ANNIVERSARY EVENTS

 L to R, HI-USA Board Chair, Mark Skender, logtime HI-USA worker and Nat. Board member, Bill Nelson, and Executive Director Russ Hedge at the dedication of a marker for the First AYH Hostel in Northfield, MA.   (Photo by Lem Manchester)

    To celebrate the 75^th anniversary of HI-USA (AYH) and the 100^th anniversary of Richard Schirrmann’s first hostelling trip on August 26, 1909, dozens of Anniversary events have been held across the country. One of these events was the dedication of a stone marker at the site of the first US hostel on Main Street in Northfield, MA. On Sunday, August 23, a large number of townspeople and longtime hostellers attended the unveiling of the engraved millstone marker in front of what was the hostel, since replaced by other buildings. Speakers included Board Chair, Mark Skender, Executive Director Russ Hedge, the Local Northfield committee chairman,  Executive Director of the Eastern New England Council, Deborah Ruhe, and others. Following the ceremony a reception was enjoyed by attendees in the yard of the Centennial House Inn, next door.

    Yankee Council has celebrated our Anniversary with our spring and Fall Potluck Dinner meetings at which anniversary videos and retrospective slide shows were presented. Attendance at our Fall meeting was much larger than usual. Longtime Blind Program volunteer, Nancy Sargent, was honored with the presentation of a framed certificate for her voluntary dedication and work to lead and drive our blind friends to events. Across the country our other Councils have held special events as well.