Trail misinformation

To the editor:

There has been a lot of misinformation about the route change of the Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride and our stop at McFarland Park. This was a difficult decision involving several issues that were never resolved.

Our organization is a not-for-profit 501(c3) organization of 11 volunteers. The board made this decision; no one outside our board had a part in this decision.

We would like to address the following misinformation that has been circulating.

1. The city of Florence was not involved in our decision.

2. The city of Florence did not stop us from entering McFarland the past two years. This was our decision.

3. The Florence/Lauderdale Tourism Board was not involved in the decision. The tourism board has provided invaluable assistance over the past 12 years with organizing activities associated with the ride, including events in Waterloo. Alison Stanfield is employed by the tourism board; however, she has been a volunteer member of our board since the beginning of this event.

4. Thunder Creek of Chattanooga, our major sponsor, buys 1,000 shirts from us, puts their name on back, and sells them. They also make a large donation to our scholarship fund, hosts the kickoff party every year, and allow us to sell merchandise at all of their functions.

5. None of the vendors at Waterloo make contributions to or financially support our-programs.

6. We will continue to promote Waterloo and the walkway that we started.

7. The city of Waterloo was asked to help offset some of the expenses of this ride by making some vendor contract changes, but this request was denied. This ride is funded solely by the AL-TN Trail of Tears Corridor Association, Inc.

8. The increase in the number of ride participants each year continues to cause problems getting everyone into the small town of Waterloo.

The ride began as a way to recognize the trail with highway markers and to educate the public about the Trail of Tears. We now provide $60,000 in scholarship funds each year for Native American students. It costs a tremendous amount of money to cover the expenses associated with the event and the education programs.

We thank all of you who have joined us and invite you to continue riding with us wherever the ride goes. Our mission will always be to bring awareness and to help the Native Americans. Those of you who purchased official merchandise and ordered a brick have helped in the mission.

Perry White

President

AL/TN Trail of Tears Corridor Board of Directors