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June 1st, 2009

Because of the increasing costs of operations associated with the Algonquin Adventures website, I'm now inviting financial support from the readership.

Algonquin Adventures is a privately run website. Therefore, I am unable to provider formal receipts for donations. However, contributors will be individually acknowledged here on the website. I'm hoping that readers will help share in the support of Algonquin Adventures, already shown by its advertisers.

I can only accept money by conventional mail. Please make out any cheques to Barry Bridgeford, and mail to ...

Barry Bridgeford
113 Temperance Street
Aurora ON
Canada
L4G 2R2

Thank you,

January, 2009

A special thanks to Mark Rubino of www.markinthepark.com, for his continuing generous contributions to Algonquin Adventures, over many years.

Thanks Mark!

Summer, 2008

Early this summer, Randy Born organized an Algonquin Adventures t-shirt print-up via the website forum. As a result of all the participants and the resulting after-cost-residual, Randy was able to send out two generous donations. One of the donations was to the Tim Horton's Children's Foundation. Click here to see the letter of acknowledgement that Randy received.

The other donation was to Algonquin Adventures. As a member of the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists ( www.ABRweb.ca ) Executive Committee, I was able to use it to acquire the ABR's new webhosting and forum services.

Thanks Randy!

October 20th, 2007

Over the weekend of September 7 - 9th, I had the tremendous pleasure of meeting with sixteen Algonquin Adventures readers on the north shore of Booth Lake. Mark Rubino had initiated the planning for this "get-together" back in the spring. Unknown to me, a collection was taken over the summer with contributions coming both from those who would attend (16) and as many again, who couldn't make the event.

A mid-day conversation session ..(photo by Mark Rubino)

Midway though the get-together, upon returning from a solo Saturday afternoon hike, I was surprised with a musical welcome led by Bo on guitar. Told to sit in a folding chair, I was treated to an old favourite, reworded to "This Park Is My Park - This Site Is My Site". Needless to say, I was struck dumb. Well, it didn't end there. Next, I was presented with a solid walnut Turtle paddle bearing an inscribed plaque of thanks for the website (from Randy Mitson of Algonquin Outfitters). Then, I was presented with more gifts .. $200 gift card at Algonquin Outfitters from the readership, $100 gift card at Algonquin Outfitters from Randy Mitson and a $160 gift certificate at the Wolf Den from the readership.

Proudly showing the paddle and gift certificates ..(photo by Mark Rubino)

Thank you to all those at the gathering and to all those who contributed to the gifts. I can't describe the impact that weekend had on me. Until that point, my communications with readers had been via email, forum postings and the odd phone call. To suddenly meet with so many and to be so honoured by their generous gifts and camraderie will always be remembered.

The paddle is now hanging vertically on our livingroom wall, right between the TV and the kitchen door! Earlier this month, I was back to Algonquin for fall colour hiking .. staying at the Wolf Den and dropping in at Algonquin Outfitters for my shopping spree! I finally upgraded from my old original (1991) orange & blue life-jacket to a high-tech maximum comfort paddling-jacket. I also finally have a Thermarest (extra long for my lanky old bones). So, thank you readers .. I'll be paddling and sleeping in safety, style and comfort! And next May, I hope to get out on some super spring-flower photo-day-hikes operating out of the Wolf Den!

Thanks to everyone involved!