Volunteer Events Roundtable Discussion on front end of today’s AOC Social

The AOC has for the first time this year a Volunteer Events committee whose primary mission is to expand our Club's fine tradition of volunteering - i.e. giving back to the environment and to the community.  If you have an interest in volunteering or would like to suggest appropriate new opportunities for our Club to do so, please join me for this informal roundtable discussion, which will be at the same location as our February AOC Social in Buckhead this afternoon (See precise Directions & GPS Lat/Lon address below).  Please register below and look for me (Charlie) wearing a green & white AOC shirt at a table in the brew pub.  No problem if you have to arrive late - just drop by at any time between about 4:30 & 5:30.  We'll each have plenty of time (during and afterward) to enjoy the Social, which is scheduled for 5:00 - 8:00.

Examples of AOC Volunteerism: Since our Club's founding more than 16 years ago we're proud to have sponsored or co-sponsored numerous volunteer events and have always had lots of fun in the process.  One of the best examples is our annual participation in "National Trails Day" pictured above, for which our crews pitch in with vital trail work in various parks and preserves. We're esp. indebted to past president Paula Schubert for spearheading so many Nat'l Trails Day outings and other fine volunteer opportunities for our members over the past decade.  Other big annual events that we proudly participate in each year are "Sweep the Hooch," "Rivers Alive," "Dahlonega Trailfest" and "HemlockFest."  Although we primarily focus on outdoor projects in various parks, wilderness preserves and riverbanks & channels, we also help with a wide variety of civic projects such as the annual "Toys for Tots," "Boo at the Zoo," Girl Scout & Boy Scout events, etc.

Suggested Topics for Today's Roundtable:
1.  Welcome and Introduction for all attendees
2.  Our individual suggestions and "Wish Lists" for AOC volunteer projects.
3.  Upcoming "St. Pat's" Volunteer Weekend at lovely Lula Lake & Falls in NW GA
4.  Volunteer Trail Work & River Channel Work:  Discussion of Basic Principles and Safety considerations.

Special Thanks!...to you dozens of members who have already pitched in this year with our AOC work days at Stone Mountain Park, Lost Corner Park and Kennesaw Mtn Nat'l Battlefield Park. Some of these have included a fun hike as an option on the front end of our volunteer participation  We're indebted esp. to trip leaders Gayle McAllister and Erica Bibbey for their creativity in scheduling several current Volunteer events.  Gayle has posted a couple of upcoming work days at the Chattahoochee Nature Center that both include such a "pre-hike."  Thanks also to Erica & DaveO for recruiting AOC volunteers to staff our recent AOC Outreach Table at REI's "Opt Out" outdoor Adventure Day.  In the big "front yard" of Atlanta's Red Brick Brewery, it was a fun opportunity to spread the good word about our fine Club!

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, 3242 Peachtree Rd - just W of the jcn of Peachtree Rd & Piedmont Rd in Buckhead.  It's entrance is beside the wide alleyway whose driving entrance is directly across Peachtree from the end of Maple Drive - 1 block west of the busy Peachtree/Piedmont intersection.  Click the above square blue & green "Event Location" icon for a zoomable map/satellite view of the Restaurant entrance and its nearby free parking lots, etc.

GPS users can enter as your Destination these concise Lat/Lon coordinates of the Brewery's entrance in lieu of the less precise street address:   33.8438,-84.3732

Plenty of FREE nearby Parking available if you look for it.