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Footprints & Paddledrips
Volume 3 Issue 8
Newsletter of the Georgia Nature-Based Tourism Association,
September, 2001
September Meeting
The next meeting of the GNTA will be held at Cypress Lake Plantation
in Dodge County on Sept. 18. Rona Janssen of the Eastman-Dodge
County Cham-ber of Commerce (www.eastman-georgia.com) will
serve as host for what will also be the annual meeting of the Association.
The morning program will be a presentation by Donny Screws that
focuses on the birdlife of Dodge County.
Morning refreshments will be provided, but lunch will be a "brown
bag" event with those attending asked to bring their own meal
items.
The afternoon field trip will be a visit to Cypress Lake Plantation with
a guided boat tour of the famous bird rookeries.
Directions
The plantation is located two miles west of Rhine on U.S. 280. From I-75
take the Cordele exit #33 for Hwy 280 east and look for the site about
1 mile past Hwy 87. From Hwy 441 in Jacksonville, take Hwy 117 northwest
to Rhine. Then take Hwy 280 west for about 2 miles to the site. From the
Savannah area take I-16 west to the exit for Vidalia (Hwy 297) and from
that town head west on Hwy 280 to Rhine where the site is about 2 miles
west on the right (north).
Cypress Lake Plantation
Located northeast of the mighty Ocmulgee River in Dodge County south
of Eastman, Cypress Lake Plantation contains a 100-acre lake within a
1300-acre pine plantation. Cy-press Lake is famous for its beauty and
a wading bird rook-ery which is home to impressive numbers of nesting
ibis, herons, egrets, anhingas, and more from April through September.
A 45-minute boat tour takes you in for close-up views of these birds.
In addition, there are miles of winding roads and trails that attract
hikers and cyclists. Wagon rides are also offered.
Picnic areas and a snack bar provide lunching opportunities.
Access is normally by appoint-ment only (229-385-3051).
September Agenda
- 9:00 a.m. Board of Directors meeting
- 9:30 a.m. Refreshments/Social Period
- 10:00 a.m. Introductions, An-nouncements, & General Meeting
- 11:00 a.m. Donny Screws "Birdlife of Dodge County"
- 11:30 a.m. Annual Meeting
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch
- 1-3:00 p.m. Afternoon Activi-ties (45-min. boat ride, personal hikes)
Annual Meeting
The GNTA will hold its Annual Meeting at the September 18 gathering at
Cypress Lake Plantation in Dodge County. All members are invited to attend
this yearly update on the Association’s activities. Directors should
also attend the 9 a.m. meeting.
GNTA Contacts
Correspondence & membership
President:
Sheila Willis
326 Pineview Dr.
Waycross, GA 31501
912-285-0419
Newsletter items (by last Monday of each month)
Vice President:
Karen Arms
P.O. Box 10585
Savannah, GA 31412
912-232-0032
karms@tootsytours.com
Billing Statements
Treasurer:
Joy Campbell
Rt. 2, Box 3325
Folkston, GA 31537
912-496-7156
Nature-based Events
Altamaha River Rat Run
Lynn Carter of the Baxley-Appling County Board of Tourism
announces that their Fall 2001 Altamaha River Rat Run Canoe & Kayak
Excursion will take place on Sept. 22.
The 8-mile family paddle along the beautiful Altamaha River will be from
Morris Landing to Eason's Landing with a stop for a picnic lunch at Davis
Landing. This is a "Beautify America" project that always delivers
a memorable experience for all who participate.
For further information check www.baxley.org or call 912-367-7731.
Directory Updates
Reminder: please check your GNTA directory periodically & note any
revisions.
Laura S. Walker State Park
Nature-based Tourism Seminar
On Aug. 20 a special session was held at Laura S. Walker State
Park near Waycross that highlighted the nature-based tourism industry
in Georgia through featured speakers & exhibits.
Members of the GNTA presented short segments on their respective
areas of the industry & led a roundtable discussion on issues of concern.
Topics included the Colonial Coast Birding Trail, private nature tours,
bed & breakfast inns, state parks, river corridors & canoeing
festivals.
In addition, noted artist Lydia Thompson brought her artwork of area
birds that showcased the beautiful creatures behind the bird-watching
boom that pours money into the local economy.
Featured speakers were: Sheila Willis (Native American-
Natu-ralist Talks & Tours), Lynn Carter (Baxley-Appling
County Board of Tourism), Lydia Thompson (ArtworksbyLydia),
Bob Boyne (Laura S. Walker State Park), & Genna Wangsness
(The Inn at Folkston Bed & Breakfast).
A variety of free handouts were made available to the partici-pants.
Bird Photography Contest
A Bird Photography Contest is being held thru Jan. 2002 in an effort
to draw attention to the state's Colonial Coast Birding Trail &
its amazing variety of birds. Photos must be taken at one of the 18 sites
located along the trail. Four members of the GNTA are part of this system:
Jekyll Island, Melon Bluff Nature Preserve, Okefenokee National Wildlife
Refuge, and Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Museum & Nature Center.
A variety of prizes are to be awarded & include Coastal Georgia vacations,
binoculars, & signed wildlife prints.
For further details, contact Kitty Sikes of the GA Dept. of
Industry, Trade, & Tourism (Colonial Coast) at 912-651-3160 or
via e-mail at ccgarep@mindspring.com.
Send Us Your News
If you know of any interesting nature news, conservation con-cerns, or
nature-based events & conferences, please help spread the word by
sending a notice to the GNTA.
At each meeting member news-letters or other informative documents will
be available for display.
Association Schedule
General Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of alternate months. If
you would like to host a future meeting, please contact the current president
no later than the 15th of the month preceding the gathering.
2001 (date/location/host)
Sep. 18/Cypress Lake, Rhine/Eastman-Dodge Co. Chamber of Commerce
(GNTA Annual Meeting)
Nov. 20/Obediah's Okefenok, Waycross/Obediah's Okefenok
Newsletter Delivery
It was decided at the July meeting that future editions of the Footprints
& Paddledrips newsletter will be sent via e-mail where possible.
If you would like a hard copy instead, please contact Sheila Willis at
912-285-0419. It is vital that we have your current, correct e-mail address.
Please check the latest directory postings & notify us of any changes.
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