The 2013 Georgia Falconry Association Annual Meet is on the horizon.  Once again, Callaway Gardens will be our host.  And although Phil Grainger has taken a new position with a new company, he has agreed to be our liaison to Callaway so that we will once again have access to hunt the grounds as well as private property in and around Pine Mountain. 

The Mountain Creek Inn will be our home base and you will need to contact Callaway  @ 800-225-5292 to make your reservations.  Remember to tell them you are with the GFA so that you will get the $69 rate!  They will hold our section of rooms until Jan 11 (one week before).  The cost for the banquet meal is the same as last year $20, and includes the gratuity.  Please contact Joey Seabolt by Jan 11 in order to reserve your banquet meal.

The suggestion was made by Dennis Blanton that we have a commemorative shirt from the meet.  Buster contacted Kandy Phillips and she was kind enough to come up with another work of art.  Now let's see how many of you would like to have one.  The decision was to go with some bright "optic yellow" and to go with long sleeve so that we could do some hawking in them as well.  You certainly won't have to worry about being seen in the woods with these neon shirts!  See the shirt here (keep in mind it will be long sleeve). They will be about $15.  Contact Buster with your shirt order.  We will have a few extra at the meet, but only a few.

Don't forget to take those video cameras and Go Pros etc. with you this next month and put together something we can show at the banquet.

Pine Mountain, GA, is 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta and 30 minutes north of Columbus. Take I-85 South from Atlanta to I-185 (exit 21) and continue south to the U.S. Hwy. 27 (exit 42). Turn left onto U.S. Hwy. 27 and drive south approximately 10 miles to Pine Mountain.

FRIDAY, JAN 18

After 2:00 PM: Motel check-in. Contact the Mountain Creek Inn at 800-543-7121 as soon as you can and make your reservation. MAKE SURE YOU TELL THEM THAT YOU ARE WITH THE GFA. Our room rate for MLK weekend is $69 + tax.

*****NOTE: Rooms will be available at the group rate on a firstcome/first serve basis until one week before the meet.

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Registration at Mountain Creek Inn. Hunting packets and schedules will be provided to members at this time.

Evening meal --- On your own.

SATURDAY, JAN 19

7:00 AM to 8:00 AM: Breakfast on your own.

8:00 AM: Annual group picture. After breakfast we will assemble in the restaurant parking lot and take the traditional pre-hunt picture.

8:15 AM: Break up into parties for the morning hunt. Someone will be at the restaurant until 9:00 AM
with maps to help direct anyone who might arrive later. If you are going to be later than 9:00 AM just catch the group at lunch and you will be assigned to an afternoon hunting group.

12 Noon - 1:00 PM: Lunch at the Whistling Pig Cafe, Main Ave in Pine Mountain. The café has reserved the meeting room for us. New groups will be organized for the afternoon hunt, or you can return to the morning hunt site.

1:00 PM: Afternoon hunt. Back to the hunt sites.

6:30 PM - 9:00 PM: GFA Annual Banquet at Mountain Creek Inn. Cost for the buffet-style dinner will be $20.00.

The annual raffle will be part of the event and tickets will be available throughout the evening. We have a great selection of items already and more coming. We would like for every member who attends to bring something to donate to the raffle. Anything from artwork to anklets, perches to pea gravel, leather to lures ... you get the picture.
Bring some money and go home with some new toys! If you have an item to donate please bring it to registration on Friday or contact Bob Gordon at (770) 227-7015. If you are attending the Banquet, please email Joey Seabolt and let him know how many people will be in your party. He needs this count for the restaurant.

SUNDAY, JAN 20 and MONDAY, JAN 21

8:00 AM: Assemble in the Mountain Creek Inn parking lot for individual and group hunts. We have access to the properties listed on our maps for the entire holiday weekend. Feel free to go as a group or individually. Remember, we are guests. Treat the property as you would your own. We want to be invited back in the future.