Dear Pam:

Fall is in the air, and with it we hear the chatter of the plans you have for festivals and events across the state. Please make sure Pam has your event to include on the calendar and if you would like Tasha to include on the Meet Up app, shoot her an email as well.

One thing that we are hearing in regards to vendors at events is a pushback on registering for a tax ID number with the state. This is free for a vendor to do, and as the Department of Revenue stated when I questioned who needed one, "if you are selling something in the state, you need one."

I have also heard the myth that continues to circulate that if you are "a hobbyist" you don’t need a certificate. This is false. See above …"if you are selling something in the state, you need one."

Please continue to call with your questions. If you have a question, most likely another group has a similar question.

Thank you for all that you do.

Marci J. Mowery, President

TRAINING 

There will be several training opportunities this fall.

We will soon announce the sign up for three locations of chainsaw training in November.

There will be a two-day Leave No Trace Training in October

We are co-hosting a trail summit in November with our friends at the Keystone Trails Association.

We are setting a date for an in-person fall retreat.

We are also reviewing your "greatest challenges" responses to the annual report and will synthesize those to see how we can best assist you with the challenges that exist.

As always, a self-paced training on conflict resolution is available on our Google Drive and training videos are on our YouTube Channel and Chapter Resources section of our website.

Several chapter leaders test-drove a new diversity training by our friends at Black Folks Camp, Too and found it to be an engaging and enlightening 45 minutes. Stay tuned for a broader invitation to participate in the training.

KNOW

The Friends of Pine Grove Furnace report that a scammer tried - unsuccessfully, thankfully - to hijack the registration and payment process for Fall Furnace Fest vendors. This was similar to the attempt made last year on the Friends of Prince Gallitzin's Cider Fest vendors.

Chair Andre points out that they refrain from advertising and distributing their vendor applications, not only to thwart attempts such as these but as to screen potential vendors for duplicates and, frankly, appropriateness for the venue and event. They take inquiries through their webmail and, occasionally, through Facebook contact. But only after making that initial determination do they invite submission by mail with payment. This year PPFF set up an online portal for 2025 but it is just a portal for payment without frills or features. 

Jenna was good enough to put together a fact sheet for restricting your Facebook page from certain problematic countries. It's found on the Chapter Resources page of the website under Fact Sheets and Other How-Tos. 

PPFF is in the process of expanding the tools to make your role as a volunteer a bit easier. Stay tuned as we prepare to reveal these tools in the coming months.

The annual State Park Calendar is available at wholesale price for groups who would like to use it as part of their fundraising program. Contact Jenna for additional details. 

Katie has been attending college volunteer recruitment fairs. If you have a fair happening near you and would like to attend with Katie, let her know! 

SHARE

Healthy Lands Week is approaching! If your chapter is hosting an event between September 28 and October 6, please take a few minutes to add the event to the PA Healthy Lands Week calendar at https://pahealthylandsweek.org/submit-event. By doing so, you not only become part of a movement but your events have another level of promotion through the work of the HLW marketing team.

Two upcoming PPFF online book club discussions feature Pennsylvania authors. First, in September, is On the Trail-A History of American Hiking by Silas Chamberlin. Then in November, the group will be discussing Cradle of Conservation by Dr. Allen Dieterich-Ward, a newly released history of conservation in Pennsylvania. The latter is available both on PPFF's website as well as from PPFF at wholesale cost to sell as part of your fundraising efforts.

Latino Conservation Week is approaching—September 14-22. PPFF recently released a series of Spanish language videos on our YouTube channel that are available for you to share, not just during LCW but anytime. The first is a Spanish version of Children and the Outdoors. Second are a long and seven shorts of the Leave No Trace principles. If you are planning any activities during LCW, let Tasha know so that she can help promote.