Foothills August monthly meeting 8/13 - Special meeting place - SEE BELOW

After four months of postponing meetings, Foothills Chapter TU will be holding a meeting on August 13th starting at 6pm. The meeting location will be at Fish Camp in Smithgall Woods State Park. I want to thank our member Mike Dye for coordinating our use of this location. We are fortunate to have been given access to Fish Camp, it is a secluded outdoor space near the Education Cabin. We owe a debt of gratitude to Smithgall Woods SP for allowing us to use it. I would ask that everyone bring along a lawn chair so that we can practice social distancing guidelines by staying 6 feet apart. I would also like to strongly encourage everyone to wear their masks. I’ll have mine. Kathy Church DNR Wildlife Interpretive Specialist will be speaking to us about the Smithgall Woods Education Outreach Program. With all the challenges to the school districts dealing with the pandemic it is important that this valuable program remain available to our teachers and our community. We look forward to seeing everyone again. However, while holding the meeting outdoors and practicing social distancing is low risk for spreading the virus. The risk still remains and it is real. I encourage all of you to give it some thought and decide what works best for you. If you are experiencing symptoms, we ask that you refrain form attending. Thank You all for hanging in there and staying safe through these trying times. Better days are ahead.

Bruce

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Directions to Fish Camp at Smithgall Woods
Do Not go to the main entrance of Smithgall Woods SP off Alt Hwy 75. You will not be allowed to drive through the park to get to fish camp. Note that Duke’s Creek is closed to fishing for the summer.
Access to Fish Camp is via Joe Franklin Rd it is a small graveled road with NO sign for the park marking it. It is in between The intersection of Hwy 75 and Duncan Bridge rd & the Shell gas station on Hwy 75.
From Helen/Sautee :
From the intersection of Hwys 17 & 75 at the Indian Mound
Go south on Hwy 75 for approx 1.5 miles
Turn Right on to Joe Franklin Rd.
Go about a half mile and drive through gate into park.
Follow signs to fish camp
From Cleveland :
From intersection of Hwys 129 & 75 at Ingels
Go 5.1 Miles North on Hwy 75
Turn Left onto Joe Franklin Rd
Go about a half mile and drive through gate into park.
Follow signs to fish camp

Foothills July monthly meeting CANCELLED

When the Coronavirus shelter in place directives got stated back in March, I thought for sure we would be back to having meetings by July. Sadly for all of us that is not the case. With infections on the rise across the country and here in Georgia, we feel we must cancel our July meeting as it is still not wise to risk a gathering. We will revisit the situation around the first of August with an eye towards possibly holding an outdoor meeting at a local park or some other outdoor venue if conditions allow. I really miss our monthly meetings and the fellowship and camaraderie that goes with them. I hope everyone has an enjoyable and safe Independence Day celebration. Everyone Please stay safe and do everything within your power to help stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Thank You for all you guys do. I am certain we will be having meetings again soon.

Bruce

Trout in the Classroom - SmithGall Woods

Hi All -     Angel Cain the Naturalist over at Smithgall Woods put together this video on our Trout in the Classroom program that we partner with them on.  

June Monthly Foothills meeting CANCELLED

To all our Foothills members and friends

I hope that everyone is doing well and remaining safe through this pandemic. Although business are starting to open back up. At this time, out of a continuing abundance of caution we are going to cancel our meeting scheduled for June 11^th. TU National has stated that all meetings can resume June 1^st, provided they meet all local social distancing guidelines. The local shelter in place recommendations for seniors is in place through June 12^th this covers pretty much all of us. Everyone Please stay safe and do everything you can to help stop this virus transmission. We will revisit the virus status and make a decision on the July meeting around July 1^st . Thank you all for your continuing support of Trout Unlimited Georgia Foothills Chapter and cold water conservation and preservation.

Bruce

TU Membership Offer

FREE TU MEMBERSHIP EXTENDED

"Hoot on the Hooch" has been POSPONED

The "Hoot on the Hooch" event has been POSTPONED to a future date... will likely will be rescheduled sometime in the fall of this year.

This was done due to a directive issued by Trout Unlimited for safety concerns of the current Coronavirus Status.  The "Dream Trip" drawing will be still be held but set by the Georgia Council of Trout Unlimited.  The raffle for the Quilt will be held when the "Hoot on the Hooch" is rescheduled.

May Monthly Meeting CANCELLED

GA Trout Camp for 2020 CANCELLED

The Camp Committee met and decided to cancel GA Trout Camp for 2020. The risks appear to be greater than the benefits this year. I have contacted Tallulah Falls School, and am going to contact all the campers, young mentors, and the adult mentors who have signed up so far. Please don’t post anything on your websites or through your social media until the folks who are directly involved know first. Bruce Payne will post a notice on our website tomorrow. I should have everyone contacted by then. Thanks so much.

God Bless you and yours! Looking forward to 2021!
Kathy Breithaupt

Dream trip drawing... 5/16

The Dream Trip drawing will be Saturday, May 16th. Doris and Carl Riggs will join us here and we will video the drawing. Winners will be contacted and the video will be posted on our website

and Facebook. Please share this message with your BOD and Chapter members.

Bruce will update our post on the Council Website. Carl, please post the message I sent to you and Bruce on Facebook.

Thanks!
Kathy Breithaupt

May Foothills meeting CANCELLED

Hope this finds everyone safe and doing well. Jim Watson checked with the bank in Clarkesville and the room we use for our meetings will not be available. I think they are still keeping it closed. I have received nothing from TU National suggesting we could go back to holding meetings. I know the state is starting to open things back up. However, out of an abundance of continued caution I think we should go ahead and cancel our May meeting. We are all still in the susceptible group. I’m getting tired of being hunkered down but am not quite ready to go back to business as usual yet. I would appreciate hearing how you all feel about canceling the May meeting and how you all are doing through this difficult time. Thank You All for all you do and remember we will get back to somewhat normal again.

Bruce