From the President: Are you ready to volunteer?
One of the challenges we face as an organization is finding ways to involve our members who want to be more active.
Many people, members and non-members, love the parks of the South Cumberland and spend weekends and holidays on the trails. It’s not unusual for some of those people to appear at the Friends annual meeting or to send messages and ask us to let them know if they can help with anything we need.
Well, we do need help. But do we give members enough chance to help beyond giving their money?
To build a stronger organization, we need to provide our members with ways to use their talents and apply those talents to something they love.
Twelve members serve on the Friends board of directors, and some others serve on standing committees, most notably the Community Relations Committee. Our webmaster and newsletter editor are volunteers. A few other volunteers fill in at ranger stations. That should be just the beginning of our list, but, unfortunately, it’s currently the whole package.
For these reasons, I’m beginning some small steps to form a planning group of Friends volunteers. Park Manager John Christof has assigned Ranger Anthony Jones to help with this effort—to identify projects and help with resources.
What would the opportunities be? Trail maintenance and construction offer the most obvious projects for volunteering. Yet, there are other kinds of projects that can improve and enrich the experience for park visitors and, at the same time, can protect and conserve the more fragile areas of the parks and natural areas.
We should plan well, so that we waste neither our goodwill nor the time and energy of volunteer members.
Jeff Hunter, regional director of the American Hiking Society, offered some excellent suggestions in a talk recently at the State Friends Conference. Hunter, who has been very active in organizing volunteers to work on the Cumberland Trail, said most of the trail systems in American have been built and are maintained by volunteers.
Among Jeff’s suggestions: Give volunteers clear goals and training, provide food, some entertainment, and an opportunity to socialize, and add an educational component.
Sound like fun? You bet. So, if you can offer your own suggestions or would like to join the planning, let me know. Logging onto the Friends website, may also be a good place to start.
Latham Davis
President, Friends of South Cumberland State Recreation Area, Inc.
Many people, members and non-members, love the parks of the South Cumberland and spend weekends and holidays on the trails. It’s not unusual for some of those people to appear at the Friends annual meeting or to send messages and ask us to let them know if they can help with anything we need.
Well, we do need help. But do we give members enough chance to help beyond giving their money?
To build a stronger organization, we need to provide our members with ways to use their talents and apply those talents to something they love.
Twelve members serve on the Friends board of directors, and some others serve on standing committees, most notably the Community Relations Committee. Our webmaster and newsletter editor are volunteers. A few other volunteers fill in at ranger stations. That should be just the beginning of our list, but, unfortunately, it’s currently the whole package.
For these reasons, I’m beginning some small steps to form a planning group of Friends volunteers. Park Manager John Christof has assigned Ranger Anthony Jones to help with this effort—to identify projects and help with resources.
What would the opportunities be? Trail maintenance and construction offer the most obvious projects for volunteering. Yet, there are other kinds of projects that can improve and enrich the experience for park visitors and, at the same time, can protect and conserve the more fragile areas of the parks and natural areas.
We should plan well, so that we waste neither our goodwill nor the time and energy of volunteer members.
Jeff Hunter, regional director of the American Hiking Society, offered some excellent suggestions in a talk recently at the State Friends Conference. Hunter, who has been very active in organizing volunteers to work on the Cumberland Trail, said most of the trail systems in American have been built and are maintained by volunteers.
Among Jeff’s suggestions: Give volunteers clear goals and training, provide food, some entertainment, and an opportunity to socialize, and add an educational component.
Sound like fun? You bet. So, if you can offer your own suggestions or would like to join the planning, let me know. Logging onto the Friends website, may also be a good place to start.
Latham Davis
President, Friends of South Cumberland State Recreation Area, Inc.
Labels: President's Message
posted by Ron Castle @ 10:19 AM
6 Comments:
At November 12, 2007 2:53 PM ,
tnprime said...
Hello, I have long wanted to give back to the park that I love to spend time in. As with many, my ability to provide financial support isnt there, however helping in the park is a possiblity.
I would love to see some areas cleaned up from the downed beetle trees, especially the affected campgrounds. Perhaps chopping and cutting some of the large logs into usable pieces to lessen impact on the surrounding area by foraging campers.
Perhaps even a new trail!
I have often long hoped that a philanthropist would put some money into buying more land to buffer the park. This seems to be the largest threat that bare hands alone cannot fix. However a relatively small amount of money from the right person could work to solve.
At November 16, 2007 9:28 AM ,
Latham Davis said...
TNprime, as you describe yourself, you describe me. Another step was taken last Saturday at the Friends board meeting at the Monteagle Inn-- a step to organize a real program for volunteers. The object is to join with others who feel as you and I feel about the natural areas, to enjoy the company, and to take on projects that help the park. We don't want to waste anyone's time. So we're going to organize well with the park rangers.
In a month or two we'll send out a call. Stay in touch.
At November 17, 2007 11:39 AM ,
Harry Williams said...
We spend a lot of in Beersheba Springs and in the Stone Door/Greeter Falls area. I don't have any great ideas, but I'd love to be able to help. Keep me posted, as well.
At November 18, 2007 4:54 PM ,
Roadkill said...
Glad to hear of some work on using volunteers. Look forward to info on the website.
At January 15, 2008 6:49 PM ,
NickD said...
I've done volunteer exotic pest removal for another Friends' organization. We'd do only one species per workday (Privet, honeysuckle, or whatever) and pick a time of year when it's easy to ID the target. A few Friends members (or repeat volunteers) were trained as team leaders. On workday, each would supervise a small squad.
Don't work 'em too long and afterwards provide light snacks and hot or cold drinks depending on the season.
The Hemlock Woody Adelgid fight could have a volunteer component. The predator beetle lab at Young Harris College in N.GA is funded by (and partly operated by) volunteers. Would-be volunteers nearby are seeking training on how to place/release them properly once the lab raises enough beetles.
At January 17, 2008 4:55 PM ,
Anonymous said...
It's fun to read these comments. Thank you all.
As of this week, I can now mention some names of people key to the volunteer program. Frank and Peggy Cregor live in Altamont, are semi-retired but also operate Cregor Adventures, an adventure travel company. They are co-chairing the volunteer program.
Another name is Ranger Anthony Jones. You might say Anthony is a free-range ranger, but he's based mainly at the South Cumberland Visitors Center. He's the key liaison between staff and volunteers and has developed a list of projects for our volunteer program, mainly trail projects. Anthony has a lot of trail experience for a young guy.
We need a list of volunteers who can help in several different ways -- not only with a little muscle and skill on the trail, but also with logistical support.
I'll get Frank and Peggy into this blog, and we'll go from here.
Blog on.
Latham
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