Georgia News

GA-TACF’s Annual Meeting April 12 2025

The American Chestnut Foundation Georgia Chapter (GA-TACF) Notice of Annual Meeting

GA-TACF will hold its annual meeting on April 12, 2025, starting at 10:00 AM at Kennesaw State University (see directions below). Chapter members are invited and encouraged to attend, and the public is also invited. In accordance with chapter bylaws, we will conduct several business items that require approval or other input from the general membership. Among those items, the membership will be called on to elect directors for the board. The board hereby invites nominations for director positions which should include the candidate’s contact information, a brief biographical sketch, and a summary of why the candidate appears well-suited for board service.

Although we will briefly address these and other business matters, most of the meeting will be devoted to presentations related to our work helping to restore American chestnuts in GA. The meeting is free of charge and open to the public.

Please register your attendance by reserving admission tickets (free) via the Eventbrite site below. Pre-registration via the Eventbrite site is encouraged and free; however, lunch orders must be made using the Eventbrite site (no later than April 5). Please state your box lunch choice upon checkout. Choices are Ham, Turkey, or Roast Beef Sandwich (all on wheat bread) or Caesar Salad or Garden Salad.

Register and pre-purchase box lunces vai this Eventbrite link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/georgia-chapter-of-the-american-chestnut-foundation-annual-meeting-tickets-1256043723589?aff=oddtdtcreator

Agenda:

Morning session, 10:00 AM – NOON (tiered classroom on the first floor in the Prillaman Health Sciences Building – HS1105), Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, 520 Parliament Garden Way NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144

1) Welcome and Introduction (Dr. Martin Cipollini + KSU Faculty or Staff welcoming us to KSU)

2) Chapter business meeting:

  1. Election of chapter directors, Scott Laseter (Governance Committee chair)
  2. Budget report, Vince Payne (Treasurer)
  3. Science update, Dr. Martin Cipollini (President and Science Coordinator)

4) An update from TACF, Jamie van Clief (Southern Regional Science Coordinator)

5) Comparing Leaf Microbiomes and Traits of American, Chinese, and Hybrid Chestnuts, Katherine Dobson and Dr. Mario Bretfeld, KSU.

6) Brainstorming session focused on ways to facilitate cooperative research between KSU and GA-TACF, and its partners.

Lunch break and Afternoon Session, 12:30 – ? (Kennesaw State University Field Station – Farm, 1875 Hickory Grove Rd NW, Acworth, GA 30102)

  • Pre-ordered box lunches will be delivered to the event, catered by Jason’s Deli. Tickets for box lunches must be purchased via the Eventbrite site by April 5. Again, lunch choices are Ham, Turkey, or Roast Beef Sandwich (all on wheat bread) or Caesar Salad or Garden Salad.
  • Tour of the facilities at the KSU Research Station and its chestnut orchard.
  • GA-TACF board members will meet at the end of the day to hold a brief in-person meeting.

We hope to see you there! Please help spread the word.

Dr. Martin Cipollini

GA-TACF President

P.S. This event is co-sponsored by KSU’s Office of Research.

Directions to meeting sites:

To travel from I-75S to Kennesaw State University’s Central Parking Deck, follow these directions:

  1. Take Exit 271 for Chastain Road.
  2. Turn left onto Chastain Road NW (if coming from I-75 South).
  3. Turn right onto Frey Road.
  4. Turn left onto Parliament Garden Way and proceed straight to enter the parking deck, free of charge.

To make your way to the meeting, you’ll keep to the right when walking out of the parking deck. You’ll enter the Prillaman Health Sciences Building, the first building to your right, through the glass doors. Proceed down the hallway until you see the registration table. The event will be held in room HS1105.

To travel from Kennesaw State University’s Central Parking Deck to the KSU Field Station, at 1875 Hickory Grove Rd NW, Acworth, GA 30102, follow these directions:

  1. After exiting the parking deck, start by turning left onto Frey Road.
  2. Turn left to onto George Busbee Pkwy NW.
  3. Continue for approximately 1.5 miles before turning right onto Wade Green Road NW.
  4. Turn left onto Hickory Grove Road NW.
  5. Continue for about 0.5 miles to 1875 Hickory Grove Rd NW, which will be on your left.

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Hot but productive time with last weekend's deer fence installation at UNG's Hurricane Creek chestnut orchard. Many thanks to all the volunteers and especially to Jack Rogers and Karrie Ann Fadroski for organizing and working all three mornings! The American Chestnut Foundation UNG - University of North Georgia ... See MoreSee Less

Hot but productive time with last weekends deer fence installation at UNGs Hurricane Creek chestnut orchard. Many thanks to all the volunteers and especially to Jack Rogers and Karrie Ann Fadroski for organizing and working all three mornings! The American Chestnut Foundation UNG - University of North GeorgiaImage attachmentImage attachment+6Image attachment

Hello Georgia Chestnut Enthusiasts! Another volunteer opportunity... this one is pretty urgent.

We need your help with an upgrade to our chestnut orchard in Dahlonega. Hurricane Creek is a collaborative project with the University of North Georgia Biology Department and is being used to test for resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi (black root rot disease). The orchard is progressing well, with over 100 trees in place, but we have been unsuccessful keeping the deer at bay with our electric fence. We have decided it's time to install a deer exclusion fence, similar that used at our Flint and Richards orchards. Please let us know if you can join us on for a morning shift or two to help install the fence - see dates and times. The fence goes up pretty easily and no special skills are needed. We'll provide all materials and tools, along with water and snacks.

If you can help out, please bring the following:

Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent.
Work gloves.
Water, sack lunch if desired.

Because of the heat, we'll get started each day at 8AM, and work until the heat runs us off.

Hurricane Creek is located on GA Highway 9, between Dawsonville and Dahlonega. The address is 3990 Dawsonville Hwy, Dahlonega GA, 30597. On Google Maps, maps.app.goo.gl/eTMeKLwPBEtqi2y76.

Below are the shifts for volunteers for the fence installation. Please use this link to sign up (orchard maintenance tab): theamericanchestnutfoundation.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=90470

Friday, 7/25/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), site prep work, install corner posts, layout posts, clear brush in a few areas, relocate some of the existing electric fence.

Saturday, 7/26/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), install posts, layout tarp between posts, install top polyline, install fence fabric, install bottom fabric anchors, install door.

Sunday, 7/27/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), install bottom 2' mesh, finish up.

The American Chestnut Foundation
UNG - University of North Georgia
... See MoreSee Less

Hello Georgia Chestnut Enthusiasts!  Another volunteer opportunity... this one is pretty urgent.We need your help with an upgrade to our chestnut orchard in Dahlonega. Hurricane Creek is a collaborative project with the University of North Georgia Biology Department and is being used to test for resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi (black root rot disease). The orchard is progressing well, with over 100 trees in place, but we have been unsuccessful keeping the deer at bay with our electric fence. We have decided its time to install a deer exclusion fence, similar that used at our Flint and Richards orchards. Please let us know if you can join us on for a morning shift or two to help install the fence - see dates and times. The fence goes up pretty easily and no special skills are needed. Well provide all materials and tools, along with water and snacks. If you can help out, please bring the following:Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent.Work gloves.Water, sack lunch if desired.Because of the heat, well get started each day at 8AM, and work until the heat runs us off.Hurricane Creek is located on GA Highway 9, between Dawsonville and Dahlonega. The address is 3990 Dawsonville Hwy, Dahlonega GA, 30597. On Google Maps, https://maps.app.goo.gl/eTMeKLwPBEtqi2y76.Below are the shifts for volunteers for the fence installation.  Please use this link to sign up (orchard maintenance tab): https://theamericanchestnutfoundation.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=90470Friday, 7/25/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), site prep work, install corner posts, layout posts, clear brush in a few areas, relocate some of the existing electric fence.Saturday, 7/26/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), install posts, layout tarp between posts, install top polyline, install fence fabric, install bottom fabric anchors, install door.Sunday, 7/27/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), install bottom 2 mesh, finish up.The American Chestnut FoundationUNG - University of North Georgia

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

Work started today! Still a chance to volunteer for tomorrow or Sunday. Thanks!

We could really use some help with this folks! Please consider signing up for a shift. The work installing this type of fence is not that difficult, but we can definitely use some extra hands.

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