Letter From Chapter President

I hope everyone has safely survived the dog days of August, made their summer vacation pilgrimages and if like me looking forward to the cooler days and nights of fall. I was able to make my annual trip to the Outer Banks in August for a week of nothing but surf fishing all day and eating seafood at night. A week of total laziness with a side order of North Carolina barbecue thrown in for good measure.

Speaking of fishing and vacations I have enjoyed each month posting our member's fishing pictures. This month features GSM member Charlie Smith's Florida Everglade shots and some real beauties. If you have not met Charlie he has fished literally around the world and is not only a good angler but a wealth of information for anyone fishing exotic places.

There is a lot of activity coming up in our area in the coming months with the first being our next chapter meeting on Thursday September 17th at 6PM. This month's meeting will be upstairs at the "Original" Calhouns at the intersection of Pellissippi and Kingston Pike. (10020 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923). This location is convenient to I-40/Pellissippi Pky and Kingston Pike and is easy to find. I would like everyone to come out for a great evening of food and fellowship as we make our way to some great fall fishing in our region!

As I mentioned in last month's news letter I have been working with TU National on a personalized logo for our chapter, the optimum word being free which matches our budget completely! They have given two choices which mainly consists of  updated font of the chapter names to give a more current and modern image. I also asked if we could add a mountain background to reflect our name. Now it is up to you, in the section below you will see their two ideas, I have added a third which is to simply give an idea for the mountain back ground, I am no artist, repeat No Artist! If someone has an idea (repeat free idea- no budget for art) for a background let me know. The month of September will be the timeline for your vote and input to choose a design, if a tie or stalemate the GSM TU board will decide and announce the choice in October.

Previously we announced the upcoming two night camp-out in the park at Smokemont campground on September 25-27th. We have been doing these at the Little River TU chapter the last few years and always have big fun come rain or shine. This year should be great with members of both chapters sharing the fun.

Please see below all the things coming up in our area and I especially am asking everyone to attend our next meeting on Thursday, September 17th 6:00PM at the "Original" Calhouns on Pellissippi Pkwy. This is our first time meeting there in a long time and I want to show a strong participation from our members so we can utilize the upstairs area again.

John Reinhardt President Email: john711111@yahoo.com Great Smoky Mountain TU Chapter webpage: http://greatsmokymountain.tu.org/