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December/January Newsletter


A condensed events and activities list can be found on our CALENDAR page.
Some trips and activities are spotlighted on our MAJOR EVENTS page.

Trip Leaders:
Email your trip and activity write-ups to Newsletter 'at' sidetrackers.com.

Are you interested in becoming a Sidetrackers member?
Visit the Membership page on this web site, or send an Email message
to our Membership Chairperson at Membership 'at' sidetrackers.com.
 
MEETING NEWS
Board members were elected at the November meeting. They were Stephanie M. and Gene M. They join Earline V., Diane K. and Peter S. to make up the board. Congratulations and Thank you for serving. Officers were announced at the December meeting. They are Membership – Judy M., Treasurer – Sandy P., Newsletter/Planning – Diane J. and Leader of the meetings will be a different board member each meeting.

New things have been added to the meeting, door prizes, refreshments and once a quarter a speaker. Check it all out at the next meeting.

Attention creative people or not so creative people!  We have a t-shirt design contest going on. It has been a while since Sidetrackers has had a t-shirt so we are looking for ideas. Get your outdoor ideas together and come up with a design and bring it to the next meeting. If your design is selected, big prizes are in store for you, BIG prizes!

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
It's that time of year again when the weather gets cooler, a man in a red suit with a white beard comes to town and a new year starts, and Sidetrackers membership renewals are due. Forms and information are available on our web site and at the monthly meetings.

If you are a member now, you have until Feb. 15, 2007 to renew your membership. It is still at the low, low price of $15.00 and you do not have to do two events to renew.  If you wait until after Feb. 15, 2007, you will be considered a new member and fall under the requirements for becoming a new member. You need to fill out a form to update your information and get a check to Judy at the address on the form.

If you want to become a member, you need to attend at least two club outings or activities before submitting an application. We just want to make sure you know what our club is all about and that you really want to join and be active.


ACTIVITIES and EVENTS

General Participation Guidelines
Always sign up ("register") for an event by contacting the leader so you can be reached if there is a change or an event cancellation.  Trip Leaders make arrangements and may set limits on some trips and activities as needed.  If you are not pre-registered you may be turned away at some events.

Additional information about these activities and events may be
announced at monthly meetings and on our YahooGroups Email list.

If you did not sign up for an event or activity at the last club meeting and
would like to do so, please post a message to our YahooGroups list, send email to
someone on our "Contacts" page, or call the leader directly.

Every Tuesday, 5:45 pm – WALK THE DOWNTOWN BRIDGES: Meet at the Chart House restaurant parking lot to be ready to walk a bridge loop at 5:45pm. There is no need to call in advance. Leader: Judy M 398-2750.

December 31st, Sunday, New Year's Eve, ANNUAL NEW YEARS EVE AT HANNA PARK:
Join us for our annual New Year’s Eve camping trip to Hanna Park for a potluck dinner plus the traditional fried turkey. We will have a campfire, hike along the nature trail by moonlight and be on the beach at midnight, where we will be able to view the fireworks. Camping is free at the group site for those who do not wish to drive home that night. Come out early Sunday afternoon, help Diane J. pick up trash, set up your tent, enjoy hiking, a campfire and have dinner around 6:30 PM. We will be at the primitive group camping site at the north end. You can park at the camping site to unload, and then park in the parking lot. Facilities are within walking distance. Bring a homemade specialty that goes with fried turkey. For more information, call Ray at 610-9400. Hanna Park is near the entrance to Mayport Naval Station and at the end of Wonderwood Drive. At the gate tell them you are with Sidetrackers and get directions to the group primitive camping area. Leaders: Ray and Sheila 610-9400 (cell) 220-4480 (home). This is a members only or member’s guest only event.

January 3rd, Wednesday 6:30 pm, MONTHLY MEETING:
We will meet at the Southeast Regional Public Library at Gate Parkway off of J. Turner Butler Blvd. for a discussion of past events and highlights of upcoming events.

January 5th, Friday night, 6:00 pm ART WALK IN ST. AUGUSTINE:
Come wander through the streets of St. Augustine, browsing in art galleries, sipping on wine and nibbling on cheese. We will meet at 6:00 p.m. in the plaza/square located in downtown St. Augustine at the foot of the Bridge of Lions. Leader: John G. 910-1469.

January 6th, OPEN:

January 12th - 14th, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 7:00 am, BACKPACKING IN THE OSCEOLA NATIONAL FOREST:  This is a three day/two night backpacking trip in the Osceola National Forest. The hike is flat and should be an easy hike. Bring meals for those days, your camping gear and backpack. Meeting location and further details to be announced. Leader: Judy M. 398-2750.

January 20th, Saturday, 9:00am, PADDLING ON POTTSBURG CREEK:
Join us for an urban paddle on the beautiful Pottsburg Creek. This time of year the river traffic will be down and the weather should be great. Bring your kayak/canoe or borrow one. Meet at the Boat Ramp on Beach Blvd. (8508 Beach Boulevard) at the Pottsburg Creek. Leader Diane J. 821-6707

January 26TH AND 27TH, Friday and Saturday, MANATEE ENCOUNTER 2007:  
This is an adventure you will never forget!  On Friday the 26th, we will carpool down to the hotel in Crystal River so that we can wake up early to swim with the manatees the next day. Early Sat. morning, we will go over to the river and have an educational talk on manatees, then have the opportunity to swim with up to 30 manatees. Bring bathing suit, pantyhose, and warm clothes to change into after the swim. The cost of the encounter is $50 per person and the cost of the hotel room (around $55 + tax).  Wet suits, snorkel gear and professional support are provided. Due to the nature of the event, please let me know if you’re going as soon as possible.  I can only reserve rooms for those signed up to go.  Don’t get left out!
Leader: Heike M. - 998-2312.

February 2nd, Friday night, 6:00 p.m. ART WALK IN ST. AUGUSTINE: 
Come wander through the streets of St. Augustine, browsing in art galleries and enjoying complementary refreshments. We will meet at 6:00 p.m. upstairs at the Winery on Kings Street. Leader: Marta 725-9521.

February 3rd , Saturday, 8:30 am HIKE WHITE SPRINGS: 
Hike along the banks of the historic Suwannee River. We will go to Big Shoals State Park and do a very nice hike in this beautiful area. Then we will drive a short distance down the road to Stephen Foster Folk Center and explore the museum there, walk around the Craft Square where there can be demonstrations of quilting, blacksmithing, stain glass making, as well as other crafts. We’ll visit the spring house and gazebo. Bring comfortable walking shoes, lunch, water and the $4 entrance fee per vehicle for Stephen Foster and a $3 fee per vehicle for Big Shoals. White Springs is a short drive from Jacksonville (only a little over an hour) and has many beautiful things to see. Meeting place at Hardee’s on Lane Ave. Leader: Diane K. 545-5087.

February 7th, Wednesday 6:30 pm, MONTHLY MEETING:
We will meet at the Southeast Regional Public Library at Gate Parkway off of J. Turner Butler Blvd. for a discussion of past events and highlights of upcoming events.

February 10th, Saturday, 7:00 am, ORIENTEERING/CAMPING WEEKEND IN THE OCALA NATIONAL FOREST:  We will have another opportunity to learn to read compasses and maps at a park in the Ocala National Forest area. Please bring your compass (1 required per person) and lots of water and snacks. We will be in relatively untamed and sometimes rough terrain so please dress accordingly (hats are recommended for shade). We leave the hiking trails behind on this adventure! If you are interested in staying overnight, we will camp in an area campground and have the choice of hiking or kayaking on Sunday (Sunday the 11th of Feb.) For more information go to www.floridaorienteering.org/events.htm . The actual orienteering starts at 10:00 AM and lasts till 1:00 PM. The cost is $6 per map (we are going to be divided in groups according to skill level, 1 map per group of 5 people). We will meet at the McDonalds at US 17 across the Dog Track in Orange Park at 7:00 am. to caravan to this area for the event. Leader: Heike M. - 998-2312.

February 17th, Saturday, 7:00 am, PADDLE THE OKEFENOKEE SWAMP TO THE SUWANNEE RIVER:  We will launch our boats in the Okefenokee Swamp at Stephen Foster State Park.  We will paddle approximately 5 miles and take out at the sill. You must have your own boat.  Park rentals cannot be used for this trip.  We will leave at 7:00 AM from Hardee’s on Lane Avenue.  It is approximately 2 hours to Stephen Foster State Park.  Bring lunch, snacks and water. Leader: Judy M Home 398-2750. 

February 23rd – 25th, Friday night, Saturday, Sunday, CAMPING AT OCEAN POND: 
We will have a good ole fashion Red Neck Camping Trip. There will be tons to do; fishing, walking the trails, off road biking, maybe a poker game, a camp fire, a cast iron pot cooking contest and a swap meet. Bring your boat, your bike, your fishing pole, whatever you want to do and your camping gear. Bring bug spray, meals for the weekend, snacks and water. Cost depends on how many show up. Jeff has paid for the camp site and we will split the cost on how many show up. Meeting place and time will be announced later. Leader: Jeff P. 386-462-4918 and Sandy P. 955-4550.

March 3rd, Saturday, 8:00 am, BIKING AT DAYTONA BEACH: 
We will be biking on the beach at Daytona Beach. We will meet at leave at the McDonald’s on Phillips Highway across from the Avenues Mall at 8:00. Come earlier if you want to eat before we leave. Bring your own bike and water. Leader John G. 910-1469.

March 4th, Sunday, 3:00 pm, PLANNING MEETING: Leader: Earline 998-4244

March 7th, Wednesday 6:30 pm, MONTHLY MEETING:
We will meet at the Southeast Regional Public Library at Gate Parkway off of J. Turner Butler Blvd. for a discussion of past events and highlights of upcoming events.

March 10th, Saturday, 8:00 am, HIKING AND EXPLORING GUANA: 
Explore this barrier island with known historical sites and encounter wildlife in their natural habitat along the way! It is believed that Guana River was the site of Ponce de Leon's first landing in Florida. This will be at least a 3 mile hike and more if the group is feeling up to it. (The park has 8.5 miles of unpaved trails.) Bring your lunch and plenty to drink as we will eat somewhere along the trails. You may even want to bring your binoculars as we will stop at the Wildlife Management Area overlooks. Meet in the parking lot of the Gate Station, 2700 Ponte Vedra Blvd (A1A N in St Johns County). From there the park is next door and we can decide who wants to drive into the park. It is $3 per vehicle.  Leader Stephanie M.

March 16th – 18Th, ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION AND CAMPING IN SAVANNAH:
We will be camping at Skidaway Island State Park, east of Savannah, GA. Drive only six miles to downtown Savannah for the parade on Thursday. Return after dinner to camp.  Too often St. Patrick's Day falls during the week - now we have a weekend to enjoy the parade, festivities and Savannah itself.  If you cannot join us for the weekend, you may want to come up for the parade on the 17th.   Departure will be from Denny's at the Airport Rd. exit off I-95.  The time will be decided by those who sign up for the trip.  Leader:  Marta 725-9521.

March 24th, OPEN: 

March 31ST – April 1st, Saturday, PADDLING THE WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER: Leader Gene M.

 

L O N G - R A N G E   A C T I V I T I E S
Mark Your Calendar NOW!


There are no long-range activities on the calendar at this time.
Keep an eye on this space for future announcements.


Additional information about these activities and events may be
announced at monthly meetings and on our YahooGroups Email list.

2007 Monthly Meeting Schedule
MONTHLY MEETINGS are always on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
at the Jacksonville Public Library, Southeast Regional Branch, at the Gate Parkway exit off
J. Turner Butler Boulevard.  Subscribers to our free YahooGroups email list service
receive an automatic reminder message in their email two days before the meeting.

WEDNESDAY, January 3, 2006 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, February 7, 2006 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, March 7, 2006 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2006 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, May 2, 2006 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, June 6, 2006 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, July 11, 2006 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, August 1, 2006 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, September 5, 2006 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, October 3, 2006 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, November 7, 2006 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, December 5, 2006 – 6:30 PM

The SIDETRACKERS Newsletter
If you have any comments about the newsletter, or if you have material to submit for inclusion in the
next monthly newsletter, please send email to newsletter 'at' sidetrackers.com.

To Become a SIDETRACKERS Member
Membership applications are being accepted throughout the year.  Please visit our
Membership page on the web, or send questions and comments to membership 'at' sidetrackers.com.

The SIDETRACKERS Web Site

Our web site is maintained by Frank who can be reached by email at webmaster 'at' sidetrackers.com.  Please contact Frank if you have any corrections, photos, or other items of interest from any current activities. We will be pleased to consider your suggestions concerning the web site content.

In Case You Were Wondering...
Email addresses are slightly obscured with 'at' instead of '@' in an attempt to foil automated spam robots.



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