loudon Walking & Volksmarch Club Lovettsville VA 703-737-2175
This calendar is a compilation of the data taken from the AVA Walking Events list on the AVA website. Since newwalks are always being added we would suggest referencing the AVA calendar for a definitive up to the minute list
of current walking events in the region. Here is the link to AVA Calendar - http://www.ava.org/ava_search.asp
Legend: W=Walk, GW=Guided Walk, GNW=Guided Night Walk, NW=Night Walk, B=Bike, S=SwimSk=Ski, XSki = Cross Country Ski, IS=Ice Skate, RS=Roller Skate, SS=Snowshoe M=Meeting
= Penn Dutch Pacer Event
March, April, May 2015 - 7
This is for any of you who are participating in any ofthe Special Walking Programs. As many of you knowthe Special Walking Programs are sanctioned for a 3year period and at the end of three years youhave yet another year to finish yourbooks and send them to thesanctioning club to get creditand your award.Following is a list of the SpecialWalking Programs that officiallyended on December 31, 2014which means youhave til the end ofthis year to completethe events for these
Special Walking ProgramsThat Have Expired
October 2015Date Type Sponsoring Club Event Location Contact Phone03 W Princetown Area Walkers Bordentown NJ 609-259-236503 W Fort Belvoir - DFMWR Fort Belvoir VA 703-805-239403 W Virginia Vagabonds Yorktown VA 757-766-306510 W Lee Lepus Volksverband Powhatan VA 804-768-005516-18 4W US Freedom Walk Festival Club Arlington VA 703-209-017417 W Freestate Happy Wanderers Laurel MD - Laurel Municipal Pool 301-717-360424 W Columbia Volksmarch Club Elkridge MD 410-290-651023-25 W Liberty Bell Wanderers Willow Grove PA :: Evansburg State Park 610-906-625223-25 W Liberty Bell Wanderers Willow Grove PA :: Norristown Farm Park 610-906-625223-25 W Liberty Bell Wanderers Willow Grove PA :: Tyler State Park 610-906-625223-25 W Liberty Bell Wanderers Willow Grove PA :: Washington State Park 610-906-625231 W Seneca Sugarloafers Rockville MD 240-753-0009
October 2015Date Type Sponsoring Club Event Location Contact Phone13-15 W York White Rose Wanderers Gettysburg PA :: Pickett’s Charge 717-677-651113-15 W York White Rose Wanderers Gettysburg PA 717-677-651113-15 W York White Rose Wanderers Gettysburg PA :: Ghost Walk 717-677-651113-15 W York White Rose Wanderers Gettysburg PA :: Ortanna Winery Walk 717-677-6511
November 2015Date Type Sponsoring Club Event Location Contact Phone14 W Seneca Valley Sugarloafers Sandy Spring MD 301-570-4235
December 2015Date Type Sponsoring Club Event Location Contact Phone11-13 NW Peninsula Pathfinders of Virginia Williamsburg VA 757-814-141711-13 W Peninsula Pathfinders of Virginia Williamsburg VA 757-814-141711-13 S Peninsula Pathfinders of Virginia Williamsburg VA 757-814-141719 W Germanna Volkssport Association Fredericksburg PA 540-455-077231 2W Freestate Happy Wanderers Columbia MD 410-437-216431 W Gator Volksmarch Club Smithfield VA 757-421-0070
January 2016Date Type Sponsoring Club Event Location Contact Phone01 2W Freestate Happy Wanderers Columbia MD 410-437-2164
Legend: W=Walk, GW=Guided Walk, GNW=Guided Night Walk, NW=Night Walk, B=Bike, S=SwimSk=Ski, XSki = Cross Country Ski, IS=Ice Skate, RS=Roller Skate, SS=Snowshoe M=Meeting
= Penn Dutch Pacer Event
2015 - 2016 Atlantic Region Calendar
walks. Check your Special Program books now and ifyou have any of these books that aren’t completeyou’d better get walking.
• America’s Bakeries• Celebrating Golden Cinemas
• Classic American Diners• Strolling Somewhere Over the Rainbow• Struttin’ Down Main Street
• Work Projects Administration• Walking Americas Murals.
Remember participants have 1 year from the end dateto complete and send the books to the clubs that hostedthe special program for processing of the awards.Please do not send the completed books to AVAHeadquarters. They can’t verify the book nor do theyhave the awards.
March, April, May 2015 - 8
We’ll Miss You Marv!On December 22nd we were extremelysaddened to learn that Marv Albertsuddenly left us transitioning towhatever comes next for all of ussooner or later. We weren’t ready tosay goodbye to Marv who wasalways a familiar fixture at PDPmeetings and events and couldalways be counted on to dowhatever was necessary and whofor many years was our very
dedicated Sales Coordinator. After learning of his passingwe remembered when we had last seen him and interactedwith him, not knowing it would be the last time.Inge Koening, PDP’s unofficial photographer,dug through her archives andpulled together thephotos on
these twopages that will help us toremember Marv and all the hecontributed to PDP and all of us personally aswell over all the years. We wish we could have thanked youface to face Marv for all your contributions to PDP and hadyou understand how much those contributions meant to all of
us. Who knew we would not havethe chance.
Tribute toMarv: “Marv was a faithful anddedicated member of Penn Dutch Pacers. As salescoordinator he was most willing to order whatever wasneeded - our book supplies and new member packets werealways ‘in stock’. He patiently explained the new memberpackets to new walkers. We will miss seeing him sittingbehind his "sales counter" concentrating on the crosswordpuzzle he was always working on. His chicken corn soup waswas the top seller at our food sales. We have lost a goodfriend and good man” - Kitty Glass
1
2
3
4
March, April, May 2015 - 9
1. Marv (with his wifeDale on the left) at hisSales Table post duringour walk on the campusof Masonic Village inElizabethtown.2. Marv with his oft seenwalking companionenjoying the water in theConestoga River duringour Lancaster CountyCentral Park walk.3. Marv consultingTrailmaster Don Young atthe conclusion of one of thePDP meetings.
5
6
7
8
4. We loved that smile Marv (at theKelly’s Run Walk)5. Taking a rest during the Cornwallprewalk.6. Just thinkin’!7. Often Marv would don the chef’s hat.Here he was tending the grille at Kelly’sRun.8. At the Neffsville walk a knowledgeableMarv was explaining the event anddistance books.
March, April, May 2015 - 10
walking that enrich our lives, says Leinberger.
Walking Means Business
Firms in the booming tech, information andcreative industries are at the forefront of thetrend toward walkable communities becausethe coveted young talent they need to staycompetitive in fast-changing fields want towork in places a short stroll from cafes andcultural attractions.The first thing Google did after buying theelectronics firm Motorola Mobility was tomove its headquarters away from the freewaysand strip malls of Libertyville, Illinois to thewalkable environs of downtown Chicago.“They felt like they couldn’t attract the youngsoftware engineers they needed” to an isolated84-acre complex, says Leinberger. Othercompanies that recently moved from suburbanChicago to the city include Medline,Walgreen’s, Gogo, GE Transportation,Hillshire Brands and Motorola Solutions.“Two things seem to resonating for businessesabout the importance of walkability--how toattract the best workforce and wanting to locatein communities where health costs are lower,”says Mark Fenton, a former US National Teamrace walker who now consults on public healthplanning and transportation. Employees withmore opportunities to walk at work and athome are healthier, meaning lower insurancerates for their firms.From his vantage point at the CDC, ThomasSchmid observes, “If a business is located in acommunity that is not healthy, they’re payingmore to be there. Think of it as a tax or cost ofdoing business because of health care costs.”One company relocating to Chattanooga, hesaid, would do so only if a walking and biketrail was extended to their facility.
The Challenges to a More WalkableAmerica
The walking movement has picked up a lot ofmomentum in a very short time. “The wind isbehind our sails,” says Kate Kraft, a publichealth expert working with EBWC andAmerica Walks. But she goes on to note that“it took 80 years to make America unwalkable,and it will take a lot of work to make itwalkable again”.Last year’s national survey on Americans’attitudes to walking accentuates thesechallenges. By a huge majority, people say thatwalking is good for them but also admit thatthey should walk more (79 percent) and thattheir children should walk more (73 percent).Only 11 percent say they meet the CDC’srecommended daily minimum for walking--half an hour a day five days a week.
Common reasons cited for not walking are:* My neighborhood is not very walkable (40percent)
* Few places within walking distance of myhome (40 percent)* Don’t have time (39 percent)* Speeding traffic or lack of sidewalks (25percent)* Crime in my neighborhood (13 percent)
Solutions for a More Walkable America
Here are some of the promising developments,strategies, messages and tools that are nowemerging to promote walking:Vision Zero for Safe Streets: 4500 Americansare killed crossing the street every year, atragedy that few people acknowledge. Butthere’s hope that will change now that NewYork City, San Francisco, Oregon and otherplaces are implementing Vision Zerocampaigns to reduce traffic deaths throughstreet improvements, law enforcement andpublic education. Similar policies in Swedencut pedestrian deaths in half over the past fiveyears and reduced overall traffic fatalities at thesame rate. “Vision Zero is the next big thinkingfor walking,” says Alliance for Biking &Walking president Jeff Miller.Federal Action Plan on Pedestrian Safety: NewUS Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxxrecently announced an all-out effort to apply thedepartment’s resources to boost bike andpedestrians safety the same as they do auto andairline safety. Secretary Foxx, former mayor ofCharlotte, North Carolina, notes that pedestriandeaths rose 6 percent since 2009. One thrust ofhis Action Plan on Bike and Pedestrian Safety“Bicycling and walking is as important as anyother form of transportation,” he says.Safe Routes to Schools: Half of kids under 14walked or biked to school in 1969. Now it’sless than 15 percent. Safe Routes to Schoolcampaigns work with families, schools andcommunity officials to identify and eliminatebarriers that block kids from getting to schoolunder their own power. “We’re finding that thebest interventions include both infrastructureimprovements and programming. You put thesidewalks in but also get parents involved,”explains Margo Pedroso, deputy director of theSafe Routes to Schools National Partnership.Walking as a Basic Human Right: Walking hasbeen shown to optimize our health andstrengthen our communities, which meanseveryone should have equal opportunity to doit. But low-income people often find it difficultor dangerous to take a walk in theirneighborhoods, which often lack sidewalks andother basic infrastructure. Studies show thatpedestrians in poor neighborhoods are up tofour times more likely to be injured in trafficaccidents.Communities for People of All Ages: Themark of a great community is whether you’dfeel calm about letting your 80-year-oldgrandmother or 8-year-old son walk to a nearbypark or business district, says Gil Penalosa,former park director of Bogota, explaining whyhe founded 8-80 Cities. Too many young andold people today live under virtual house arrest,
unable to get anywhere on their own becausedriving is the only way to go.Complete Streets: The simple idea that allstreets should offer safe, convenient andcomfortable travel for everyone--those onfoot, on bike, on transit, in wheelchairs,young, old or disabled. Twenty seven statesand 625 local communities across the UShave adopted Complete Streets policies insome form.The Healing Properties of Nature and theOutdoors: Not all exercise offers the samehealth benefits, according to a growing bodyof research showing that outdoor physicalactivity, especially in nature, boosts ourhealth, improves our concentration and mayspeed up our natural healing process. A walkin the park is not only more interesting than awork-out at the gym, it may be more healthytoo. The Wingspread Declaration--recentlysigned by 30 of America’s leading healthofficials, researchers and non-profit leaders--calls for business, government and the healthcare sector to step up efforts to reconnectpeople with nature.Walking as a Medical Vital Sign: There’s aninitiative afoot to encourage health careprofessionals to chart patients’ physicalactivity the same as they do weight, bloodpressure, smoking and family health.Walk With a Doc: Walking has the lowestdrop-out rate of any physical activity, whichis why Ohio cardiologist David Sabgir startedWalk With a Doc: to sponsor events wherepeople can talk to health care professionalwhile outwalking. Walk With a Doc nowoperates in 38 states.Signs of the Times: Many people are so out ofpractice on walking, they don’t realize howconvenient it is. That’s why architecturestudent Matt Tamasulo posted signs inRaleigh, North Carolina explaining that keydestinations were only a few minutes away byfoot. The city soon embraced his guerrillacampaign, and official walk wayfinding signsare found around town. Tamasulo haslaunched Walk [Your City]to help othercommunities show how easy it is to getaround on your own power.Walking is Fun: “Walking is still not seen tobe as sexy as biking,” says Robert Ping,program manager for Walking and LivableCommunities Institute. “We could focusmore on walking as recreation-- the strollthrough the neighborhood after dinner, goingaround the block, walking down to the park,meeting your neighbors. Something that’s notonly utilitarian and good for the environment,but that’s fun!”Jay Walljasper writes, speaks, edits andconsults about creating stronger, more vitalcommunities. He is author of The GreatNeighborhood Book and All That We Share:A Field Guide to the Commons. His website:JayWalljasper.com
Editors Note: This article was reprinted withthe express permission of Jay Walljasper.
Cont’d from Page 4 – The Incredible …
March, April, May 2015 - 11
C l u b O f f i c eH o l d e r s
Pete Byrne, President393-6700
George Resh, 1st VP397-1906
Carmie Keiser, 2nd VPVolunteer Coordinator
•••Inge Koenig, Sec
•••Kitty Glass, Treas.
•••Trailmaster
David Barber626-6103
Assitant TrailmasterJob is OPEN
•••Membership & RegistrarMonica Daniel-Barber
•••Special Programs
Bob Coonney682-2559
SalesJohn Roose
•••Publicity
Rose Angeline898-8153
HistorianChris Resh397-1906
WebmeisterPhil Allamong
•••YRE Coordinator
Virginia Hunsburger361-7464
KSVA PresidentJoan Lampart(215) 529-5686
Atlantic Region DirectorTom Jackson
1827 Shippensburg RdBiglerville PA 17307
(717) [email protected]
The folks listed below arethe people that have
stepped forward & give theirtime & talents to make PDP
work for you.
The Pacer PulseThe Pacer Pulse is published for the membership and friends of PDP and is produced 4 times a year with the intention of keepingeveryone up-to-date with what is happening within the club and also within the world of Volksmarching. We encourage contributionsfrom members and non-members alike. Our deadlines are November 1 for Dec/Jan/Feb edition, February 1 for the Mar/Apr/May
edition, May 1 for the Jun/Jul/Aug edition and August 1 for the Sep/Oct/Nov edition. We prefer that articles for inclusion be submittedvia e-mail either as a Word attachment or as native e-mail. We also accept articles typed or in long hand. All submissions will be
included on a first-come first-included space available basis. Thanks in advance for your submissions. The Individual views expressedin articles published in The Pacer Pulse do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the Penn Dutch Pacers.
Editor...........................................................................................Phil AllamongContributors.........................................................................…….. Pete Byrne,
Inge Koenig, Geroge Resh, David Barber, Sherry & Phil Allamong
Creamy Dreamy ChocolatePeanut Butter CakeSo let’s get down to business.This cake is chocolate. This cakeis peanut butter. This cake is likea little slice of heaven on a plate.It is fluffy, decadent, peanutbuttery, creamy dreamygoodness.
IngredientsFor the cake
* 1 Cup Almond Milk * 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar * ½ Cup Olive Oil * 2 Tbs Ground Flax Seed * 1 tsp Vanilla Extract * 1 Cup Black Coffee * 2 Cups Flour * 2 Cups Sugar * ¾ Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder * 2 tsp Baking Soda * 1 tsp Baking Powder * 1 tsp Salt
For the frosting
* 2 Cups Peanut Butter * 1½ Cup Vegan Butter * ¼ Cup Maple Syrup
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 Degrees and grease two 9" cake pans 2. Mix together almond milk and apple cider vinegar and whisk to combine 3. Add in the oil, vanilla, coffee, and flax. Mix to combine 4. In a separate medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cocoa 5. Add sugar to dry ingredients and stir to combine 6. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredient and mix until thoroughly combined 7. Pour into 2 cake pans and gently tap on counter to release any bubbles 8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until fork placed in center comes out clean. 9. Let cool 10. For frosting, use a mixer to whip peanut butter, butter, and maple syrup until smooth 11. Place in fridge until ready to use 12. When Cake is cool, spread half the frosting on the first layer 13. Add the second layer and add remaining frosting 14. In a small saucepan, combine all chocolate syrup ingredients and bring to boil over medium heat. After 2 minutes, turn heat to low and continue to stir until sauce thickens to desired consistency. 15. Let cool for 30 minutes and pour over cake upon serving
For the syrup
* 1½ cups granulated sugar * 1 cup cocoa powder * dash sea salt * 1½ cups water * 1 teaspoon vanilla
March, April, May 2015 - 12
Penn Dutch Pacers Volksmarch Club, Inc.PO Box 7445Lancaster PA 17604-7445Time Dated Material -- Please Deliver Immediately
Contents•Time to Walk…
•Thought on the January Meeting
^ page 1
•New YRE & Susquehannock State …
^ Page 2
•President’s Comments
•Members & Milestones
^ Page 3
•The Incredible Benefits …
^ Page 4
•YRE & Seasonal Walk Results
^ Page 5
•Atlantic Region Calendar
^ page 6
•Atlantic Region Calendar
•Special Walking Programs …
^ Page 7
•We’ll Miss You Marv
^ Page 8
•We’ll Miss You Marv
^ Page 9
•RECIPE: Creamy Dreamy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake^ Page 11
Check us out at www.penndutchpacers.org
Return Service Requested!
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/RENEWALFAMILY NAME _______________________ FIRST NAME ____________________ SPOUSE _____________________
ADDRESS ________________________________ CITY ________________________ ST ____ ZIP ________________
TELEPHONE (___)____-______ CHILDREN’S NAMES ____________________________________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS (Please) _________________________________________________________________________
I hereby make application for membership in, and agree to conform to the bylaws or any amendment thereof in the PENN DUTCH PACERS VOLKSMARCHCLUB, INC., and with the rules and regulations of the AVA in the IVV and in application I certify the above.
DATE _______________ SIGNATURE ______________________________________
___NEW ___RENEWAL ___ I AM CURRENTLY A LIFETIME MEMBER All membership fees are renewable in June.Membership with virtual delivery of the newsletter - ___$10.00 • 1 year ___ $18.00 • 2 years ___$25.00 • 3 years
Premium Membership with USPS delivery of the newsletter - ___$18.00 • 1 year ___ $34.00 • 2 years ___$49.00 • 3 yearsFor current lifetime members only - USPS Delivery of the newsletter - ___$8.00 • 1 year ___ 16.00 • 2 years ___$24.00 • 3 years
CHECKS TO: PENN DUTCH PACERS VOLKSMARCH CLUB, INC. ATTN.: MEMBERSHIP P. O. BOX 7445, LANCASTER, PA. 17604-7445
Check where you would like to help: ___AWARDS TABLE ___REGISTRATION ___TRAIL ___REFRESHMENTS
___PUBLICITY ___CHECKPOINTS ___NEWSLETTER ___WHERE NEEDED
A WHOLE DIFFERENT KIND OF WALK
Penn Dutch Pacer MeetingNight has Changed!
Now 3rd of the MonthNext Meeting is Wednesday, March 18th