Janine Papesh: Appie of the Year

Congratulations to Janine Papesh, the recipient of the Appie of the Year Award for the Western MA Chapter! This award is given each year at the Annual Celebration and Business Meeting to recognize a volunteer who has demonstrated a long-term commitment and dedication to the WM Chapter. Born and raised in Baltimore, Janine inherited from her parents a tireless work ethic, a love of the outdoors, and a deep devotion to Maryland crab in all its delicious forms. Even now, she maintains that crabmeat is a welcome addition to any meal, even breakfast. After college, Janine worked in the Baltimore area before relocating to Boston in the early 1990s with "Mr. Wrong," a man who, regrettably, shared neither her fondness for the outdoors nor for crab. That relationship soon ended, and Janine found herself looking for new friends and new adventures. In December 1993, she joined the Appalachian Mountain Club's Boston Chapter. By participating in AMC activities, Janine discovered the joys of cycling in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter and found herself a community of like-minded people. Janine's warmth, enthusiasm, and organizational talent quickly made her indispensable. She was recruited to become a chapter trip leader, and also became co-chair of the chapter's membership committee, where she helped welcome countless newcomers. At a chapter orientation event, she met a fellow AMC member who would later prove to be "Mr. Right." But this wasn't obvious at first – he seemed a bit too nerdy for her. They reconnected a few months later under different circumstances, and she decided that nerdiness might be a trait she could work with – so she invited him on a bike ride. They've been riding in tandem ever since. After they married in 1997, Janine continued to pour her energy into AMC volunteer leadership, leading bike and ski trips for more than two decades and transforming her husband into a passable cyclist and skier along the way. When the couple moved to western Massachusetts in 2016, they joined what was then the AMC Berkshire Chapter. At their first chapter annual meeting, they learned there was no active bicycling committee – so Janine promptly joined the Executive Committee and founded one. Over the past nine years, Janine has led more than fifty trips for what is now the AMC Western MA Chapter and has chaired or co-chaired the bicycling committee since its creation. This year, she passes that torch to her close friend and frequent cycling companion, Robyn Maislin, knowing the program is thriving. For more than thirty years, Janine has exemplified the spirit of the Appalachian Mountain Club by being someone who inspires joyous, meaningful outdoor experiences. Her leadership has built community, encouraged countless people to get outside on bikes and skis, and proven that life, like steamed Maryland crab, is best shared with good company. The Western MA Chapter is proud to honor Janine Papesh as its 2025 Appie of the Year! We are so grateful for all that you have done for the AMC and the Western MA Chapter Janine!