NYCkayaker Message From the President & Vice President

[Jeremy Speer]

Dear Paddler:

Happy New Year from all of us at the Hudson River Watertrail  
Association.

This message is being sent to all of you who are members of HRWA as  
well as those that use and enjoy our list serve.  We all of common  
interests and this year we will all have to work closely together to  
achieve common goals.

Since its inception HRWA has worked closely with the Hudson River  
Valley Greenway www.hudsongreenway.state.ny.us .  With their  
assistance we have developed the Hudson River Water Trail Guide and  
participated in the Greater Hudson River Paddle.  The Greenway has  
provided grants for site development and the addition of ramps, paths,  
lockable racks and gear storage boxes. The Greenway is invaluable to  
all of us who want to be able to be on the water.

The proposed budget would do away with the Greenway and probably many  
of their projects both being developed and planned.  The loss of the  
Greenway would be a disaster for all of us.

Therefore I am asking you all to contact everyone you know and ask for  
help as I am asking you.  Ask them to contact their State Senators and  
State Assembly representatives.  Ask them to protect the Greenways  
budget line and ask them over and over again until our voice is  
heard.  Budget cuts will have to be made but there should be a place  
for the Greenway to continue.  Our combined voice is necessary for  
Greenway to survive.

Thank you for your assistance.

Lee S. Goldsmith, President HRWA
Nancy Brous, Vice President HRWA