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Footprints & Paddledrips
Volume 3 Issue 1
Newsletter of the Georgia Nature-Based Tourism Association
January, 2001
January Meeting
The next meeting of the Georgia Nature-Based Tourism Association will
be held on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
near Folkston. The hosts will be Chip and Joy Campbell, owners of Okefenokee
Adventures (O.N.W.R. East Entrance's cooperating partner), and Jim Burkhart,
Refuge Ranger at O.N.W.R. Chip Campbell will speak on issues relating
to the Okefenokee Swamp area. In the afternoon, those attending the meeting
will be given a chance to take an educational 1-hour boat tour courtesy
of Okefenokee Adventures and visit the newly-renovated Refuge Visitor
Center. The Swamp Island Drive is temporarily-closed at the present time;
however, this status may change by the meeting date. Please plan to attend
this first meeting of the new year, and bring a guest or two. Note that
there is a $5 per car refuge entry fee (free with Golden Age/Access/Federal
Duck Stamps). Bring appropriate weather gear. Deli-fare may be purchased
for lunch at Okefenokee Adventures.
Directions
Follow the signs to Folkston. Take GA Highway #121/23 south for seven
miles to the entrance road to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
(opposite Okefenokee Pastimes campground/gallery). Follow this road west
for 2 miles to the Refuge Headquarters where the meeting will be held.
For further information contact Okefenokee Adventures (toll-free) at 1-866-843-7926.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
The largest federal wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River was
created to preserve one of America's most famous wetlands—the Okefenokee
Swamp. Each entrance into this natural wonder allows one to have a different
scenic experience. The Eastern Entrance near Folkston contains both pine
uplands inhabited by endangered Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and grassy marshlands
("prairies") which are a haven for Sandhill Cranes and other wading birds,
ducks, and many other species. In the Winter otters are a common sight
along the Suwannee Canal which leads into the depths of the swamp.
January Agenda
*note new times*
8:30 a.m. Board of Directors Meeting
9:30 a.m. Morning Refreshments/Social Period
10:00 a.m. Introductions/General Meeting
11:30 a.m. Program (Chip Campbell--Okefenokee Issues)
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Field Activity--Chesser Prairie, uplands
GNTA Contacts
Correspondence and membership inquiries should be sent to the Association
address or directly to
Sheila Willis (326 Pineview Dr., Waycross, GA 31501). Billing statements
should be sent to Joy Campbell, Treasurer (Rt. 2, Box 3325, Folkston,
GA 31537). Items for the newsletter should be sent by the last Monday
of the month to Karen Arms (P.O.Box 10585, Savannah, GA 31412 or email:
karms@tootsytours.com.
Project Updates
The GNTA has finally been designated as a federal non-profit organization
as of Dec. 2000!! Although we will be operating until Dec. 2003 in a probationary
period, the Association is now free to file for those grants which require
a 501 (c) (3) status by applicants. In addition, this will facilitate
the final release of funds from the start-up grant issued by The Sapelo
Foundation to the Sierra Club, our "founding" organization. The Board
of Directors and the Executive Committee will meet prior to the General
Meeting to work out the details of the transition, and begin making plans
to organize projects for funding efforts, membership campaign, website,
educational outreach program, etc. Heartfelt thanks go to all who have
worked over the last year on these various projects. An invitation is
extended to any members who wish to become involved in helping us meet
our goals.
Association Schedule
GNTA General meetings are held on the third Tuesdays of selected
months. The Annual meeting is held in September. The Association attempts
to highlight different areas of the state by moving the meetings to a
new location each time. If you would like to host a future meeting, please
contact the current President no later than the 15th of the
month preceding the appropriate gathering.
2001 (date/location/host)
- Jan. 16--Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Folkston--Okefenokee
National Wildlife Refuge & Okefenokee Adventures
- Mar. 20--General Coffee State Park, Douglas--General Coffee State
Park
- May 15--Woodbine Waterfront Pavilion, Woodbine--Kingsland Convention
& Visitors Bureau
- Jul. 17--Site to be announced, Savannah--Tootsy Tours
Note: All dates and locations are subject to change due to scheduling
conflicts. Watch the newsletter for future details.
Hosts Needed: There are vacancies for September and November.
Directory Update
The Membership and Resource Directory is being updated. Please send notice
of any changes in contact persons, numbers, and addresses, etc. by Jan.
10 to Sheila Willis (912-285-0419) or c/o Waycross Tourism Bureau (attn.
GNTA): waycrosstour@accessatc.net.
Send Us Your Events
If you have, or know of, any nature-based events, festivals, classes,
conferences, etc. that would be of interest to GNTA members, contact
the newsletter editor by the newsletter deadline of the last Monday of
each month. Please include your phone number and e-mail address.
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