A Report on TAFI (The Altapass
Foundation, Inc) projects which were started in 2007 and
will continue into 2008.
The Foundation carries out its projects through the
The Orchard
at Altapass, which exists only to support the work
of the
Foundation.
MUSIC AND
HAYRIDES
We now have music 5 days a week
and hayrides Wednesday through Sunday. Weekend
music continues
to get people on their feet!
NEW TREES and
a NEW BUILDING
We have grafted and planted
200 new apple trees
this year. Also we are cutting down some unproductive trees
to make room for new trees closer to the Orchard building.
With fingers-crossed optimism,
we will revive our
building plans.
TAFI
PROJECTS
On September
29th we welcomed school
children to The Orchard where they meet the Overmountain Victory
Trail reenactors for a living history day. The Celebration
highlighted the Revolutionary War heritage of this area.
During the
25 weekends of the Orchard season, TAFI sponsored over 100
performances with more than 60 local music acts, i.e.,
group or individual performers.
Each act was paid by TAFI
and performed free for all comers, a combined audience of more
than 7,000 people. This helps keep mountain music alive,
an important part of our local heritage. And during each
weekend, TAFI also sponsored special events featuring
artists, naturalists, authors, herbalists, blacksmiths,
bird watchers, photographers, jewelers, and many others representing the rich
diversity of community talents.
TAFI also
continued the Orchard tradition of sponsoring community
picnics Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. The
picnics featured free barbecue, tea and water, music all
afternoon, dancing and visiting. As always, the price of
admission was a carry-in dish. Combined attendance at the
picnics topped 1,500 people.
In the past, TAFI
has
sponsored five performances of the historical play, “What
Sweet Lips Can Do” and two readings by its author,
Jo Carson,
of her written stories.
Check the Orchard website for possible new performances.
TAFI has
established The Orchard at Altapass as an accredited Monarch
Butterfly way station. This year naturalist and author
Elizabeth Hunter gave two lectures about monarchs, an endangered
species. The monarch tagging program continued, with at
least 120
butterflies tagged. So far, six of the monarchs tagged
over the past six years at the Orchard have been recovered in
Mexico at the overwintering grounds.
FUNDRAISING
The
Foundation will raise money to support its projects in an
interesting variety of ways this season: A chili cook-off (note:
we are looking for a new team leader), auctions of local
art, a dinner dance, and jazz nights.
The
Foundation is deeply appreciative of the warm and generous
support from our contributors.
WORLD'S
BEST VOLUNTEERS
The
life blood of the Foundation is the corps of volunteers
who unselfishly give their talents and hours helping with the
many Foundation projects.
Our volunteers serve at picnics, park cars, pass the tip jar,
adjust the sound system, plan our building expansion, tell
stories on hayrides, tag butterflies, give taste samples of
Orchard wares, sell apples, arrange chairs, judge chili, plan
fund raisers, donate their art and voice, serve on boards and
committees, and most of all, make every one smile.
Thank you
one and all!
RECOGNITION
The unique Foundation/Orchard partnership is
receiving widespread recognition not only in North Carolina, but
nationwide.
Our
latest news:
Bill Carson was chosen as a Best of Our State public
speaker at Pinehurst as well a Blue Ridge National Heritage
Area traditional artist and storyteller.
Thank you all for your
continued interest and support,
Kit Carson Trubey, Bill and Judy Carson
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