JoEllen Mason, who has served as FMST's first-ever Outreach Coordinator since June 2013, is transitioning out of the position as Betsy Brown steps in.  

JoEllen Mason

JoEllen, who first got involved with FMST as the volunteer administrator of our Facebook page, has done great work -- expanding our membership from 600 to more than 900, designing new merchandise, recognizing volunteers and raising awareness of the trail. She will continue working for FMST on a part-time basis through the February 6th annual meeting and as a volunteer after that.  We feel very lucky not to lose her creative energy and love for the trail as she returns to real estate work in Durham. You can contact JoEllen to thank her for her work with FMST at jmason@ncmst.org or 919-452-4099.

Betsy Brown

We are very excited that Betsy Brown accepted the Outreach Coordinator position and started work on September 15. Betsy also first got involved with FMST as a a volunteer in the office and then as part-time staff to help organize annual meetings and our big "trail town" conference in Hillsborough last year. Betsy brings great experience to FMST from her work in public relations and event and project management at Cat's Cradle, Yep Roc, Mammoth Records and the Snowsports Industries of America. Betsy lives in Raleigh with her husband and two children. You can welcome Betsy to FMST at bbrown@ncmst.org or 919-518-1713.

Thanks to the NC General Assembly for including $75 million for State Parks, including $4.5 million for the MST and other state trails, in the $2 billion bond package approved last week.  The bill has now been sent to Governor McCrory for his signature.

Assuming the Governor signs the bill, final approval will be needed by NC voters. The bond referendum is to be placed on the ballot in March 2016.  

Thanks to each of you who contacted your legislators to ask them to support the bond. Please take a moment to send another e-mail to let them know that you appreciate that the MST and State Parks were included.

• A Winston-Salem Journal editorial supporting the MST
• An article in the North Beach Sun magazine about the trail on the Outer Banks (see pages 36-37)
• A Winston-Salem Journal  article filled with beautiful photos and maps
• A Burlington News article about FMST volunteers converging from all over the state to build new trail
• An article by WUNC radio about the 50th hiker to complete the MST
• A WRAL-TV story by Bill Leslie story about FMST leader Jeff Brewer
• A Smithfield Herald highlighted a mural of the MST painted by girl scouts
• Many articles about the Coastal Crescent route opening including one in the Jacksonville News