December 5th - 6pm Social Hour/7pm Meeting
Unitarian/Universalist Church 524 Allen Ave, Portland
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Tickets are now on sale for the 2018 Holiday Party. Order online at
Eventbrite or in person at the December meeting. $12 in advance through December 5. $15 at the door.
The party will be at the AMVETS Hall on North Road in Yarmouth. The same venue we have used for many years.
- Pot Luck
- Cash Bar
- Dance to The Hurricanes
- 50/50 raffle
The club will be looking for help from decorating earlier in the day to duties at the party itself. Please email the
Board if you would like to help.
Doors open at 5:30.
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Mushing with Polly Mahoney
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Polly Mahoney of
Mahoosuc Guide Service
in Newry, Maine, will share experiences by Powerpoint of her dogsledding experiences from the Yukon Territory to Maine to Nunavut and northern Quebec.
Polly has been dogsledding for 38 years and is co-owner of her business for the last 28 years offering dogsledding trips in the northeast.
She will bring a couple of her friendly sled dogs to meet you and a sled to demonstrate hooking the dogs up to it.
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Last Month's Presentation
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From Sea To Shining Sea...
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...it was an Epic Road trip to see ”America the Beautiful!”
Last September, Pat Johnson embarked on a three month journey by van, to explore the USA. She journeyed through 35 states, visited 29 National Parks/Monuments and numerous state parks. In all, 16,000 miles, from Maine to California; south through Texas and Florida; then back up the Easternmost coast.
Many were ’blue highways’: the scenic roads and interesting byways of rural (and not so rural) America, taking her to places she had always wanted to go, and places that she just ‘happened’ upon, many unknown previously.
She started by following the Oregon Trail to Nebraska where one can still see remnants of deep wagon wheel ruts from the 1850’s. Idaho, the only state she had never been, was a bit out of the way but did not disappoint. Visiting as many National Parks along the way was part of the loose plan. Death Valley and Big Bend, two lesser known/visited parks, were new to her and very impressive. Havasu Canyon, which is connected to the Grand Canyon, was probably the most spectacular place visited. The red canyon walls, aqua water and spectacular waterfalls are just stunning. She backpacked in and camped in the floor of the canyon atop Mooney Falls for 3 nights. Other ‘top’ experiences were biking the Trail Ridge road in Rocky Mountain National Park; biking Big Sur; climbing her first 14er in Colorado; and kayaking the caves in Channel Islands National Park.
She made new friends and ‘learned’ how to be on the road for an extended time. There is an art to it. Pat showed pictures and told stories of her adventures.
Pat has been an active MOAC member since 2002, leading trips, serving on the board and is a past President. She is an avid hiker, xc skier, bicyclist, sea kayaker and traveler.
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MOAC is ALIVE! Holiday party, Winterfest, Elections
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Greetings & salutations fellow MOACers,
Well, in regards to the last general meeting, great turnout and presentation by none other than our own Pat Johnson and her van adventures all around the USA. It was both inspiring and educational. This was followed up with a tour of her van in the parking lot.
Well, we have seen our first snowfall! Are you thinking Winter-fest!? I know you are. However, before Winter-fest is of course the holiday party. We did not get many people on the volunteer sign up board at the last general meeting. Ticket sales started at the last meeting or can be purchased online. Please see the
MOAC calendar
for full details.
Hopefully this snow gets you excited for the upcoming winter activities. I for one will be watching for windblown lakes as I want to try back country skating, maybe with a little hard water (ice) fishing thrown in. Sound like fun to you? Who’s game?
Political elections are behind us, now for the important ones. Who wants to be President next? We are still, as always, looking for people to volunteer to run their club. I won’t beat this drum too heavily this time around. You all know the drill. Without people volunteering there is no club. Good news, we have a volunteer working on updating our discounts-affiliates opportunities. Unfortunately, he is already volunteering for other things too and sure could use some help. Even if it’s just in the form of a warm lead with accurate contact information.
Remember to drink water. Especially in the winter people tend not to realize how much liquid they are losing. In the words of Camel Back, back in the day, “Hydrate or die.”
As always let me hear from you. Keep the ideas coming.
See you, out there,
Jeff Berry
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How about advertising in the newsletter?
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Do you have a service or product that might be of interest to club members? Have you considered advertising in the MOAC newsletter?
For very little cost, your ad can be delivered to the inbox of every club member. Check out the other ads in this edition
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With MOAC approaching its 30
th
anniversary next spring, I thought it might be fun to thumb through some of the old newsletters for trip stories. When we printed and mailed newsletters back in the day, two copies were designated as Archive Copies. So, I am fortunate to have years’ worth of trip stories, the trip calendars, meeting notes, announcements, and more at my fingertips. Each month I hope to give you all a look back as to what MOAC was like and what we were doing ‘back then’. And maybe for some, a walk/hike down memory lane.
So where were you in November 2003? If you were with MOAC then you might have gone on the hike up Little Deer Hill and Big Deer Hill in Evan’s Notch. It was the 2
nd
level in the Progressive Hike Series. Or maybe you bagged a 4000-footer, Mount Tecumseh, part of the semi-official “No Stress” hikes led by John Morneau. Were you one of 50 MOACers that spent Thanksgiving in Quebec? Or possibly you went caving in Schoharie County, New York, where you were warned THIS IS NOT A WALK IN CAVE. Be prepared for low ceilings of only 2 or 3 feet, crawling in mud, and belaying down a 50 foot ladder into a sink hole. Required gear: Headlamp, change of clothes and bread crumbs. If you were part of the MOAC merriment back then, you may remember we were fortunate to have Dan Kidd as our reigning king and his trusty first mate, Bill Johnson as VP.
And it is Bill’s story of his Restigouche River Canoe Trip that I’d like to share with you this month.
“In October of ought 3, four canoe loads of adventuresome MOACers set forth down the Restigouche River in northern New Brunswick. Eight went out, and eight came back: another highly memorable Dan Kidd trip.
We – Danna Lee, Cathy Fessenden and me, met at Cathy’s house in Bangor and packed the food obtained by Cathy. We awaited the arrival of the Portland contingent – Dan Kidd, Jonathan Keck, Norm Lavigne, Sue Schaller, Dianna Allen, and the now almost famous “Vincent-Van-Go” and it’s 15 seats. Due to some of Dan’s work on the exhaust system we no longer took off in a cloud of smoke.
Driving all night after an 11 pm departure, we had breakfast, continued to the put-in location, and no sooner had we unloaded, then the outfitter arrived to arrange to transport Vincent to the finish line, 60 miles downstream.
A late start after a long night before, got us only 10 or 12 miles down river where we fell in with a couple of poachers fishing out of season. They, however, informed us that they were removing some of the Sea Trout that would eat the salmon eggs. (How bout that, ya learn something every day if you’re not careful). They also pointed out cabins along the shore for use of us river travelers. What a surprise treat!
Also, as a treat was a party for my birthday and the fixings for a cake were brought along. Unfortunately, the reflector oven had been forgotten. But in true MOAC spirit, compromise was set in place. You’d be surprised how many candles can fit on a Swiss Roll.
A great night’s sleep and we were off on the second beautiful Indian Summer day. Eagles, otters, and uncountable salmon jumping clear out of the water next to our canoes made for another day to remember. We did 26 miles that day and never worked up a sweat. Ya gotta love this downhill canoeing.
Camped on shore under tents that night found us having one of the best beef stews ever. And the expected rain held off until we were in our tents that night. Still drizzling until after breakfast next day, by mid-morning the sky had cleared. All too soon it was over – Vincent was in sight and it was time to return to the real world.
Re-loading was done, off we went, and before we knew it were through Customs and on our way to New Sweden to see Dianna’s sister and Llama farm. Stopped at a store for some New Sweden-type coffee (no church stuff for us) and toodle’d off down the road to home. Thanks again Dan, from all of us, for another great trip.”
Submitted by Bill Johnson
"Flashback" Submitted by Dana Thurston
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The Club has a few positions to fill. If you are interested in any, please email the
Board. MOAC is an all-volunteer organization that works because of you.
KEEPER OF THE INVENTORY - MOAC has a supply of consumables we use for our various official get-togethers. We need someone to ride herd on this stuff and make sure we have enough when needed. Summerfest, Winterfest, those types of things. Plates/cups/silverware/etc. A history of previous events is provided as is the guidance of the last "Keeper."
HOLIDAY PARTY COORDINATOR - MOAC is looking for someone(s) to put together/coordinate/pull off the Holiday Party. Can be one person, a couple, or a team. The Board is already part of the team as they contract the hall and the band. This position makes it all come together. Full documentation and timeline provided as is the guidance of the last coordinators.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR - MOAC is looking for someone(s) to help schedule our monthly presenter for our meetings. Teamwork is the best way to make sure each month attendees have an interesting presentation. From club members presenting their own trips, to other adventurists with tales to tell, to experts in fields beneficial to club members, the presentation has always been a core piece of the monthly meeting.
MONTHLY MEETING RECORDER - We would like to have someone(s) to take notes during the monthly meeting to be used in the newsletter. It's a way to record things said or decided for members not in attendance as well as supplement our memories.
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Burnt Meadow Mountain and Stone Mountain, Brownfield
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Member Benefits and Discounts
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Your annual dues do much more than just plug you into the greatest group of people Maine has to offer. Please check out the links below to see what else your membership does. The Board is always looking for new discounts and opportunities for members as well as to make sure the list is accurate. Please let the Board know if you find an error or want to suggest a possible addition.
Please login to MOAC first.
Other links of importance:
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While MOAC no longer has an official chapter in Bangor, that doesn't change the fact MOAC is there. It would be great to have an official active group to serve Down East, and if you are interested in starting one back up, please email the Board.
The chapter in Bangor had monthly meetings just like Portland, held at Epic Sports.
Short of that, there is an email address and Message Board category to serve that purpose. The email address is:
bangor_area@moac.org. Please use both options to organize events in that area of the state.
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Every day is an Adventure
Join us to find yours!
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We are fortunate to be part of this organization MOAC. A diverse outdoors club that's been around since 1987 and welcomes newcomers of all ages and experience. If you're new or thinking about joining, please do. As an ALL-VOLUNTEER Club, our members organize and voluntarily lead all trips and activities from beginner to expert. From strenuous mountain hikes, or as part of the MOAC Trek Across Maine Team, to casual conversational-pace bike rides along the Eastern Trail, after-work city or beach walks or a gentle sail in Casco Bay, to overnight ocean kayaking paddle trips, weekend camping outings to Acadia, Baxter and one of the Maine Huts, MOAC members post their outdoor adventure ideas on their online calendar. “Join MOAC to challenge yourself, share your outdoor skills and meet other outdoor adventurers!” www.moac.org
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Get photos of your trip
in the newsletter or shown on the big screen at the
General Meeting
Email photos to
photos@moac.org
Email your trip
stories to
editor@moac.org
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Contacting MOAC
info@moac.org
207-775-MOAC (207-775-6622)
Or toll free at 1-888-553-0811
MOAC is a non-profit 501c7 organization serving the outdoor community in the state of Maine. As such the organization is governed by the following set of Bylaws.
Mission Statement
- To facilitate the pursuit of amateur outdoor activities of all types for persons of all skill levels.
- To provide a structure for public awareness (i.e. safety, conservation, and environmental awareness).
- To provide an outlet for public service activities.
- To provide a structure for social networking and community building. MOAC is and shall remain a non-affiliated organization
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