Georgia News

GA-TACF Annual Membership Meeting 2021

Please join our Annual Georgia Chapter Member Meeting on May 22, 2021, 10 am – 12 noon (via Zoom; details and URL at the bottom of this page)

Our special invited speaker will be Dr. Donald Davis, founding GA-TACF chapter president and author of the upcoming book “The American Chestnut”.  The agenda is copied below, and everyone (members and non-members alike) is invited to attend!  We’d love to “see” you all there!

Welcome and overview of 2020 and plans for 2021 (Kathy Patrick, President)

  1. Membership
  2. Outreach
  3. Transitions in leadership and member involvement         

Business

  1. Review and approval of May 2020 annual meeting minutes
  2. Treasurer’s report
  3. Volunteers needed
    1. Social media
    2. Email
    3. Community outreach
    4. Wild tree cataloging/mapping
    5. Test/demo orchard coordinator
  4. Board member changes
    1. Thanks to Dale Higdon, John French, and Steve Barber, who have completed their terms
    2. Nominations and vote for new board members
      1. Vincent Payne (who is willing to serve as treasurer)
      2. Caitlin Conn (transitioning to the GA-TACF science coordinator position)
      3. David Keehn (founding board member)

Guest speaker –Dr. Don Davis

We are thrilled to include Dr. Don Davis as our guest speaker.  A founding member of the Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation who served as chapter president from 2006 to 2008, Don is an independent scholar, author, and former Fulbright fellow.  His book, “The American Chestnut”, to be released in September, tells the story of the American chestnut from Native American prehistory through the Civil War and the Great Depression. Don documents the tree’s impact on nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American life, including the decorative and culinary arts. The book discusses the importation of chestnut blight and the tree’s decline as a dominant species, and evaluates efforts to restore the American chestnut to its former place in the eastern deciduous forest, including modern attempts to genetically modify the species.  

Don’s talk will cover:

  1. the evolutionary history of the species
  2. the impact of chestnuts on Native American culture
  3. Henry David Thoreau’s relationship with the tree
  4. uses in furniture-making, building construction, tanning, and city-scaping
  5. the true origins of the chestnut blight fungus 
  6. the U.S. chestnut revival and restoration efforts 
  7. genetic resistance and the use of biotechnology to save the species

Don is currently employed by the Harvard Forest as a part-time research scholar and lives in Washington, D.C.

Introduction of Jamie van Clief, TACF Southern Regional Science Coordinator

Jamie is a former TACF intern and joins the organization as a full-time employee in June, 2021

Thank you Tom Saelli for serving as interim RSC to the Georgia Chapter!

Chapter Science Brief

  1. Martin Cipollini — overview of state-wide breeding program and near-term plans
  2. John French – Flint North Ridge Phytophthora screening orchard and allied projects
  3. Scott Merkle – somatic embryogenesis (cloning) and transgenic work at UGA

GA-TACF Volunteer of the Year Award

Zoom Link: https://berry.zoom.us/j/91221003068 Meeting ID: 912 2100 3068

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Meeting ID: 912 2100 3068

 

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This past week, GA-TACF volunteers have engaged in a variety of public outreach and social events, starting with Dr. Martin Cipollini’s presentation at the Rotary Club in Rome. Rome Rotary has been a significant contributor to our work over the last couple of years and we’ve been very thankful for their support. Accompanying him was Vice President and TACF Volunteer of the Year Kathy Patrick (also his wife). A short article from Rotary’s Windmill newsletter is included as well as one of Kathy receiving her award at last month’s TACF meeting in TN.

Next up was Jack and Patty Rogers staffing an educational display at the Scouts BSA Conservation Weekend on Saturday November 11 in Blairsville. Jack and Patty had a great time sharing our work with the scouts and their leaders. The visit was coordinated by Chris Johnson, 2023 Conservation Weekend Midway Coordinator.

As some of you might know, we also had our 40th Anniversary Celebration at Best End Brewing in Atlanta on Sunday November 12. Rome area singer/songwriter David Bell provided the entertainment, and Kathy Patrick provided the chestnut blondies – both of which were huge hits! We had nearly 50 attendees, most of whom were new to our organization. We gave away about 40 chestnut seedlings to those donating or joining our organization. A lively group (thanks to yummy Best End beer) had a really nice time and great conversations happened all around. A few folks even acted like nuts… Look for more social events such as these to come early next year.

Lastly (but sorry, we got no photos of this one), on Tuesday, Dr. Cipollini led a visit by Douglas County’s Alexander High School FFA club to Berry College’s chestnut nursery and orchards. Encouraged by long-time Douglas County resident Dot Padgett and her local group of chestnut enthusiasts, these students are learning how to plant and care for chestnuts on the school property. Teacher Ryan Bragg organized the visit and Dr. Cipollini fielded lots of great questions from the students. They went home with nine more seedlings to add to their site. The American Chestnut Foundation
... See MoreSee Less

This past week, GA-TACF volunteers have engaged in a variety of public outreach and social events, starting with Dr. Martin Cipollini’s presentation at the Rotary Club in Rome.  Rome Rotary has been a significant contributor to our work over the last couple of years and we’ve been very thankful for their support.  Accompanying him was Vice President and TACF Volunteer of the Year Kathy Patrick (also his wife).  A short article from Rotary’s Windmill newsletter is included as well as one of Kathy receiving her award at last month’s TACF meeting in TN.

Next up was Jack and Patty Rogers staffing an educational display at the Scouts BSA Conservation Weekend on Saturday November 11 in Blairsville.  Jack and Patty had a great time sharing our work with the scouts and their leaders.  The visit was coordinated by Chris Johnson, 2023 Conservation Weekend Midway Coordinator.

As some of you might know, we also had our 40th Anniversary Celebration at Best End Brewing in Atlanta on Sunday November 12.  Rome area singer/songwriter David Bell provided the entertainment, and Kathy Patrick provided the chestnut blondies – both of which were huge hits!  We had nearly 50 attendees, most of whom were new to our organization.  We gave away about 40 chestnut seedlings to those donating or joining our organization.  A lively group (thanks to yummy Best End beer) had a really nice time and great conversations happened all around.  A few folks even acted like nuts…  Look for more social events such as these to come early next year.

Lastly (but sorry, we got no photos of this one), on Tuesday, Dr. Cipollini led a visit by Douglas County’s Alexander High School FFA club to Berry College’s chestnut nursery and orchards.  Encouraged by long-time Douglas County resident Dot Padgett and her local group of chestnut enthusiasts, these students are learning how to plant and care for chestnuts on the school property.  Teacher Ryan Bragg organized the visit and Dr. Cipollini fielded lots of great questions from the students.  They went home with nine more seedlings to add to their site. The American Chestnut FoundationImage attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment

This past Tuesday, about 15 volunteers happily showed up to plant about 100 chestnut seedlings at the Flint phytophthora research orchard site, a project done in collaboration with GA-TACF, Reinhardt University, and the landowner Dr. Austin Flint. Having nice groups like this makes for easy work and more time for fun and learning. Here are some pics of the day's activities. Many thanks to all who were involved! The American Chestnut Foundation

To learn more about what we do and how to become involved, please come to this Sunday's 40th Anniversary event at Best End Brewing in Atlanta, 2 - 6 pm. Read more here: tacf.org/ga-news/40th-anniversary-celebration-best-end-brewing-atl/
... See MoreSee Less

This past Tuesday, about 15 volunteers happily showed up to plant about 100 chestnut seedlings at the Flint phytophthora research orchard site, a project done in collaboration with GA-TACF, Reinhardt University, and the landowner Dr. Austin Flint.  Having nice groups like this makes for easy work and more time for fun and learning.  Here are some pics of the days activities.  Many thanks to all who were involved! The American Chestnut Foundation

To learn more about what we do and how to become involved, please come to this Sundays 40th Anniversary event at Best End Brewing in Atlanta, 2 - 6 pm.  Read more here: https://tacf.org/ga-news/40th-anniversary-celebration-best-end-brewing-atl/Image attachmentImage attachment+4Image attachment
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