VTGC 2026 Annual Meeting

Trail managers are invited to a day of networking, resource-sharing, and educational sessions. Free camping the night before!

Agenda

9:00 – 10:00 AM   Coffee, Networking & NorthWoods Tour (Tour begins at 9:15)

Enjoy coffee and pastries, connect with peers, and take an optional NorthWoods campus tour. 

10:00 – 10:15 AM   Welcome & Opening Remarks Nick Bennette, VTGC Chair

10:15 – 10:45 AM   VTGC in Action: Committee Reports

• Legislative Committee Tommy O’Connor 
• Trails Committee, Mariah Keagy, Sinuosity
• Membership Committee, Jeff Nugent, Windham Regional Commission
• Trail Accessibility Hub (TAH), Sharon Plumb, VTGC Program Manager

10:45 – 11:00 AM  Business Meeting

• Treasurer’s Report, Caitrin Maloney
• Proposed Bylaws Updates, Nick Bennette, Chair
• Board Elections, Nick Bennette, Chair

11:00 – 11:15 AM  Break

11:15 – 11:30 AM  Statewide Recreation & Trail Initiatives, Claire Polfus, FPR Recreation Program Manager 

Learn about FPR statewide programs, partnerships, and projects that support trails across Vermont

11:30 AM – 12:20 PM  Shaping VTGC’s Future  

VTGC has developed a three-year strategic plan focused on the three pillars of our work: advocacy, convening, and resource sharing. We are now launching the second phase of the strategic phase to refine our organizational structure. Caitrin Maloney, Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, will share an overview,  then break into groups to work with the Membership, Trails, and Legislative committee members to shape VTGC’s future.

•  Building the VTGC Community: Member Perspectives: Your feedback will shape membership, communications, and events. We will discuss ideas to add value to and promote VTGC membership, gather feedback on communications, and gather ideas for networking activities.
• VTGC  - Vermont’s Trail Advocate: We will gather input on the ‘26 legislative season, discuss desired advocacy outcomes for the coming year and align on specific tactics for the 2026/27 session and ways to engage members.
• Resources for Trail Managers: The Trails Committee will work with participants to identify opportunities and challenges trail managers face, and how best to tailor the website, enews, and in-person offerings to meet those needs. We will also explore how to market them to groups that are particularly challenging to reach.

12:30 – 1:30  PM  Lunch & Networking

Enjoy a hearty lunch provided by Cafe Lotti in Lyndonville. The membership committee will lead a networking session during dessert and coffee. 

1:45 – 3:00 PM  Afternoon Sessions

• Sharing the Trails with Snowmobiles ATVs and Horses: Ever wonder what’s going through a rider’s (or a horse’s) mind when you meet on the trail? Join leaders from the snowmobile, ATV and equestrian communities for a candid, interactive session on trail etiquette, safety, and shared use. Learn about horses, snowmobiles and ATVs as trail users and experience them firsthand with an ATV, a snowmobile and a live horse. Leave with tools and messaging you can put to work right away. Led by Monica Raymond, Vermont Horse Council and Dani Luce, Executive Director, Vermont ATV Sportsmen’s Association,  and Mike Mutascio from the Lunenburg Polar Bears VAST Club.
• Trails Roundtable: As  trail manager, what questions do you wrestle with? What’s working? What’s not? Join VTGC members for a lively exchange of lessons learned from the past year—swap ideas, tackle challenges, and get into the nuts and bolts of trail work happening across Vermont. Led by Mariah Keagy, Sinuosity, and Keegan Tierney, Director of Field Programs, Green Mountain Club
• Regional Approaches to Trail Management and Collaboration:  What can we learn from Northwoods and Upper Valley Trails Alliance (UVTA)?  Regional collaboration can unlock solutions that no single organization can achieve alone. Join leaders from NorthWoods and UVTA to learn how and why their models were created, what’s working, and how similar approaches could be adapted in other parts of the state. Through case studies, discussion, and peer exchange, explore practical, scalable ways to collaborate—whether you’re a volunteer group, municipality, or regional organization. Leave with concrete ideas, resources, and inspiration to strengthen trail partnerships in your region. Led by Maria Young, NorthWoods Executive Director, and Russel Hirscheler, Upper Valley Trails Alliance Executive Director and Jeff Nugent, VTGC Committee Chair and Planner, Windham Regional Commissioner
• How to be a Better (Trails) Advocate: Seasoned trail advocates and the VTGC’s lobbyist will share guidance on how to most effectively engage policymakers on priorities that matter to you. Includes both practical guidance for 1:1 engagement as well as broader strategic advice on building a coalition and weaving priorities into collective asks. We’ll also cover a bit of “how the statehouse works,” including how to develop champions, get language into legislation, and move bills through committees. Led by Nick Bennette, VTGC Chair; Tommy O’Connor, Committee Chair, and Jill Sudhoff-Guerin, VTGC Lobbyist.

3:00 – 4 PM  Closing remarks & Ice Cream Social

VTGC presumptive incoming Chair, Dani Luce, will share closing remarks. Wrap up the day with reflections, key takeaways, and informal networking.