Mark your calendar and join us for TCWP’s Annual Meeting at beautiful Frozen Head State Park. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. ET, with the program starting at 9:30 a.m. Depending on attendance, we will meet in either the Emory Room or Shelter A; everyone who RSVPs will receive the final location by email.

This year’s featured program will focus on one of TCWP’s most ambitious conservation efforts: the 41-mile Rails to Trails project. Joining us from the Echoes of the Rail Foundation will be Mayor Lori Phillips-Jones, John McCracken, Virginia Bruce, and New River community member Jimmy Byrge. Together, they’ll share the story of this remarkable rail corridor, the progress being made toward its future as a trail, and what this project could mean for the communities along the route. Meet our speakers in the bios at the back of our September Newsletter, No 389 issue on our website at tcwp.org.

TCWP President Mark Bevelhimer will also give us a look back at TCWP’s work and accomplishments in 2026. Members will vote on the slate of board candidates, and after lunch, everyone is invited to enjoy Frozen Head with one of two guided hikes. See the Events section for hike details. Discover who the recipient of the TCWP Founder’s Award will be!

This year’s Annual Meeting is generously sponsored by Bob Richards (“Trail Bob”) of Bob’s Trails, Trees and Gardens, allowing us to offer lunch at no cost to our members. A big TCWP hug to Bob!

Lunch will be catered by Chef Sarah Shanks and the Culinary Arts Program at Morgan County Career and Technical Center

Please RSVP by October 16. Submit your name, contact information, number attending, and food choices using the Google RSVP form.

• Complete the Google RSVP form: https://forms.gle/ZAZZFRAn2NXUwfFe7
• Email your information to Nancy Manning at nancymanning@tcwp.org.
• Mail your RSVP to TCWP, P.O. Box 6873, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 (must arrive by October 16th).

After lunch at TCWP’s annual meeting we will offer a choice of two hikes in Frozen Head State Park, one easy, the other somewhat longer.

The easy hike, to be led by Margaret Cumberland, will be the Park’s Interpretive Trail. Margaret says “This short but beautiful trail goes along Judge Branch for half a mile before looping back. There are a couple of bridges, but the trail is otherwise very flat.  The total distance from the trailhead is 0.8 miles. The Interpretive Trail is a wonderful wildflower trail in the spring.”

The other, longer hike, possibly Panther Branch or Judge Branch, will be led by Chuck Estes and Jimmy Groton. This hike will be chosen and announced the day of the annual meeting, as trail conditions vary based on weather conditions and maintenance.

For additional information, email  Nancy Manning: nancymanning@tcwp.org