The Northwest Vermont Rail Trail Council consists of 21 members.  Nine are appointed representatives from the municipalities through which the Trail passes, eight are elected members-at-large, and four are representatives from VAST (Vermont Association of Snow Travellers), VTrans (Vermont Agency of Transportation), NRPC (Northwest Regional Planning Commission), and VFP&R (Vermont Forest, Parks & Recreation).

Richard Archambault is the appointed member to the Council for Sheldon.  He enjoys playing a part in making improvements to benefit Trail users.  Richard is an avid bicyclist and uses the Trail about 5 days a week in the summer months, riding one day between Sheldon and St.Albans, and the next day between Sheldon and Enosburg Falls.

Dorothy and Roy Baker have been involved with the Council for well over 10 years!  Roy is the appointed member to the Council for St. Albans Town and Dorothy is an elected member.  For many summers, the Bakers kept the St. Albans parking area mowed, trimmed, and tidy.  Many thanks, Dorothy and Roy!

Philip Gerbode of North Hero is the Council's newest member.  He has been very helpful in building restrooms for trail user use at Franklin Park West in St. Albans.

Carol Hickey joined the Council as Berkshire’s representative.  During the summer, she and a friend get out on the Trail at 6 am three times a week to walk the Richford section for 1.5 hours.  At other times, she walks or bicycles with her husband on other sections of the Trail.  Carol loves the fact that the scenery varies so much along the Trail and changes from week to week.  She feels the MVRT is a valuable asset to Franklin County and joined the Council to help keep it that way.

Alan Lampson is Swanton’s appointed member to the Council.  Alan’s interest in joining the Council is to keep the MVRT as pristine and undeveloped as possible. You can see him walking his two Cairn Terriers, Chloe and Tess, on his favorite section of the Trail, from Green's Corners heading north.

Carmen Lanoue of St. Albans joined the Council as an elected member-at-large in 2005.  She bicycles on the MVRT at least three times a week during the season, covering about 12-15 miles per outing.  Her interest in learning more about the Trail led her to attend our 2004 National Trails Day celebration where she met Council members who encouraged her to join the Council.

Don Mueller was elected to the Council in 2007.  Don is an enthusiastic bicyclist and wants to donate his spare time to helping the Council keep the MVRT as Franklin County's treasured recreational resource.

Alisha Sawyer is a member-at-large on the Council.  When asked what prompted her to become more involved with the Council, she responded “After working with the Council for my LEAD project I was interested and invested in the planning and inner workings of the Misssisquoi Valley Rail Trail.  I was happy to have had the opportunity to join the Council and be a part of the work that they do."

Jim Smith is St. Albans City’s appointed member to the Council and has held that position for 10 years or so!  He helped out with construction issues before the Trail was built and is still helping out.  Jim sticks with the Council because he finds it exciting to have seen the Trail started and wants to be involved in its future.  “There’s lots left to do”, he says.  As liaison with VTrans, Jim has been a tremendous asset to the Council.

Dave Stanley is an elected member-at-large and has been active with the Council since 1993.  He first started using the Trail to bicycle with his children when they were young.  He thinks the Trail is a fantastic resource for parents to introduce their children to exercise. Dave sees the MVRT as a model for the conversion of other rail lines in the state into recreational paths.  He’s also a great asset on a chicken BBQ assembly line and has been the Council's chairperson since 2004.

Phyllis Tiffany is the Council’s representative from Richford.  She feels the MVRT is a wonderful resource which we in Franklin County are lucky to have.  Phyllis loves to bicycle and has noticed an increasing number of Quebecers who use the Rail Trail.

Jane Williams has been the Council’s representative from Fairfield since 2002.  She feels that the MVRT is a very special resource for Franklin County and joined the Council because she wants to have a say in the Trail’s future.  Jane uses the Trail a lot, especially in the warmer months, when she either bicycles or walks, often with fellow teachers from Richford Elementary school.

Nini Worman of Franklin joined the Council in 2004 as an elected member-at-large.  She and her husband Nat are avid runners and use the Trail virtually every month of the year unless the snow is too deep.  Nini derives so much pleasure from the MVRT and wanted to be on the Council in order to give something back.  One season, she and her daughter counted over 40 different species of wildflowers alongside the Trail!

There are openings for appointed representatives to the Northwest Vermont Rail Trail Council for a community member from Enosburg Falls, and from the Town of Enosburg. For more information on how to get involved or to join the Council please contact Cynthia at 933-8851.