Vol. XVI No. 3 Winter 2010

A publication of the Ossabaw Island Foundation

Ossabaw Island’s beach and night sky will come alive in January 8 – 9, 2011 during an on-island

overnight educational journey.

Arrive on Ossabaw Island on Saturday, just in time for a ca-tered lunch. Following lunch, naturalist and On-Island Coordi-nator Jim Bitler will lead an in-terpretive driving tour across the island to the beach. For those who prefer, the afternoon may be spent relaxing at the Clubhouse

or exploring the island’s North End on their own.

Following dinner on Saturday night, experience the universe and beyond as astronomer Laura Lawton leads a sky watching program on Ossa-baw’s North End. Learn how to identify constel-lations, and hear the legends associated with them. Marvel at the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies, and peer through an eight-inch reflect-ing telescope to see the moons of Jupiter. Then, enjoy more legends (others’ or your own!) around a nighttime campfire. You’ll return to the mainland Sunday after breakfast.

Fees include round trip transportation from Dele-gal Marina on Skidaway Island to Ossabaw Is-land’s North End; three catered meals, comfort-able dormitory-style overnight accommodations in the Clubhouse on Ossabaw Island, plus the nature and astronomy programs.

This trip is designed for adults and for children age 12 and over. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or supervising adult.

Fees:

$200 Friends of Ossabaw.

$250 for Future Friends of Ossabaw (includes “friend” membership)

Space is limited. Your payment secures your reserva-tion. To register, go to www.ossabawisland.org or call (912) 233-5104.

No Refunds. Please see the Ossabaw Island trip poli-cies in this newsletter on page 7.

On Thursday, January 13, 2011, join TOIF at the Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm St., in Savannah, Ga., for the Annual Meeting and Sandy West Birthday celebration.

The event, which starts with a reception at 6:30 pm and the annual meeting, which begins at 7:00 pm is free and open to the public. After the meeting, join us for cake in honor of Sandy West’s 98th birthday. Due to family com-mitments, Mrs. West will not be in attendance.

This year’s Annual Meeting is partially underwritten by the Robert L. Harrison Family. Please RSVP by calling 912-233-5104 or emailing elizabeth@ossabawisland.org

Program Highlights include:

OssaBEST: It’s a Wrap! Dr. Linda Bleicken, President, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Interpreting African American Life on Ossabaw Dr. Deborah Mack, Museum Consultant

The Genesis Project’s 40th Anniversary: Films from 1970 and 2010.

Gullah Geechee Day Trip to Ossabaw Island Saturday, March 26, 2011, 9:30 a.m. -3:30 p.m. (return time approximate)

Experience Ossabaw Island in the spring while learning the stories of Ossabaw’s Gullah-Geechee people, from the early 19th century through the mid-20th century. Learn about the African roots of the enslaved and freedmen families who lived on Ossabaw Island. Visit the three restored tabby cabins built in the 1820’s – 1840’s. Hear about the island’s African American community leaders before and after emancipation.

Discover their daily lives—foodways, work experiences, family life. Learn the story of the community’s move to the mainland, establishing the Pin Point community in the early 20th century.

Guest tour leader is Dr. Deborah Mack, a nationally acclaimed anthropolo-gist, expert on African American history and museum studies, and co-chair of the Ossabaw Island Foundation’s project team to interpret

--The Four Coursemen, a new television series on the Cook-ing Channel, filmed part of its pilot episode on Ossabaw Island, and features an interview with On-Island Coordinator Jim Bitler. The premiere aired nearly a dozen times in November and De-cember, with at least one more broadcast scheduled for January 2 at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Check local cable listings for chan-nel information.

--- The UGA Press book African American Life in the Georgia Lowcountry, released in March 2010, won the 2010 Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board Award for Excellence in Documenting Georgia’s History. The award was given “for

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Hugs, smiles, memories and a few tears were the main attrac-tion on Ossabaw Island during an October weekend reunion of the 1970 “class” of the Genesis Project.

The Genesis Project--a cooperative, semi-sustainable commu-nity organized by Eleanor “Sandy” and Clifford West -- oper-ated at historic Middle Place on Ossabaw Island from 1970 to 1983. The 1970 Genesis group, the first to participate in the project, was a group of 28 college stu-dents from across the U.S. who lived “off the grid” for ten weeks that first summer.

Nine of those Genesis members, along with seven spouses and friends, returned to the island in October for a special weekend visit spearheaded by Genesis 1970 member Rob Rivers. For some, it was the first time since 1970 that they’d seen others from their Genesis summer. Several group members have returned to Ossabaw over the years, but for others, it was their first return trip to the island.

The group spent time at Middle Place, took a picnic lunch to the beach, and on Saturday night en-joyed an Ossabaw Island pig roast supper with all the fixin’s prepared by Roger Parker.

On Saturday morning, eight of the alums participated in a two-hour facilitated conversation, held in rocking chairs under the trees of the North End. The discussion was filmed for use as research for a book about Ossabaw Island and the 20th cen-

tury conservation movement on the Georgia coast. Dr. Mark Finlay, the book’s author and a professor of History at Armstrong Atlan-tic State University, led the discussion.

“I think this return trip to Ossabaw was much more profound for me then my two previous [return] trips,” writes Genesis 1970 alumna Libby Rule Woodruff. “Maybe it is the very real passage of time and our memories of those good times so many years ago!

“There were people we definitely missed seeing, but for those of us that made it, it was very meaningful to be together. We shared so many memories and I think even spouses were drawn into their

memories of their

1970(s) and our conformation of the aliveness of that time for us all! We truly KNEW that we were making a difference in the

preservation of the Georgia/Eastern Coast Line.”

The Ossabaw Island Foundation is seeking contact informa-tion for the following Genesis 1970 participants. Susan G. Eller W. Jim Eller Christina Lennartsson Larry Payne Jill Schlesinger Rick Smith Elizabeth B. Von Itter

Contact The Ossabaw Island Foundation at (912) 233-5104 or elizbeth@ossabawisland.org.

Ossabaw Island’s African American/Gullah Geechee story. Dr. Mack will co-lead the day trip along with Jim Bitler, On Island Coordinator for The Ossabaw Island Foundation.

Fee: $50 for Friends of Ossabaw, $70 for Future Friends (Includes “Friends” membership.) Fee includes Round Trip boat transportation from the mainland and program. Bring your own picnic lunch and beverage.

Program designed for adults and for children age 12 and older. Space is limited. See page 7 for Ossabaw Island Foundation trip policies.

To register, go to www.ossabawisland.org and click on the “store” page, or call 912-233-5104.

exemplary use of archival records while exploring the role of the Gullah Geechee in the Georgia Lowcountry.” Development of this book was a project of The Ossabaw Island Education Alli-ance.

--- the Department of Natural Resources, The Ossabaw Island Foundation and University of Tennessee/Chattanooga will co-sponsor archaeological investigations at North End Planta-tion in May 2011. The investigations will be co-led by Dr. Nick Honerkamp and DNR archaeologists, and will build on earlier work completed by The LAMAR Institute and DNR which resulted in the discovery of a rich archaeological record associated with the enslaved Africans at North End.

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The 2010 Ossabaw Island Pig Roast and Art Auction broke all attendance records with 350 people boating to Ossabaw Island for a glorious autumn day on the lawn of the Main House. The ninth annual event, on October 16, grossed approximately $68,000 through sponsorships, host committee contributions, ticket sales, art auction proceeds and sales from the Ossabaw Store. Proceeds go to the Torrey West House Fund.

A new dimension was added to the Art Auction with a live auction during lunchtime. A lively bidding war ensued for the sole piece of art being auctioned, a “performance artwork” painting of the Main House and the Pig Roast guests, created “plein air” during the morning by Atlanta painter Jannsen Robinson. Also auctioned was a three day, two night stay for eight in the newly furnished Boarding House, which was open during the Pig Roast for self-guided tours. Our caterer-turned-auctioneer Daniel Epting kept the bidding lively and the crowd entertained.

After a traditional “Pig Roast” lunch featuring pork pre-pared by Roger Parker, Ossabaw Island resident Eleanor “Sandy” West spoke briefly to the Pig Roast guests from the southern balcony of the Main House.

The Pig Roast is assisted each year by several key vendors: Epting Catering of Athens, Georgia; Bull River Cruises of Sa-vannah; and Captain Elizabeth Johnson of Savannah.

The Pig Roast relies on our cadre of almost two dozen volun-teers who make the event a success. Thank you for your ticket taking, table setting up, artwork organizing, yard clearing, ve-hicle driving, bartending, catering assistance, store staffing, artwork wrapping and more.

A special thanks to the approximately 75 artists who donated artwork for the auction. (See this page for the list of donor artists.)

The 2010 Pig Roast was made possible by the following sponsors: Critz, Inc. Holland, Henry & Bromley, LLP Georgia Power Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung, Inc. King & Spalding J T Turner Construction Co., Inc. Longwater & Company Moon River Brewing Company Raymond M. Cash Foundation The Savannah Bank Seacrest Partners Spanish Moss Printing Inc SunTrust Taqueria Del Sol

Thank you to the 2010 Pig Roast Host Committee: Ann Alperin Patricia Barmeyer Linda Bleicken Susie Clinard Callie Downing Helen Downing Peggy Galis Seth Goodman Laura Hardman Mitch Jacoby Rob Rivers Zelda Tenenbaum

Save the date for the tenth annual Pig Roast and Art Auction, Satur-day, October 15, 2011. Advance tickets are available for purchase online at www.ossabawisland.org, under the Gift Store tab.

Thank you to the following artists who contributed artwork to this year’s event!

Carmela Aliffi Rinne Allen Anne Bessac Melinda Borysevicz Barbara Breen Anita Butler Betsy Cain Don Callahan Alan Campbell Michael Carnahan Deanne Christman-Resch Elizabeth Church Samantha Claar Tracy Concha Mark O. Conway Trey Coursey Tim Coy Sandra Edgar Davies Harriett Delong Harry Delorme Nancy Doolan Dottie Farrell Barbara Fertig Jane Fishman Barbara Gentry Larry Gray James Gum Elizabeth Hayes Halderson Curt Hames Eric B. Hartley Mary Hartman Andrew Hartzell Doug Herrick Eric Horan Jan Horan Carla House Laura Hyatt Suzanne Jackson Susan B. Johnson Jonas N. Jordan Carrie Kellogg David Kaminsky Jan Kapoor Marcus Kenney B. Kraft Imke Lass Laura Liu Beth Logan Hunter Logan Martha Fay Love Laurie Love Deborah Mack Rick McBride Amanda Wrona Meadows Leah Medders Robert Medders Judy Mooney David Morgan Marnie Muller Angela Oliver Preston Orr Carole E. Pacheco Kate Pagan Blanche Nettles Powers Bess Ramsey Beth Reiter Russ Regnery Jannsen Robinson Christine Sajecki David Smalls Margi Spaulding Noel Szychowski Randy Thompson Matthew Toole Natalie VonLoewenfeldt

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Thank you to the following for your mem-bership in the Friends of Ossabaw, and con-tributions to The Ossabaw Island Foundation from January through December 8, 2010. Thank you for your support all year long. New supporters in 2010 are listed in bold type. These gifts are given in honor and memory of Kathy Gunn of Vidalia, GA. Amanda Buice, Barnesville, GA. Martina Butler, Roswell, GA. Dr. Paula H. Chambers, Bainbridge, GA. Claudia Demartini, Whigham, GA. Etowah Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center, Rome GA. Robert & Judy Grantham, Vidalia, GA. Heart of Georgia Youth Science & Technology Center, Eastman, GA. J. Herrington, Houston, GA. Karen Hilton, Vidalia, GA. D.L. McGlincy, Bainbridge, GA. Steve Rich, Douglasville, GA. Deborah Stuckey, Newnan, GA. Trip & Mary Kay Thompson, Vidalia, GA.

Contributors to the Torrey-West House Fund Bonitz of Georgia, Savannah, GA. Sam & Betsy Candler, Newnan, GA. Steven & Heide Corse, Savannah, GA. Ellen Crowley, Birmingham, MI. Frank C. DeBolt, Savannah, GA. Harriett DeLong, Savannah, GA. Margaret Frissell, Gainesville, GA. Lisa Gaines, Richmond Hill, GA. Mariah Goode, Bailys Harbor, WI. Chris Kirkpatrick, Savannah, GA. Barbara & Michael Ruddy, Savannah, GA. Virginia L. Shields, Athens, GA. Janet D. Stone, Savannah, GA. Mr. & Mrs. Tom Wagner, Savannah, GA. Dr. & Mrs. Leslie L. Wilkes, Savannah, GA.

A gift from Zelda Tenenbaum with Happy Holiday Wishes in honor of: Longwater & Company, Elizabeth DuBose, Mark Fris-sell, Sandy West, Jim Bitler, Robin Gunn, Paul Pressly The Board of The Ossabaw Island Foundation

The Ossabaw Donkey $20-$99

Advantage Marketing Services, Savannah, GA. Carmela R. Aliffi, Savannah, GA. The Ambrose Family, St. Simons, GA. Carol & Tom Barnard, Savannah, GA. Noah Baen, Brooklyn, NY. Bonnie Ballard, Savannah, GA. Lonice & Carol Barrett, Dunwoody, GA. Jennifer Bedell, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta, GA. Ann Berry, Decatur, GA. A gift from Linda Bleicken, Savannah, GA, in honor of John McGuthry. Jim Boyle & Becky Setliff, Tybee Island, GA. Margaret Brown, Marietta, GA. A gift from Daniel T. Burns, Churchville, NY, in mem-ory of Agnes Graves. Irene J. Buszko, New York, NY. Wanda Callis, Bluffton, SC. Anita Clay, Savannah, GA. A gift from Gene Carpenter, Savannah, GA., in memory of John Collins and Mercury Arthur. Karen D. Cassard, Savannah, GA. Katherine Chisholm, Savannah, GA. A gift in memory of Allen Dean Clark who lost his life

on Ossabaw Island due to an airplane accident, April 16, 1997. We miss you son. Anne & Thomas Schwingle, Mary Esther, FL. Mrs. Sherard D. Cole Jr., Midlothian, VA. Perdita Buchan Connolly, Ocean Grove, NJ. Jeannine Cook, Townsend, GA. A gift from Ellen Crowley, Birmingham, MI, in honor of Eleanor West. Danny & Karen DeLoach, Savannah, GA. James G. Elicker, Lafayette, IN. A gift from Tess Fetsko, Charlotte, N.C., in memory of John Zdunczyk. Peter & Hannelore Fuchshuber, Savannah, GA. Courtney K. Gaines, Savannah, GA. Heard Gallis, St. Simons Island, GA. Pat & Gray Galloway, Monroe, GA. Richard Glendinning, Savannah, GA. Hartford Gongaware, Savannah, GA. Theodora Gongaware, Savannah, GA. A gift from Robin Gunn, Savannah, GA, in memory of Jim Bitler’s mother, Dougless Bitler, and Paul Pressly’s mother, Alice Pressly. Ruth Haas, Decatur, GA. Ellen I. Harris, Savannah, GA. R. L. Harrison, Savannah, GA. Jo & Harry Hickson, Savannah, GA. Robert & Margaret Hodges, Atlanta, GA. Laura Hyatt, Savannah, GA. The Isacson Family, Richmond Hill, GA. Martin Karp, Savannah, GA. Carrie L. Kellogg Photography, Savannah, GA. Linda King, Atlanta, GA. Tom & Betsy Kohler, Savannah, GA. Manfred Kubler, Savannah, GA. A gift from Meg Kundahl, W. Hartford, CT., in honor of Eleanor West Anna S. Lacher, Aiken, SC. Diane Lewis, Macon, GA. Fran Lewis, Winters, CA. Mr. & Mrs. Alva B. Lines, Atlanta, GA. A gift from Beth Logan, Savannah, GA, in honor of Olivia Alison. Mr. & Mrs. David H. Long, Savannah, GA. Helen Lynah, Savannah, GA. A gift from Deborah Marlowe, Atlanta, GA, in honor of Helen Downing. Paul & Deborah Mamalakis, Savannah, GA. Mary Maughelli, Fresno, CA. Terry Tatum & Jerry McCollum, Madison, GA, GA Department of Natural Resources. Pat & Judy Mooney, Savannah, GA. Henry Nanninga, Savannah, GA. A gift from Mrs. Sidney T. Nutting, Jr. in memory of Sidney T. Nutting , Jr., Savannah, GA. Scott Pendergrast, Decatur, GA. Genesis Project ‘75-76 & ‘76-77. Earl & Janice Richardson, Jesup, GA. Ira Ross, Savannah, GA. Paul Rush & Vicki Mitchell, Denton, NC. Holly Rutledge, Hoschton, GA. Presidents’ Quarters Inn, Savannah, GA. Joe & Wanda Sanders, San Antonio, TX. Mr. & Mrs. William N. Searcy, Savannah, GA. Patsy Swell, Larkspur, CO. A gift from Sally Sears, Atlanta, GA, in honor of Helen Downing. Gilian Shallcross, Sheffield, MA. A gift from Virginia L. Shields, Athens, GA, in honor of Lee Epting. Dr. Eileen Smith, Red Bluff, CA. A gift from Darlene & Richard Spencer, Flowery Branch , GA., in memory of Edward Nix. Pam & David Spitdowski Sr., Savannah, GA. Karen Steele, Astoria, NY.

Ms. Nancy Mathews Tamarack, Savannah, GA. A gift from Randy Thompson Photography, Savan-nah, GA, in memory of Patti Thompson. A gift from Zelda Tenenbaum, Savannah, GA, in honor of Lisa Robinson & Ken Rosenthal’s marriage in July 2009. A gift from Zelda Tenenbaum, Savannah, GA, in mem-ory of Anastasia “Tassie” Kontos. John C Train, Yulee, FL. Joy Vannerson, Dunwoody, GA. Dr. & Mrs. C. Douglas Webb, Jr., Tybee Island, GA. Margaret L. Willits, Sonora, CA. Noel B. Wright Jr., Savannah, GA. A gift from Mr. & Mrs. John C. Wylly, Jr., Tybee Is-land, GA., in honor of Dr. Paul Pressly. A gift from Linda & Michael Zoller, Savannah, GA. in memory of Jim Simmons III.

Lucky the Ossabaw Pig $100-$499

Stephen Abercrombie & US Mechanical Contractors, LLC, Garden City, GA. Ann & Herb Alperin, Atlanta, GA. A gift from Jennifer Atkinson, Washington, GA. in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Guy Lance. B-66 Reunion, Savannah, GA. Daryl Barksdale, Atlanta, GA. A gift from Patricia Barmeyer, Atlanta, GA, in memory of Reid Harris, author of the Coastal Marshland Protec-tion Act. Wilson & Sarah Barmeyer, Washington, D.C. Cynthia Bender, Rincon, GA. Edward E. Boshears, St. Simons Island, GA. Leigh Bottomley, Lawrenceville, GA. Sharon W. Brooks, Martinez, GA. Emory S. Campbell, Hilton Head Island, SC. Katherine Chisholm, Savannah, GA. A gift from Susie Clinard, Savannah, GA, in memory of Paul Pressly’s mother, Alice Pressly. A gift from Dr. & Mrs. Henry Croci, Savannah, GA, in honor of Jim Bitler. Dr. & Mrs. Curtis Dilworth, Atlanta, GA. Kevin & Sondra Donovan, Crested Butte, CO, Gene-sis Project. Dr. Kay Davis Dunn, Atlanta, GA. John & Carol Duren, Savannah, GA. Larry Earl, Atlanta, GA Genesis 1970. A gift from Carol & Tim Evans, Savannah, GA in mem-ory of Timothy Patrick Evans. Lisa & Zeke Gaines, Richmond Hill, GA. Mr. & Mrs. Geoffrey Fenstermacher, Savannah, GA. Tess Fetsko, Charlotte, N.C. Mark Finlay, Savannah, GA. Peter & Hannelore Fuchshuber, Savannah, GA. Dr,. John & Joy Garrett, Atlanta, GA. A gift from Ann Gannam, Savannah, GA, in memory of Mr. Michael Gannam. Lisa & Zeke Gaines, Richmond Hill, GA. A gift from Ken Fisher Gearon, Atlanta, GA., in mem-ory of Ike Fisher. A gift from Cornelia R. Groves, Savannah, GA, in honor of Sandy West & Richard Boaen. Helen Hamada, Woodstock, NY. Ed Hoffman, Savannah, GA. Lanny & Diane Hoyal, Macon, GA. A gift from Bette & Randy Hughes, Champaign, IL, in honor of Zelda & Sheldon Tenenbaum. A gift from Anne & John Janas, New York, NY, in memory of John Reiter. Chris & Charlie Johnson, Savannah, GA. Rick Johnson, Athens, GA. Mimi S. Jones, Savannah, GA. Mr. & Mrs. David H. Long, Savannah, GA. Deborah Mack, Savannah, GA. Richard B. McBride, St. Simons Island, GA.

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Support Ossabaw Island and get your end of year shopping done, with just a few simple mouse clicks.

Go to www.ossabawisland.org and click on the Gift Store tab for Ossabaw Island tote bags, note cards featuring four Jack Leigh photographs of the island, t-shirts, and Ossabaw books. New this month: a pack of eight note cards featuring the Horses and Goose photograph from this year’s Pig Roast invitation.

Rod & Trish McLeod, Savannah, GA. A gift from Joe & Donna Meadows, Gainesville, GA, in memory of Jim Simmons. Joe and Donna Meadows, Gainesville, GA. Chris Miller, Savannah, GA. Sandra & Simon Miller, Atlanta, GA. A gift from Crosby H. Milne, Boulevard, CA, in honor of Eleanor (Sandy) West. Willard S. Moore, Hopkins, SC. Maryanne Mott, Santa Barbara, CA. A gift from Geoffrey & Barbara Movius, Cambridge, MA., in honor of Sandy West. Alvin Neely, Savannah, GA. A gift from NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Inc., Claxton, GA, in honor of Roger Parker. Bernadette Nolan, Savannah, GA. Duane & Lewis Oden, Savannah, GA. Dr. Jules B. Paderewski, Savannah, GA. Eva T. Persons, Forsyth, GA. Patrick & Mary Prokop, Savannah, GA. Tom & Ann Ramee, Savannah, GA. A gift from Jack Ramsey, Kerrville, TX, OIP,’69 & ’71, in memory of Daga Ramsey. Helen Rogers, Avondale Estates, GA. Barbara & Mike Ruddy, Savannah, GA. Joseph O Saseen, Savannah, GA. Brad & Barbara Satterfield, Atlanta, GA. F. Michael & Kathryn Saunders, Atlanta, GA. Sonny & Cecelia Seiler, Savannah, GA. Joanne Sharpe, Edgecomb, ME. A gift from Alan & Susan Smith, Savannah, GA, in honor of their children. Frances Smith, Savannah, GA.

Mr. & Mrs. Edmund T. Sommer, Savannah, GA. A gift from Susan Soper & Bo Holland, Atlanta, GA. In honor of Patricia Barmeyer. James F. Stewart Jr., New York, NY. Alice L. Steyaart, Richmond Hill, GA. A gift from Ken Thomas (GA DNR Retired) Decatur, GA, in honor of Eleanor T. West’s 97th birthday. Dale & Sonny Thorpe, Savannah, GA. James Triplett, Pittsburg, KS. A gift from Alan Usher, Savannah, GA, for the love of Roger Parker. Patti Vrobel, Portland, OR. Mr. & Mrs. Tom Wagner, Savannah, GA. Henry & Deborah Whitfield, Savannah, GA. Suzanne Williams, Savannah, GA. Jennifer Zdunczyk, Bensalem, PA.

Fiddler Crab $500-$999

Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Anderson, Savannah, GA. Nancy & Charlie Belin, Savannah, GA. Sam & Betsy Candler, Sharpsburg, GA. Mary Elfner, Richmond, VA. Cornelia Groves, Savannah, GA. Antonia Hamilton, Philadelphia, PA. Ossabaw Island Project & Genesis Project. Robert H. Lockhart & Mary E. Adams, Washington Depot, CT Genesis Project. Paul Pressly, Savannah, GA. Wilson & Linda Fisk Morris, Savannah, GA. Kim & Sam Murray, Savannah, GA. A gift in from Martin & Suzette Nesmith, Claxton, GA., in honor of Sandy West. A gift from Amy Smith, Washington, DC, A tribute to

Sandy West. Zelda Tenenbaum, Savannah, GA.

Woodstork $1,000-$1,999

BRW Construction Group LLC, Savannah, GA. Mrs. Peter Coy & Tim Coy, Savannah, GA. A gift from the Board of the Georgia Women of Achievement in honor of Lisa White, Savannah, GA. Mr. & Mrs. William B. Haile, Savannah, GA. A gift from Carla House, Atlanta, GA., in honor of Sandy West. Jill Stuckey, Jonesboro, GA. Randolph Thrower, Atlanta, GA.

Snowy Egret $2,000-$4,999

Richard & Audrey Platt, Savannah, GA. A gift from Patricia T. Barmeyer, Atlanta, GA, in honor of Sandy West’s 97th birthday. Mr. & Mrs. William B. Haile, Savannah, GA. Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung, Inc., Savannah, GA. Mitch Jacoby, Lawrenceville, GA. Anna Noe & Sarah Plaia Davidson, Corpus Christi, TX.

Great Egret $5,000-$9,999

Helen Downing, Savannah, GA. The Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation, Inc., Savan-nah, GA. Longwater & Company, Savannah, GA. Melaver Foundation, Savannah, GA.

Great Blue Heron $10,000 and above.

A gift from the Raymond M. Cash Foundation, Smyrna, GA, in memory of Raymond Cash.

Transportation around Ossabaw Island is a little bit easier, thanks to the recent addition of a 1997 Kawasaki Mule all-terrain utility vehicle and a 2000 GMC pick up truck. Thanks

Join the Ossabaw Island Lovers Facebook Group for up-dates on all things Ossabaw, and meet like-minded Ossabaw Island friends.

Upload your Ossabaw photos and share your Oss-abaw stories. Find former Genesis or Ossabaw Island Project participants. Reconnect with friends you met at the Pig Roast or on a Day Trip. Get the latest information on educational trips, unique Ossabaw projects, and more.

to donor Cindy Fuller of Full Stride Farm in Cumming, Geor-gia, for the Kawasaki, and to donors Garrett and Tammy Weeks of Savannah, Georgia for the GMC.

We ship your order to you the same day it’s received!

For a truly unique holiday gift, consider an end of year contribution to the Ossabaw Island Foundation in honor of a friend or family member. It’s a gift that will keep giving for generations. We’ll mail a notice to your honored friend in recognition of your gift.

To purchase gifts or for alternative giving, call TOIF office at (912) 233-5104, or visit www.ossabawisland.org.

Facebook is a social networking website, where members can keep in touch with friends and various groups. It’s free to set up an account.

The Ossabaw Island Lovers Face-book Group is administered by The Ossabaw Island Foundation.

See you on Facebook!

“Continuity and Change” in Ossabaw Island’s African American community is the focus of a $40,000 grant awarded to The Ossabaw Island Foundation by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Awarded in early 2010, the one-year-long planning grant brings together a team of nationally renowned experts in American history, Gullah history and culture, historic and natural site inter-pretation, archeol-ogy, oral history research, archival research and mu-seum studies.

The team mem-bers are conduct-ing original re-search and re-viewing existing research on Afri-can American families that lived and worked on Ossabaw Island from the 1700’s through 1900, as enslaved people and freedmen. From this effort, the Ossabaw Island Foun-dation is developing a plan to share with the public the un-told stories of these people, through on site information, ex-panded interpretation with existing and new groups of visi-tors, and via the internet.

“Imagine four days on an island digging into your writing, with beauty and talent to inspire you.” That’s what featured author Beverly Donofrio has to say about the inaugu-ral Ossabaw Island Writers’ Retreat: A Week of Workshops and Writing Events, February 14-17, 2011.

The retreat features writing workshops, one–on–one manuscript consultations with nationally recognized authors, craft seminars and readings. The four day/three night gathering on Ossabaw Island is offered in conjunction with the Savannah Book Festival being held in Savannah in the days following the retreat. Participants in the Ossabaw Island Writers’ Retreat will receive recognition at the book festival and an opportunity to read excerpts of their work to festival audiences.

Donofrio, author of the memoir Riding in Cars with Boys and

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other memoirs, children’s books, and essays, is one of three writers leading the workshops. Other workshop leaders are

Cathy Smith Bowers, Poet Laureate of North Carolina, with four published volumes of poetry; and Lenore Hart, author of seven adult novels including. Becky: The Life and Loves of Becky Thatcher.

The retreat is sponsored by Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU), the Savannah Book Festival, the Southern Poetry Review, and the Poetry Society of Georgia.

Application deadline is December 31, 2010. Check the Ossabaw Island Writers’ Retreat web-site for details: www.ossabawwritersretreat.org,

or contact Dr. Tony Morris, AASU Professor of Journalism and Creative Writing, (912) 344-3123 or write@ossabawwritersretreat.org.

“This is an opportunity to share with the public concrete ex-amples of African Americans as agents in the dynamic crea-tion and perpetuation of their culture,” writes Dr. Deborah Mack, a nationally acclaimed anthropologist and expert on museum studies and African American history, who is co-chairing the grant project with Dr. Paul Pressly of the Ossa-baw Island Education Alliance. “Their legacy lives on today,

in contemporary families, communities, churches and civic institutions that origi-nated, in whole or in part, on Ossabaw Island.”

Project team members include two re-cipients of the Bancroft Prize, the highest award for writing on American History (Jaqueline Jones for Labor of Love, La-bor of Sorrow, and Erskine Clarke for Dwelling Place: A Plantation Epic.) Team members hail from across the re-gion and the nation (University of Texas, The Old Slave Mart Museum in Charles-ton, Drayton Hall in Charleston, Penn Center at St. Helena Island) as well as from coastal Georgia (Pin Point Commu-nity, the Owens Thomas House and the Coastal Heritage Society).

The planning grant will wrap up in early 2011, and grant funding is being sought to implement the project beginning later that year. For more information con-tact Paul Pressly, (912) 651-2440, or ppressly@ossabawisland.org.

Symposium DVDs Please send___DVD(s): Erskine Clark @ $20 _____

Please send___DVD(s): Allison Dorsey @ $20 _____

Please send___DVD(s): Emory Campbell @ $20 _____

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Or, order online at www.ossabawisland.net

T-shirts and totes feature the Ossabaw bone yard tree in blue at sunrise, on an off-white organic cotton. Designed by Longwater & Company.

Evocations of an Island hardcover coffee table book, photography by Jack Leigh, artwork by Alan Campbell, narrative by James Kilgo. Also available: Box of eight (8) note cards featuring four Jack Leigh images from the book.

Ossabaw Island, by Ann Foskey, an Images of America pictorial history book in soft cover.

The God of the Hinge: Sojourns in Cloud Cuckoo Land, by Elizabeth Pool and Eleanor “Sandy”

West. Follow the amazing adventures of two remarkable women as they travel the world over the course of 70 years.

African American Life in the Georgia Lowcountry: The Atlantic World and the Gullah Geechee, UGA Press hardcover book, examining 250 years of coastal Georgia African American history and culture.

Bradley Beach, poster of William Armstrong painting.

Please send ___ copy(ies) of God of the Hinge @ $16.95 _____

Please send ___ copy(ies) of Evocations @ $29.95 _____

Please send ___ copy(ies) of Ossabaw Island @ $20 _____

Please send ___ box(es) of Evocations Notecards @ $10 _____

Please send ___ copy(ies) of Bradley Beach poster @ $ 5 _____

Please send ___ Short-sleeved T-shirt, S M L XL @ $20 _____

Please send ___ Organic cotton tote bag @ $10 _____

7

Planning to join us for one of TOIF’s sponsored day or overnight trips? Here’s what you need to know, regard-less of which trip you’re planning to attend.

Travel Arrangements: We are pleased to work with Captain Mike Neal and his eco-tour com-pany, Bull River Cruises, as the transportation for our day trips, and with Captain Joe Dobbs for overnight trip transport. Unless otherwise notified, day trips depart from and return to Delegal Creek Marina at The Landings on Ski-daway Island, just south of Savannah. For day trips, the boat leaves promptly at 9:30 a.m. Please arrive at the marina by 9:15 a.m. The marina is about 30-45 minutes from downtown Savannah.

How to reserve/pay for your trip ticket: Trip fee is payable at www.ossabawisland.net (the Ossabaw Is-land Foundation “store” website), OR in advance by check to: The Ossabaw Island Foundation, 305 Fahm Street, Savan-nah, GA 31401 Reservations are required, as space is lim-ited. Payment in full is required to confirm reservations.

What does my ticket purchase? Day Trips: Fee includes round-trip boat transportation to Ossabaw Island and the full day of programming. Fee does NOT include your sack lunch

or bottled water / beverages. You must bring those with you on day trips. Overnight Trips: Fee includes three catered meals, overnight accommodation in the Clubhouse (shared

bunk rooms) and programming.

Cancellation/refund policy and weather pol-icy: No refunds. Trips will occur rain or shine, hot or cold weather, except for during severe weather watches or warnings. In the case of trip cancellation due to weather, the trip will be rescheduled.

What to bring: Day Trips: Sack lunch, bottled water or other beverage. Overnight Trip: Toi-letries, clothing, pajamas, extra food or bever-age over and above catered meal offerings.

What to wear: Casual outdoor weather-appropriate clothes and closed toed shoes.

Age: Trips are designed for adults and for children age 12 and over. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or supervising adult.

Other important information: Trips do not include a tour of the Torrey-West Estate, out of respect for privacy.

For more information, contact Jim Bitler, (912) 210-1613, or email jim@ossabawisland.org.

The Ossabaw Island Foundation 305 Fahm Street Savannah, GA 31401

Non-Profit Organization US Postage

PAID Savannah, GA

Permit No. 1113

January 8 – 9, 2011 Forests, Marshes, Beach & Stars!

Overnight Education Trip to Ossabaw featuring Astronomy and Nature Programs (Details on page 1)

January 13, 2011 Annual Meeting, The Ossabaw Island Foundation,

at the Coastal Georgia Center in Savannah. (Details on page 1)

March 26, 2011 Gullah Geechee Day Trip. (Details on page 1)

April 9, 2011 Birding Day Trip.

(Details and registration on www.ossabawisland.org)

May 14, 2011 Island Trip for Rookery Members

Dig in the Dirt and uncover Ossabaw history, as part of the Archeology Field School on the North End!

(Details on www.ossabawisland.org)

For more detailed information about any upcoming event, go to www.ossabawisland.org.

Ossabaw Island is a barrier island on the Atlantic Ocean owned by the State of Georgia and located in Chatham County.

The non-profit Ossabaw Island Foundation, through a public-private partnership with the State of Georgia, inspires, promotes, and manages exceptional educational, cultural, and scientific programs that are designed to maximize the experience of Ossabaw Island, while minimizing the impact on its resources.