APRIL 2011 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
2011 is an exciting year for Friends of Crowders Mountain, Inc. (FOCM or Friends).
March 5th we had a very successful program about the Lincoln Academy. Several Academy alumni along with relatives and friends; and Friends members attended for a total of 61. Many of the alumni talked about their experiences, and after the program, had an opportunity to reunite and reminisce. A recap of the program, along with photographs and a video, will be available on our website mid May 2011.
We are having an active April with the following programs:
Gaston County Cyclists bike ride was held to support FOCM. The net proceeds from 105 riders plus an additional $200 from the Club contributed $1445. Thank you GCC, and to the Friends who helped with registration and rest stops.
Earth Day at the Schiele – FOCM walked in the parade, exhibited and provided an interactive game and a puzzle for Earth Day participants. Thanks to those who staffed the tables, and had fun with the other kids.
Three Parks, Two States, One Trail hike – Several Friends are hiking to help celebrate the dedication of the Ridgeline Trail one year ago.
Friends will exhibit, and provide educational games at Redlair NatureFest (Catawba Lands Conservancy’s annual celebration) at Redlair Farm and Forest on April 30th. Help would be appreciated.
Superintendent Larry Hyde and I attended a very beneficial State Friends Conference in January.
In February I met with the startup Friends group at South Mountains State Park.
I’ll meet next week with the Friends of Kings Mountain State Park, and our Park Advisory Committee (PAC). Enhanced collaboration between organizations is the goal.
I’ve participated in several community events/activities in order to provide better exposure and networking for the Friends. This will be an ongoing activity.
Next month I and one other Board member will participate in a Gaston Quality of Natural Resources Stakeholders Group meeting.
In May the Friends of State Parks is planning a meeting with the Presidents of Friends groups in which FOCM will be represented.
The Friends website is undergoing a “redesign” to make it simpler and easier to access:
1. Online membership applications and payment;
2. Online donation payments;
3. Facebook;
4. Friends of Crowders Mountain, and Friends of State Parks, newsletters;
5. Email communications
We are now on Facebook at Friends of Crowders Mountain, Inc., check out our fan page and “like” us.
We will be using a free emailing service which should make emailing safer, as well as create a decrease in bounced/rejected emails. Also, emails will be simpler, more attractive and readable; allowing a more “user friendly” linking to websites and Facebook.
Our newsletter will be coming out at least bimonthly. It will also provide hyperlinks to Facebook, our website, and other sites of interest. Hard copies will be mailed to those requesting.
Funding of many of the traditional sources used to protect, and expand the protection of, our natural resources such as our state parks, local parks and trails, etc. is under threat of severely reduced funding or defunding at both the state and national level. This will reduce or eliminate the possibility of purchasing long desired/needed properties, should they become available. Some of the threatened NC TRUST funds are the Parks and Recreation Fund (PARTF), National Heritage Trust Fund (NHTF), and the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF). Gaston and Cleveland counties have received $27,621,834 and $16,406,947 respectively from these three funds over the past 20 years. OUR Park has benefited tremendously from PARTF, and NHTF to a lesser degree. Every $1 invested in land conservation returns $4 in economic value from natural resource goods and services alone. A good resource for more details is the Land for Tomorrow website http://www.landfortomorrow.org. If you value our precious resource(s) please contact your state and national senators and representatives.