FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Chattanooga Fund Raiser

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

Birders,

I was waiting for someone to comment on the Chattanooga get together Friday 
night and the displays and shows on Saturday at Birchwood. I guess I'll 
start. 

"An Evening for the Birds" on Friday was put together by the Chattanooga 
Chapter of TOS and TWRA, both deserve a round of applause for their efforts. 
The evening started with the largest assortment of desserts I've ever seen, 
laid out for all to sample and no one left with the munches. Fingers were 
being licked at every turn and corner, oohs and aahs resounded. The desserts 
were donated by local restaurants and they gave much more than the huge crowd 
could get around.

Everyone retired to the auditorium on major sugar highs and we were taken 
into the world of Choogie Kingfisher, a traditional Cherokee story teller and 
master of the wooden flute. Our sprits were in the clouds as the last notes 
faded from his magical instrument and up into the high ceiling. 

We were then treated with an enlightening but hilariously funny program by 
Kenn Kaufman. Kenn sets the goals and occasionally moves them farther out 
with his renowned knowledge and keen insights to birds and birders. He stayed 
afterwards to sign the numerous copies of all his great books that people had 
toted around all evening in anticipation. He told me his newest book on 
Butterflies has just come in from the printers and will soon be available at 
a store near you.

The information flowed and we learned with smiles spread across our sugar 
coated lips, satiated on both the physical and mental level. What an evening 
it was and one to be long remembered. The silent auction, I believe was a 
great success, although I got into a bidding war for a particularly beautiful 
painted gourd and ended up with the prize. I think they announced that some 
$7,500.00 was raised from the program and auction. A few other TOS Chapters 
recognized the importance of this fund raiser and kicked in to help sponsor 
the event. All that money going to a great cause and a fun evening to boot, 
it doesn't get much better. Thanks to all that made this great evening 
happen.

The next day, we were treated to another musical encounter, at least to my 
ears, as we were greeted at the refuge by the Sandhill Cranes distinctive 
bubbling calls and we then went back to Birchwood School to get warm, eat and 
browse the many interesting booths and watch more programs.

A salute to all that pulled this happening together and thanks for the 
memories,

Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.


=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with
first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation.
-----------------------------------------------------
To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
----------------------------------------------------- 
To unsubscribe, send email to:
tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
          web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
    TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
        jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx      (423) 764-3958
=========================================================