Distinguished Service Award
Volunteer Leadership Award
Jeff Aceto — Jeff has served the Maine chapter during the past five years as the chairperson to two of the largest programmatic committees in Maine: The Meetings & Education Committee and the Outings Committee. From 2006-2009, Jeff single handedly built the now successful Meetings & Education Committee. During his four years as Chair of that committee, Jeff also organized the Chapter's educational program.
Jeff streamlined the processes of the Outings Committee and increased trip attendance from 50 to 500 attendees in 2009 and then to 900 attendees in 2010-2011.
Ledge Clayton — Ledge Clayton has been an active AMC member for almost 50 years. During that time, he served as Chapter Chair of the Connecticut Chapter as well as serving as Chapter Bicycling Chair and Flat Water Chair. He has been a Major Excursions and Interchapter Excursions leader as well as being involved with August Camp for many years. At August Camp, he has served several terms as a Camp Director and Chair of the August Camp Committee, going above and beyond his call of duty.
Ledge's many years of commitment to AMC have made him familiar to and beloved by many. His willingness to step up to the plate and take on challenging roles makes him a worthy recipient of AMC's Volunteer Leadership Award.
Bill Darcy — As a long-term member of the New Hampshire Chapter Executive Committee, Bill has co-chaired the Trails Committee and continues to assist hundreds of volunteers in local stewardship. He has been a long-term member of the Club-wide Trails Committee, thus offering his help at the highest levels of the club. In more recent years, Bill has extended his reach by leading trips at Cold River Camp, August Camp, and assisting in a major trail project on Three Mile Island. He has mentored the new Ski Committee and upgraded his telemark skills acquiring a national certification for the benefit of our members.
Bill is an example of volunteer leadership over a long period of time which makes him a worthy recipient of AMC's Volunteer Leadership Award.
Sharon Foster — Sharon has been an active and involved member of AMC's Worcester Chapter since the mid-90s. Her dedication and involvement with the AMC has grown continuously since she first became Activities Chair for the Worcester Chapter. Chapter level leadership roles Sharon has taken on include Activities Chair, Hiking Chair, Secretary, Vice-Chair, Chapter Chair and most recently as Past Chair.
She is also an active trip leader, leading many successful four season hikes and regular bicycling trips. She has also made significant contributions at the club level most notably as a member of the Outdoor Leadership Development Committee (OLDC) member and currently as OLDC Chair.
Chris Shafer — Chris joined the Narragansett Chapter in the early 90s and became the Activities Chair in 1995, a position he still holds after 15 years. Chris is the consummate AMC leader and volunteer. He leads local hikes, cross country skiing trips, paddling activities and is extremely active in our trails and conservation programs. Chris has also been a New Hampshire Trails Adopter for the past 10 years. Most recently he has worked with our new Young Members sub-committee chair to reactivate that group and has been a great mentor and supporter of our new Young Members leaders.
Chris has helped sustain the Chapter over a long-period of time and with his help the Narragansett Chapter remains a vibrant chapter in support of AMC's Mission.
Joe Dodge Award
Eric Pedersen - This year's recipient of the Joe Dodge Award shares many of the attributes besides simply the job title of the legendary huts manager for which the award is named. He's a consummate professional dedicated to upholding the traditions of the huts while ensuring 21st century mountain hospitality for the AMC.
Known for his competence and commitment to task, he's just as comfortable discussing budget priorities for the huts with club management as he is to be leading a top crew during opening airlifts at the huts. From serving as frontline hut crew to moving into the role of management overseeing a large staff of impressionable, dynamic personalities, his role as boss, mentor, coach, and confidant among today's hut crews is well-known and inspiring.
His passion for an exemplary hut experience is matched only by his commitment and skills in coming to the aid of others whether on a mountain top, hiking trail, or the surrounding Mt. Washington valley communities. His calm demeanor, inherent leadership qualities, and proven medical skills serving as AMC's Search and Rescue Coordinator or as a volunteer for the Bartlett, NH, Ambulance Squad are an example to the AMC community and those he serves closely within the larger region. In his short tenure to date with AMC, he's been able to solidify his place in AMC history much as Joe did over decades through commitment to public service, inspiring a passion for work in others, and being entrusted with the history and heritage of AMC's legendary backcountry huts. It is for these reasons that Eric Pedersen, AMC's Hut Manager, has been selected to receive the 2011 Appalachian Mountain Club Joe Dodge Award.
