Walking Club – Page 6 – Nebraska Wander Freunde Trailblazers

UPDATES TO OUR YEAR ROUND WALKS

Updated May 4, 2020, 3 p.m.

Just added: a new Seasonal Walk May 1 – Sept. 30th in southeastern rural Council Bluffs! It even has a Little Free Library. See details here: Country Knolls – Council Bluffs

Our club hosts 8 different year round walks (YREs) that you can do on your own, at any time that the hosting business for our walk box is open. Of those 8 YREs, one has been closed and one has had some changes to their accessibility.

The Hanscom Park Walk, sanction #114315, registers at the Comfort Inn at the Zoo, and starts within Hanscom Park. The City of Omaha has reopened all city parks, so this walk has re-opened.

The Westroads Mall Walk, sanction #115089, registers at the AmericInn at 9720 W Dodge Rd, Omaha, NE 68114, just across the street from the Westroads Mall. The AmericInn is closed and the Walk Box is not available. The Mall ~~itself has shortened its hours of operation, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Most stores in the mall are closed, as is the Food Court.~~ is closed to shoppers and walkers.

Across the Missouri River, the Council Bluffs (Iowa) Black Squirrel Walk, sanction #114319, registers at Lansky’s at 1131 N Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA 51503. Lansky’s is closing earlier and is offering takeout food only, with no access to bathrooms. Operating hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Management has asked walkers to take the Walk Box outside to complete paperwork and then to return it.

CALENDAR UPDATE

Please note that the following events have been changed (updated May 21, 2020):

June 6th Group Walk at Lewis and Clark State Park, Iowa – CANCELED
June 6th Group Walk at Stone State Park, Iowa – CANCELED
June 20th Group Walk hosted by Iowa’s Walking Club at Mines of Spain State Park – CANCELED

Any questions, please let us know at netrailblazers@gmail.com.

WALKING SEASON RETURNS!

Our Annual Soup Walk takes place on March 7th at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church at 5529 Leavenworth St., Omaha, NE 68106 (but parking is off of Marcy Street, one block south!). Registration takes place from 9 a.m. to noon, costing $2 for Fun Walkers and $3 for Credit Walkers PLUS 2 cans of soup. This year, we’ll have our standard mixed beef and mixed chicken soup offerings, plus a pot of tomato basil soup for our vegetarian friends. The raffle features 5 Grand Prizes and a host of smaller prizes, with chances priced at 50 cents each or 3/$1.

We have two 5 km routes for you to choose from or to combine. Both routes feature Little Free Libraries, while the North Route also offers the “Rockin’ Around the Clock” and “Ice Cream Parlors” programs. We’ll have Group Walks at 9:30 and 10:30 – just because the Ice Cream Parlor doesn’t open until 11 a.m.!

Soup Walk Volunteers: The Workers’ Walk will take place Sunday, March 1st at 3 p.m. Come 15 minutes early to do paperwork. No bathrooms available at start.

The Lincoln Volkssport Club is offering their annual Spring Walk on Saturday, March 21st at the Enclosed Shelter in Antelope Park, near the intersection of Normal Blvd and “A” Streets, Lincoln, NE. Registration is from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Fun Walkers walk FREE and Credit Walkers pay $3. There will be a Group Walk setting out at 9:30 a.m. to walk the 10 km route. Both the 5 km and 10 km routes go through neighborhoods and park areas. Your Group Walk leader likes to get ice cream at UNL’s Dairy Store after walking in Lincoln. Just sayin’ . . .

Our club and Iowa’s Walking Club (Greater Des Moines Volkssport Association) are putting the finishing touches on everything you need to start walking on May 1st. This special set of 20 walks in 20 Iowa State Parks in 20 different counties continues through October 15, 2020. Want more information? Check our website at: https://www.nebraskatrailblazers.com/2020-special-events/iowa-20-in-20-walks/ Want to get regular email newsletters about those special walks? Send an email to walk20in20@gmail.com and we’ll get you on the mailing list.

2020 Walk Booklet – just published!

Our 2020 Walk Booklet is just filled with so many walks and activities that you’re going to need to pull out your calendars NOW and mark them all!

Just check out the new weblink here to see it and the instructions for printing 28 pages bursting with information on just 7 sheets of paper!

Our first regular walking event is Saturday, March 7th – our annual Soup Walk, complete with Raffle. Our booklet editor, Julie, calls it our “Winter-Be-Gone” Soup Walk. Hope so! – there’s an Ice Cream Parlor on the route (one of three Special Programs available on this walk).

What time? Where? Registration? It’s all in the booklet! But we’ll be posting later this month to remind you. 🙂

Our Volunteers are the Best!

At our Annual Dinner and Meeting this past Saturday, January 18th, our club installed its 2020 Officers and recognized some special volunteers in our club. Volunteers are the heart and soul of our club!

Karen Dix-Johnson – 2019 Walker of the Year

Karen Dix-Johnson was recognized as our 2019 Walker of the Year. Karen is our smiling ambassador when she’s not busy leading walks or helping wherever she’s needed.

Ann Drebot – AVA Meritorious Service Award recipient

Ann has lined up speakers for our club’s monthly meetings for over 20 years! Her AVA Meritorious Service Award is richly deserved.

We say “thank you” to Tricia Abel as our club’s secretary, as she hands over the club minutes to Dave Brown, our secretary for 2020.

Annual Dinner Time!

Just one table of happy Volkseaters, err, Volksmarchers at 2018’s Annual Dinner

is the location of our 2020 annual dinner on Saturday, January 18. Social time begins at 5:30 p.m. and the dinner meeting is at 6:00. The restaurant is located at 5022 S 108th St (108th & Q) in Omaha. Cost is $15 for members, $20 for nonmembers and includes drink, tax and tip. Please mail your check by January 10 to NWFT, PO Box 8147, Omaha NE 68108.

Our club officers for 2020 will be installed and the 2019 “Walker of the Year” will be announced during the meeting portion.

Hope to see you there!

Club News from October Meeting

We had a very busy club meeting on Monday night!

Upcoming Walks and Meetings:

Our December 7th bus trip to Le Mars, Iowa is cancelled – but NOT the walk! Club members are still invited to carpool to Le Mars to walk and enjoy the Winter Wonderland festivities. When carpool details and meeting times are finalized, they will be published here and on Facebook and sent by Trail Mail and email. The original deposits for the bus trip will be returned by mail shortly.
Saturday, November 2nd morning– Lincoln Volkssport Club’s annual Autumn Walk through Wyuka Cemetery and surrounding neighborhoods. Registration times 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m., off the trail by 12:45 p.m. Group 10k walk at 9:30 – email netrailblazers@gmail.com if you’d like to lead a group 5k walk. $3 for AVA/IVV Credit, Fun Walkers are free. Registration will take place at the City Impact Building, 1035 N. 33rd Street, Lincoln, NE 68503.
Sunday, November 3rd – 2 p.m. – Workers’ Walk for the Pie Walk, at Countryside Community Church, 13130 Faith Plaza, Omaha, NE 68144. No bathrooms available at start. Route is two 5k loops. Event Workers are invited to walk at this time and to help test the map and directions.
Monday, November 4th – 7 p.m.– Club Meeting at Morning Star Lutheran Church (lower level – Preschool Entrance), 331 S. 85th Avenue, Omaha, NE at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 9th morning – Pie Walk. See address above for Countryside Community Church, a member of the Tri-Faith Initiative at 132nd & Pacific Streets. Bring a pie to share and another to donate to a local homeless shelter! Register from 9 a.m. to noon, off the trail by 3 p.m. $2 Fun Walkers, $3 AVA/IVV Credit.
All 2020 One-Day Walks, Year Rounds and Seasonals have been adopted! New volunteers will be paired up with seasoned Trailmasters soon. Check out our preliminary calendar, here.

Other Business:

We welcome Diana Webb to the position of Speakers’ Chairman. Ann Drebot has served in that position for many, many years and will be helping Diana with the transition. If you know of any interesting speakers, please email the club at netrailblazers@gmail.com for Diana to research.
Our club needs to find a Secretary for the 2020 club year. Time is of the essence to step forward! Our Board meetings are held before the club meetings; meeting time is limited to that first Monday of the month. Can you help? Email us at netrailblazers@gmail.com.
Our newsletter editor, Julie Brown, is coming back for the November-December 2019 edition! Please have articles to her by mid-October.
Final call for “Walker of the Year” nominations! These are sent to Julie Brown and are needed by mid-October. She has already received nominations for three different people! Our club is blessed with talent and energy – thank you!

WALKS, WALKS AND MORE WALKS!

Walnut Creek 6k and 11k walk – Saturday, September 21st – 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. registration at the lower level of the American Legion at 230 W. Lincoln Street in Papillion, Nebraska. The 6k walk goes through Papillion and the 11k walk takes you out to Walnut Creek Lake. Cost is $2 for Fun Walkers and $3 for AVA/IVV Credit Walkers. Walk at your own pace, but please return by 2 p.m.
Arrowhead Park 5k and 10k walk – Saturday, October 5th – 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. registration at Breezy Lodge inside of Arrowhead Park in Neola, Iowa. Google says the address is 29357 310th St, Neola, IA 51559. Follow the paved park road around the lake to the lodge on the right at the top of the hill. The 10k walk consists of two 5k loops in the hilly woods of Neola. An alternate 5k route stays on park roads. Hiking sticks and long pants recommended. Cost is $2 for Fun Walkers and $3 for AVA/IVV Credit Walkers; park entrance fee of $3 is waived for walkers on that day. A pulled pork sandwich lunch will be available for $5, plus pop for $1.
Le Mars, Iowa Winter Wonderland – Saturday, December 7th. Bus leaving from Council Bluffs area around 10:30 a.m. and back 10 p.m. We’ll take part in the 5k and 10k seasonal walk, watch the parade and join in the festivities. Need at least 25 participants for trip to take place. Nonrefundable cost $40 per person; $10 discount for club members. Meals and walk fee of $3 not included. Limited to first 30 paid participants. (If bus company cancels due to inclement weather, payments will be refunded.) Payment must be postmarked by October 1st and sent to: NWFT, P.O. Box 8147, Omaha, NE 68108.
AVA’s “Starting Point” printed book lists nearly 2,000 year round and seasonal walks across the United States. The book costs $20 and must be ordered by September 27th. Send payment to NWFT, as above.

Annual Meeting and Dinner – 2017

Past president Sandy Spaulding addresses the club

31 people attended the January 21, 2017 Annual Meeting and Dinner at Valentino’s (108th & Q area). Incoming president Lee Frantz and wife Donna Campbell decorated the tables with a star theme in anticipation of our August 18 – 21 Total Solar Eclipse events, with Milky Way candy bars, Starbursts and Sunshine butterscotch candies.

A highlight of every Annual Meeting is the presentation of the Walker of the Year award. 2015 Walkers Jim and Martha McGahan presented the 2016 award to Ann Drebot. Ann arranges for speakers at our monthly club meetings and has done so for many, many years.