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RPC Saturday Meeting

Well, the time is nearing for the RPC Meeting. As many of you may know, Morgan's father passed away and the funeral is this Saturday. Our thoughts are with him and his family at this time. Morgan will not be at the meeting so we will all have to do a little more. As usual it will take at least 4 people to replace him. Troops are arriving from up north to help (Bob Proudman).

Please fee free to review and print the agenda and attached related information.

The CMC annual banquet is the night before (Friday) and again anyone is welcome to attend.

We will see you at Zillicoa Street at 11 AM.

Don Walton



11 AM      WELCOME and Introductions (and housekeeping): Don Walton

11:10 AM	2005 SORO Office Goals Recap:  How did we do?  Julie Judkins and Matt Davis  More..

11:25 AM	2005 Issues and Program Reports

                                                 I-3: Marianne Skeen
                                                Stewardship Council Report and Member Selection Process:  Jerry Seabolt and Marianne Skeen

                        Open Areas
	        Natural Heritage Monitoring
	        ATC Seasonal Program Evaluation Committee Recommendations
	        Southern Partnership & RPC Meeting, 2006:   ATC Calendar Handout
                                            
12 Noon	    Lunch

12:30 PM    2006 and Beyond
	    A.T. Club Needs and Recommendations for ATC:  Don Walton (5 min/club)

1:00 PM	    ATC Conservation Department Team Plan:  Bob Proudman  More..   More..

1:20 PM	    ATC/SAHC Partnership Progress, Megan Sutton, SAHC & Don Walton

1:40 PM	    A.T. Gateway Communities, Kristin Peeples, The Conservation Fund

2:00 PM	    A.T. License Tag Programs:  Don Walton

2:20 PM	    Friend Raising: New Funds & New Members – Working Together for Joint Needs: Bob Proudman 
 
2:40 PM	    2006/2007 SORO Priorities & RPC Feedback:  Matt, Julie and Bob  ATC Project Cycle

3:30 PM	    Wilderness Ethics:   Bob Proudman 
	    ATC’s Wind Policy:  Bob Proudman  More..   
	    USFS and ATPO Update:  Hand out Pete Irvine’s Report

ATC’s office is located in the same building as the USFS National Forests in North Carolina Supervisor’s office. Watch for brown and white “USFS Information” signs which will direct you to this building.

PLEASE BE ON TIME AS WE MUST KEEP THE FRONT DOORS LOCKED. (If the doors are locked, knock loudly. The upstairs conference room opens into the lobby so we should hear you knocking. If you have a cell phone, call 828-582-0179.)

Take I-40 east or I-26 west to I-240 East, into Asheville. Exit LEFT after crossing the high bridge over the French Broad River onto US19/23N and I-26 W, toward Weaverville. Go about two miles and exit right at the Broadway & UNC-Asheville Exit (Exit 25). Turn right off the ramp and go one block to the traffic light. Turn right onto Zillicoa St. (sign for State Employee Credit Union) and go uphill about 100 yards. Turn left into the USFS (ATC) parking lot. Enter the building at the front door.

Take I-26 east to the Broadway & UNC-Asheville Exit (Exit 25). Turn left off the ramp onto Broadway and go two blocks to the traffic light. Turn right onto Zillicoa St. (sign for State Employee Credit Union) and go uphill about 100 yards. Turn left into the USFS (ATC) parking lot. Enter the building at the front door.

Here is a photo of the SMHC and ATC receiving a $11,000 check from the Alcoa Foundation. The $ is for locust logs and helicopter flight time in preparation for next years National Trails Day work day on the A.T. in the Smokies. The helicopter will pre-position the logs for efficient use of volunteers.

The check was to the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, but ATC (I) helped write the grant. The Alcoa Foundation liked the grant so much they have been sending it out to other organizations as an example of how to do it.

In the picture, L to R: Philip Royer, Pres. SMHC; Bob Miller, GRSM PAO; Phyllis Henry, SMHC; Larry Martin, Alcoa Foundation Advisory Board; Melissa Copelan, Alcoa Community Relations Manager; Morgan Sommerville, ATC Regional Director. Photo is by Dick Ketelle.

Hi, all. I am pleased to announce that the Great Smoky Mountains NP has offered to work with SMHC and ATC to develop a display in the heavily visited Sugarlands Visitor Center, near Galinburg, for the spring of 2006! As is often the case, Phyllis Henry is behind this great opportunity! Scott Pardue is our NPS contact, the North District Resource Education Supervisor.

The display will be in a hallway corner nook, with two walls for display space. The walls are 8’6” high, and one is 7’5” wide and the other 10’2” wide. There will also be two walls about 1’ high extending down from the ceiling and opposite the two other walls where lighting may be affixed or a TV and speakers mounted.

We hope to incorporate large format photos which illustrate the history and cooperative management of the A.T. in the GRSM and volunteer management and maintenance of the A.T., and encourage visitors to help with the A.T. There will be room for wall mounted racks for appropriate brochures/flyers.

We expect to also have an opening reception, press releases, after-hours lectures on the A.T. or related subjects, and perhaps an A.T. art exhibit. We will be requesting help with the messaging, plotter printed background display and large format photos. We may also seek sponsors to help fund the exhibit.

The exact dates for the exhibit have not been determined yet, but we should know them soon. Morgan

This is what it looked like when we dedicated the new Roaring Fork Shelter yesterday. Paul Bradley arrived just after this picture was taken by Gerry McNabb. There was no champagne!! From left to right---Namie Basile, Terry Eld, Margot Eld, me cutting the tape with my Swiss Army knife scissors, Jack Dalton, Sherman Stambaugh, Carol Deal and Ken Deal. By Howard McDonald

The first is the Club Presidents Handbook. One of the first duties for our committee is to establish a framework for the work we want to accomplish. This will include the development of a regional perspective and a close coordination with the Deep South regional Office. I think a committee handbook will be a good first step in organizing these policies and goals, and will be a valuable contribution to the next group of committee members.

The second is a graphic, describing the AT Project Management Cycle. Our committee will be a significant partner in prioritizing and implementing regional projects, and will be active participants in discussions of budgets and funding. AT Project Management Cycle