The Friends of the Mohawk Towpath Byway are having organizational meetings at the historic Grooms Tavern in Rexford.  Interim officers were elected and bylaws have been adopted.  The new organization opens a number of possibilities that were not available previously including  advocacy, social, recreational, and fundraising opportunities.  Membership in the organization is now open and anyone joining between now and December 31, 2012, will be a charter member.

Congratulations to Bill Gutelius who was elected President; Paul Olund, Vice President; Sandy Rohner, Secretary; and Mary MacDonald, Treasurer.

You are invited to the next meeting of the Friends of the Mohawk Towpath Byway which will be held at 7:00 p. m., Monday, January 14 at the historic Grooms Tavern where Sugar Hill Road intersects Grooms Road east of Rexford.  Memberships, good through 2013, are $25 for individual, $40 for family, $100 sustaining, and $500 corporate.  The Friends of the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway is a membership organization of individuals with a common interest of maintaining and preserving the natural, cultural, agricultural, recreational and historic resources of, and serve as stewards of the Mohawk Towpath Byway. They will write grant proposals and undertake fund raising events for these purposes and advise in development and oversight of policies and procedures governing public and private partnerships and use of public resources, scheduling events, publicizing the Byway and communicating the Byway stories.

“This is an excellent opportunity for those who live along the byway corridor between Schenectady and Waterford/Cohoes to have a say in Byway matters and to assist in preserving the historic character of our communities,” says Larry Syzdek, a resident along the Byway.

“Membership in the organization will help sustain the many ongoing community projects and efforts to proudly exhibit the importance of the Byway.  One such example is the historical informational kiosks you find along the Byway in Halfmoon and in Clifton Park,” added Henrietta O’Grady a Halfmoon resident on the Byway.  “Another example is the mural displayed on the wall in the visitor center area of Proctors.”

“We at the Capital Region Maritime Center are pleased to be working with Friends of the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway and the Coalition to enhance access to and awareness of the Erie Canal and the vast contributions it has made to our country and this region,” noted Executive Director Deborah Rausch.  “The Mohawk River of today offers tremendous lessons from the past that are important to know in order to build a better tomorrow. We congratulate the Friends of the Towpath Byway, and wish them much success.”

Additional information on membership in the organization can be obtained from Eric Hamilton, Membership Committee Chair at 518-371-7548.