June 2021 MOAC Newsletter

July 7th - 6pm (Music)Social Hour/7pm Meeting

Lions Club of Cape Elizabeth, Bowery Beach Schoolhouse,1 Wheeler Rd., Cape Eliz

July General Meeting

Boating Safety with the USCG's Ryan Smith

PLEASE NOTE THE MEETING LOCATION

THE LIONS CLUB IN CAPE ELIZABETH

1 WHEELER RD

It’s summer in Maine and is there a better time to join us as Petty Officer First Class Ryan Smith, Operations officer for Station South Portland, talks about boating safety. From general safety requirements to gear and tips to make the best of every possible situation.

In addition, Ryan will be talking about some of his experiences in his service in the Coast Guard.

——————

Ryan Smith has been in the Coast Guard for 15 years. He has been stationed at Cape Canaveral Fl where he patrolled the Caribbean for drug and immigration issues. Since then he has been stationed at Portsmouth NH and South Portland. His time in New England has been spent mostly on Search and Rescue, Recreational Boater Safety and Fisheries Enforcement, as well as Operations and Training.

We will have a music social hour before the meeting. Bring an instrument, bring your voice, bring an earworm.

Last Month's Presentation

Together Again!

Fort Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth

Announcing SUMMERFEST!

Friday, July 30 - Sunday, August 1

Camden Hills State Park

Check the calendar as details are finalized!

President's Corner

The Thought Might Make You Feel Clammy

Yesterday, I sat on a concrete wall on the edge of the bay looking down into the mud. There was a clam there. You might say I ought to get more of a life.

Nevertheless, there I was staring down at this clam. I started thinking about his life, options, aspirations and thinking of my own. He was in a ramp where war ships were launched hurriedly during World War ll, something now becoming a distant memory from history. It was polluted pretty well right there ‘cause that was the way back then. I guessed in his whole lifetime, he might go 30 feet. Would he have friends? Get-togethers? Why would he stay in that nasty oily muck? I thought, maybe, just maybe he didn’t know better muck was just a short distance away. After all, he grew up there and that’s all he has ever known, and most likely, he has never thought about it.

I saw a picture taken from some spaceship launched, was it 20 years ago, of Earth (our planet for those of you challenged in the sciences). Earth was a dinky, dinky spot of a star in a sea of stars. I thought about the clam. I guess it’s all a relative thing. Well the tide came in and I shall now take my place in the order of the universe.

Dan Kidd, President

president@moac.org

Camping Prohibited on Tumbledown Mountain

The Maine Bureau and Parks and Land announced this week that overnight camping will no longer be allowed on Tumbledown Mountain in Weld. This has been a popular designation for MOAC over the years. This writer spent the night next to the pond several years ago with a MOAC group to celebrate a Super Moon. On that night there was a loud party up there and several MOACers had to shoo them away.

The State, in its announcement, said lack of responsibility by users led to the decision. Litter, discarded equipment, large fires, and human feces have become commonplace.

Tumbledown is a wonderful hike with the added bonus of the alpine pond just below the summit. Please check it out. You just can't take a tent with you anymore.

Maine Huts & Trails

Thanks to those who offered thoughts and opinions last month regarding getting MOAC back into a Maine Hut this fall.

We continue to welcome your comments as we decide whether to approach MH&T to attempt to reserve a weekend this fall.

Thanks!

Tammy and Peter Mullen. Click HERE to email.

A Newsletter Plea!!

This newsletter is for you, and by definition BY you. After all, YOU are MOAC. Without MOAC, there would be no newsletter. We can always use:

Pictures
News
Letters to the Editor
Trip Stories
Poetry
Celebrate friends' milestones (birthdays, achievements, celebrations, condolences)

Email the editor to submit. By the end of the meeting week to ensure enough time to process.

Thank you!

Welcome New Members

758 Members

Lyn Asselta

Colette Beaumont

Laura Becker

Maria Belva

Lisa Boisvert

Nancy Brajtbord

Karen Browning

Sally Carlisle

Paul Chamberland

William Cliff

Thomas Conlon

Juliet Cox

James Creighton

Wendy DelCampo

Ruth Demers

Janice DeRoche

Marilyn Ehlers

Alan Finger

Jack Flanagan

Joe Garcia

John Garon

Carol Greene

Cal Haverland

John Hayden

Fran Houston

Josephia Copucci

Andrea Kincer

Linda Krol

Linda LaFleur

Lydia M Hill

Denis Lachman

Michele MacDougall-Walter

Antonio Maniaci

Mike McEnaney

Tina McKeon

Parks McKinney

Zack Mignery

Judy Nathanson

Edith Netter

Jessica Ortega

Lisa Padulo

Rebecca Paradee

Sweta Parikh

Paula Patterson

Rena Pioselli

Candace Platz

Carol Roberts

Michelle Schwab

Katherine Soverel

Jess Tamayo

John Taxter

Amy Thompson

Shannon Thompson

Clare Wales

Understanding Your MOAC Account

Joining MOAC opens doors to new people and new experiences. The cornerstone of the club’s operation, aside from the people that make it up, is the website. If you join MOAC as an individual, you create an account for yourself. If you join as a family membership, each person in your household gets an account.

Questions/issues regarding your membership can be directed to: membership@moac.org.

The tips below, and how to manage them can be found in the Member Tutorials on the website. Click on “For Members Only” to see the options available to you there. The first item on that list are tutorials.

When you join MOAC, you are automatically subscribed to all categories on the calendar. There are different categories for different activities (hiking, paddling, etc) and this gives you the power to control what notifications you wish to receive. You can remove yourself from any category you don’t have interest in.
Conversely, when you join, you are NOT subscribed to any Forum categories. They are the same as the calendar categories. The Forums are a place for conversations and again, you can control which categories you will get notifications for. The Forums are also found in the “For Members Only” section of the website.
Your profile is the key to your identity on the website. Please check out the information there to insure accuracy as well as add things that you want fellow club members to know about you. Click on “View Profile” in the upper right-hand corner of the website.
Posting trips - Anyone can post a trip at anytime. You don’t need to be a member for a certain length of time. It is the lifeblood of the organization. Unsure? Check out the trip posting tips in the “Library” (under “For Members Only”). Look at other trips to see how they are worded, etc. Please reach out to board@moac.org with questions or concerns regarding posting trips. You can start the process by clicking the “Create Event” button at the top of the Calendar page.
Our Calendar has room for three events per day to be visible when you visit the page. If there are more than three events, it will say “MORE”. Be sure to click there to see all offerings for the day or if you don’t see something you expect to. This is happening more and more as we get more active. And with most of what we do weather dependent, trips are often scheduled last-minute. Check often so you don’t miss out!
After posting something to the calendar you might find you need to make changes. When you do, PLEASE consider whether everyone needs to get an email announcing the change. Is it a minor change? If so, please uncheck the "EMAIL SUBSCRIBED MEMBERS" box.

Thank You Trip Leaders

The Club extends its nks and gratitude to the following MOACers for leading trips since the last newsletter. MOAC has always been driven by its members. Will you please consider leading a trip?

We had 22 trips posted in May, , 15 hiking/walking, 4 paddles, 2 biking

Anne Geisler - 3

Paul Louis - 2

Dan Kidd - 2

Marty Williams

Elaine Vadeboncour

Judy Gervais

Kathleen McKatherine

John Shipman

Nancy Dorrans

Jerry Jalbert

Pat Johnson

Betsy Hanscom

The 22 includes the 6 club trips posted.

Dr Phil has offered information on two topics. Please click the links below or you can find them in the Library in the "For Members Only" section.

KNEE

NECK

AMC's Maine Woods Becomes a Dark Sky Park

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has announced that AMC’s Maine Woods property has become the first International Dark Sky Park in New England. This certification is given to land possessing an exceptional quality of starry nights and a nighttime environment that is specifically protected for scientific study, educational use, and public enjoyment.

The AMC Maine Woods Dark Sky Park is located in Maine’s famed 100-Mile Wilderness, the land surrounding the northernmost 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

MOAC Library and Archive Pages

Keep checking these two pages in the "For Members Only" section of our website.

LIBRARY - For stuff we can use now. Newest edition is a slide show on leading trips put together by Anne Geisler and Dan Kidd. Plus the tips from Dr. Phil.

ARCHIVES - A place for our rich history. Check out the videos and several years of old newsletters that are available there.

Help Wanted

MOAC has a need. Do you have an urge to help?

The club has a need for someone to work on marketing the club to businesses and interests that are beneficial to both us and them.

Look for, confirm, and keep updated the list of discounts and perks we get as members
Look for new opportunities for that list
Combine it possibly with advertising in the newsletter
Or bringing MOAC into their space

Please email the Board if you are interested or have questions. The club only works when its members make it work.

Happy Hours are BACK!

Calendar hawks might have noticed something resembling normalcy recently. Something that might have made you think the end of this long ordeal might be near.

The Happy Hour Committee resumed in-person get-togethers last Friday choosing The Yard in the Bayside section of Portland.

For the time being, MOAC Happy Hours will be located at establishments with outdoor seating. MOAC cannot guarantee that sufficient outdoor seating will be available for everyone, nor are people required to remain outside if they choose to dine/drink/socialize indoors. Participants assume all risk for COVID-19 or other contagious diseases.

Vaccination against COVID is not required to participate, but is strongly encouraged. Happy Hour participants are expected to practice safe behaviors including social distancing, hand washing and wearing a mask when not eating/drinking or when not seated. Please be respectful of other people’s choices and comfort level. Do not participate if you are not feeling well, exhibiting COVID symptoms, have recently tested positive for COVID or have come into close contact with someone who may be COVID positive.

A Request From The Board

While maybe it was understood, the board realized it had never been spelled out:

If you learn you are positive with COVID-19 and had been on a recent MOAC trip, possibly exposing fellow MOACers, PLEASE e-mail the board with this information. Thank you.

Per the CDC, a close contact is:

Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.

Food For Thought

Southern-Style Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Description

This is a down home recipe that I have used for years, and thought I would share it! The buttermilk marinade is terrific and is such a comfort food. However this is not a recipe that can be done quickly, but the wait is WELL worth it! Serves eight.

Ingredients:

2 cups buttermilk
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
5 cups vegetable oil for frying

Instructions:

Whisk together buttermilk, mustard, salt and pepper, and cayenne in a bowl, and pour into a resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken pieces, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours.
When you are ready to cook the chicken, combine the flour, baking powder, garlic powder, and onion powder in the other plastic bag. Shake to mix thoroughly. Transfer one marinated chicken piece at a time into the dry ingredient bag, and shake well to ensure complete coverage. After all chicken pieces are coated, repeat the process by dipping them in the buttermilk marinade and shaking in the dry coating again.
Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, making sure not to burn the oil. When oil is hot, fry chicken in batches until golden brown and juices run clear, turning chicken to brown evenly.

From "All Recipes"

Advertise in the Newsletter

Do you own a small business? Work for one? Have a side hustle? Do you have a garage/attic/basement full of gear to thin out? Do you want to get the word out about it? If so, advertise in the newsletter!

Your message will be in the inbox of the MOAC faithful every month. click HERE for more information or contact Maryann McLaughlin.

Flashback!

This entry is from November, 1999

October 1999

Biking Trip/Cape Cod

By: JACKIE WOOD

A group of adventurous MOAC cyclists, braving the elements, undertook a trip to the scenic Rail Trails of Cape Cod last Columbus Day Weekend. Camping out in Brewster, a raccoon haven better known as the Shady Knoll campground.

In case you haven’t had the opportunity to bike along the Rail Trails, you should know that this trek is a real treat for any level biker. The Trails are paved and wind into and out of Cape Cod National Seashore, taking you to some great beaches and scenic vistas. In fact, biking is probably the best way to see some of Cape Cod’s most compelling landscape.

Bill Shouse proved to be a very organized, creative, and talented trip leader (this will cost you Bill). And although the weather was not perfect by any means, the enthusiasm was never dampened, even though the tents and the bikers were drenched at times. And to prove that this group was a cut above, the more experienced bikers mysteriously appeared with a dry van to “save” those bikers at the end of the pack who were weary and drenched after a long wet ride. Thank you. Thank you.

Evenings were spent at the campfire (dry night) for some great eats and music, a little James Taylor and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Bill, how do you remember all of those songs?

During the monsoon (wet night), the group transferred the party over to dryer climates and feasted on some of Cape Cod’s famous fish and chips as well as other great seafood. Later that same evening we transferred the feasting to a wonderful pub that was so much more than just a bar; it had everything a sweet tooth could dream of.

This camping/biking trip was a first overnight for this new MOAC member, and at first I was a little apprehensive about doing a trip with a group that was still “strange” to me, however, I learned very quickly that MOAC trips are very warm friendly places. So, to all of you that I am pleased to call friends; Cathy, John, Kyle, Kelly, Chris, Bill, Bruce, Norm, Vicki, and Barb, thank you for a wonderful adventure and many fond memories.

PS: John, thanks again for the “wooden towel.” How does that work again??

Americana Panorama

By: MIKE HAUSER

Land of the free

Home of the brave

From sea to shining sea

In between golden waves

From the fields farmers plant

Across the vast Mid-West

In this Americana Panorama

Northern cities touching sky

Scrapers lighting up the night

As the Carolina shore

Echos back the oceans roar

Along the Texas plains

Where freedom loves to sing

In this Americana Panorama

With the Grand Canyons openness

To Alaska's wilderness

The mountains majesty

Powerful in its reach

In all the time that's spent

There's no other way to live

In this Americana Panorama

The colorful blue fescue

On a Kentucky afternoon

Under a Live Oak tree

With Spanish moss as company

To the California sunset

Being the last thing said

In this Americana Panorama

Source: https://hellopoetry.com/poem/1928665/americana-panorama/

For Time At The Campfire

Rinker Buck: The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey. Rinker Buck; 2015 edition. Price $22.03 (hardcover)

Sully: My Search for What Really Matters. By Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III, Jeffrey Zaslow. William Morrow; Illustrated edition, 2016, 340 pages. ASIN B01EFM8PSU. Price $4.99 (Kindle)

Atlas Obscura, 2nd Edition: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders. By Joshua For, Ella Morton, Dylan Thuras. Workman Publishing Company, 2019, 480 pages. ISBN: 978-1523506484. Price $19.07 (hardcover)

Remember the Leave No Trace Principles

Plan ahead and prepare.
Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
Dispose of waste properly.
Leave what you find.
Minimize campfire impacts (be careful with fire).
Respect wildlife.
Be considerate of other visitors.

Coastal Ride

Kennebunk, Maine

Monroe Summit

White Mountains, NH

Member Benefits and Discounts

Your annual dues do much more than just plug you into the greatest group of people Maine has to offer. Please check out the links below to see what else your membership does. The Board is always looking for new discounts and opportunities for members as well as to make sure the list is accurate. Please let the Board know if you find an error or want to suggest a possible addition.

Please login to MOAC first.

Click here for ongoing events.

Click here for discounts.