14 | ADIRONDACK PEEKS Laurie with Tower, Photo by Tom Rankin SR: Lastly, I would like to ask, what keeps you volunteering for these organizations. As a mother of five, with nine grandchildren, what fuels you? LR: Once you are involved in the outdoor world, you find out about what keeps everything going behind the scenes and all the needs that are out there. Organizations have needs all the time and I feel like I should step forward. You know I love these places and I love these groups that are working so hard to protect them. I just can’t say no. It’s that simple! * * * Laurie’s passion for nature is contagious. She loves her volunteer work because she loves the land and wants to care for it. One of the most joyful moments during our conversation was when she told a story about visiting her son’s house. A sudden burst of light glowed in her eyes. While she and her son chatted in the kitchen, Laurie overheard her granddaughter conversing in the next room with a friend, saying, “When I grow up, I’m going to build lean-tos like my grandmother!” Leaders aren’t born, they’re made. Laurie listened for the tower bird and discovered the white-throated sparrow. She talked to the chipmunks, observed the winter robins, the bobcat with her kittens, the geese, and the owls, while exploring the forest and mountains with an inexhaustible physical and mental alertness. Her commitment to step forward and work to preserve the land she loves leaves a trail of inspiration for her children, grandchildren, and for all of us who know her to follow. President 46er Number Year(s) Grace L. Hudowalski 9 1948–1951 Werner O. Bachli 33 1951–1953 William E. Endicott 80 1953–1956 Herbert C. Allen, Jr. 96 1956–1957 Rudolph W. Strobel 98 1957–1958 Richard T. Babcock 115 1958–1959 Robert B. Mitchell 117 1959–1960 Henry N. Germond 172 1960–1962 F. L. Peter Stone 74 1962–1965 James G. Bailey 233 1966–1969 William C. Frenette 216 1969–1970 Glenn W. Fish 536 1970–1973 Winifred Lamb 367 1973–1975 Edwin H. Ketchledge 507 1975–1978 Walter G. Herrod 750 1978–1981 Philip B. Corell 224W 1981–1984 Donald J. Hoffman 1148 1984–1987 President 46er Number Year(s) Jules J. Comeau 646 1987–1989 June F. Behr 1455 1989–1992 Joseph C. Urbanczyk 2151 1992 Tim Tefft 616 1992–1993 Philip B. Corell 224W 1993–1994 Nancy D. Allen 2355 1994–1997 George Sloan 2651W 1997–2000 Barbara L. Harris 2824W 2000–2003 Mary Lou Recor 2214W 2003–2006 James A. Barnshaw 4156W 2006–2009 Thomas B. Wheeler 3356W 2009–2012 Sally Hoy 2924W 2012–2015 Brian Hoody 4410W 2015–2018 Siobhan CarneyNesbitt 5930W 2018–2021 Laurie J. Rankin 5525WV 2021–2024 Past Presidents
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