Meeting Dates Set: May 14 - The Georgia Trail of Tears Association will meet at the Etowah Mounds outside Cartersville Georgia at 10:30 a.m. Guest speaker is Dr. Alice Taylor-Colbert of Shorter College who will speak on Major Ridge and his relationship to the Cherokees of North Georgia. July 9 - The Georgia Trail of Tears Association will be meeting at the Old Stone Church in Ringgold Georgia at 10:30 a.m. Speakers will be DOT research under grads from Ole Miss and other DOT representatives connected with the TOTA project of documenting the Old Federal Road through Georgia. The Catoosa Historical Society will be sponsoring our visit. There will be a field trip following the meeting at about 1 p.m. Ringgold is the site of the Great Locomotive Chase of Civil War fame and also where a portion of the Federal Road passes through. For more information call Tommy Cox at 770-382-4012 or email him at tc12@bellsouth.net . Other events of interest: April 29-30 - The Society for Georgia Archaeology (SGA) will have their spring meeting at the Cohutta Lodge Conference Center - Cherokee Room with a reception on the 29th from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Various speakers will be present throughout the day on the 30th from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. including Dr. David Crass, Dr. Sarah Hill, Dr. Joe Joseph, Dr. Claudio Saunt, Mr. Dan Elliott, Ms. Tammy Herron, Mr. Scott Butler, and Mr. Chad Braley. Discussions this year are centered around the archaeological sites linked to the Indian Removal period in Georgia. There is a $10.00 registration fee and doors open on the 30th at 8 a.m. At 3 p.m. on the 30th there will be a tour of the Chief Vann House and Historic site. For more information call the Lodge at 706-695-9601. April 30-New Echota-Cherokee Genealogy Workshop from 10-noon. Register by Apr. 24th-fee is $8 and includes tour of the museum and grounds. Call 706-624-1321. May 21-New Echota-Artifact Identification Day 10-4. June 25- Etowah Mounds-Indian Flute and Storytelling 10-4 $4 fee call 770-387-3747. July 17-Etowah Mounds-Lecture on Preservation of Native America. 2:30-3:30 p.m. call above number for more info. July 23-Chief Vann House Days from 10-4 fee $4, call 706-695-2598. August 13-14 and 27-28 - The Cherokee Nation History Course will again be offered by the Chieftain's Museum in conjunction with the Cherokee Nation and instructor Dr. Julia Coates. The cost for the entire 4 intensive course days is only $35.00 - you receive a book for the course. Check the Chieftain's Museum website for more information and registration form or call 706-291-9494. For more information about Georgia State Parks go to .http://gastateparksorg and click on the map or do a search. Pow Wows and Festivals: May 6-8 * Mother's Day Pow Wow in Canton Georgia at Boling Park behind the high school. June 18-19 * Father's Day Festival in Douglasville Georgia, follow the signs. July 22-24 * Motorcycle Rendezvous Jasper Georgia.