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The single greatest challenge currently facing the RMC is that of maintaining its trails and camps into the future. Housing the club's seasonal trail crew and caretakers is a critical part of that effort. Though the club hires from within Randolph whenever possible, for the past twenty years there have not been enough local applicants to meet the club's needs. The club has tried various methods of providing housing for these out-of-towners: * In the 1980's, RMC trail crew rented housing in scattered locations. Coordination with RMC board members was difficult. Morale, productivity and retention of employees suffered greatly. Camps and trails volunteers were seriously over-stressed. * In 1995, RMC paid to house its trail crew at AMC's Camp Dodge. This option ended in 2001, when AMC reclaimed the housing space for its own seasonal employees. * In 2002, through the remarkable generosity of the Tucker family, the RMC was able to bring trail crews, caretakers and Field Supervisor together under the roof of the Jones Cottage and in tents nearby. As a result, the club has been able to recruit better qualified applicants for trail crew and caretaker positions. Morale and a sense of community with each other and with RMC volunteers have improved. We now have employees returning to us year after year. Burnout of key camps and trails volunteers has been reduced. However, the Tucker family has made it clear that the use of the Jones Cottage is only temporary and has asked the club to seek a permanent solution. Recognizing the club's long term need, the Tuckers have made a second remarkable offer: three acres of land, in the valley next to the Goetze Workshop and convenient to trail heads, to be donated to the RMC if we build our own basecamp there to serve our trail crew and caretaker.
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