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President Carolyn Hill welcomed
attendees and called meeting to order at 10am. Power Point
presentation of Chapters 2006 activities followed. Next a motion was
made, seconded and voted on in favor to include Non-Discriminatory
verbiage in the Chapter’s By-laws, a requirement for Ga. state
employees to be able to select our Chapter for contributions through
automatic payroll deductions.
Georgia Chapter
of The American Chestnut Foundation (GaTACF) does not discriminate on
the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual
orientation, marital status, genetic identification, political
affiliation, or disability in the educational programs or activities
it operates or in it membership and governing board.
The slate of new officers for the
2007-2008 year were next brought up for a vote after no other
candidates were proposed from the “floor”. The officers elected are:
President-Carolyn Hill second term, Vice-President Mike Hinson,
second term, Treasurer-Diane Smith third term, Secretary-Tom
Pachinger first term. Continued length of term membership for three
officers currently on the Chapters Board was determined by “draw”.
Results were, Mark Stallings-1 year, Don Davis-2 years, and Jerry
Smith-3 years. Diane Smith then presented a financial review of the
Chapters status.
The next speaker was Martin
Cipollini who spoke on the needs for and tasks of Tree Stewards: 1)
Collect samples for ID 2) Gain permission to use tree for nut and or
pollen production 3)Collect necessary site data 4) Visit tree prior
to pollination 5)Participate in pollination 6) Visit prior to
harvest 7)Participate in harvest.
Martin further discussed the
Chapters long range goals of adding southern local and regional
diversity into the National’s American chestnut gene pool thru the
back cross program. Final emphasis was placed on the need to
establish multiple orchards for testing purposes
Tim Chestnut spoke to the many
efforts made in promoting the Chapter through various means in 2006,
the corporative affiliation with Berry Colleges Public Relations
Development Class, the great work performed by this class and the
potential for improved public awareness through utilizing the work
performed with this group of Berry Students.
Carolyn next announced the TACF’s
Anniversary Celebration 2008, to include each chapter hiking the
Appalachian Trail within their state, with a hand off of hiking
staffs [American chestnut] within each state. All state staffs to be
later presented at the Annual Meeting in Chattanooga, October 2008.
Five Major events are to also be held through out the 2008 year, with
one being at Georgia’s Neels Gap. Education of the public as to the
plight of the American chestnut and identification of the tree along
the AT would be part of the celebration. Joe Nicholson is to
coordinate Chapter resources for the AT trail walk.
Next Paul Sisco, Regional Science
Coordinator for TACF, presented a Power Point presentation on the
history and uses of the American chestnut species, as well as the
history and spread of the chestnut blight. Dr Sisco explained the
TACF’s back cross program and efforts to re establish the American
chestnut to the eastern forest. Paul emphasized the needed length of
time required in following these efforts thru to successful
competition. The absolute demand for organization, record keeping and
discipline in following best pollination “control” practices.
Joe Garner with UGA then gave a
brief history and over view of the Georgia Mountain Research and
Education Center. The facility is the oldest research center in the
state, begun in 1932 with the WPA and CCC. Over the years plant zone
cold hardiness, fertilizer use and application schedules, as well as
on going research into numerous plant diseases have been and continue
to be on going at the facility. The center also enjoys a strong
active commitment out of the local community. More information can be
found at the Web site
www.gmrec.uga.edu
The meeting was then brought to a
close by President Carolyn Hill. Lunch was had onsite for those
wishing to participate. After lunch several field trips were
available including a review of the UGA’s Mountain Research and
Education Centers orchard with it’s current inventory of American
chestnut stock, a trip to Brasstown Bald to see the Mother tree
located there, or a hike up Blood Mountain at Neels Gap to see
several American chestnut trees there along the trail.
Business meeting adjourned at 12
noon.
Tom Pachinger |
