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RMC Interview: Michele Cormier Editor's note: This is the first in what we hope will be a regular series of brief profiles on the many hardworking volunteers behind the scenes at the RMC.
Along with her husband Paul, a builder, cabinetmaker and Senior Guide for International Mountain Climbing School in North Conway, Michele has lived in Randolph for the past 3 years. You spend a lot of time as a volunteer on RMC projects. Why? Living in Randolph means identifying with the community. One way is to volunteer for RMC. The Club is an integral part of Randolph. It gives us common ground. What do you do when you're not watching RMC's bills, dues or donations? My alter ego is an accountant. I practice with a local CPA firm out of Berlin. Away from the office my true love is hiking. So, I am out on the trails year round. Paul and I like to travel as well, so most of our traveling takes us to foreign lands where we climb mountains, explore the back- country and experience other cultures. Anything else we should know about you?
What's your favorite RMC trail? Least favorite? Why? I have a lot of favorites, mainly based on my mood. If I want to go up above tree line, I love the upper Randolph Path. A favorite springtime flower walk is up to Mount Crescent. For a quick run after work, I like the Diagonal and Pasture Paths. My least favorite is easy: Howker Ridge! What an endless slog! If you could change one thing about RMC, what would it be? I'd like to see more turnover in the board and volunteer positions. None of us is indispensable and we really need to cross train. It would be great if several people could step into the treasurer's shoes at the drop of a hat, or serve as the Trails Coordinator or the Camps Coordinator. What's your favorite RMC moment in the past year? I think I was most afraid last
fall when we announced the fundraiser for the new Stearns Lodge.
But what I didn't expect was the incredible outpouring of gifts
from the extended RMC community. When I started opening envelopes
and saw that kind of generosity, I was overwhelmed. From the
$10 gifts to the multiple thousands, each one was a gift from
the heart. What affirmation for the Club!
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Michele
Cormier has served for the past 6 years on the Board of
Directors as RMC's stalwart treasurer. Recently she passed that
responsibility to new board member Bill Parlett. Not quite ready
to give up all her obligations, Michele decided to take on the
significant role of membership director, as well as continuing
to oversee the contributions to the Stearns Lodge project.
I
just can't get enough of volunteering, so I also serve on many
boards and assist other organizations. These include the new
cooperative school board in Gorham, Randolph and Shelburne; Weeks
State Park Association; NH Outdoor Council; Friends of the Randolph
Public Library; Androscoggin Valley Search & Rescue. One
of my favorite groups is a local book club, which meets about
once a month to discuss a book. If the book is less than captivating,
we move directly to gossiping!