2008 Annual Summer Meeting of the TN Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation
Ijams Nature Center, Knoxville, TN 
Saturday August 23, 2008

 Agenda:
All times are EDT.

8:30 AM Welcome and introductions. Weaver.

9:00 AM Recent Chestnut Research. Craddock.

9:45 AM. New chestnut orchard, nutgrafting, pollinations on
the Highland Rim, poor health of long term surviving American
chestnut trees on the Highland Rim. Schibig.

10:30 AM Reforestation of surface mine sites with American
chestnut. Thacker.

11:15 AM Father tree pollination program. Neel.

12 Noon. Lunch:  Hot Pizza ($10 for adults and $5 for kids under 12)

1 PM Chestnut Orchard at Bridgestone Firestone. Fisher.

1:30 PM. TN State Chapter update and future meetings. Weaver,
Fisher, Phelps, Neel, Sisco.

2 PM. Tour chestnut planting at Ijams Nature Center.

3 PM Adjourn.
 

The photos below were taken by Greg Weaver and Sean Fisher.

Tenn. Chapter president, Greg Weaver, presents former president,
Clint Neel, a nice award made from chestnut wood which recognizes
his tremendous contributions. Clint has been a great leader for the
TN Chapter and has done it all--he has been active as a chestnut
finder and mapper, pollinator, and grower.
 

This is a sign describing chestnut restoration efforts in Tennessee.
 

Greg Weaver's fine chestnut exhibit.

Sean Fisher, Vice President of the TN Chapter, talks about his chestnut
plantings on Bridgestone-Firestone land.

UTC professor, Hill Craddock, gives his chestnut presentation.
 

Greg Weaver gives his  presentation.
 

Joe Schibig delivers a presentation on pollination work on the Highland Rim
and his new backcross orchard.




Barry Thacker, an environmental engineer, discusses the reclamation of abandoned
strip mines with chestnut plantings.
 

Paul Sisco, TACF coordinator for the southeastern region, addresses the group.

 



Clint Neel delivers his presentation.

 

Greg Weaver presides over the meeting.
 

A group discussion on the planting of American chestnut trees on abandoned
coal mines.
 

TN-TACF members socialize in the Ijams Nature Center.

 

Directions to Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville, TN: http://www.ijams.org/about/directions.html

Ijams Nature Center is located at 2915 Island Home Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37920, approximately two miles from downtown Knoxville. Call (865) 577-4717 if you need special assistance with directions.

From Downtown Knoxville via Henley Street
Take the Henley street bridge south to Baptist Hospital. Turn left onto Blount Avenue. Bear right onto Sevier Avenue. Follow Sevier Avenue. After passing through two traffic lights turn left onto Island Home Avenue. Follow Island Home Avenue, which turns right by the entrance to Island Home Park. Follow green directional signs to Ijams.

From Interstate 40W
Take James White Pkwy Exit (388A)
Continue on two left lanes down James White Parkway
Cross over the TN River and take the Sevier Ave./Hillwood Dr. exit
Turn Left onto Sevier Ave. (turns into Hillwood Dr.)
Turn Right onto Island Home Ave. (at bottom of hill)
Ijams is approximately 1 mile on the Left


From Interstate 40E
Take Hall of Fame Dr. exit (389) and turn Left (South) onto Hall of Fame Dr.
Turn Left on Hill Ave. (8th stop light)
Turn Right onto 71S (James White Pkwy.)
Merge Left onto James White Pkwy.
Cross over the TN River and take the Sevier Ave./Hillwood Dr. exit
Turn Left onto Sevier Ave. (turns into Hillwood Dr.)
Turn Right onto Island Home Ave. (at bottom of hill)
Ijams is approximately 1 mile on the Left