By Warner M. MontgomeryWarner@TheColumbiaStar.com

In 1976, three men, members of The Explorers Club based in New York City, established a chapter of the club in Columbia to serve members in SC, NC, GA, and TN. Horace Byrne, Jim Jackson, and George Fulton held the inaugural meeting October 29-31, 1976, in Georgetown.

Past chairs of the chapter have been Horace Byrne, Voit Gilmore, Dr. John Vernberg, Dr. Winona Vernberg, Dr. Bruce Rippeteau, Dr. John Mark Dean, Dr. Billy Moore, Alan Shoemaker, Dr. Bill Vartorella, Jim Welch, and Dr. Steve Stancyk. Current officers are Dr. Warner M. Montgomery, chair; Nena Powell-Rice, vice chair; Ginny Newell, secretary; and Dr. John Safko, treasurer.

Celebrations for the 30th Anniversary will include:

+ An Executive Dinner to honor Explorers Club officers from New York will be held at the Capital City Club Thursday night, October 26. Brian Hanson, Explorers Club vice president for chapters, and Dr. Scott Winters, Explorers Club Board of Directors member, are the honored guests.

+ An Explorers Exhibit will be open free of charge to the public at the State Museum Friday, October 27, Friday. In the exhibit will be fossils, insect collections, Native American collections, and nature photography

+ Lectures by Explorers will be held in the State Museum Friday, October 27, from 9 am to noon. They are free and open to the public.

Lake Murray B-25 Rescue Flag Expedition

Dr. Robert Seigler, physician, Greenville, SC

John Hodge, pilot and attorney, Columbia, SC

Dr. Bill Vartorella, Craig and Vartorella, Inc., Camden, SC

Rosebank/Farenya Slave Trade Flag Expedition

Dr. Warner M. Montgomery, Publisher, The Columbia Star

Exploration through Public Health

Dean Donna Richter, Arnold School of Public Health, USC

Exploration through Entomology

Janet Ciegler, researcher and author, Columbia, SC

Exploration through Archaeology

Nena Powell Rice, SC Institute for Archaeology & Anthropology

Exploration through Conservation

Ginny Newell, ReNewell Inc., Fine Art Conservation

+ A Young Explorers Challenge will be open to the public Friday, October 27, 2 -5 pm on the Columbia Canal, Riverfront Park. This triathlon of endurance, ingenuity, and intelligence will feature four high school teams (A.C. Flora, Dreher, Hammond, Heathwood Hall). They will compete in

A Kayak relay race on Columbia Canal (sponsored by River Runner)

A Chariot race along the canal to State Museum

A Science & Technology Quiz at State Museum

The 30th Anniversary Gala will be held at the Marriott Hotel Friday, October 27, beginning at 6 pm. Black tie, explorers attire, or native costume required. (Reservations only. $65 per person). The Gala will feature

Southern Exotics - appetizers for the Explorer's palate. Sponsored by Adluh Flour & Midlands Chef Association

Honors and Recognitions by Dean Mary Anne Fitzpatrick, College of Arts & Sciences, USC

Presentation of Awards by Dean Donna Richter, Arnold School of Public Health, USC

CSS Hunley Update by Dr. Jonathan Leader, SC State Archaeologist

Keynote Address , The Eccentric Explorer Who Rode A Caiman, by Howard Burnham

+ A Wateree River Expedition on Paleo-Indian Archaeology & Antebellum History will be conducted Saturday, October 28 beginning at 8 am. (Reservations required, $50 per person) Dr. Rodger Stroup, director of the SC Department of Archives & History will serve as guide. The tour will visit

Adamson Mound , a Paleo-Indian site near Camden, with interpretation by Chris Judge, archaeologist, USC Lancaster, and a demonstration of Indian tool making by Tom Mancke, an expert in primitive technology.

Boykin , a restored Pre-Revolutionary Village, with lunch at the Mill Pond Restaurant

Stateburg for tours of The Borough Plantation, an 18th century mansion of Dr. W.W. (General Fighting Dick) Anderson, and the Miller-Ellison House (c. 1816), home of Grainger and Floride McKoy

Goodwill Plantation (c.1795), site of first white settlement in Richland County and birthplace of Gov. Duncan Clinch Heyward. After a tour of the restored Mill, Mill Race, Mill Pond, Blacksmith Shop, Slave Cabins, and Heyward House, the tour will end with an Oyster Roast with all the fixings.

For information, contact Dr. Warner M. Montgomery, Warner@TheColumbiaStar.com or 771-0219.