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LRA 2023 Calendar of Events
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Lake Rabun Foundation Annual Letter
Please see our letter posted to our Foundation Annual Fund at:
https://lakerabun.org/lake-rabun-foundation/how-to-contribute/annual-fund/
Dear Valued Supporter,
Prior to the invocation at the LRA Labor Day meeting, Reverend Zach Martin, Pastor, Clayton First United Methodist Church and Boat Church Minister, recognized LRA members for their generosity and good works in the Rabun community. He also mentioned the impact of the LRA scholarship program. He shared the excitement expressed by a student in his youth program upon learning that she was the recipient of an LRA scholarship.
It was a wonderful, unsolicited tribute to LRA members and the Foundation from a highly respected member of the community. Please know that you are making a difference in Rabun County.
Among the highlights of this year’s 20 new scholarship awards was a scholarship to the
son of a 1997 scholarship recipient. And for the first time, two $5,000 scholarship awards were made to students enrolled in graduate school programs-both in the field of child health care.
Equally as important, the Foundation made grants to almost 40 Rabun County non-profit organizations and charities. The LRA and the Foundation have provided support for the men and women of the Lakemont Wiley Volunteer Fire Department for more than 25 yearsand that continues today.
The 2022 Annual Fund will once again be the cornerstone of the Lake Rabun Foundation’s fundraising. Your support of the Annual Fund reflects your commitment to the mission of the Foundation and its work in the community. This year many are feeling the impact of the economic turmoil, and that is when our assistance to others is needed more than ever. It is easy to donate online. CLICK HERE and make your donation. You can also mail in a check. See the instructions below.
Thank you for your support. Best wishes for Thanksgiving and a joyful Holiday Season.
Steve Raeber
Lake Rabun Foundation
Please make check payable to:
NGCF-Lake Rabun Fund
North Georgia Community Foundation
615 F Oak Street-Suite 1300
Gainesville, GA 30501
2023 LRA Membership Dues Renewal are ready!
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Day after Thanksgiving Hike – Minnehaha Falls
Don’t forget about the day after Thanksgiving Hike
Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing are fabulous but following your
feast it’s time to work it off at the traditional LRA day after Thanksgiving
Hike. Our family-friendly tradition continues, and thanks to the generosity of Hal & Julie Taylor and the other Lorelei owners we will enjoy
a new location for our hike this year!
Please join us at the historic Flat Creek Schoolhouse located in
the Upper Narrows on Bear Gap Road (just below its intersection with Low Gap
Road, and across Flat Creek). We will see the circa-1890 schoolhouse, used
prior to the impoundment of Lake Rabun. Family obligations allowing, Julie
will regale us with tales of its fascinating history!
Our hike will start here, and we will walk approximately 1.25
miles along Bear Gap Road offering spectacular views of the Upper Narrows and
Joe Mountain and complete our outbound hike at the breathtaking beauty of
Minnehaha Falls. The entire hike out and back is 2.5 miles and will take
approximately an hour and a half.
There is no charge for the hike, but so that we might plan for
accommodating everyone at the Flat Creek Schoolhouse, please RSVP to Pat Hickey
at pthickeyjr@gmail.com or
(404) 754-7829 and let us know how many will attend. Due to somewhat
limited parking, we urge you to carpool as well.
What: Day After Thanksgiving Hike, other than the short climb to
Minnehaha Falls, the hike is easy and mostly level.
Time: Friday, November 25, 1:00 pm.
Place: Flat Creek Schoolhouse; Bear Gap Road. (headed from the Low
Gap/ Bear Gap Road intersection, the first building on the left after
crossing the new concrete culvert over Flat Creek); we will direct
you in parking.
Bring: Family members and friends, a water bottle, and comfortable
shoes. Dress for the weather. Please no dogs.
For more information and to RSVP about the hike, contact Pat Hickey at
Rabun County is now the Wooden Boat Capital of Georgia!

L to R: Pat Hickey, Charlie Arp, Lake Burton resident Andrew Harris, State Representative Victor Anderson and Ben McCracken. Photo by: “K.A. Hamdy-Swink & Feather-Tales”
GA State Resolution
The resolution reads, “Whereas, the three principal lakes in Rabun County, Lake Burton, Seed Lake and Lake Rabun, have long and rich histories of wooden boat ownership that date back to the 1930s; and whereas, there are over 200 vintage wooden boats being operated on the Rabun County lakes on any given summer; and whereas, many of these vintage wooden boats are over 75 years old and have been in Georgia families for generations; and whereas, Lake Rabun and Lake Burton have annual vintage wooden boat parades and shows each year that draw spectators from all over North Georgia and beyond; and whereas, these events provide enjoyment for both the young and the old and generate tourism activity that contributes to the economic well-being of Rabun County as well as the entire Northeast Georgia area. Now, therefore, be it resolved … that the members of this body recognize Rabun County as ‘The Wooden Boat Capital of Georgia.’”
Background
9.1.22 Wooden Boat Resolution Comments
When we first hear the distant rumble of the engine and finally spy a wooden boat cruising down the lake it evokes fond memories and cannot help but bring a smile. Whether it is the familiar Halls #1 or Rabun Boathouse 7, or another of the classic wooden boats that call Lake Rabun home – when I hear that sound and see a classic wooden boat I know I am at the lake!
Because of the large number of vintage wooden boats that call our Mountain Lakes home, Rabun County was recently decreed “The Wooden Boat Capital of Georgia” in a resolution adopted by the Georgia General Assembly. Both the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia Senate passed resolutions honoring this designation.
We are fortunate today to have with us two esteemed guests to help honor the wooden boat traditions of our North Georgia lakes, and in particular the rich history of wooden boats on Lake Rabun and Lake Burton.
Our first guest is Andrew Harris. His committed leadership was the driving force behind the resolutions. Andrew is a former Lake Rabun resident, and he presently resides at Lake Burton. He experienced early the rich tradition of the wooden boats on our lakes, and not only spearheaded efforts to obtain the resolutions, he also organized the inaugural wooden boat parade in 2020 at Lake Burton in connection with their Centennial celebration. Andrew submitted the resolution because he wanted Georgians to be aware of yet another reason to visit Rabun County, and particularly our beautiful pristine Lakes. He has thus honored our lakes and started a new wooden boat parade tradition!
Our next guest is House District 10 State Representative Victor Anderson, representing Rabun and portions of Habersham County. Victor is local – a life-long resident of the district first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2020. He is a graduate of Habersham Central High School, and despite hailing from the heart of Bulldog country, received his a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Honors from Georgia Tech. After working for the Georgia Power Company for 10 years, he left to pursue his family businesses. Currently, Rep. Anderson is the second-generation co-owner of Anderson Carpet One Floor & Home in Alto. Victor has served as a church deacon, and as a member of several volunteer boards of directors and served on the Habersham County Planning Commission. Victor married to his high school sweetheart, Kim who joins him with us today.
Clayton Tribune Article:
Rabun proclaimed ‘Wooden Boat Capital of Georgia’
https://www.theclaytontribune.com/local-news-newsletter/rabun-proclaimed-wooden-boat-capital-georgia
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