Sat, Mar 28 2015 - A fun Day Trip to Dahlonega: TrailFest + AOC Outreach Tent + Dayhike! (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Bobby Marie, Charlie Cottingham, Joyce T. Participants: Linda M, Joyce T., Charlie Cottingham, Bobby Marie, Rosa B, Scott T, Tory, Tracy Lynch, Eileen F., Barbara, Ann Blair, Sue M., Robin Walling, Alexa, Carla Bell, Ann, Ralph Howard, Cathleen, Carin, Adam

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Charlie did a tremendous job of planning and executing the event, A fun Day Trip to Dahlonega: TrailFest + AOC Outreach Tent + Dayhike! He sent numerous reminder emails replete with instructions about driving, parking, activities, and outreach efforts, and the day’s events went beautifully. 

 The schedule was casual, with most people driving on their own. Two groups of carpoolers drove up to arrive in town by 9 am, and others arriving later in the day.  The only obligation was to bring some "trail magic" to hand out, and to volunteer to serve for one hour in the outreach tent that Charlie set up on the square.  Our tent was well placed amidst the many other tents that were there, some belonging to vendors and others belonging to organizations such as the AOC, the Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy, the Appalachian Trail Club, and the National Forest Service.  We had ample help and loads of trail magic to offer fellow hikers and other passers-by.

 Many of the members accompanied Charlie on a drive to Woody Gap mid-day, where they handed out trail magic to the numerous thru-hikers who were beginning their journey to Mt. Katahdin in Maine. The group took advantage of the beautiful day and enjoyed a 90-minute hike on the AT before returning to Dahlonega.

 The town was full of visitors who partook of the food, wares, music, and book lectures scheduled throughout the day. (TrailFest coincided with Dahlonega’s BookFest, so several book lectures were held over the weekend.)  We had many opportunities to promote the AOC with flyers that Bobby M. made, our new AOC business cards that Paula S. designed, and our own volunteers who happily talked with people who stopped at our tent.

 Charlie and his campers stayed overnight Friday and Saturday on the nearby school grounds and did an awesome job of setting up the AOC tent on the Square on Friday night.  They then cleaned things up on Sunday afternoon.  We day-trippers had it easy.  All we did was talk and have fun in town for the day.  ~  Joyce T.

Well done, Charlie!  You did a wonderful job, and an amazing amount of work this weekend. Your role as Director of Marketing and Outreach is a perfect one for you!