Dear Friends:

Those of you who ride the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail know that it needs
help.  Sometimes there are too many leaves and branches on the Trail.
In places there are bumps caused by tree roots.  Obviously, the Florida
Park Service needs help in keeping the Trail clear and clean, and in
repairing aging pavement.  To this end, a small group of us have banded
together as the TRAILKEEPERS, to help the Trail.  Right now that is
Chandler Otis, Chris Russell, and me.  We need a few more dedicated
souls to join with us.

Volunteer help is needed particularly  now because the State economy and
budget have restricted the operations of the Park Service.  They just
don't have enough Rangers or operating funds to get all the jobs done.
We help as substitute Rangers to drive the big leaf blower, clear downed
or low-hanging limbs, organize equipment for the inmate crew to flatten
those pesky root bumps, drive the tractor to kill the roots themselves,
and seal the cracks left by the roots.  Sometimes it's hot and boring
work, but sometimes it is fun, but your investment of time and effort
does provide a return of satisfaction when we see the Trail looking
better and safer for cyclists.  Without our help, the Trail will be a
less pleasant place, and perhaps less safe to ride.

We do the blowing job on Fridays, so you will need to be free on at
least some weekdays (thus favoring retirees).  Other weekdays may be
involved.  We try to keep off the Trail on weekends (except for our own
rides) because some of the equipment we use can cause congestion.  Once
a year (Autumn this year?) we kill the roots using a John Deere farm
tractor with a single-prong root rake.

If you are interested, please contact me at the above address, or at
333.3184.  There are some pesky bureaucratic steps to get over,
including signing on as a Volunteer with the Park Service, but that does
get you some workman's compensation insurance coverage for on-the-job
injuries.  And you are supposed to wear a "Volunteer" name tag and
T-shirt (provided) while on the job.  There is always Mickey Mouse with
any government activity, but you knew that!  Oh, yeah, you need a
drivers license and to be reasonably able-bodied.

If you have questions, please call me.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

George Edwards

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