2013 Calendar of State Wide Events
April 20 N. Highlands Trail Day
“No Frills” Trail Support
April 28 N. Highlands Trail Day
Installation of Hitching Rail on Tuscarora Trail Head on Rt 55
May 4-11 N. Highlands Trail Day
“Capon Valley 50K Run” Trail Support
May 18-19 GWNF Chain Saw Certification
May 19 GWNF Chain Saw Recertification
May 25 Eight Rivers Trail Day
MNF – West Fork Trail trash pickup
June 11 Randolph Co. & Eight Rivers Trail Day
MNF – Gandy Creek Horse Camp
July 15 Eight Rivers Trail Day
August 1-4 Randolph Co, Eight Rivers & N. Highlands Trail Days
“Ride between the Rivers” Trail Support
August 17 Eight Rivers Trail Day
Sep 28 Eight Rivers, Randolph Co. Trail Day
Sept 28-Oct 6 Randolph Co, Eight Rivers & N. Highlands
Mountain State Forest Festival BCH & LNT (stock) Display
Dec 7 *BCHWV Annual Meeting*
Eight Rivers, Randolph Co, & N. Highlands
Show Up ! Get Involved !
Annual Chapter Meetings Happening Now
At the chapter level we will:
- Take a look at last year’s projects, congratulate ourselves for a job well-done, and see what needs doing to finish up any non-completes. If you’ve not taken a look at the photos that are posted on the website, please do. What we’ve accomplished as a group is nothing short of miraculous. Take a quick minute to look
at the photos in our PICTURE GALLERY at the top of this page – I think you’ll agree !!
- Volunteer hours will be gathered prior to your chapter meeting so that awards can be presented to those who exceeded even OUR expectations. We think we generally know who you are, but we need EVERYONE’s Volunteer Hours so they can be submitted to the Forest Service for $$ allocation. No kidding! Each hour that each of us spends as a volunteer in the national forest – either clearing trail, working on a project, or even just checking the viability of a trail, is calculated at $22.50 (Per Hour) and that dollar amount is considered a Gift In Kind. Bottom Line? The more total hours we give to our trails as BCHWV, the more attention we get. Period. So if you’ve not been keeping track of your time since last year then – please, right now, sit down. Get a pencil. And give us a darn good guestimate so that BCHWV will get credit where credit is due. Send “your number” and basically what-you-did and where-you-did-it to your chapter president. So that this valuable information can be to put to good use by your representatives.
- Proposed projects for 2012 will be discussed and voted on with your chapter. Keep in mind that pre-approval is required if the proposed project is on private or public land-so get this in place with your president BEFORE your meeting so the project can be seriously considered. The NFS is in the throes of a 2012 budget crunch – there are 1.9 million dollars LESS than what was available in 2011. We want to be sure that our requests and plans for the 2012 fiscal year are on the table and taken into serious consideration as they begin their number crunching. If you have a project in mind, please talk to your chapter representative as soon as possible so that it can be explored.
- Set the 2012 Trail Day Schedule. This will take some pre-thought and pre-planning as well. Consider other events that your group or community is scheduling. A total of six Trail Days are typically scheduled for each chapter, for each year. Not necessarily Six Projects, but Six Trail Days during the spring, summer and fall. Sometimes a project will take several days, or if it’s a real biggie, your chapter may work on one specific project the entire season. That’s okay too. You all decide. The dates of those Trail Days and their associated projects need to be on the state-wide calendar by January 1.
- And last but not least – in the case of the Eight Rivers and Northern Highlands chapters; It’s that time !! A nominating committee of three members will be selected by the chapter president at your meeting for the election of next term’s officers in January. Committed leadership is key.
You all have done a phenomenal job in pulling Back Country Horsemen together in West Virginia. It’s hard to believe all this began for us just 2 short years ago. Thank you so much for what you’ve done and for what you’re doing to ensure that our united voice is heard.
You’re an amazing group of people and it’s a privilege to work with you.
Most Sincerely,
Virginia (Gini) LaMaster
Back Country Horsemen of West Virginia
304-856-3395
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Capon Valley Run and Back Country Horsemen Work Together
The Northern Highlands chapter of Back Country Horsemen of West Virginia has linked arms with the Capon Valley Run to support the trails that are used to put on this community-wide event. Wendy Mattingly-Fournier, Capon Valley Run Trail Committee Chair is also an active member of our N. Highlands BCHWV chapter and working with her boots on both sides of the trail is a win-win solution for all involved. Over the las
t 12 years The Run, a non-profit, volunteer run organization, has pumped over $75 thousand dollars into the Capon and Yellow Springs community and has drawn much deserved attention to our beautiful hills and hollows.
The local BCH chapter will be clearing and marking the trail used by the Run and will also provide the point and drag riders who escort the runners. Although the Run does follow trails that are in the George Washington National Forest – Lee Ranger District, the trail also is run across many private parcels of land that are NOT open for horse use except for that which is required to maintain the run trail.
As a local community service organization and a key supporter of the Capon Valley Run, the local BCH chapter will be one of the beneficiaries of the funds raised by the event. These funds will be used to further BCH’s goals which include educating, encouraging and soliciting active participation in the wise use of our back country resource by horsemen and the general public.
