The Rabun Rendezvous

View a photo gallery of the Rabun Rendezvous

“The Rendezvous was unlike anything before or since, a gathering of uninhibited men down from the mountains. The event attracted perhaps a hundred mountain men, their Indian wives, and assorted visiting tribesmen. Amusements included gambling, drinking, storytelling – continuing day and night.”

—The Mountain Men by George Laycock

Thank you to all who braved the weather to attend the 2013 Rendezvous and support the work of Rabun TU!

Your support is essential and very much appreciated.

2013 Rendezvous By the Numbers:

Total Attendance – 174

Meal Tickets sales  Approx $4,755 

Silent Auction Total: 132 items for $8,502

Art:  19 items: $977
Fishing trips:  8 items: $1,535
Other outings:  5 items: $1,205
Golf Gift Certificates:  5 items: $280
Packages of Certificates:  2 packs: $60
Crafts:  25 items: $1,297
Fly Rods, Fly Reels, Fly Lines & Other F/F Gear:  23 items: $1,392
Flies with fly boxes:  11 items: $525
From the Kitchens:   5 items: $106
Miscellaneous:  29 items: $1,125

Bucket Raffle: $2,320 for 67 buckets with 98 draws

5 Cash Donations totaling $810                                                                     

Sold 12 Dream Trip Raffle Tickets  $120                                       

Total Receipts – $16,507                                                                               

Total Expenses – ($7,492)                                                              

Net Total – $9,015

26th Annual Rabun Rendezvous

Program: Franklin Tate – The Youth Program in TU

The Rabun Chapter of Trout Unlimited proudly presents A Celebration of Rivers, Streams, Trout, and Trout Fishing

Please Join Us for the 26th Annual Rabun Rendezvous“The Rendezvous was unlike anything before or since, a gathering of uninhibited men down from the mountains. The event attracted perhaps a hundred mountain men, their indian wives, and assorted visiting tribesmen. Amusements included gambling, drinking, storytelling – continuing day and night.”
–Quote from The Mountain Men by George LaycockWhen: Saturday, February 2, 2013Where: The “NEW” Dillard House Conference Center, located behind the Dillard House in Dillard, Georgia.

Who: The more the better. Everyone interested in protecting our cold-water resources, including their families, friends, and all who love clean cold streams, trout, and trout fishing.

Social: About 5 o’clock PM folks will start gathering to “pick the pig” and enjoy the rocking chairs on the porch of the Conference Center. There will be snack trays of cheeses, crackers, veggies with dips, and fruits. Soft drinks and ice will be available. If you want something stronger, better bring it yourself. There will be a fire inside to warm your buns.

The Foxfire Boys (as seen in the Chattooga River episode of TUTV’s “On The Rise”) will again generously provide their ‘down home’ style of bluegrass picking and singing for your musical entertainment. Remember to ask about The Foxfire Boys CDs (now 4 of them), which will be available.

The large screen TV will be showing the Rabunites trout fishing some of their favorite ‘secret spots’. This will be the ideal time to be looking over the raffle and silent auction items. We welcome donations of raffle and auction items at the door, fellow TU’ers.

Dinner: Fish, chicken, and pork with all the side dishes and desserts that have made the Dillard House so famous, will be served about 6:30. It is a serve yourself buffet, so you will not leave hungry.

Program presenter: Franklin Tate – The Youth Program in TU

Cost: $30 for adults and $25 for youth of 15 and under. Cash, personal checks, VISA or MasterCard credit cards. We don’t do advanced tickets or reservations; just pay at the door.

Lodging: The Dillard House has set special rates for rooms starting at $49 (plus tax) for those that call and tell them you’re attending the Trout Unlimited Rabun Rendezvous. Call: 706-746-5348 or Toll Free 1-800-541-0671 You must tell them you are there with Trout Unlimited to get the special rate.

The 2012 Rabun Rendezvous provided funds for the following: GA Trout Camp for youth; Sponsorship of student interns working in NE GA fisheries with the GA WRD and the USFS; Sponsoring two youngsters attending the GA Trout Camp; Financial support of the GA DNR Smithgall Woods Conservation Education Program; Rabun Co Middle School Mentoring Program; Gift Stream Explorer memberships; GA “Back-the-Brookie” Program; Kid’s Fishing Event at Tallulah River (USFS); GA WRD Outdoor Adventure Day; River clean-up day at Chattooga DH; In-stream habitat improvement workday with USFS & GA WRD on a Rabun County brook trout stream; Fly Fishing for Vets Wounded Warriors Program; Handicap Access on Tallulah River; Casting for Recovery; UGA coldwater Research Endowment; National TU’s “First Cast”, “Embrace-A-Stream”, & “SE Land Protection” Programs; Support of Rabun TU’s award winning website; and Trout Magazine subscriptions to all school & public libraries and 2 state parks in Rabun County

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Request to the Rabunites and Friends

With the budget crunch faced by the agencies (the US Forest Service and GA WRD), Trout Unlimited can again step-up in 2013 and be the lead financial partner in protecting, preserving, connecting and enhancing the cold-water resources in Northeast Georgia, including the “Back the Brookie” activities. The Rabun Chapter’s major fundraiser of the year, the Rabun Rendezvous, is just a few weeks away. Now is a good time to ask friends and supporters for donations of goods and services for the silent auction and bucket raffle.

Need an idea for what you can donate?

Art, crafts (wood working, fishing flies, etc.), a campout with fishing, a day of lake fishing, a day of deer hunting on a lease, a day of wild turkey hunting, vacations, golf packages, raft trips, weekend use of mountain cabins or condos at beach, and goodies from the kitchens of the Rabunites (cakes, breads, baskets with canned veggies, jams, jellies and preserves) have always been popular with our guests. Instead of buying something to donate, consider just donating the cash.

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The twenty-fifth Rabun Rendezvous on January 21, 2012, was the largest ever!

  • $8,840 received for meal tickets
  • $3,988 received for raffle ticket sales on 66 buckets & 90 items
  • $11,299 received for silent auction sales for 135 items
  • $110 for Dream Trip raffle tickets sales for GA Council of TU http://georgiatu.org/
  • $24,237 total gross revenue
  • Approximately $15,600 net cleared after expenses, plus $600 additional in cash donations

WAaaahWHOoooo!

 

 


  • Conserve, Protect, Restore

Rabunite Legacy Funds

Honoring Chapter members who have gone on round the bend . . . The Rabun Chapter has created a special fund for memorial donations. The Rabunite Memorial Fund will be used only for conservation and education projects benefiting the cold water resources of Northeast Georgia. Details here.

Hedden Creek Workday Brings Out 44 Volunteers

Multiple groups and generations came out to honor the memory of Rabunite Bill Kelly in a 44-member strong conservation conclave, which descended upon the Double Bit campground to do good deeds for wild brown trout. Details here.

Creating a Chapter Membership Directory

Many of our members have expressed an interest in contacting other chapter members. Your Board of Directors has decided to pursue the creation of a chapter membership directory as a way of providing contact information to chapter members. Please provide as much or as little information as you wish to share by filling in the form. Send in your directory info here.

Raffle to Save Our Trout

Help the Rabun TU Chapter Save Our Trout and you could win a Sage One Series 4 wt., 4 piece 9' fly rod & SAGE 2030 reel - $1000 value. Tickets are $3 each or 4 for $10. Drawing will be held during Chapter picnic on July 16, 2013 Details here.

Chapter Calendar

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