Still Young at Heart ladies have giving hearts

September 23, 2020 by bctadmin

Information submitted by Sherry Evans

The crazy parties the 500+ card carrying gals of of Still Young at Heart (SYAH) may be on hold, although there’s still hope for their annual Halloween bash, but that doesn’t mean this posse of partiers aren’t getting together – socially distanced, of course.

Helping surrounding communities has always been a purpose the ladies embrace enthusiastically like the Energizer Bunny. When school started and teachers were faced with a new set of problems and guidelines as kids marched to the school bell peal, SYAH decided teachers needed a break, right from the start.

Soon plans were made to bundle bins of treats, soft drinks, healthy snacks, school supplies and more to put in the teachers’ lounges to show these hardworking academics how much they are appreciated. Since schools are staffed with more than teachers, the treat bin was expanded to include bus drivers, custodians, librarians, nurses, support staff and anybody and everybody else involved in helping our kids get educated.

The call went out to the membership for treat donations or for funds supporting a trip to Costco to buy carts filled with goodies. Two schools were selected to be “binned,” Robinson Elementary in Dawson County and Tate Elementary in Pickens County.

On September 3, the “Commissioners” of SYAH opened their hatchbacks and loaded a hefty haul of goodies. Not only that, but over $300 was collected for that massive Costco shopping trip. The treats will be delivered soon and may be an ongoing effort, stay tuned. Three cheers for the ladies of SYAH and their generous giving spirit.

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The photographic art of thinking small yet big

September 23, 2020 by bctadmin

Article and photos by Steve Carlisle

It’s been a long hot summer, but fall is almost here! What a great time to take pictures of nature in North Georgia. Colors abound and flora and fauna are still active. For observers equipped with cameras capable capturing a buck with impressive antlers or a wild turkey fanning puffed tail feathers to attract the ladies, these memorable scenes can be preserved as Kodak moments.

The well-equipped Big Canoe nature photographer may not have the professional glass Mark Green or David Akoubian use to capture the magic they do day after day with precision and accuracy, but if I carried my Nikon in my daily routine, instead of the iPhone X I always end up using, I’d have a lot better pictures.

I’m one of those part-timers, I guess. Taking pictures always seems to be a planned trip to Gibbs Gardens or to the butterfly garden at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. My iPhone pictures are okay for social media since I won’t be making large prints for display at the Georgia Nature Photography Association show at the Art Center in Alpharetta.

When I want to try my best to bring home the artistic bacon, I arm myself with a Nikon D850 and 28mm – 300mm zoom lens. With the zoom ring set to a 28 mm wide-angle setting, I can capture a field of sunflowers at Fausett Farms with the Appalachian Mountains in the background and bright blue sky above. If I see a Monarch butterfly approaching a flower, I can zoom in on him.

I might hold the shutter button down and let the camera’s motor drive take a series of shots, allowing me to pick the one I like best as I edit the day’s session. Like many shooters I prefer Adobe LightRoom to help sort and rate my favorites from the myriad of images captured in a typical shoot. I can then “develop” my digital files and bring out the best in each file before I share it with the world.

I have always been drawn to close-ups and the exciting world of macro photography. I love to get up close and personal with my subjects and use my special macro lens to record textures and the unique designs of nature. Mine is a 55mm Micro-Nikkor and it can focus much closer than a typical lens. It opens another world only the camera can help me explore and I can’t seem to get enough of it!

It’s always fun to end up with one or two outstanding shots, even though I might take dozens, maybe hundreds of pictures. You learn to love those odds because that’s just the way it is; the more you shoot the better you get. It’s a sport and an art at the same time. The best part is it’s really fun!

Members of the Big Canoe Photography Club love to share their work and get both praise and criticism, which is how you learn and grow as an artist. These days the group’s Facebook page is where this happens, but regular meetings will resume one of these days.

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What’s planned in Big Canoe this year

The FUN of Packing a Shoebox

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All the details

Pickup / drop-off locations at the Postal Facility and at the Chapel any time before November 15th.
Volunteers on hand to help at the Chapel deck every Tuesday and Friday in October, 12 noon-2 PM. Everything is free! (Donations accepted)
Build your own shoebox ONLINE … click here to learn how.
Donate and we will build your box for you. $25 a box (includes freight) Turn check into Chapel office, marked “shoebox”.
Final day to turn in your packed shoeboxes in Big Canoe is November 15th.
Questions? Contact Millann Funk (millann@windstream.net)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Operation Christmas Child? Operation Christmas Child is the part of Samaritan’s Purse that delivers shoeboxes to disadvantaged children around the world. The purpose of the shoeboxes is to gift a child, who may never have received a present, with small gifts that will enrich his or her life and to show the love of Jesus. Big Canoe Chapel has sponsored Operation Christmas Child and the Shoebox drive for many years.
How do I pack a shoebox? https://video.samaritanspurse.org/discover-the-fun-of-packing-a-shoebox-4/
Where do I get shoeboxes and shoebox labels? The shoeboxes will be on racks located in at the Chapel or in the Post Office starting October 6th and the label will be included in the box.
Can I find out where my shoebox went?You can track your shoebox by going online to www.samaritanspurse.org type “track box” into the Search box, and follow the instructions. This will allow you to print a label, pay for shipping and add a donation to the Greatest Journey, if you desire. And you will be able to learn later where your shoebox went.
Is there a way to send a shoebox without shopping? You may Build a Box online by going to www.samaritanspurse.org and typing “build a box” into the Search box; click on “read more “ at the heading “Build a Box, Bless a Child” and follow the instructions. The cost is $25, which includes the $9 shipping cost and allows you to add items of your choosing.
When is the deadline for returning shoeboxes? The deadline for returning boxes is November 16th. You may return your box to Trinity, Foothills Church or to the racks in the Postal facility or at the Chapel.