Arizona Trail Association
18th Annual Members’ Meeting

9:00 - 9:30  –  Registration/Coffee
Gather, have some coffee after your drive, and catch up with other guests.

9:30 - 10:00  –  Welcoming Program
The Day will be opened by Arizona 5th district congressman David Schweikert, followed by Lattie Coor former President of Arizona State University and who completed the AZT in 2009. And then we will welcome our new Executive Director, Matt Nelson.

10:15 - 12:30  –  "Trailhead Talks"
Choose between talks at our three "trailhead" locations:

• Trailhead #1 - Desert View Room
  • Presentation A - 10:15 to 10:45 - History of the AZT - "In the beginning" by Dale's family and friends.
  • Presentation B - 11:00 to 11:30 - History of the AZT - "Putting the Vision on the Ground" by early AZT planners and ATA volunteers.
  • Presentation C - 11:45 to 12:15 - The National Forests of the AZT - What you didn't know about the Forests the AZT traverses.

• Trailhead #2 - Stage area in the Pavilion - (southwest corner - luncheon area)
  • Presentation A - 10:15 to 10:45 - Where am I and how do I know that? Think you know the AZT and nearby Gateway communities? Sirena Dufault will try to stump you.
  • Presentation B - 11:00 to 11:30 - Surviving on the Trail - AZT steward and REI staffer, Matt Gilbert showcases the latest trail user technology.
  • Presentation C - 11:45 to 12:15 - Mike Armstrong, the first blind person to complete the Arizona Trail, shares his adventure.

• Trailhead #3 - Northeast corner in the Pavilion - (Information Table area)
  • Presentation A - 10:15 - 10:45 - The Future of the Trail - What's your vision? - Give the Forest Service and the ATA staff your thoughts as they prepare the AZT's management plan.
  • Presentation B - 11:00 to 11:30 - "Connections to the Trail and to the ATA" - Andrea "Nose Trail" Michaels. Meet members. Share your connections to the Trail and to the ATA. Share your ideas and your interests. Interactive fun.
  • Presentation C - 11:45 to 12:15 - Completing the Trail - "the last sections get done!" by agency staff and volunteers who worked on the final sections of the AZT.

12:30 - 2:00  –  Lunch, Videos, Celebration and Special Guest – Lisa Schnebly Heidinger
Enjoy a picnic lunch and help us celebrate completion of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Special guest speaker Lisa Schnebly Heidinger will share some of her reflections about Dale and the Trail. Lisa first wrote about Dale Shewalter and the Arizona Trail in 1989 for a half-hour show airing on KGUN-TV; since then she has written pieces for Arizona Highways and other publications. This year she authored the official Arizona Centennial book, Arizona: 100 Years Grand. The year 2012 honors the completion of the Arizona Trail.