National Coast Trail Association

I should start by saying, that i typically do not take time to write reviews. Having said that, i felt compelled to share my thoughts on the National Trail Association as well as their Executive Director Al LePage. I first met Al in 1998. Al knocked on our door one evening as he was out canvassing and raising money for NCTA. I was blown away by Al's passion for the issue of trails and trail access along our coast. His knowledge of the issue, his caring and his clear desire to work at a grass-roots effort to move the needle helped to persuade me to make a donation from what was a very tight personal budget. Since that night, Al has kept us up to date on all the good work that is being accomplished at the NCTA. I have consistently been amazed at the amount the NCTA has been able to get done with such a small budget. Often, i see non-for-profits with bloated budgets that mostly go to overhead, salaries and fancy offices. The NCTA could not be further from that model. Al just gets it done and with such a small amount of resources. That fact, along with Al's earnest and deep passion as well as knowledge of the issue - keeps us giving every year. I would encourage others to take a meeting with Al and i am sure they will see what i have tried to explain in this note. Namely, that the NCTA is a great group, doing important work and run by a skilled and passionate leader.