Though Appalachian Trail volunteers typically spend most of their time on the Trail, ATC volunteer Lorrie Schoettler focused most of her time and talents working “behind the scenes.” Lorrie came to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to fulfill service learning requirements for a Masters degree with Naropa University. Before she entered the masters program, Lorrie had spent almost twenty years working for nonprofit community development organizations in Baltimore.
Based in ATC’s headquarters in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, Lorrie hit the ground running. Though she took on many projects, she spent most of her time in the communications department. Lorrie did everything from writing press releases and biographies of ATC’s Board members and other key volunteers to research on social media and other forms of new media. She completed a communications plan for the entire organization – a large project which involved interviewing several staff and board members. She also did grant research and helped at ATC’s semi-annual Stewardship Council meeting.
Lorrie also made time for more “traditional” A.T. volunteer work – she joined an A.T. Trail crew run by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and completed several maintenance work trips.
“ATC was lucky to find a highly skilled volunteer like Lorrie,” says Jeanne Mahoney, ATC’s Volunteer Resources Coordinator, “she is highly motivated and always took the initiative on projects.” Lorrie’s work will help ATC communicate more effectively with partners, members, hikers and other people who care about the A.T. Thanks Lorrie!
Comments:
Anonymous @ 6/17/2010 2:07:35 PM
It was a pleasure working with you, I think you accomplished more in a day than most people could in a week. Thanks for all you did for ATC!
Jeanne
Anonymous @ 6/17/2010 3:10:56 PM
Great to see Lorrie's contributions and work highlighted. Her commitment to contribute something of value that we'll be able to apply along with her remarkable understanding of and patience for those of us who seem to be distracted by any number of other demands made working with her a true pleasure.
Steve
Anonymous @ 6/18/2010 8:16:10 AM
Lorrie - thanks so much for all your help, especially with the stewardship council. You're thoughtful, hard-working, and a pleasure to be around.
Susan
Anonymous @ 6/18/2010 1:25:19 PM
Its people like you who keep the dream alive. Thanks for all of your hard work!
Belinda
Anonymous @ 6/19/2010 4:11:04 PM
Lorrie, It was such a pleasure having you in the office. Thanks for your great work! Please contact me if you want to follow up on the discussions we had. Say hi to Zach and tell him we look forward to seeing him when he does the second half of the Trail!
Laurie