Spring Membership Meeting, April 30, 2012

Approximately 30 CCCRA members and guests were present at the Gathering Place for the spring membership meeting.  Members brought desserts to share and coffee was provided by CCCRA.

Rob Tiger, President welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for attending.  Tiger also told the group that the CCCRA is in need of a member to help with marketing, public relations, and to be and advocate within the community.

Our speaker for the evening was Donna Gains of High Mountain Meadows Farm in Hayesville.  In addition to a wide variety of vegetables the farm also raises goats for both meat and milk.  They are currently building a creamery and hope to have it up and running by July.  They will specialize in mozzarella cheese, ricotta and chevre.  Also speaking was Debra Sloan, Agribusiness and Aquaculture Consultant for the North Carolina Department Agriculture (NCDA), who shared with the group the work of Southern Appalachian Family Farms, Family Farms Direct and NCDA.

Our first committee report speaker was Dorothy Ethridge who brought the group up to date on the projects that the Appearance Committee is working on.

Next was Sandy Nicolette of the Cherokee Homestead Exhibit, Education Committee.  Nicolette explained the items that were on the exhibit set up at the meeting and the future plans regarding education for the Cherokee Homestead Exhibit.

John Bayne, Cherokee Homestead Exhibit, Facilities told of the work being done at the exhibit.  He explained that due to the incredible about of skilled work that was needed to build the planned cabin, that the site will now be a summer kitchen and will also be used as a presentation area.

Bob Brock of the Friends of the Historic Courthouse explained where the committee is in regards to the renovation of the courthouse and that work on the grounds and drainage around the courthouse will need to be completed prior to any inside work being started.  Brock continued with an explanation of how and why the Golden Leaf Foundation was formed.  He also told the group about the April 2 meeting that was held in Hayesville with the Golden Leaf Foundation representatives and what the next steps will be at the upcoming May 7 meeting.

Bev Adkins brought the group up to date on the efforts of the Membership Committee.

Joanna Atkisson, of the Trails and Greenways Committee, has been attending meetings with the North Carolina USFS Comprehensive Trail Strategy planning meeting and told of the efforts they are making to develop a long term plan regarding trails and trails usage.  She also told of the visitor counts that the Jack Rabbit Trail is experiencing.

Next Ron Guggisberg of the Trails and Greenways Committee reported on the work being done and work that will need to be completed in order to complete the Hayesville Connector Trail from the Cherokee Heritage Exhibit to Spike Buck Mound.

Treasurer, Eleanor Moyer reported that the CCCRA currently has $108,524.73 in the bank for various projects that are currently ongoing.

The meeting ended around 8:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Bowar, Secretary