MEETINGS 

Meetings:  The Albany Chapter's monthly informal meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month, October through June.  The meetings consist of a brief chapter business meeting followed by an interesting program, usually with slides.  Refreshments are also served.  The May meeting is replaced by the annual banquet held at a local restaurant.  The public is always welcome to attend any of the Chapter functions.  These meetings and accompanying programs, except the May banquet, are held at 7:30 p.m. at West Albany Firehouse (Station #1), 113 Sand Creek Road, Albany, New York (directions below).  The Chapter's Executive Committee meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, September through June at Little's Lake in Menands.  These meetings consist of chapter business issues only.  Upcoming informal meeting dates and program topics are listed below.

Directions to West Albany Firehouse:  Take Rte. 90 to Exit 5, Everett Rd. Take Everett Rd. (if coming from the west on 90, turn left onto Everett at the top of the ramp.  If coming from the east on 90, turn right at the top of the ramp.) Proceed north past Exchange Street (site of former Tobin Packing Company) and turn left onto Sand Creek Rd.  Continue ½ mile to the Firehouse on the right.  Park in the rear of the building.

October 13, 2009 – Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon – Janice Prichett will guide us in photos and native music through her 85-mile, 10-day trek on the Chomolhari Trek in the hidden mountain kingdom of Bhutan. Camping and hiking to reach elevations up to 16,500’, she had what she calls her most wonderful trip ever. Bhutan, 72% covered in forests and perched among the spectacular Himalayas, may just be the fabled Shangri-La.

November 10 – The Four Seasons of Weather Disasters – So you think YOU’VE been out in some lousy weather?? Wait until you see what WTEN Chief Meteorologist Steve Caporizzo will show us about lows, fronts, barometric pressure and other weather factors that translate into some spectacular weather events.

December 8 – NOTE MEETING LOCATION – The Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center is the gateway to one of only 20 inland pine barren environments in the world. Many of us already know it as a natural and recreational gem in the middle of the capital district. The Center now offers more attractions: lectures, activities, and guided wanders through the Pine Bush for nature lovers of all ages. We’ll conduct our entire meeting at the Discovery Center, then be treated to a tour and a presentation about this nature/recreation wonderland. NOTE LOCATION: 195 New Karner Road (Route 155), 1.2 miles WEST of Central Avenue. Same meeting time.

January 12, 2010 – Rare, hardy, and fragile: The Alpine Plants of the High Peaks – The arctic alpine zone of the High Peaks is amazing, beautiful, and diverse! For the past 20 years Summit Stewards have protected these rare and endangered plants. Join Summit Steward Coordinator Julia Goren for a slideshow and presentation about the alpine zone, the Summit Steward program, and the recent research and monitoring efforts taking place in the High Peaks.

February 9 – "Cascades Part I:  Climbing Mt. Hood " – After attending ADK's Winter Mountaineering School to prepare, Tom Denham headed to the beautiful Cascades to climb Oregon 's Mt. Hood (11,245' elevation).  He'll talk about the challenges, rewards and very real risks of climbing glacier-topped peaks.  Learn why outdoor people flock to this Pacific Northwest gem for great beauty and adventure. 

March 9 – "Cascades Part II:  Climbing Mt. Rainier" – Topped by two volcanic craters, Washington's Mt. Rainier (14, 411' elevation) dominates the Pacific Northwest and beckons professional and amateur climbers each year.  But not all of them summit.  Did Jean Quattrocchi and Phil Seward?  Find out whether their planning and training were rewarded by a view from the top of the Cascades.

April 13 – Nepal Adventure – "The Beauty and Challenges of Trekking in the Himalayas ."   You can't travel much further around the globe than our intrepid Conservation Committee Chair, Dave Pisaneschi, did last year when he went to  Nepal.  He will share with us his account of trekking in the world's highest mountain range, the Himalayas .  Hear his account of the remarkable landscape, the gentle people, and the issues facing flatlanders who find themselves in significant altitude in a third world country...a different kind of adventure.  Only those with a good attitude return!

May 11 Annual Banquet – Presentation by Jon Bowermaster—Writer, Filmmaker, and Adventurer.  National Geographic Expeditions Council grantee and award-winning writer and filmmaker Jon Bowermaster recently concluded his 10-year long OCEANS 8 project which took him and his teams around the world by sea kayak to the Aleutian Islands, Vietnam, French Polynesia, South America, the Galapagos Islands, Gabon, Croatia, Tasmania and Antarctica. Seeing the world from the seat of a sea kayak has given Jon a one-of-a-kind look at both the health of the planet's oceans and the nearly 3 billion people whose lives depend on them.  Jon's presentation will be a dazzling overview of his unique project with a special focus on the expedition to  Antarctica .  For a preview, check out:  www.jonbowermaster.com.

June 8 – Potpourri Night  – Now it's your turn to share tales of the special places and experiences you had this year in the great out-of-doors.  You don't have to be Ansel Adams or Jack London; we'll love seeing your pictures and hearing your stories.  We hope to have at least 6 presentations of 10 minutes each.  PowerPoint much preferred.  Contact Thea at 434-3052 or thoeth109<at>yahoo<dot>com to sign up. 

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