Dune Tripping/TripsHere, your editor is placed in the position of (gently) admonishing some who have visited PHT-managed dune shacks, and those who anticipate doing so.

It is not, as you may imagine, the favorite subject of your editor, but she has been tasked by the various Caretak-ers, and cannot disagree. The truth is it seems necessary.

Some caretakers have been kept busy for the entire week of their responsibility ferrying guests in and out of the shacks. If this had been in response to medical emergencies, there would be no grumping. (There would, of course, be deep concern about how that had come to pass, but not grumping on the basis of having to do it.) Some guests, it seems have determined that regular trips in and out of the dunes is a part of the shack experience.

It is not.

Presuming that some of those who have been negligent in their shack preparations, and required extra rides, are reading this missive, Please Step Up Your Planning.

One ride to the shack and one ride back to your vehicle (or whatever) is really all that you can expect.

Part of the problem certainly lies with the caretakers. When a guest asks a favor (or begins to cry) it feels so much better to acquiesce than to say no. The problem is that one thing leads to another, and it leads not only to one more trip but multiples. The caretakers, please remember, are volunteers and are often fitting this work into already hectic schedules. Each one loves doing this, but at some point, anyone can start to feel as if he or she is being taken advantage of.

The one thing you do not want a volunteer to feel is Taken Advantage Of – even if he or she is simply too soft to form the word No. One of my mother’s favorite aphorisms was “It doesn’t hurt to ask”; except that sometimes, as it turns out, it does.

While the topic of dune trips is on the table, there is a related issue to address – that of how much ‘stuff’ to bring. Every caretaker will tell, with a smile, of guests who show up with a single backpack and two sacks of groceries and require assurance that they have not brought too much. This admonishment is not for you, dear, overly thoughtful guest.

For the others, you do know, don’t you, that the truck used to carry guests in and out of the shacks has a finite capacity? In addition to the belongings of shack visitors, the truck must also carry spare supplies with which to replenish those of the shacks. Roughly speaking, there-fore, the capacity of the truck must be split into thirds – one third for supplies, and one third for each of the two shacks that go out on any one trip.

Ergo, each shack has (again, roughly) a space of 3’x5’x4’ in which to tuck all the stuff for a week. That sometimes includes a person.

If this does not suffice, you have one of three choices. (1) Leave something(s) behind. (2) Walk back out of the dunes and hike in your extra stuff (wouldn’t recommend this for anything that belongs in the fridge). (3) Get in touch with Art’s Dune Tours and make arrangements with them to bring you to the shack. They are truly lovely folks, but can get rather busy during high season, so may not be available on a moment’s notice. No matter how Important you are, please do not ask the caretaker to make an extra trip for you, even if he or she is a pushover.

One more thing, and the newsletter will get on to less stereotypically schoolmarm-ish topics. If you need to get to work at 7 AM of a morning, one can only imagine that you knew this in advance. Please figure out how to get yourself there without rousting your caretaker out of bed and contorting his or her schedule.

Not only ‘nuf said, but probably way too much.

October 2015 Julie Schecter, editor phtmail@pobox.com Number 84

Closing Verily, just as the shacks do open in the Spring, so do they close in the Fall. This year, friends, members of PHT, and fans of the shacks will put the shacks to bed for their winter hibernation on Oct. 24, 2015. If you fit into any one of those fairly expansive categories, please join in.

Guests will be in the PHT-managed shacks until that Saturday morning, and as soon as they decamp, clean-ers and closing-downers will move in. Zara’s shack will serve as Closing Headquarters: anyone in need of an assignment should head thither. Otherwise, you may go directly to your shack of choice either by foot or via the PHT truck (if the truck spirits are with us) which will leave Snail Road at Route 6 at about 10 AM. Closing is usually a brief business and we anticipate it being done by 3:30 PM, even accounting for a 45 min. lunch break at 1 PM at Zara’s.

& HonoringIt has been a couple of years since PHT set out to Honor Joyce Johnson and Zara Ofseivit Jackson with an August bonfire. And during that time, piping plovers and least terns have persisted in making themselves more numer-ous on the back shore, thus hindering those plans. How very inconsiderate, you endangered species, you.

Should fate and the birds permit, a bonfire will blaze next year. In the meantime though, those wishing to raise a glass to Joyce and Zara will join together in heartfelt thanks to those magnificent women -- at 4 PM at Zara’s shack. It is not as grand a gesture as they deserve, but will serve for the time being.

Members MetA meeting of members is a good idea, regardless, but even more so when your By-Laws require it. Therefore, on 20 Sept., 2015, PHT held its Annual Meeting. It was, after all, just a meeting, and at 10 in the morning, to boot, so it would be a bit overstating to say that a joyous time was had by all, but probably fair to say that it was a good time.

The PHT Board does meet four times a year, so get a chance to exchange views on the length of snow fencing, the height of pilings, and the proper number of wine glasses in a shack, but an Annual Meeting has an added spice – not only is it an overview of the year (rather than a meditation of dunes details), but the attending members frequently offer notions beyond the ken of the Board. Fresh ideas are always a pleasure, whether or not they become implemented.

One of the items tangled with was prospective life-time of the dune-weary PHT truck. Although all guests are warned that the truck may or may not be available to carry them and their stuff to their shack for the week, PHT does try very hard to arrange for a ride. It is not always pleasant or easy, but it is a ride, which beats hiking all your stuff out on your back. At what point, then, does one call a truck ‘worn out’?

Preferably before it dies with a load of guests, stuff, and supplies in the middle of the dune track in the middle of high season with a whole line up of trucks waiting behind you. Thus, PHT is softly considering, out of earshot of the current truck, of course, the possibility of finding a fresher model. No decision has yet been reached as to whether or what to buy, but should the proper situation arise, PHT stands willing to answer the call.

The highlight of the meeting each year is the report from Carole, who makes PHT possible. As Executive Director, she maintains contact with the members, answering queries and letting folks know where they stand in the dune shack line, she collects fees, she assigns tasks and time slots, she runs the Arts and Science Program, and sets up the corresponding show. This makes barely a dent in describing all that she does. Herewith is her report.

Annual Report of Your E.D.,Dr. Carole Carlson

Good morning. My role as Executive Director of the Trust is a process that continued to evolve this year despite some personal challenges. It is one that involves many,

Membership Renewal Please send to PHT, P.O. Box 1705, Provincetown, MA 02657

Name(s) _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Street or P.O. Box ______________________________________________________________________________________

Town _____________________________________________ State and Zip _____________________________________

Phone ____________________ Email ______________________________________ Date Today ____________________

Member ($50) _____ Student ($25) _____ Senior ($25) _____ Donation $______ Book ($13.45) ____

Tee shirt(s) ($15/Tee+$3 shipping) _____ Tote ($10/bag, + $3shipping for up to 3 bags) ______ CD ($10+3shipping) ____

patient and wise people who volunteer their time for the love of the dunes. Many of them are in this room.

As in the past, we gather today to reflect on the last year, to open discussion, to listen and to meet our members- the heartbeat of the Trust. It is here I would like to thank our caretakers, and special thanks to our roofers and human backhoes, David, Toby, Nat and Terry, Larry, Nat M., Mariellen, Genevieve, Jimmy and so many volunteers. And to our unsung hero Bill Jenkins, who has pumps and gas ready every spring and always is there to fix fridges and stoves.

As always, Board, caretakers and several members rose to the occasion and the shacks were opened and readied for members by mid-May. This in itself was a major challenge as the shoreline, dunes and shacks were battered by winter storms. Gentle dunes again became steep cliffs. New visitors came in the hundreds as the shifting sand created ideal haul outs for gray seals near the shacks. There was more erosion on the back shore and we continue to monitor Thalassa as she sits closer to the edge and we do not know what further erosion the coming winter may bring. Work week stretched into several. Aside from all the cleaning, Ray’s needed repairs on stove pipe, plumbing, screens. Critter holes were plugged and new snow fencing placed around the shack.

Boris’ needed a brand new roof! A broken window, half the dishes and a screen door had to be replaced. The backside of the shack was shingled and the back Privy wall and the stove were replaced.

Euphoria fared better than most and a [refurbished] privy was installed. Zara’s roof hopefully will hold another year, the stove pipe was replaced and areas around it shingled. Snow fencing was installed.

But the major challenge was sand. It threatened to bury Thalassa. Tons of sand was removed from around the shack, a super human feat by caretakers, board, members and volunteers. 250 feet of snow fencing was installed and the solar shower rebuilt.

Allotting shack time again considered the number of years each member waited for a shack. This year we received 468 responses and 82 members, 6 –two week-OCARC awardees and 16 of the Trust’s Arts and Science residents were chosen for shack time. Due once again to the generosity of Laurie Schecter, a long-time supporter of the Trust, Peg Watson’s shack was available to caretakers creating additional weeks for our members.

We await the decisions of the NPS [National Park Service] on how the shacks and the adjacent landscape will be protected and interpreted, and how visitors will use the Historic District in the future. It is clear that there is no simple solution. There has been no resolution. It is possible the decision may come from Philadelphia.

To the Trust, the dune community has been -- and remains -- an eclectic one -- an array of families, long-term users, local and more recently not so local day-trip-pers and of course, those who could stay due to the generosity of shack folks such as Hazel, Boris, Ray and Zara. It is their legacy that we honor.

PHT contends that the Dune Shack District was found to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places because it nurtured creative, if unknown, people. And, making time available in a dune shack fulfills the spirit and letter of encouraging creative souls.

And so [PHT] continues to search for ways to sustain the Trust’s relationship with its members, and improve its relationship with the Park. One step in this process was the creation in 2012 of an Arts and Science resi-dency program to better fulfill the Park’s mandate for dune residencies. It is designed to encourage a broad sweep of creative projects in the arts and sciences. [PHT] received over 30 applications and looks forward to receiving more for next year. On 19 September [there was] a reception for 2014 residents at the Salt Pond Visitors Center. Maura Coughlin, Toby Everett, Genevieve Martin, Ellen LeBow and Jody Melander helped to hang the show and it would not have been possible without them.

I hope you continue to enjoy reading the newsletters edited and primarily written by Julie. I want to thank her for each and every one of them. And to Ellen Le Bow, one of our Board members, for the wonderful illustra-tions and new blog. Ellen also designed [the] tees and totes. [Please] send in articles or suggest additions. We would love to hear from you!

[PHT is] now are over 550 strong. [It has] survived hurricanes and winter storms and continues to work towards maintaining a dune community that is as encompassing as it has been for generations, to ensure that there will always be a place for those who embrace the solitude, the sheer romance of being surrounded by nature, sunsets and star gazing, the harp-like sound of the dune grass while sitting on top of a dune, looking to the sea.

[PHT] cannot accomplish this without the support of members, caretakers and the Board who volunteer their time and never leave a call for help unanswered. It is a privilege and honor to represent a group of people that are dedicated and share a common passion. And I thank all of you for your continual support and welcome any corrections or additions to this report.

HaikuDune shack rendezvousGray seal voices on the windHorse heads curious

Briga/Sette Fall 2015

Seals have been hauled out on the newly formed J-bar at low tide east of Thalassa since late May; they will head north in November. Since 2008 scientists from the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies have been tracking these sand bars as they move. There have been as many as 300-600 seals moving close to shore from High Head to Herring Cove. They have been a treat for all!

For Your Delight and to Benefit PHTYou do realize that the holidays are approaching way too quickly, don’t you? Truly, the summer fruits aren’t even gone, yet, and you are starting to see the holiday merchandise appear wherever you look.

As it turns out, you are looking here at the moment. Not to be left out of the festivities, PHT herewith makes the following offers:

A charming and fun short-sleeved tee emblazoned with artwork of PHT Board Member Ellen LeBow. It is royal blue with a gold print of a shack and the night sky in all its glory. Yours for $15. plus postage of $3.

Also new this year is a CD of the Peaked Hill Suite by recording artist Patty Larkin. Patty wrote the three tunes on this CD in the dunes, and performed them in a benefit concert for PHT last year. They are more reminiscent of the dunes and the shacks than you can imagine, and you can feel her affection and connection to the place with every note. She has donated these CDs to PHT, so every penny of the $10. cost (plus $3. postage) goes straight to the organization. PHT is both honored and grateful.

Membership Update

As happens from time to …. time, the PHT Board votes to raise membership dues. This time it is to $50 annually, with $25 for students and seniors.  Elevated giving options are also available at $100, $250 and $(your choice).  This moderate increase will help ensure a baseline of annual support for dune shack maintenance and upkeep, a vital and necessary component of our mission.

This time, the raise is in anticipation of increased ex-penses: both in transportation (read that as the truck) and rent. PHT pays the Park Service rent on the shacks it manages, and has been told that those costs are likely to go up, quite a lot, quite soon. Your E.D. goes to some lengths to see that dues and user fees are kept as modest as possible, but neither she nor the Board want to be caught short, should the opportunity arise to make use of a shack.

We thank you for your steadfast support and for your love of the dunes!  

Gifts to PHTArts and Science Resident Christine Twombly has given copies of her hand-drawn field guide to each of the PHT-managed shacks.

And OCARC artist Sally Gierky has given ceramic plaques to each shack, heralding the shack’s name.

Thank you to you both!!

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