NEXT MEETING: The Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community Advisory Committee will hold its next meeting Tuesday, December 17th at 6:30 PM in the Duncannon Christ Lutheran Church located at 115 Church Street.  RSVP is not required but it’s greatly appreciated.  Our agenda will focus on next year’s 2014 Duncannon A.T. Community Festival and we’ll discuss the progress we’ve made in the past month and further increasing meeting attendance.

OUR PREVIOUS MEETING: The November 19th DATC meeting was a great success with more than a dozen people arriving to show their support.  Charlie Johnson has received approval for the Susquehanna Rovers to organize a hike on June 21st to coincide with the day of our festival.  Our greatest accomplishment was finding volunteers to take on more than 30 different tasks related to making the DATC festival a success.  In fact, I’m so proud of all of the volunteers that I want to publish their names here along with the tasks they’re working on but since I’m not familiar with the etiquette of publishing volunteer names without their permission, I’ll just use their initials.

• Contact food vendors: (PS)

• Apply for 501(c)(3) tax exemption status. (DH, HS, TS)

• Get outdoor outfitters involved either as vendors, sponsors or promoters. (SW)

• Food options. Food for hikers. Seating? (BM, BVH, NB)

• Collaborate with schools. Develop a plan for a mutually beneficial relationship. (PS, DT)

• Find someone to lead and follow up on marketing and promotion. (TS, after January)

• Get the Audubon Society involved. (TS)

• Get a hay wagon to use as a stage for entertainment. (CJ)

• Develop a relationship with Penn Township. (BVH)

• Get Norfolk Southern Railroad to do a safety demonstration. (PS)

• Get Fire Company involved.  (TN)

• Get Smokey the Bear. (PS)

• Contact Susquehanna Greenways. (BVH)

• Contact Master Gardeners (NK).

• Contact Susquehanna Folk Music for potential music acts. (SW)

• Secure “specific” approval for festival. (PS)

• Dodge and Ford dealers to display vehicles in vendor spaces. (NB, NK)

• DATC Membership. New bylaws. (DH, NB, HS)

• Penn State Raptor exhibit. (CJ, TN, SO)

• Add a Volunteer registration page to DATC website. (SO)

• Get CVATC, YHC, Potomac ATC, MCM and Canoe Club of Greater Hbg PA to sign up as vendors. (MO, SO)

• Contact the Old Sled Works for their support. (PC)

• Contact the Sportsman’s Club for their support. (PS)

• Contact various artists or groups about potential Plein Air paintings. (SW)

• Involve Civil Air Patrol to help direct traffic and help with logistics. (TN)

• Contact Little Buffalo for additional vendor and entertainment info. (TS)

• Contact Harrisburg, West Shore, Perry County  and high school photography clubs (SO)

• Approve additional soap vendor. (SO)

• Print 400 flyers and drop them off at Mutzabaughs for distribution. (TS)

• Look into getting more canopies for exhibitors. (MO, SO)

• Get Duncannon National Night Out contact list. (SO)

That’s an awful lot of work and the DATC truly appreciates everyone who offered to help.  If you would like to help with any of the items on the above list, please contact DATC@DuncannonATC.org and I’ll put you in touch with the person or people working on that task.  You can also contact the DATC if you have any ideas that you think should be added to the list.

PIZZA: The last few meetings have offered free pizza to all DATC meeting attendees.  In the past, the pizza has been paid for by Trisha Sanders, Dennis Hurley, the DATC and Neal Brofee.  Please let me know if you would be willing to donate pizzas or contribute to the pizza fund or else this popular feature of DATC meetings will have to fall to the wayside.

NEXT YEAR’S FESTIVAL: The third Saturday of June (June 21, 2014) is the date of next year’s Duncannon Appalachian Trail Festival.  We need to get the word out to as many residents, volunteers and vendors as possible so be sure to tell all your friends and associates!  We have a printable PDF document that you can use to help recruit potential volunteers and vendors and we also have a Vendor Registration page where vendors interested in attending our Duncannon A.T. Festival can sign up and choose the location of their vendor spaces.  If you’re a vendor or if you know a vendor, now is the time to register so you can pick your favorite location.  If you’d like to volunteer to help with the 2014 festival you can sign up online or attend a meeting for more information.

DUNCANNON OUTDOOR CLUB HIKE:  On Dec. 21st hike the Darlington Trail from Tower Road to Lambs Gap for an average paced 4 mile hike on moderate terrain.  There is a gradual climb up  the mountain.  Search for and  identify animal signs.  Bring water and a snack.  Dress accordingly and wear orange.  Meet at 8:30 am at the Duncannon Family Health Center (51 Business Campus Way, Duncannon, PA 17020) or alternately at the Lambs Gap PA Gamelands parking lot at 9:15 am.  Call 834-9216 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register.

JOIN US OR HELP LEND A HAND: Anyone who would like to be involved with the DATC, offer guidance or influence its policies is welcome to attend our meetings. You might find a volunteer opportunity that suits you in any number of fields such as: planning our next 2014 DATC Festival, fundraising, supporting the Duncannon Outdoors Club, learning about Appalachian Trail maintenance and inspiring people to enjoy outdoor activities in the Duncannon area.