Saturday, September 26, 2015
It's that time of the year again! Interested volunteers should reply to my secretary, William Goldman (William.Goldman@dnr.ga.gov ). He will draft the roster for me to edit as appropriate. William's phone: 770-535-5498, and fax 5953.
Call for Volunteers
Please
consider volunteering to help us at Unicoi State Park's Outdoor
Adventure Day to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day on Saturday,
9/26/15. You don't have to be an expert outdoorsman or woman to play a
vital role in the day's success. Can you help at registration or
direct parking? There's a niche for everyone.
Unicoi
State Park's management company, Coral Hospitality, hosts us, Game
Management Supervisor Ken handles the budget, and I handle event
staffing. We (DNR) need a hundred or so volunteers to make this event
happen. Many of you are OAD veterans, but the following info may help
prospective volunteers to understand the roles they could play and to
make the decision to join our ranks. To fill out my roster and to
ensure good communications with all of you volunteers, I would like the
following info from each volunteer:
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM
1) Your name : _______________
2) Your affiliation (if you'd like me to credit your group or club) :_________________
3) email address: ______________
4) phone number : ________________
5) first choice of venue : ______________
6) second choice of venue: ____________
7) are you willing to work anywhere I need somebody (y/n)? ____
First come, first served. The majority of the 10AM to 4 PM event is held along the creek downstream from Unicoi Dam (map: http://gastateparks.org/net/go/parks.aspx?locid=98&show=map).
Below is the narrative from previous years' volunteer instructions to
help you understand the duties at each venue. Thanks for your
consideration. We can't pull off this event without an army of vols!
Venue Info:
*
Registration tent. These workers will greet visitors and get signed
liability release forms and pens back from them in exchange for raffle
tickets. Detailed instructions will be provided to you on Saturday
(9/26), as Kim trains you. Visitors will be given an arm band as proof
of signing the release form (so they can shoot).
*
Raffle tent: . Visitors will put one copy of the raffle ticket into
the raffle bucket of their choice and keep the other copy. The raffle
will start at 1 PM for free prizes. I have a small, separate work force
assigned to the raffle. Volunteers on my roster are eligible for
prizes, also!
*
Parking. Park staff will guide visitor vehicles to orderly parking in
the big field. Parks staff also have a plan for overflow parking, if
needed. They may need a few helpers to direct traffic and explain the
venue layout to guests departing their vehicles.
*
Archery. Hands-on. One-on-one instruction by WRD and hopefully the
Traditional Bowhunters Association, once again. Note that this venue is
on far side of Smith Creek, next to the laundry building. It can be
reached by the road crossing up near the dam or by the footbridge over
the creek to the group camp. Some of you may be asked to provide
security. Just stand at edge of venue and prevent visitors from
straying into the line of fire.
*
Airgun. Hands on by WRD, 4-H Club, and other volunteers. Same as #4,
and located next to it. Again, a few of you may secure the perimeter.
*
Skeet. Handled mainly by well-trained DNR and USFS Rangers and Game
Management Technicians. It's 500 yards downstream from the main event
(safety, safety). A few of you may simply help at the sign-in tent and
keep waiting guests away from the shooting area (no experience needed).
*
Fishing tent. This is where visitors can exchange a driver's license
for a loaner fishing pole and bait. Biologists, fishing guides, TU'ers,
and other fibbers can answer questions and give fishing tips.
Fisheries staff will need at least 6 helpers to stay at the tent to
handle loaner rod untangling, knot-tying, bait distribution, and rod
checkout. This is a busy, yet fun tent.
*
Fly casting. Part of the field will be set aside for casting
instruction. I suggest that volunteers bring a rod that they don't mind
visitors tinkering with (DON'T BRING YOUR GOOD SAGE OR WINSTON!!!). I
am venue leader for casting and tying. If you tie, bring your tying
stuff with you, too.
*
Fly tying instruction. Bring your supplies and an extra vise if you
have one. Let visitors sit down at the table and tie his/her own fly to
take home. Variations of the woolly worm (W. bugger, Anytime/Anywhere,
etc.) or San Juan worm have worked well for me in the past. Kids love a
gold bead and a big, gaudy fly. Girls love pink flies. Beads from
craft store, yarn from Wal Mart. Cheap, easy, and fun for visitor.
Many visitors are shy, so you may have to speak up and encourage
youngsters to come over and tie their own fly.
*
Fishing -stream helpers. Grab a pocket fishing kit (hooks and split
shot) and some bait (corn) that WRD will supply and go help people
fishing on stream. Search them out - look at stringers, tackle used,
and forlorn faces. Find a kid and work with him/her for an hour or so
on
reading water, casting, setting hook, etc. Mentoring! Fishing is NOT
restricted to kids only (parent has the driver's license, so they must
be hooked, too). Feel free to bring some of your favorite baits to help
your reputation as an awesome fishing guide. We will have about 100
loaner poles available, but feel free to bring an extra Zebco outfit if
you have one to loan to your "student," since we made more than 300
loans at our last event. Some of you can help WRD staff stock creek
around 9:45AM. Get some kids to help too - we're bringing buckets to
get them involved.
*
Wildlife and Camping venues. The experts pretty much run their own
shows. Volunteers here will mainly help WRD staff with logistics needed
by the demonstrators (tables, chairs, PR, food and water, etc).
Thanks
for considering the donation of your Saturday to preserve the future
of your sport! Please provide your information to William (William.Goldman@dnr.ga.gov) if you are interested in helping DNR to promote outdoor recreation and plant some seeds of conservation.
Sincerely,
Jeff
Jeff Durniak
Regional Fisheries Supervisor
Georgia Wildlife Resources Division
