NYSOGA Winter Rendezvous Feb. 27^th – March 2^nd, 2025
White Eagle Conference Center, Hamilton, NY

“Remembering Our Heritage – Leaders of the Past”

Honoring Traditions: Voices from the Past – Mitchell Sabattis

The Winter Rendezvous Committee welcomes you to Rendezvous XLII!

Once again, from areas all over New York State, we gather together for our Annual Winter Rendezvous here at the White Eagle Conference Center. This is a great place for us to meet, being centrally located in New York State, and their facilities are outstanding. We have enjoyed many good times at past Rendezvous’ here. (Be sure to check out the Legend of Chief White Eagle on the last page of the Program.)

NYSOGA’s roots go back to the early Adirondack guides who, in June of 1891, had the wisdom to organize the Adirondack Guides Association. Their stated purpose was “to secure to the public competent and reliable guides, to assist in the enforcement of forest and game laws, and to maintain a uniform rate of guides’ wages”, but they eventually disbanded in 1952.

Our current New York State Outdoor Guides Association (NYSOGA) was established in the early 1980’s, and it renewed the traditions of the old Adirondack Guides Association. Today we currently have Guides from all parts of New York State, and “YOU”, the current members of NYSOGA are continuing the rich legacy of Guides in New York State from 1891 to the present day. If you are aspiring to obtain your License to Guide, we encourage you to join NYSOGA after you’ve obtained your license, and step into this proud legacy and succession of NYS Licensed Guides!

This year’s Rendezvous Theme is “Remembering Our Heritage – Leaders of the Past”, and our specific honoree is the well-known Adirondack guide, Mitchell Sabattis. A brief biography of Mitchell Sabattis is on the following page – please take a moment to learn about this inspiring “Leader of the Past”.

The Winter Rendezvous Committee has worked hard over the past several months to put together a special weekend that we hope you will find both informative, educational and enjoyable. Participate in the training offered, the informative seminars presented, and enjoy our Saturday evening Guide’s Banquet and Awards Ceremony. There is also plenty of time for us to be with special friends that we may only see once a year at Rendezvous, or meet new friends attending Rendezvous for the first time. If you are an existing member of NYSOGA, you may even want to become more involved by signing up to be a member of one of our committees! If you have any questions about anything at all, just ask any of the Winter Rendezvous Committee members and we will be glad to help you out.

The NYSOGA Winter Rendezvous XLII Committee hopes you enjoy the weekend, get as much out of Rendezvous as you can, and have a safe trip home!

Mark Waterman, Craig Tryon, Roy Earley, Jamie Arnold, Jeff Whittemore, John Wainwright,
Alan Woodruff, Abraham Gadway, Sheila Young, Sonny Young, and Scott Locorini

DOWNLOAD EVENT INFORMATION

President’s Welcome Letter

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the NYSOGA Winter Rendezvous! NYSOGA has been promoting guides in NYS, training aspiring guides and working closely with the DEC for over 40 years. We’re glad that you chose to attend. Our Rendezvous Committee has put together a great program with training, seminars and guest speakers.
If you are here for training, please take the time to meet some of our members and join the Association! If you’re a member, please make sure to attend the annual meeting to see what the BOD has been up to and how we’ve been working for you!

If you would like to become active with the Association, please chat with some of the board members to find out what is involved. NYSOGA has many ‘irons in the fire’ and we can use your help! Board members attend 5 meetings per year, primarily by Zoom and attendance at each meeting is not required. We understand that ‘life happens’ and if you aren’t able to make a meeting that’s fine. Not ready to commit to the BOD; what about ‘dipping your toes’ into the Association by joining a committee? There are plenty to choose from and most of the time only e-mail and Zoom meetings are needed to be active. We can use any and all feedback that you have!
Again, welcome and enjoy your weekend. If you have any questions or feedback, please talk with any of the board members or myself. All of us are here to help and serve you!

Scott Locorini

Adirondack Guide Mitchell Sabattis (1823-1906)

Mitchell Sabattis was a notable figure in the Adirondack Region of New York State. He was well known for his deep connection to the wilderness. Mitchell was born in 1823 in Parishville, NY, but lived most of his life in Long Lake, NY. He became an iconic figure in the area as a guide and woodsman, working with hunters, anglers, and adventurers.
Mitchell was a member of the St. Regis Mohawk tribe. His knowledge of the Adirondack forests and waters was vast, stemming from both his indigenous heritage and his life as a woodsman. He gained a reputation for his ability to navigate the wilds, guide people through its difficult terrain, and help them connect with the wilderness in a profound way. His experience in the forest, hunting, and fishing made him an invaluable guide to many during the 19th century.
In addition to his skills as a guide, Mitchell Sabattis became an important cultural figure, representing both the heritage of the indigenous people of the Adirondacks and the traditions of the guides that helped shape the region’s outdoor culture.
No other Adirondack guide is so fondly remembered as Mitchell Sabattis. Today, his legacy continues by having a road, mountain, village, railway station, and a Boy Scout Reservation named in his honor.

Lodging

WHITE EAGLE CONFERENCE CENTER
2910 Lake Moraine Road, Hamilton NY 13346
(315) 824-2002

Event & Training Schedule

Thursday February 27, 2025

12:00pm – 5:00pm: Registration & Camp Store – The Lodge
1:00pm – 4:30pm: Water Safety for Guides Class – Cleveland
4:45pm – 6:15pm: Dinner gathering (dutch) at the Solsville Hotel – Solsville Hotel
6:30pm – 8:00pm: Guide Exam: Review & Open Discussion – Cleveland
8:15pm – until: “Map & Compass Overview (TBA) ” – Cleveland (Click for info)

Friday February 28, 2025

7:30am – 8:30am: Breakfast – The Lodge
8:30am – 5:00pm: Registration & Camp Store – The Lodge
8:30am – 12:00pm: Standard First Aid Class – Cleveland
12:00pm – 1:00pm: Lunch – The Lodge
1:00pm – 5:00pm: Adult CPR / AED – Cleveland
5:00pm – 6:00pm: “Pro Discounts for Guides (Jamie Arnold)” – The Teepee (Click for info)
6:00pm – 7:00pm: Dinner – The Lodge
7:00pm – until Welcome Meeting & Social Time – The Teepee

Saturday March 1, 2025

ALL DAY Hyker Kanooski Quiz (just for fun) – The Teepee (Click for info)
7:30am – 8:30am: Breakfast – The Lodge
8:30am – 5:00pm: Registration & Camp Store – The Lodge
9:00am – 9:50pm: “Seminar #1 – Guide Business Operations Roundtable (Scott Locorini w/ Jamie Arnold)” – Cleveland (Click for info)
10:00am – 10:50am: “Seminar #2 – Guide Business Marketing Roundtable (Scott Locorini w/ Jamie Arnold)” – Cleveland (Click for info)
11:00am – 11:50am: “Seminar #3 – Visitor Use Management vs. Carrying Capacity (Adirondack Park Agency)” – Cleveland (Click for info)
12:00pm – 2:00pm: Lunch – The Lodge

12:50pm – 1:45pm: Special Speaker – “DEC Invasive Species” (Justin A Perry, Chief) (Click for info)
2:00pm – 5:00pm: NYSDEC Licensed Guide Exam:  Pre-registration required – Cleveland
2:00pm – 2:30pm: Regional Meetings – TBD
2:30pm – 5:00pm: NYSOGA Annual Meeting – Delaware
5:00pm – 6:00pm: Social Time – The Teepee
6:00pm – 9:00pm: Annual Guides Banquet (Awards, Quilt & Door Prize Drawings) – The Lodge
9:00pm – until: Social Time – The Teepee

Sunday March 2, 2025

7:30am – 8:30am: Breakfast – The Lodge

QUESTIONS?? If you need more information, please feel free to email the Winter Rendezvous Committee Chair at markwjr63@hotmail.com

The Hyker Kanooski Story

Join us this weekend for the Rendezvous Hyker Kanooski guide quiz. No “pass/fail”; no sweat; no prizes; just fun to quiz your talents and be recognized for your effort. The Hyker Kanooski table is located in The Teepee common room during the weekend.

Now…for the rest of the story…

Stewart Brown, aka Stu, was a guide, a NYSOGA member, and a DEC Biologist. He was the person that many Winter Rendezvous committees asked to set up the annual quiz. He continued to do the exam for the Winter Rendezvous until he dropped his guide license and was no longer a NYSOGA member.

Stu’s guide exams were very well done and the questions were such that no mortal could score a perfect 100%. During one Winter Rendezvous, several NYSOGA guides found, totally by mistake (???), Stu’s master answer sheet for his guide quiz. A sheet was filled in and submitted under the name of “Hyker Kanooski.” When Stu scored the quizzes, he found one had scored a perfect 100%. He was floored and didn’t see how one person could possibly know answers to all his quiz questions. When he announced the winner at the annual guides’ banquet on Saturday night, he could not wait to meet Hyker. Of course, no one came forward to claim the prize and be praised by Stu for getting the impossible 100%.

The true identity of the Hyker Kanooski team to this day is still unknown (perhaps the Association just chooses for the culprit to remain anonymous) but the “Hyker Kanooski” name for the winner of the Winter Rendezvous guide quiz lives on. The certificate given to the winner includes the artwork shown above, done by NYSOGA life member and artist Rick Mundy.

The Legend of Chief White Eagle

Since the days when the Iroquois Confederacy held their counsels by the shores of Lake Moraine, the great white eagle has always been a sign of strength, prosperity, and cooperation. The great leader of the Onondagas, Sadakanahtie, or “White Eagle,” whose likeness adorns the halls of the conference center, presided over all fires; bringing new life to the tribes and taking them to new heights of prominence. In May of 1694, this same Sadakanahtie gave an important speech about the history of the Iroquois people to New York Governor Benjamin Fletcher, at Albany.

Drawing inspiration for its name from the legend of the great white eagle, the White Eagle Gas Company was formed in 1911. In the 1930s, White Eagle Gas had a 20-inch-tall eagle as its gas station mascot. Beautiful, molded glass white eagles were on top of each of that company’s gas pumps and one of these is now on the mantel over the lodge fireplace at the White Eagle Conference Center. In addition, a large white eagle with its wings spread wide is located at the main entrance to the Grove.

A dust-covered painting of an Indian chief was purchased for $35 at a nearby antique store and, when it was taken to an art shop in Utica, was identified as a long-lost original painting of Chief White Eagle. It now hangs in the Conference Center Lodge opposite the fireplace and is lighted by the 24-hour glow of the pump globe.

* * * * *

“Brothers of the Iroquois, I come in peace. Look not to the knife in your belt, not to the hatchet of war. Let me draw near to your fire; in its light, you will see that my face is not painted for battle. I hold out this hand in friendship, but take it not; it is the hand of a spirit. Harken to me and open your ears to what I have to say. I come to you in peace from the great Castle of Spirits where your forefathers dwell, where darkness has been driven from the Heavens and the light of Full Harvest shines over all and forever. Where the White Eagle spreads his wings, there will be wise and fruitful leadership; there will be crafts and skills of man be used for the good of all.”
Iroquois Legend