September is here.  Footballs are about to start flying, hurricanes are about to start forming, and the Apalachee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association is about to start up another season of in-person monthly meetings.  And we’re going to kick it off with a bang, so mark your calendars for 6:30 pm on Tuesday, September 13^th .  You’re not going to want to miss it, and here’s why.

It’s our annual awards meeting.  Rather than having a speaker or a program, we’ll recognize members who have done great things for the Chapter over the past couple of years, and hand out some awards to some of the people that you were hiking with just last week.  Then we’ll probably talk a little about the long-range plans for the upcoming year.

But wait!  Let me sweeten the pot! 

We’ve come into a supply of hiking, backpacking and camping items, and we’re going to sell them at a cheap price. There are backpacks, sleeping pads, cookware, and a bunch of other stuff that is in original packaging or almost new condition.  So, if you’ve wanted to take up backpacking, here’s your chance to save a boatload of money.  Also, if you have some old camping or other outdoor equipment that you want to sell or give away, bring it in and we’ll help you with a table. 

And, there’s more!

All work and no play makes for a dull FTA meeting, so we’ve upped the ante. Instead of our usual light snacks and health food for the social hour, we’re having decadent desserts.  That’s right!  We’re going to get folks to contribute cakes, pies and other goodies, and we’re going to have a dessert-driven Welcome Back party.  Ok … we’ll have some healthy snacks too. You could be walking around with a belly full of banana pudding and a handful of apple pie while you chat with folks that you haven’t seen since before the pandemic and check out all the outdoor equipment that is up for sale. 

But, I’m not through yet!

Everyone who comes to this meeting will receive one free door prize!  There are a lot of small items in our equipment windfall that are too small or too numerous to auction off, so we’re going to put them all into a big pile, and everyone in attendance gets to pick one item to take home.  If you want more than one, make us an offer.  If you stick around after the meeting and help us put away tables and pick things up, and if there’s anything left, you can probably pick another item. But nobody is going home empty-handed.

So, can you tell that I’ve missed you and that I really want to see you?  Mark that calendar right now!  Cancel the bridge game for that night, and come on out to the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2810 N. Meridian Road for our meeting.  If you or someone in your family has a favorite dessert, make one up and bring it along.  If not, stop by the local grocery store and pick up a dessert to share.  Setup starts around 6 pm and the doors open at 6:30 for the social hour and equipment sale.  Somewhere between 7 and 7:30, we’ll go inside for our awards presentations, more pie, and a raffle drawing.  Then we’ll adjourn and get you out of there at a reasonable hour.

If you have any questions about this meeting, or if you want to volunteer to help make it happen, feel free to contact either Howard Pardue or me.  I hope to see you there, but if I don’t,

I’ll see you on the trail……..
 
Elwood McElhaney, Chairman
Apalachee Chapter, Florida Trail Association
 
 

 

HELP WANTED:
The chapter has a few volunteer positions available. Showcase your volunteering on your resume. If you are interested contact Elwood McElhaney (850) 566-6830 or emcelhaney@embarqmail.com. Positions require a FTA Membership.