A chair's job is to build relationships and tap into resources

• Keep your program coordinator informed; build a relationship with your park partners; communicate frequently to build a partnership
• Build a strong trail committee such that they know you will work on problems they have trouble solving
• Take advantage of Trail U workshops and encourage your committee to do so as well.

Safety First

• Say "NO" and walk away from any situation you determine to be an unacceptable risk; then notify your program coordinator and park partner if it is safety hazard to the general public.
• Read the Outdoor Activity Safety Guidelines

Recognitions

• Thank your supervisors during National Volunteer Week and at the end of the year
• Nominate volunteers for awards for which they are eligible
• Ensure that your supervisors and their maintainers get all of the longevity awards to which they are entitled

Your Supervisors

• Work with supervisors to establish best practices
• Walk trails with a new supervisor in his/her park, relay your expectations, discuss any problems with them, and teach them how to report
• If supervisors are having problems with maintainers, unable to provide support, or fail to report, find out why and work to resolve the issue.
• Set a good example to your supervisors, take on an optional responsibility and encourage them to do so as well.

Plan and Budget

• Assess trails using your observations and supervisor and maintainer reports
• Compile a list of projects based on what needs doing based on what your supervisors report; determine priorities; include estimated manpower, hours, and cost of materials

On the Ground

• Participate in updating the Trail Maintenance Guide
• Be familar with your area, by visiting all reported problem areas and other trails as time permits
• Consult with your program coordinator on a regualar basis
• Handle reported  trail problems and illegal usage, assign to others to solve, and track their completion. 
• Maintain a list of projects suitable for youth or groups; include estimated manpower, hours, and cost of materials

Off Trail

• Be familiar with the Trail Management Guide.
• Take Supervisor 101 so you know what is being taught
• Receive, review, and act upon semi annual supervisor reports
• File Trail Chair Report with the Volunteer Coordinator and Program Coodinator in the required time frame
• Send a report to your program coodinator and partners which includes major projects completed, hours worked, the associated value, and projected projects
• Maintain records
• File trail vacancy and appointment forms in consultation with your supervisors
• Submit a trail change and update when completed 
• Supervise approved trail relocations
• Attend Trails Council and chair local committee meetings
• Update information for Trail Conference publications and maps
• Be familiar with the Volunteer Handbook and Youth Policy

An RTC chair's job is to organize, lead, and facilitate a Regional Trails Council  

• Work with your program coordinator to develop and lead a robust committee such they have the information they need

Recognitions

• Thank committee members during National Volunteer Week and at the end of the year
• Nominate volunteers for awards for which they are eligible

Running the Committee 

• Appoint committee members such as an assistant chair, secretary, and hospitality to distribute the work load 
• Prepare and post meeting agendas 
• Post draft minutes of meeting and finalize when approve
• Organize the annual RTC planning meetings to provide input on and consolidation of regional needs, opportunities, and priorities 
• Assist Regional Program Coordinator to prepare the summmary of regional accomplishments and challenges. 
• Facilitate implimentation of policies
• Assist the Policy Council Representative in soliciting feedback and recommendations for draft policies under review
• Help impliment the Trail Conference's strategic plan as it pertains to trails

Outside of the Committee

• Be familiar with the Trail Management Guide
• Take Supervisor 101 and Local Trail Chair training so you know what is being taught
• Be familiar with the Volunteer Handbook and Youth Policy

A supervisor's job is the care and feeding of maintainers

• Solve problems maintainers cannot or find someone who can
• Take advantage of Trail U workshops such as chainsaw certification, first aid, or trail construction

Safety First

• Read and follow the Trail Conference Outdoor Activity Safety Guidelines
• Say "NO" and walk away from any situation you determine to be an unacceptable risk; then notify your trails chair and park partner if it is a safety hazard to the general public.

Your Maintainers

• Work with maintainer to establish best practices.
• Walk the trail with new maintainers, relay your expectations, discuss any problems with them, and teach them how to report
• Know your maintainers; communicate at least twice a year and support their needs
• If maintainers are not doing trail work or fail to report, find out why and work to resolve the issue.
• Thank them and make sure they receive the Trail Maintenance Manual, a t-shirt, a maintainer patch, and any longevity awards.

Plan

• Assess trails based on your observations and maintainer reports
• Know what needs doing based on what your maintainers report and relay that information to your chair
• Compile a list of projects that can be completed by groups that want projects.

On the Ground

• Walk and inspect all trails under your supervision annually 
• Request help from your trails chair as needed
• Report trail misuse to your trails chair and by filing the online Illegal Usage Problem Report 

Off Trail

• Be familiar with the Trail Management Guide.
• Take TM 101 so that you know what is currently being taught
• Take Supervisor 101
• Receive, review, and act on semi annual trail maintenance reports
• File Supervisor Summary Report with trail chair in the required time
• Maintain records; 
• File trail vacancy and appointment forms in consultation with the trails chair,.
• Know how to submit a trail change and update when completed 
• Attend Trails Council and local committee meetings
• Supervise approved trail relocations.
• Update information for Trail Conference publications and maps
• Be familiar with the Volunteer Handbook and Youth Policy

Maintainers

• Take care of a trail so that others can enjoy their visit
• Have taken Introduction to Trail Maintenace (aka TM101)
• Have walked their trail with their supervisor and know how to ask for help

Practice Safety First

• Say "NO" and walk away from any situation you determine to be an unacceptable risk and promptly notify your supervisor if it is a safety hazard to the general public.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return
• Read the Outdoor Activity Safety Guidelines
• Take personal protection equipment
  • Gloves
  • Eye protection - required for all maintenance activities
  • Ear protection - if you are running power equipment (power trimmers are allowed but not chainsaws unless you are currently certified).
  • Hard hat - especially if you are cutting or moving downed trees or branches
  • First aid kit
• Sharp tools: sharp tools are safer
• Begin every trip with a brief safety reminder; do it for yourself and if you are going out alone, let someone know where you are going and when you will be back.
• Know the location of the nearest emergency care facility relative to where you are working.
• Stop when you are tired.

Plan your trip

• Plan what you expect to do on a trip so you have the right tools with you.
• Make at least one trip after major storms and in the spring after leaf-out
• Plan separate trips for different chores, e.g. blazing, vegetation control, erosion control.
• Take along a small notebook to record what you did, what needs doing on your next trip, or what you need help with.
• Take a camera to record problems that need expert help, e.g. blowdowns.
• Make a copy of the map of your section so you can mark where problems are.
• Know who the adjacent trail maintainers are and for AT maintainrs, know who is the monitor of your section
• If you have a co-aligned trail, know who the maintainer is and what arrangements have been made.
• If you are maintaining in NYS Parks, and if others are helping you on this trip, bring Volunteer Service Agreements (VSA) for them to sign. For NYS DEC you need a different VSA.

Working on Your Trail

• Visit your trail at least once in each reporting period, more often it there are sunny areas with lots of understory
• Reverse direction of travel to inspect both ways
• Clip and toss to the side any encroaching vegetation
• Clear waterbars and their outflow
• Clear leaf debris from steps and board walks
• Blaze with another person

Reporting

• Write in a notebook and take pictures of what you did. Then fill out your maintainer report form when you return home while you still remember exactly what you did.
• Let your supervisor know immediately if you have items requiring immediate attention such removing a large blowdown.
• If injured, report it immediately to your supervisor
• Turn in any VSAs of your helpers at the park office, if applicable.
• Send in the report before the due date

Safety First

• Hold a tailgate session before going out on the trail.
• Remember that all crew members have the obligation to say "NO" and walk away from any situation they determine to be an unacceptable risk and an obligation to notify others if it is safety hazard to the general public.
• Read the Outdoor Activity Safety Guidelines

First Aid

• Someone on the trip should have Wilderness First Aid
• If more than one first aider is on trip, appoint one as the chief based on training and experience.
• Talk to your party members before going out to find out if they have any medical issues, e.g. allergic to bee stings and have appropriate medications with them, e.g. EpiPen.

Tools

• Sharp tools are safe tools
• Griphoists need regular lubrication
• Check cables and slings for wear every time you use them
• Spray paint handles (or other parts) bright yellow or orange so they are easily found if placed off trail
• Inventory tools at the end of every trip

Happy Crews

• Be safe, have fun, do work - in that order
• Stop work for the day if it is too hot or too rainy
• Provide refreshments such as lemonade and brownies
• Rotate workers on the strenous activities
• Have a someone who manages the people part while the other leader focuses on the technical parts of the job. You can't do good work if no one shows up.

Safety First

• Be familiar with the Trail Conference Sawyer and Swamper Policy.
• Remember that individual sawyers and swampers have the obligation to say "NO" and walk away from any situation they determine to be an unacceptable risk and an obligation to notify others if it is a safety hazard to the general public.
• If there is more than one certified sawyer on the trip, select one as the leader. If the team is an A and a B sawyer, the B sawyer is the leader, even if the A sawyer is doing the sawing.
• Take time for a tailgate session before going out on the trail.
• Read the Outdoor Activity Safety Guidelines
• Safety Issues
  • Chainsaw Fuel Geysers

First Aid

• If more than one first aider is on trip, appoint one as the chief based on training and experience.
• Talk to your party members before going out to find out if they have any medical issues, e.g. allergic to bee stings and have appropriate medications with them, e.g. EpiPen.

Tools

• Bring at least two sharp chains with you.
• Start saw before starting on trail to make sure it is working.
• Check gas and oil supplies.
• Do you have a spare bar? (useful if you get the saw bound up)
• Do you have shapening tools, repair tools, and parts?
• Electric chainsaws are not allowed - PPE chaps do not work well enough