Cherokee Hiking Club Meeting March 2009

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.)

Meeting Minutes: The monthly meeting of the Cherokee Hiking Club was held on March 12, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at Michael’s Restaurant in Etowah. There were thirty-one members present. We were happy to have Clayton Pannell return following his surgery and we want to wish him well. President Randy Morris called the business session to order at 7:45 p.m. Minutes of the previous meeting were read by Secretary Jane Bohannon and were approved as read. Treasurer Ann Gray reported the current balance.

Old business: We thanked our newsletter editor Verna Townsend for doing a great job on our name tags and newsletters.

There was a discussion on the environmental festival which is scheduled at CSCC on Saturday April 18 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The name of the festival is “Its Good To Be Green.” The club will have an exhibit there which will consist of a power point presentation by Rick Harris, display of our club tee shirts, and some flyers and pamphlets. There will be an assigned space inside for a projector. Randy asked for volunteers to assist with this project and we still need some more members to participate.

New business: Rick Harris volunteered to start a Facebook group for the club. If you have questions contact Rick.

Hikes completed: Brenda Harris reported on the Fort Loudon hike which was led by Bob Lee. Randy reported on the Rock Creek segment of the Cumberland Trail. James Anderson reported on the Big Frog Moonlight hike. Ken Jones reported on trail maintenance. The crew has been logging all Citico wilderness trails. College students have been assisting with trail work and with trash pick up. “Horse trails people” have been assisting with non horse trail maintenance.

Upcoming hikes: The Cohutta and the Old Copper Road hikes have been cancelled. The Tellico River Cleanup is March 14 “rain or shine.” Refer to your newsletter or website for descriptions and contact persons for the following hikes: Turtletown Falls, Warrior’s Passage, Scenic Spur Trail, Piney River, BMTA work trip North of Sandy Gap, and the John Muir Cleanup which is April 4.

Next meeting: The Annual Joint Meeeting with the Hiwassee Club will be at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Etowah on April 9 at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is to bring a potluck item for the meal. The church is on the corner of Ohio St. and Tenth St. Directions will be in the April newsletter. Guest speaker is Joyce Baker, Chemistry and Math Professor at TWC in Athens. She will speak on her visit to the Galapagos Islands. Drinks and ice will be furnished by the Hiwassee Club and tableware will be furnished by the Cherokee Club and the church. The church will request donations to their Food Pantry at the meeting.

The May 16^th meeting will be at the home of Brenda and Rick Harris following the Fall Branch Falls hike. Details will appear in the May newsletter.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jane Bohannon, Secretary