Celebrate NYSA... NYSA Spring Campout May 26th-29th, 2017 Hosted by Western District Herkimer County Fairgrounds Entry Deadline is May 12th, 2017

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1 Holiday Issue 2016 Stiegler s State Report Well, here we go again, time to put the Rv s away (most of us) for the winter. The weather has been great for most of us and hopefully we will all have a pretty calm winter.as I am writing this article and reading Facebook, one of our dear members Bob DeForge passed away on Sunday November 13. Our deepest sympathy to Pat and the rest of the family. As I have written a few times already, I am still looking for member rosters to give to the National Office, so you as a paying member will be able to receive your Camping Today magazine. The National Board is looking for nominees for the National Board. The deadline for nominations is November 30. If you did not know, Hugh Hicks, who was our acting NE Regional Officer had passed last month. At the end of October our membership is 3286 active members in the entire organization. New York has 188 of not all active. Campvention 2017 is being held July 9-15 in Lima, Ohio. It is not far for some of us, so maybe we can get a good number to attend. The committee is working very hard to make this a great Campvention. Memorial Day Weekend May 26-29, 2017 Celebrate NYSA Herkimer Fairgrounds- Frankfort NY Hosted by Western District Cost- $42.50 to $50 for the weekend $7.50 pp pre-registration $35 Due at gate Meals: Saturday Breakfast Saturday evening dinner Sunday lunch Sunday potluck Monday Continental Breakfast Sports- Hospitalities: Friday- Western Saturday-? Sunday-? Flag retirement ceremony bocce, washer toss, ladder golf, bean bag NYSA President I m writing this in early December and the camping season is just a memory now. As fall turns to winter is I wish all of you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. At the last state camp out it was agreed upon to change the number of campouts eliminating one and having a winter meeting instead. This was due to the limited number of participants who were attending campouts. We certainly need to adjust what the organizations do based upon what people want. There has been much discussion on location price and even who will host such campouts. If we are to continue as a viable organization we must support fully what we still have that identifies the organization as a state association or a camping group. I know this appeal has been made before and hopefully with the adjustments that have been made we can continue to still have quality activities and campouts. The fate of the association is in the hands of the membership in the future we may have to make some hard choices but I hope that we all can try to work on turning the organization around. If we believe in the value of this family oriented organization we must strive for its continuation so that others might have the same fun and friendship that are the cornerstones upon which it was created from. Yours In Camping Sean P. McHale Bring your favorite photos old and new for sharing with friends. This is just a small outline of what is happening this weekend. Hope to see old and NEW faces. Registration form will be in this issue with a deadline date of May 12. We are having a meal catered, so we will need an exact count. Last, we are looking for someone to do a hospitality and people to do the sports. Please contact me at stiegjl2@gmail.com (Linda) John and Linda Stiegler

2 Celebrate NYSA... NYSA Spring Campout May 26th-29th, 2017 Hosted by Western District Herkimer County Fairgrounds 133 Cemetery Street, Frankfort, NY [Take Exit 30 on the NYS Thruway] Advanced Registration Fee - $7.50 per adult (nonrefundable) Registration Fee at the Gate - $10.00 per adult Camping Fee - $35.00 (Cash Please if paying at the gate) Additional people in same unit pay registration fee only. Please send payment and completed registration form payable to: NYSA / NCHA c/o LINDA STIEGLER 92 SANDRA DRIVE CHEEKTOWAGA, NY (716) or stiegjl2@gmail.com All sites include electric and water (50A service available for a $10 per night additional fee) Early bird Thursday after 1:00pm and the camping fee is $25.00 a night. Last Name First Name(s) Address: City: Zip: Phone ( ) Cell ( ) Number of Adults: M F Youth: M F Teens: M F $7.50 per adult $ Camping Fee $ Total Enclosed $ District Chapter Day Pass $10.00 per adult $ (non camping attendees) Entry Deadline is May 12th, 2017

3 HUDSON VALLEY DISTRICT A colorful Fall season has past and 2" of snow covered the ground for a couple of days. The holidays are approaching. A big thank you to Dick and Joanne Overton for a wonderful NYSA Fall Campout "Spooktacular". Not too many in number, but well planned and fun. Western District is planning "Celebrate NYSA" at the NYSA Spring Campout to be held Memorial Day Weekend at the Herkimer Fairgrounds. Look elsewhere in this issue for details and also BIG changes that took place at the meeting. Up and coming camping dates to think about: Retiree Rally is Mar 21-27, 2017 in Canton, Tx with 2018 in Tallahassee, Fl. National is July 9-16, 2017 in Lima, Ohio with 2018 in Ashland, Virginia NYSA Red Rose Retirees is July 31-Aug 5, 2017 at the Herkimer Co Fairgrounds Hopefully more New Yorkers will be able to attend these campouts because of being closer than usual. Hudson Valley District extends sympathy to the Latham family with the passing of Helderberg Hilltoppers Lifetime member, Alvin Latham. Merry Christmas to all and especially a Happy and Healthy New Year. District Directors George and Tonya Rothmann CENTRAL DISTRICT Hoping everyone is happy and healthy this holiday season. We look forward to the spring and our annual conservation weekend at Cedar Point. Barb McHale

4 Fall NYSA 2016 Memories at Ulster County Fairgrounds Photos submitted by NYSA Photographer Bob Gunning

5 New York City District News The Fall NYSA Campout, held over Columbus Day Weekend with a Halloween theme, went well with only four District people and John and Sue Parke recruited from New Jersey. We will go down in history for hosting the last Fall NYSA Campout due to continued low attendance. We were blessed with warm and glorious Fall weather. The fairgrounds were good, and there was plenty to see and do in the area. Saturday's dinner was also Sunday's dinner. Thank you to our Hudson Valley friends for hosting Sunday night's Hospitality. Hopefully, when our turn comes up to host another NYSA campout, we will have a bigger and more active district. Most of our district members are aging to perfection and not able to be active. We wish you a fabulous celebration of your holidays and a New Year filled with peace, good health and unity. Joanne & Dick Overton, District Directors

6 2016 FALL CAMPOUT REPORT The Fall NYSA Campout, held at the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz, had a Halloween theme and was Spooktacular! We had 13 reservations but, unfortunately, 2 families had to cancel at the last minute. The weather was glorious: sunny and warn. There was a lot to see and do in the area. We even spotted a beautiful fox that lives on the grounds and named him Hank in honor of Hank Nathan! There was plenty of food, fun and friendship. The costumes were so good for the Costume Contest that everyone was declared a winner! There were Site Decorating, Pumpkin Baking and Halloween Word Scramble contests. The words costume and haunted stumped most, a winner was drawn from several correct entries. NYC District hosted Hospitality on Friday and Saturday nights, and Hudson Valley hosted Sunday night. Spaghetti with sausage and meatballs was served for dinner on Saturday night with leftovers served on Sunday. The Sunday Breakfast was pancakes and sausages. A Continental Send Off breakfast was held on Monday morning. Western District will be hosting the Spring Campout at Herkimer next Memorial Day Weekend. CONTESTS & WINNERS PUMPKIN BAKE-OFF: SITE DECORATING: HALLOWEEN WORD SCRAMBLE: Barbara Wright The Burns Family Carol Burns

7 HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM GLORIA AND PHILL STEINBERG ********************************* Happy Chanukah Merry Christmas Happy New Year HAPPY, HEALTHY, JOYFUL 2017 AND BEYOND! Wishing our camping friends and family a very happy Holiday Season filled with wonderful celebrations and cherished memories. May the New Year bring us peace, unity and sun-filled camping adventures. With love from The Overtons: Joanne, Dick and Joy

8 It is time to Apply For Conservation Camp Scholarships! The Burr & Marion Scott Campership Program sponsors a youth or teen NYSA of FCRV Member to attend the NYS DEC Summer Camp. Now in its 70th year, the Summer Camp program offers week-long adventures in conservation education for children ages DEC operates four residential camps for children: Camp Colby in Saranac Lake (Franklin County); Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor (Sullivan County); Camp Rushford in Caneadea (Allegany County), and Pack Forest in Warrensburg (Warren County). All four camps offer programing for children aged 11-13, while Pack Forest hosts children aged for six weeks and Camp Rushford offers two weeks of programming for children aged Campers participate in a wide variety of outdoor activities including fishing, bird watching, fly-tying, archery, canoeing, hiking, camping, orienteering, and hunter safety education. Campers also learn ecological principles about field, forest, stream, and pond through fun hands-on activities and outdoor exploration. DEC counselors teach youth conservation techniques used by natural resource professionals, such as measuring trees and estimating wildlife populations. Each week a different Sportsman education program (Hunters safety, Bow Education, or Trapper Education) is offered, which parents and guardians can sign up their child but space is limited. This year Week 3 (July 9-14) at Camp Pack Forest will once again be the popular Outdoor Adventure Week. During this week older campers have the opportunity to speak with professionals about career choices, participate and gain experience in more advanced activities, and take advantage of fishing in more habitats. All four camps will operate for seven one-week sessions (Sunday to Friday) beginning June 25, 2017 with the exception of Pack Forest, which operates for eight weeks. Drop-off time is 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, and the closing ceremony and pick-up time is Friday at 4:30 p.m. Campers may attend camp for more than one week during the summer but will not be able to stay at camp on Friday or Saturday night. One week of camp remains $350 per child for the 2017 year, and includes the meals and trips. Applications for the Scott Campership Program are available from NYSA Conservation Directors Mike & Carol Burns at mcburns@frontier.com and must be completed and returned or postmarked by January 1, 2017 Mike and Carol Burns Conservation Directors

9 John and Linda Stiegler NY State Director Top left: Wreath handmade and photo by Michelle McHale Wood. Artwork and photo by Barb McHale, Right, Photo by Bob Gunning Wishing all our friends and family a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! The Gunnings Bob and Clare

10 NOTICE: NYSA is seeking a volunteer to perform the duties of Empire State Newsletter Editor effective immediately. Duties include publishing Newsletter three times per year. Contact President Sean McHale if you are interested or know someone who is. After MANY years of performing the duties of ESN editor I believe it is time for me to step down as I find my busy schedule does not allow me to produce the quality work I expect. I have enjoyed the role over the years and know one of you will as well. Barb McHale

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12 Important Dates for 2017: Spring 2017 NYSA May 26-29, 2017 National Campvention in Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima Ohio July 9 16 Inside this Issue: Spring 2017 NYSA Registration Fall State 2016 Memories Summer camp opportunity information