Letter from the Chair – Winter 2026
Letter from the Chair – Winter 2026
by Rachel Ganzon, Board Chair, American Pilgrims on the Camino
Greetings, Pilgrims!
The American Pilgrims board sends you warm wishes for a positive and joyous year ahead! I am honored and privileged to begin my term as the board chair of American Pilgrims on the Camino.
How apropos that support and solidarity is the theme of the Winter 2026 La Concha. We are fortunate to count among us a group of talented individuals displaying a diversity of skills and experiences, without whose support we simply could not function.
Saying goodbye to outgoing board members is always bittersweet, and we can’t do so without acknowledging their accomplishments and commitment. Let us recognize the following board members who have supported American Pilgrims and served the board with distinction:
- Tom Coleman – Tom was a 2024 Gathering co-chair and was integral to the planning of the 2025 Vancouver event. He served on multiple committees including external relations, finance, communications, and nominations. He set up our newest committee, legacy and fundraising, and has worked tirelessly on Pilgrims’ Stories, a history project of American Pilgrims on the Camino. Tom also created the Cruz de Ferro replicas familiar to those who attended recent annual gatherings.
- Paula Jager – Paula served as board liaison to the hospitalero training and Ribadiso Welcome Service teams. She provided contract review and outreach to secure locations for hospitalero training. As a former chapter coordinator, Paula made remarkable contributions to the chapters committee, vetting new coordinators and shepherding the individuals interested in forming new chapters.
- Ruben Mendoza – Ruben served two three-year terms on the board, heading the grants, governance, external relations, and cultural committees. Thanks to Ruben’s leadership, we will be offering, in 2026, a fourth cultural trip. His rapport with our stakeholders in Spain was key to the success of the Spanish Summit, the board’s meetings in Santiago de Compostela in September 2025 with fellow Camino association representatives. As I write this, the 2026 grants cycle is in process, and we are now reaching out to three countries. The maximum grant amount has increased to $10,000, reinforcing a key tenet of our mission, to support the infrastructure of the Camino de Santiago.
- Bob Wild – Over the past year, Bob provided sage advice on matters of governance. He helped with the necessary review of our bylaws and policies, and the board drew on his legal expertise to navigate and resolve some recent matters.
In 2026, we welcome the following newly appointed board members, who are all current and key American Pilgrims volunteers:
- Dawn Bratsch-Prince – Dawn co-founded and serves as a coordinator of the Iowa Chapter, serves on the grants committee, and has been an hospitalera. She has also participated on the planning team of the coordinators workshop, an event to help educate and support coordinators of our local chapters.
- Deborah Reyes Haggart – Deborah has contributed to La Concha as a copy editor. She also brings a wealth of prior board experience where she focused on membership, communications, marketing, and advocacy.
- Tracy Pawelski – Tracy serves on the grants and communications committees. As a pilgrim of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter, she was instrumental in bringing Celeste Mancinelli’s one-woman Camino show to the region. She also brings communications and marketing experience to the board.
- John Saxon – John is a former coordinator of the Raleigh Chapter, still volunteers as a chapter coach, and has contributed as a coordinators workshop co-chair. He has made many Caminos and has served as an hospitalero several times. John is also the bagpiper familiar to those who attended annual gatherings in Black Mountain, NC, and Hunt, TX.
See profiles and photos of all 2026 board members here.
Transformative pilgrim experiences often draw our members to seek ways to give back to the Camino. American Pilgrims is an all-volunteer organization that could benefit from your insights and enthusiasm. See our current volunteer opportunities for many ways to serve.
This year promises to offer exciting opportunities for members, including a cultural experience trip to Palencia, Spain, and another University of Santiago offering. Our Annual Gathering of Pilgrims in April brings us back to Mo-Ranch in Hunt, TX; we look forward to seeing many of you there for inspiring presentations and engaging experiences. I look forward to connecting with so many of you in 2026.
¡Buen camino!
Board Report – October 2025
Prepared by Rachel Ganzon, then-Secretary, American Pilgrims on the Camino Board of Directors
The 2025 third quarter board meeting was held virtually October 25-26, where we welcomed 2026 incoming board members Dawn Bratsch-Prince, Deborah Haggart, Tracy Pawelski, and John Saxon. Each new board member has worked with American Pilgrims on the Camino in various capacities and is warmly welcomed.
Standing agenda items included board goals and a review of the policy manual and bylaws. The board referred several matters to the governance committee for further action.
We dedicated time to discuss action items from the Spanish Summit, held during the week of September 15, 2025. Then-board chair Joe Curro sent a special edition newsletter to American Pilgrims members on October 4, 2025; this email carried reflections on the relationships built with our stakeholders in Spain. The summit stressed the importance of connecting and working with fellow associations and partners. The board expressed gratitude for Ruben Mendoza’s tireless work with the federations in setting the agenda.
The gatherings committee reported significant progress in planning the 2026 Gathering. Martin Peña, a 2026 Gathering co-chair, shared the great response to the call for presenters. Compared to the 2024 Gathering at the same venue, the 2026 Gathering will be able to accommodate more attendees as more housing possibilities are available. An exciting addition to the 2026 Gathering is an option to walk the San Antonio Missions Trail just prior to the start of the gathering weekend. Gathering registration was set for early January, with a schedule of planned emails to share additional details.
The board reviewed a pilot collaboration with the University of Santiago. The program, offered in September-October 2025, included in-class learning as well as cultural activities. One track of the program included a week of Camino walking. Survey responses indicate participants were highly satisfied with the program; their invaluable feedback will also help shape future programs.
Leanne Pritchard, a Tasmanian pilgrim, was a Zoom guest on the first day of the board meeting. Leanne gave a presentation on the Global Camino scheduled for January 10-11, 2026, This free, virtual annual event aims to unite pilgrims worldwide in peace, solidarity, and a sharing of the Camino spirit. American Pilgrims committed to sharing information about it through its various communication channels.
The chapters committee brought forth a motion to decertify the Western Pennsylvania chapter, which had become inactive, and a motion to certify the new Northeast Ohio Chapter, serving the Akron/Cleveland area. Both motions passed.
Joe Curro provided an update on the Virtual Open House planned for December 13, 2025. Joe worked closely with former board member Tom Labuzienski, and other American Pilgrims volunteers to coordinate this fifth annual event open to members and nonmembers alike.
The board next planned to meet January 24-25, 2026, in Houston, TX. As that meeting was set to occur after the Winter 2026 La Concha submission deadline, its meeting report will be shared in the next issue.
Your MEMBERSHIP in American Pilgrims on the Camino makes it possible for everyone to make the pilgrimage that is best for them. Thanks, as always, for your support and if you aren’t already a member, you can become one here.
