The Rover Reporter

The Rover Reporter
The Newsletter of the Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Club
2014 Executive Officers
President
Sue Wheeler
614-7540
sjwzoe01@comcast.net
Vice Presidents
Lester Miller
938-3488
millersd@ptd.net
Amy Trommer
991-5232
avtrommer@aol.com
Vacant
Secretary
Regina Zapotosky
939-2077
rmzapoto@aol.com
Treasurer
Gloria Grabenstein
652-1607
Executive Committee
Members
After Action
Pat Eby
379-8945
Historian
Vacant
Membership
Mary Watts
234-7765
Newsletter
Pat Eby
patriciaeby@verizon.net
Publicity
Vacant
Sales Manager
Amy Trommer
991-5232
Trailmasters
Lester Miller
938-3488
Bill Rhoat
733-6915
Volunteer Coordinator
Alice Eckardt
599-5033
Webmaster
Regina Zapotosky
939-2077
December 2014 - January 2015 Edition
President’s Message
I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank each and everyone of
you for all that you do for the Susquehanna Rovers. Recently, we sponsored
the Hershey Walkfest. Many of you volunteered your time and much needed
energy to make this event a success. As your club president I want to say
thank-you.
At 10:11 AM on 12/13/14 where will you be? Hopefully you will be on a
Volksmarch. Lititz is sponsoring an event that specific day please come out
and join us there. AVA is promoting this day as a national day of Volkssporting.
Please come out and join us for a holiday gathering on December 21 at 6pm.
We will meet at Little Buffalo State Park to enjoy the lighted trail. Then, we will
travel to Louise's home for a time of fun. Please bring a dish to pass and a
small gift to contribute towards our annual Rover auction.
The new year is soon upon us! Come out and join us for our annual New
Year's Day walk. If your not able to make it how about joining us for a walk on
January 3rd, 2015 in Camp Hill. After the walk, we will enjoy a gathering at Pat
Eby's home for a time of food and socializing.
Take time this holiday season to ponder on what your goals and challenges
are for 2015!
Please remember the Rovers meet the last Tuesday of
the month at 6pm at Gander Mountain. Everyone is
welcome and encouraged to come. Bring your personal
walk challenges and goal ideas to the meeting. Let's
work together and help each other to achieve
success while having fun!
Happy Holidays to all of you!
Inside this issue:
Meeting Times, Time to Walk, 20/10 Challenge Program, New Members
Page 2
Hershey Walkfest Report
Page 3
Idita-Walk and Carlisle Report
Page 4
Awards, Bus Trips, Joyce Krow
Page 5
AVA National Conv., Phoenix Festival, PA State Parks and Forest Prog.
Page 6
Schedule of Events
Page 7
T HE R O V E R R E P O R T E R
PAGE 2
New Members
Meeting Time and Location
Welcome to:
Club meetings are held on the last
Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM in the
meeting room at Gander Mountain, 5005
Jonestown Rd (Route 22), Harrisburg. 717
-671-9700. Everyone is welcome to attend!
The next meetings will be:
John and Lori Satterlee of Carlisle
Mike and Carol Quinlan of Bowie MD
January 27, 2015
February 24, 2015
March 31, 2015
Time to Walk! Dec. 13
10-11-12-13-14
National Event
20/10 Challenge
Pictured to the left is the award for
the 20/10 Challenge. The 1 1/2 x 1”
pin is “Philadelphia Phillies” Red and
Blue.
The Keystone State Volkssport Assn
is sponsoring this special challenge
once again to encourage participation
in Pennsylvania member club AVA
sanctioned events.
Out of state walkers only have to walk 10 events in PA to obtain
the award. Walkers that live in PA have to walk 20 events in PA
to obtain the award.
You can download the record book from the KSVA website:
www.ksva.net or the AVA website: www.ava.org. Then go to
Clubs, pick PA, then Keystone State Volkssport Assn. That will
take you to the choice of the 20/10 Challenge.
There is no fee to participate, but there is a fee to obtain the
award. Once you complete the book, you can pay $4 or $5 to receive the award. If your award needs to be mailed, it will cost
you the higher amount. Hand in your record book at a York
White Rose Wanderer traditional event or a KSVA event, it will
only cost you $4.
The POC is Tom Jackson, 1287 Shippensburg Rd, Biglerville, PA
17307. Email: thomasjackson@embarqmail.com or Phone: 717677-6511 or 717-309-6088 Try it - you will be amazed at how
quickly you walk 20 events. Set this as one of your goals for
2015!
AVA would like all of us to get out and walk on
a special date and time.
This year we can all be walking at 10-11-1213-14. In other words, at 10:11 on Dec 13
2014.
The Penn Dutch Pacers have agreed to hold
their Christmas event in Lititz on that date so
we can join in on the fun. The walk will start at
Bruno’s Old Style Hoagies, 11 Kleine Ln,
Lititz. (across the street from Wiblur’s
Chocolates, but it sits back off the street.)
You can start anytime between 8 and 1, but
try to be there so you can be walking at 10:11.
The trail is rated 1A and is entirely within the
boundaries of Lititz Boro and Warwick
Township. It is on sidewalks, paved trails, and
a section of narrow roadway. There is a 3x4
award depicting the Chapel at Linden Hall
Girls College Prep School. There will also be
a “Time to Walk “ Patch. There are only 50 of
each patch.
This trail qualifies for Bakeries, Main St,
Rainbow Colors, Fraternal Organizations,
Golden Cinema, Honoring Our Flag, and
National Register of Historic Places Special
Programs.
As of now, there are 25 states hosting events
as part of the national event. There is a
special stamp slug available for the event.
If you can’t be there, do a year round, but be
on the trail 10-11-12-13-14. It will be fun!
T HE R O V E R R E P O R T E R
Hershey Walkfest Report
November 28 & 29, 2014
Hershey, PA
PAGE 3
very early on Friday morning.
Then the other volunteers showed up to run the start and
finish points, sales, checkpoints and food sales. This
included Louise Clouser, Julie Geyer, Mary Watts, Earl
and JoAnn Henry, Pat Lacasse, Marcy Lucas, Dave
Berry, Sue Peck, Jane Snurr, Rich and Paula
Bergstrasser, Nancy and Bob Ickes, Ken Schoener, Sue
Adams, Tom Leaver, Leroy and Janice Copenhaver,
Grant Bollen, Sue and Rose Yeich, Virginia Conklin, Roy
and Sis Clugston, Bev Vogelsong, Cookie Little, Ellen
Buller, Sue Wheeler, Lynn Hafner, Gloria Rudacille, Alice
Eckardt, Joan Lampart, Susan Osborn, Amy Trommer
and Pat Eby. Many of these people worked several shifts
and both days. Our special gratitude to Gloria Rudacille
for her being the checkpoint at Karns Grocery Store for
all shifts on both days.
Grant Bollen stuck around to help where needed and
then stayed to the end of each day so we were safe.
Bob Gambert and Bill Rhoat worked off and on as
Trailmasters. Marcy Lucas, Susan Osborn, Grant, Bob
Gambert and Bill Rhoat helped to get the Rec Center
back into order and the stuff back into cars at the finish
of the event.
For anyone that walked, you know it was a cold two days.
That did not stop 486 participants from walking our four
trails.
I want to thank all of the walkers that brought snacks for
us to sell. We were overwhelmed by the participation.
Our food sales usually about cover our Hershey Rec
Center rent for the two days. It did this time too. Thanks
to Cookie Little that donated the great tasting hot dogs
and buns; we have never had so many people tell us how
good they were and wanting to know what kind they were.
Sam Myers couldn’t be there but she donated the hot dog
dishes and the condiments. Sue Wheeler and Pat Eby
donated the ham and bean soup and the vegetable soup.
They both helped to thaw cold walkers on their return to
the Rec Center. Our food sales table took in $445.50.
Thank you again to all of those that brought goodies for us
to sell and for those that bought.
We also want to thank all of you that brought pet supplies
for Rover to take to an animal shelter. The shelter will
enjoy your donations. Dogs 37.01 lbs, Cats 46.98 lbs. Cat
products have been the leader for two of the three events
this year. Way to go cat people. We also had donations
of towels and old blankets. Those are needed too.
It takes so many people to pull off this event. But in
reminiscing, we are glad that we didn’t need volunteers to
help park cars as we did for many years before coming to
the Rec Center. Bob Gambert met me on the rainy/snowy
Wednesday at our storage garage in New Cumberland to
load up our cars with all of the stuff needed to run this
walk. Bob Gambert, Bill Rhoat and Bev Vogelsong set up
the tables and helped to unload the cars of all the stuff
We need to thank the Hershey Fire House for allowing
us to use their facility as a check point as well as Karn’s
Grocery Store. We also used to have out door check
points. It is so nice of these two places to allow our
volunteers to be indoors.
Now for some numbers. We had 578 walkers last year,
this year it was 486. So try to bring some friends with
you next year. If you have any ideas on how to get more
walkers, please let me know.
Candylane was our biggest trail. We had 223 walkers
with 52 free, 35 getting the award and credit and 136
walking for IVV credit only. There were 42 Rovers. 39
came from MD and 24 from VA. 1/3 of the walkers
walked the 5K.
South Hershey Trail had a total of 106 with 15 free, 8 for
award and credit and 83 for IVV credit. 29 rovers walked.
8 walkers did the long trail (20/22K). 33 did the 5K and
85 the 10K.
Annville Trail had 74 walkers with 8 for award and credit,
61 for IVV Credit and 5 for free. About 1/4 of the walkers
did the 5K. 30 Rovers walked this trail.
Cleona Trail had 83 walkers with 5 for award, 1 free and
77 for IVV Credit. Not quite 1/3 walked the 5K. 33 Rovers
walked this trail.
We also had a donation jar for the Ronald McDonald
Charities. We collected $112.85.
Again thanks to all that came and or helped. Hope to see
you next year.
- Pat Eby
PAGE 4
T HE R O V E R R E P O R T E R
Carlisle Oktoberfest
October 11, 2014
Bob Gambert and friend at the festival!
It is time to support the Boy Scouts Troup #298 of
Nome Alaska and give ourselves an incentive to get
out and walk in the cold of February and March.
The Idita-Walk 2015 starts the first day of February,
and we are currently gathering registrations.
The Idita-Walk is an event to promote physical fitness
in the spirit of the Iditarod Dog Sled Race. The
Iditarod race is 1049 miles long beginning at
Anchorage, Alaska and finishing in Nome Alaska.
Completing the Idita-Walk is much easier, simply
walk an average of 30 minutes a day for 35 days
between Feb 1, 2015 to March 31, 2015 for a total of
1049 minutes. (Any combination of minutes and days
will work-just reach 1049 during the 59 day event.)
The exact dates for the 2015 event are 1 February
2015 - 31 March 2015. Upon registration, you will
immediately receive a walking contract (print-signdate-post), later you'll also receive a commemorative
pin for your paid entry, as well as a finisher certificate
upon completion. You may also purchase t-shirts,
sweatshirts, dog collars, and pins in the online IditaWalk
2015
store
(opening
real
soon).
Please join us today and tell a friend, neighbor, dog,
acquaintance.
We wish you Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and
a very prosperous, healthy, and Happy New Year!
The Idita-Walk 2015 Team
Visit Idita-Walk Today. At www.idita-walk.com to be a
part of the Great Walking Adventure!
All proceeds go to Camp Bronson maintenance,
scholarships and Nome youth-related programs.
All paid registrants receive a collectible Idita-Walk
2015 lapel pin.
This is great fun– try it!
As you can see, there is great fun at the festival. It
started out as rather cold and dampish, but by the
time our walk was over the sun came out and it
warmed up.
There was music to listen to, lots of food choices,
rides to ride and of course a 5 or 10K volksmarch.
We had 92 walkers, 24 of them were free walkers.
We did have 2 from MD, 1 from NJ, 5 from VA, 1
from Indiana, 1 from Iowa, 2 from Mass, and 2 from
S Dakota. So a nice variety.
Thanks to all that helped: Louise Clouser, Sam Myers, Charlie Johnson, Sue Wheeler, Sue Adams,
Marcy Lucas, Sis and Roy Clugston, Rich and Paula
Bergstrasser, Cookie Little, Alice Eckardt, Bob
Gambert and Pat Eby. We also want to thank the
US Army and Kevin Small for their help and allowing
us to be there.
Shown below: Sam Myers, Louise Clouser and Charlie
Johnson are ready for walkers.
T HE R O V E R R E P O R T E R
PAGE 5
Bus Trips
Liberty Bell Wanderers at Niagara Falls
May 28 thru May 31, 2015
Passport or Passport Card Required
Thursday May 28 - leave the Vereinigung Erzebirge
Club, 130 Davisville Rd, Warminster PA at 7 am and
travel to Binghamton NY for their City walk (5/10K).
After lunch, travel to Niagara Falls NY and the hotel
(Hampton Inn on Rainbow Blvd)
Friday May 29 - drive to nearby Buffalo for their
5/6/10K trail. In the afternoon, return to Niagara Falls
for the exciting “Maid of the Mist” boat ride.
Saturday May 30 - stay in Niagara Falls for the US/
Canada walk (6/15K) passing attractions on both
sides of the river. In the afternoon, don raingear for
the “Cave of the Winds” tour near the falls.
Sunday May 31 - After hotel checkout, make the 90
minute drive to Canandaigua, a charming town on
Lake Canandaigua (the westernmost “major” finger
lake). Three walks are available (5/6/10K). After
lunch begin the six hour ride back to the VE Club and
should arrive about 8 pm.
Prices depend on occupancy but includes bus, bus
driver tip, snacks enroute, lodging for 3 nights, 3
breakfasts, four walks, tickets for “Maid of Mist” and
“Cave of the Winds”. Prices range from $350 to
$770. Non Liberty Bell Wanderers have an extra $10
fee. Questions and form: contact Bill Ridge 215-2569629 or email: wlridge@verizon.net. A deposit is due
as soon as possible. Full payment by 4-15-15.
Events
250
Tim Krow
275
Joyce Krow
500
Jan Lardizabal
1100
Sue Peck
Susquehanna Rovers, AVA, Curves?
What do the Susquehanna Rovers, AVA and
Curves International have in common? The
answer is Joyce Krow!
After finishing second in Curves 2013 Summer
Step Challenge, Joyce vowed to win the annual
Curves contest. With the
help of the many AVA
walks and other various
walks, she completed her
goal and won the Curves
2014
Summer
Step
Challenge with a total of
2,380,044 steps over the
York White Rose Wanderers See the Lighthouses.
three month period from
May 1 - May 3 2015
June 9th to Sept. 8th.
6 walks in 3 days
She is planning her next year’s victory, so look
Philadelphia, Cape May, Atlantic City, Barnegat Light, for her on the trails. Anyone for a walk?
Spring Lake and Asbury Park.
Hotel accommodations are at a Casino on the
boardwalk in Atlantic City with plenty of vouchers for Joyce Krow, Midd-West Middle School
Congrats!
meals of your choice. Price includes walk fees,
transportation, 2 nights lodging, luggage handling,
$25 slot voucher, $60 food vouchers, taxes, Dinner at
Vuca Di Beppo in Exton PA on way home. Leave
from York at 6 am Friday and return about 9:30 pm
on Sunday. Prices range from
$327 to $577
depending on occupancy. $50 due as soon as
possible.
Questions and form? Please contact Keith Choiniere
at ktmanpa@comcast.net
PAGE 6
T HE R O V E R R E P O R T E R
Victoria Volkssport
Phoenix Festival
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
April 17-19, 2015
This exciting festival is held every two years in beautiful
Victoria, located on Vancouver Island, just off the west
coast of British Columbia Canada.
The Hershey start point in need of walkers!
Julie Geyer, Marie Miller, and Judy Reed got their
pictures in the Lebanon Daily News because they
were caught checking out the directions for Annville
on a bone chilling day by Jeremy Long. Guess he
thought they were a tad crazy. Way to go ladies!
AVA National Convention
June 1321, 2014
Salem Oregon
There will many activities and walks to keep you
busy. The brochure is not out yet, but the host
hotel is already filled. So get your plans in
action if you want to attend. The walks sound
great!
13th walk in Bend Oregon
14th Clear Lake
15th Silver Falls State Park with 10 waterfalls
16th Vancouver Washington
17th Eugene Oregon
18th Lincoln City Oregon (ocean front)
19th Salem Oregon - Capital
20th Mt Saint Helens
21st Portland Oregon
There is a new venue so the walks will all be new. The
festival will take place at the Victoria Greek Community
Centre at 4648 Elk Lake Drive. It will be providing
delicious Greek and Italian cuisine throughout the
festival.
The walks range from 5K to 42K. The first walk starts late
Friday morning - 5/12K Beaver and Elk Lake. At 4 will be
the 6/10K Broadmead Trail. On Saturday the feature
walk is 5/10/21/32/42K Ocean View Walk. Sunday will
feature a 5/10/21K Saanich Trail. There will also be a pre
-festival walk on Thursday and a post-festival walk on
Monday hosted by local clubs.
The festival also has a meet and greet and a banquet.
These Canadian Festivals are always a fun thing to
attend.
Visit the festival website for more information:
http://www.vvpf.ca
PA State Parks and Forest Challenge
2015-2016
Keystone State Volkssport Assn is sponsoring this
challenge program to encourage participation in events
in our State Parks and State Forests.
You will only need to complete 10 qualifying events. As
of this moment, there are 20 year round or seasonal
events scheduled with some more traditional ones to be
scheduled. All of them have a lovely and colorful patch.
Are you up to the challenge!
We have so many wonderful parks and forests and this
will be the year to get out and enjoy them. But be sure to
wear bug spray. Many of these walks can be snow
shoed. So that would be a new adventure. There is even
a swim.
Plus three year rounds that start at the hotel
and three more that are close.
Pick up a KSVA Year Round and Seasonal Booklet and
the tear off the covers. These are your booklets for this
challenge and the 20/10 Challenge. This program is also
run the same as the 20/10 Challenge.
You can walk your socks off!
Get started. 2015 is almost here!
PAGE 7
T HE R O V E R R E P O R T E R
2014 - 2015 ATLANTIC REGION CALENDAR of EVENTS
AVA Calendar as of 12-1-2014
December
12-14
12-13
13
13
13-14
20
31
31
S
NW
W
W
W
NW
W
2W
Williamsburg VA (Clarion Hotel)
Williamsburg VA (Clarion Hotel)
Lititz PA (10-11-12-13-14 Walk)
Annapolis MD (Lighted Boat Parade)
Williamsburg VA (Clarion Hotel)
Fredericksburg VA (Holiday Lights)
Smithfield VA (New Years Eve)
Columbia MD (New Years Eve)
Peninsula Pathfinders of VA
Peninsula Pathfinders of VA
Penn Dutch Pacers
Annapolis Amblers
Peninsula Pathfinders of VA
Germanna Volkssport Assn
Gator Volksmarsch Club
Freestate Happy Wanderers
757-814-1417
757-814-1417
717-625-3533
301-509-6748
757-814-1417
540-455-0772
757-421-8070
410-437-2164
Harrisburg PA (Year Round)
Columbia MD (New Years Day)
Smithfield VA (New Year Day
Camp Hill PA (Year Round)
Cabin John MD (C&O Canal)
Harrisburg PA (Gander Mtn - 6)
Susquehanna Rovers
Freestate Happy Wanderers
Gator Volksmarsch Club
Susquehanna Rovers and lunch
Seneca Valley Sugarloafers
Susquehanna Rovers
717-379-8945
410-437-2164
757-421-8070
717-379-8945
301-385-0054
717-614-7540
WS
M
W
M
York PA (Winter Walk & Swim)
York PA
Beltsville MD (UM Church)
Harrisburg PA (Gander Mtn - 6)
York White Rose Wanderers
KSVA
Freestate Happy Wanderers
Susquehanna Rovers
717-292-3777
215-529-5686
301-572-5574
717-614-7540
W
2W
W
M
Columbia MD (Cedar Lane Park)
Baltimore MD
Hampton VA
Harrisburg PA (Gander Mtn - 6)
Columbia Volksmarch Club
Baltimore Walking Club
Virginia Vagabonds
Susquehanna Rovers
410-290-6510
410-592-3171
703-766-3065
717-614-7540
W
W
W
W
W
M
Richmond VA (Zacharias Ganey HI)
Charlottesville VA (The Park)
Victoria British Columbia Canada
Laurel MD (Montpelier)
Hampton VA (Parker Pavilion)
Harrisburg PA (Gander Mtn - 6)
Lee Lepus Volksverband
Cavalier Volkssporting Club
Phoenix Festival 2015
Freestate Happy Wanderers
Peninsula Pathfinders
Susquehanna Rovers
804-768-0055
434-924-3791
W
W
W
W
W
W
M
W
Westminster MD (Ascension Church)
Quantico VA (USMC Museum)
Newport News VA (Newport News Pk)
Stuarts Draft VA (Hardees)
Monterey VA (Haps High Rest)
Harrisonburg VA (Universalist Church)
Harrisburg PA (Gander Mtn - 6)
Glouchester VA (Pavilion 606)
Seneca Valley Sugarloafers
Germanna Volkssport Assoc
Virginia Vagabonds
Virginia Volkssport Assn
Virginia Volkssport Assn
Virginia Volkssport Assn
Susquehanna Rovers
Peninsula Pathfinders
301-926-0915
540-455-0772
703-766-3065
703-766-3065
703-766-3065
703-766-3065
717-614-7540
757-357-5355
W
Salem OR
AVA National Convention
January
1
1
1
3
17
27
GRP
2W
W
GRP
W
M
February
7-8
7
21
24
March
21
28
28
31
April
11
12
17-19
25
25
27
301-490-5850
757-851-9252
717-614-7540
May
2
2
9
23
24
25
26
30
June
13-21
Legend: W=Walk, GRP= Group Walk, GW=Guided Walk, NW=Night Walk, M=Meeting, S= Swim
Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Club
1820 Brentwood Drive
Middletown, Pennsylvania 17057-3477
December 2014 - January 2015
The Rover
Reporter
Dated Materials