Cumberland Island Movie Night & Info Session at REI

OVERVIEW:  Many of our AOC members may be unaware that our four Metro Atlanta REI stores offer a wide variety of FREE tutorial classes and programs that relate to outdoor recreation and the environment.  Topics range from backpacking, camping, and hiking to bicycling, paddling, climbing, skiing, favorite wilderness destinations, etc.  The presentations are hosted in conference rooms at the REI stores by employee specialists who are authorities in the featured topics - also sometimes are presented by invited guest speakers. 

CUMBERLAND ISLAND has long been a favorite AOC destination, and in the past few months we've enjoyed a "bumper crop" of nice camping and backpacking trips there.
  The REI Atlanta store is offering the following FREE program on Thursday evening Jan 5th, as advertised on REI.com.  It may be of interest especially to AOCers who have not yet had the pleasure of visiting the island.
  "EXPLORING CUMBERLAND ISLAND: MOVIE NIGHT and INFO SESSION:"  "Join the Georgia Conservancy and REI as we take a trip through the ages (and across the most beautiful barrier island in Georgia)--without leaving metro Atlanta!  For the 3rd year in a row we are screening "Cumberland, Island in Time" at the Cumberland Island Movie Night at REI Atlanta on Thursday, January 5th starting at 6:00 pm. "Cumberland" director Bill Vanderkloot will introduce his documentary and Charles Seabrook, author of Cumberland, Strong Women, Wild Horses will share with us the intimate details of his research on Cumberland and speak about the African-American history of the island. REI and the Georgia Conservancy staff will answer questions about visiting Cumberland Island on your own--and answer questions about upcoming trips to places like the Len Foote Hike Inn, the Altamaha River and Ossabaw Island. Light snacks and drinks provided."

EVENT PLAN & SCHEDULE:  Our local  REI "Outreach" manager, Nicole Warren-Smith, has kindly invited an AOC group of up to six to attend this free indoor program on Thursday evening, Jan 5th at the REI Atlanta store (see detailed directions below).  Our members who become confirmed by the AOC for the event will first gather at 5:40 PM just inside the store entrance where Charlie will greet our AOC group and facilitate introductions.  Then at about 5:50 PM we'll join the featured speaker and other class attendees in the "presentation room"—usually the large storage room on your right after you enter the store.  The program will begin at 6:00 and end by about 8:00.  Afterward, if there's enough interest our AOC subgroup can stroll around the store together to take a look at the various types of outdoor gear that may have been discussed during the program or Q&A session. 

BY THE WAY:  If you'd like to make PERSONAL RESERVATIONS for yourself and friends at OTHER FUTURE FREE REI CLASSES,  you can go online as follows to REI.com, check their upcoming schedule of in-store events and availability, and reserve your own personal spot(s):
1) Go to REI.com
2) Click on "Store Locator" at the top of the home page and choose your Store of interest from the pop-up menus that appear.
3) Click on the free Class or Presentation of interest,
4) Fill in the online Reservation form and submit. (May require your REI member number—costs just $20 for a lifetime membership.)
5) If you fail to successfully make a formal reservation, it's still usually acceptable to "walk in" to attend these in-store events on a space-available or standing-room basis.