February 7, 1996
Dear SCAN members,
We’ll really be glad to see this dreary winter end, and hope to welcome 1996 with a great day for our first outing of the year on February 24. (See below.)
The Annual Meeting in January was opened by our own Julie Finlayson’s discussion of Loggerhead Sea Turtles, with great photos of every stage of their egg-laying and hatching behavior and discussion of exactly when and how human activity interferes. Then our featured speaker James L. Knight, also one of our members and Curator of Natural History for the State Museum, described digging for dinosaur bones on his uncle’s ranch in Montana as well as about fossils in South Carolina. After lunch, Lynn Smith recapped the 1995 SCAN fieldtrips with slides, followed by natural history slides taken elsewhere by members; some highlights were Decanie Dowling’s and Alex Ciegler’s closeups and Christie Benoit’s birds from Africa.
At the business meeting, it was decided to produce a tri-fold brochure/membership application, and to give copies of “SCAN: The First Ten Years” to new members. New officers were elected (see accompanying list). There were several exhibits by members, including educational material on butterflies, needlepoint, photographs, pottery, lichens, insects, and Magnolia macrophylla. Thank you to all who helped with the meeting: Julie and Jim for their presentations; those who contributed slides (Alex Ciegler, Decanie Dowling, Lynn Smith, Mary G. Douglass, and Christie Benoit); Sam Outen for refreshments (home-made sausage biscuits!); Florence High, Nancy Lyman, Charlie Williams, Jerry Shrum, Anna Kay Singley, and others for exhibits; and everyone else who helped make this occasion a success.
After the meeting, there was a social at the Ciegler’s, and plans are underway for next year’s.
SCOTT FINLAYSON MEMORIAL
On Saturday, February 24, at approximately 10 a.m., the Beidler Forest Audubon Sanctuary will have a reception and dedication of a plaque in memory of Scott Finlayson for the work he did for Audubon. All who wish to attend will be welcome. (Yes, this conflicts with our fieldtrip. Unfortunately, no latecomers will be permitted at Fort Jackson.)
We welcome several new members and extend a special invitation to them to join us on the 24th of February.
Sincerely,
Janet Ciegler, President
Message from the Secretary: Do you have a red dot problem? If your mailing label has a red dot, we have not received your renewal for 1996. It was past due January 31. I can’t mail your March newsletter if we don’t have your renewal. There is an renewal form in this letter for you. Put it with your bills to be paid….do it now…don’t miss an exciting issue!
FEBRUARY 24: FORT JACKSONFort Jackson encompasses over 53,000 A. of diverse habitat comprising bottom land hardwoods, pine-scrub oak and wetlands, managed by the Environmental and Natural Resource Division (ENRD).
Since there is a rotating use restriction on areas within Fort Jackson, several fieldtrip options within the fort have been scouted. It is uncertain at the time of this mailing which options we will be free to explore. Bruce Cole,both a SCAN member and an ENRD employee, will guide us.
We will meet at Heise Pond on the fort (see map below) where picnic grounds and portable toilets are available. This area is open to the public, and you are welcome to arrive early (suggested 8 a.m.) and take a self-guided exploratory of the nearby nature trail. Otherwise, it is suggested you arrive by 10:15 a.m. to fill out the general release form (enclosed), if you did not do it in advance, and to coordinate a carpooling caravan from this site to the fort hinterlands. Bring your lunch.
Fort Jackson is in Richland county, contiguous to the city of Columbia. There is easy access from Interstate 77. If driving south on I-77, exit at Fort Jackson Blvd (Exit 10). Turn left towards Fort Jackson. Drive through the main gate onto Marion Street. At the second traffic light (1.0 miles), turn right onto Semmes Road. Stay on Semmes Rd. for 2.6 miles. Turn left onto Heise Pond Road. Park at the end of the road at the picnic grounds. If driving north on I-77, exit at Leesburg Road or Route 262 (Exit 9B). Drive 3.9 miles. Turn left onto Semmes Road; drive through Gate 5 for 1.0 miles. Turn right onto Heise Pond Road and travel to the end of the road.