[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 108 (Thursday, September 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO NORM SILLS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NANCY L. JOHNSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2000

  Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
congratulate Norm Sills of Salisbury, Connecticut, for being named to 
the Appalachian Trail Conference's (ATC) Honor Roll of Volunteers. In 
this 75th anniversary year of the Appalachian Trail, the ATC is 
recognizing 75 individuals for their commitment to the trail. The honor 
roll seeks to recognize people for their dedication to the trail based 
upon the number of hours each has worked, their willingness to mentor 
new volunteers and their overall leadership skills.
  Over the last 34 years, Mr. Sills, has clearly exhibited all of these 
qualities. A retired farmer, Mr. Sills has contributed over 2,500 hours 
of his time to help maintain the Appalachian Trail. In addition to his 
work on the trail itself, Mr. Sills is co-editor of the Massachusetts-
Connecticut Appalachian Trail Guide and a 34-year member of the 
Appalachian Mountain Club. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is one 
of many organizations that helps to coordinate maintenance of the 
trail, largely by volunteers. Founded in 1876 as a hiking and climbing 
club, the AMC is now responsible for maintaining 122 miles of the Trail 
in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. AMC has created 
a 4,200 person nationwide volunteer network that spent 181,500 hours in 
1999 alone managing this national treasure.
  First established in 1925, the Appalachian Trail Conference linked 
several northern hiking groups, such as the AMC, regional planning 
groups and the then young national forest system to coordinate 
creation, and later maintenance, of the trail. In 1984, the National 
Park Service delegated day to day upkeep of the trail and the 
accompanying Forest Service lands to the ATC. The trail now runs 2,167 
miles from Maine to Georgia, through 14 states, and through my 
district, the northwest corner of Connecticut. The 14 states have 
collectively contributed over 180,000 acres through which the trail 
passes to the ATC.
  No other nonprofit organization is responsible for the daily 
oversight of such a large tract of land or one with such a rich 
history. Volunteers, such as Mr. Sills, are crucial in ensuring the 
continuing use of the trail. Given Mr. Sills' longstanding dedication, 
there can be no doubt that Mr. Sills has been instrumental in 
maintaining the trail and he is truly deserving of this award. I 
congratulate Mr. Sills on this honor.