Cherokee Hiking Club
198 Crews Drive, Benton, TN 37307

Monthly Club Meeting
Thursday, February 12, 2009

Cherokee Hiking Club Minutes, February 12, 2009 

The monthly meeting of the Cherokee Hiking Club was held on February 12, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at Antonio’s in Cleveland.  There were twenty-three members and four guests present.  Guests were the Campbells and the Leabows  and we welcomed new member Suzanne Bennett.  We signed a “get well” card to Clayton Pannell.  President Randy Morris called the business session to order at 6:50 p.m.  Minutes of the previous meeting were read by Secretary Jane Bohannon and were approved as read.  Jane read the Treasurer’s report for Ann Gray who was absent. 

Old business:  The Annual Joint Meeting will be held April 9 at Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in Etowah.  The guest speaker will be Joyce Baker, chemistry professor at Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens.  She will speak on her trip to the Galapagos Islands which constitute a province of Ecuador.   

Large and extra large tee shirts are still available for purchase for $15.00. 

New business:  Marc Bernatti invited members to “A Historical Tour of the Unicoi Turnpike Trail and Fort Armistead” on April 3 and 4.  Quentin Bass from the Forest Service and Brett Riggs will have a panel discussion regarding the history of both sites.  Tickets are $50.00 which includes both days and proceeds will go to the Coker Creek Heritage Group.  You may contact Marc for further information. 

Suzanne Bennett from CSCC discussed their environmental festival which is coming up April 18 called “It’s Good To Be Green.”  She requested that the club do an exhibit with items such as  pictures of past hikes, recipes for backpacking,  present information on trails and  set up a tent.   Mark Cameron suggested getting a display together and storing it for future use.  Whether or not the club does a display, we are invited to attend the festival.  Activities will be outdoors if weather permits.     

Upcoming hikes:  See your newsletter or website for descriptions of the following hikes:  Fort Loudon State Park, Rock Creek Segment of the Cumberland Trail, BMTA Tn/NC worktrip south of Lost Creek Campground, and the Big Frog moonlight hike.  James reminded hikers to bring hiking sticks, good headlight, and flash lights for descending Big Frog in the light of a full moon.   

Next meeting on Thursday, March 12:   To be held at Michaels in Etowah (directions below).   

Michael's of Etowah
862 Hwy. 411
Etowah, TN 37331
Tel:  423-263-2603  

The room is reserved from 6 – 9 pm.  Randy said the meeting time will still be 6:30 pm, but I reserved it a little early for the early birds. 

From Cleveland:

 Take Hwy 11 north into Athens.  Turn right onto Hwy 30.  Take Hwy 30 East until it dead ends into Hwy 411.  Turn left at the light.  Go .15 miles.  Michael's is on the left in the Hiwassee Village strip mall, behind the KFC.  If you pass the hospital, you have gone too far.

From Benton:

Take Hwy 411 north.  Continue all the way through downtown Etowah.  Once you pass the intersection of Hwy 30 and Hwy 411, it is .15 miles on the left.  (The restaurant is across from the Bi Lo, were we occasionally meet to carpool.)

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