The year 2008 has proven to be an exciting year and it is time to celebrate our successes that recognize our great volunteers.  Without our volunteer's hard work, whether helping with small or large projects, our progress would have been severely limited.

We will be holding our annual "Pioneer Harvest Feast" (volunteer

appreciation dinner) on Saturday, December 13th.  This is when we thank those individuals who have assisted the Cascade Geographic Society with the organizations many projects this past year.

The "Pioneer Harvest Feast" will be held at 5:00 p.m. in the "Tyee Bear Lodge" after our annual "Christmas Along the Barlow Trail".  As always, the food that will be served will be absolutely delicious and will be a spaghetti dinner that will feature "Anna's Secret Oregon Trail Sauce".

And, following what is always bragged to be an absolutely great meal; volunteers will be bestowed with special recognition(s) for all of their hard work for the year 2008.

"Christmas Along the Barlow Trail" begins at 1:00 p.m. in "Echo Lodge"(the storytelling lodge).  All of our volunteers are encourage to come and enjoy themselves.  There will be free holiday goodies and hot drinks, Christmas caroling, traditional holiday music performed by our two flutist volunteers

--- Cyndi Hubb and Jade Lutz.  Michael will be performing "Christmas Tales

From Old Oregon".  And, of course, Santa Claus will be on hand for the little ones.

To assist us in preparing for the awards and getting the facilities ready for your arrival, please help by doing the following:

1. Email us a list in everything you have participated in this past year, which would greatly help our memories.  This would include, but is not limited to, such things as the following:

    ~ Assisted with tours of the "Portland Underground";

    ~ Assisted with work parties in the "Shanghai Tunnels";

    ~ Assisted with the "Oregon Trail Quilt Show";

    ~ Assisted with the "Living History Weekend";

    ~ Assisted with the "Mount Hood Huckleberry Festival & Barlow Trail

Days";

    ~ Assisted with the "World's Record-Breaking Watermelon Launch", a special event at the "Mount Hood Huckleberry Festival & Barlow Trail Days";

    ~ Assisted with the "Mount Hood Salmon & Mushroom Festival";

    ~ Assisted with the "Scarecrow Contest", a special event at the "Mount Hood Salmon & Mushroom Festival";

    ~ Assisted with “Christmas Along the Barlow Trail";

    ~ Assisted with historical tours;

    ~ Assisted with the construction of the "Archeological Resource Laboratory";

    ~ Assisted with restoration at the "Oregon Country Settlement" (living history village);

    ~ Assisted at "Stage Stop Road Interpretative Center";

    ~ Assisted with securing artifacts for exhibits;

    ~ Assisted with gathering books for our "Research Library";

    ~ Assisted with gathering historical documents for research and archiving;

    ~ Assisted with "Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration";

    ~ Assisted with "Mount Hood Public Lands Clean-Up";

    ~ Etc.

2. Email us if you plan to be at the "Pioneer Harvest Feast" and how many will be in your party, since we have to prepare the right amount of food.

3. Email us if you plan to stay overnight at the "Tyee Bear Lodge" after the "Pioneer Harvest Feast" and how many in your party.

4. Email us if you would like to participate in the entertainment at "Christmas Along the Barlow Trail".  We know that a good many of our volunteers are extremely talented, and could utilize your assistance.  So, please let us know what talents you may have that we can utilize for this important event.

5. Email us if you would like to assist in some way at "Christmas Along the Barlow Trail", such as acting as a door person at "Echo Lodge" (the storytelling lodge), assisting with parking, etc.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the "Christmas Along the Barlow Trail" and the "Pioneer Harvest Feast" on December 13th, 2008 .