GREEN
MOUNTAIN CLUB ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

WATERBURY
CENTER, Vt., March 26 –– The Green Mountain Club’s Board of
Directors announced today the appointment of Michael DeBonis
as the organization’s next Executive Director. Mike is
currently the Executive Director of the Forest Guild, a
national non-profit forestry organization.  “It is an honor
to have the opportunity to join the dedicated team of staff
and volunteers at the Green Mountain Club. I very much look
forward to getting back out on the trail in Vermont,” said
DeBonis.

Mike is a
native Vermonter and longtime member of the Green Mountain
Club. He and his wife Jennifer will be relocating from Santa
Fe, New Mexico where the Forest Guild is headquartered. Mike
grew up hiking, camping, and backpacking in the Green
Mountains and has hiked both the Long Trail and Appalachian
Trail. A Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica, he also served as
a park manager for Lake Carmi State Park in Vermont. Mike
has a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from
Johnson State College and a master’s degree in Forestry from
Yale University.

“We have
been impressed by Mike’s intellect and his quick
understanding of the issues,” said Jean Haigh, President of
the Green Mountain Club. “Mike’s strengths and experiences
lie in the areas of organizational, financial, and personnel
management – skills that he has used to successfully manage
organizational change within the Forest Guild, and which are
very important to the Green Mountain Club.  And he already
has a number of positive and collegial relationships in
Vermont. Mike is very much a fit for the club!”

The Green
Mountain Club looks forward to officially welcoming Mike as
its new Executive Director in mid-May.

The Green Mountain Club is recognized by
the state of Vermont as  “the founder, sponsor, defender, and
protector” of the Long Trail System.  With its 273-mile
footpath, 175 miles of side trails, and nearly 70 primitive
shelters, the Long Trail is the oldest long distance trail in
the United States. In addition to the 450-mile Long Trail
System, the club also maintains Vermont’s Appalachian National
Scenic Trail and many hiking trails in the Northeast Kingdom
in collaboration with partners including the U.S. Forest
Service, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation,
and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Contacts:
            Maisie Howard, Interim Executive Director –
(802) 241-8322