2008 Annual Report - January 2009

Paris Mountain State Park Friends

• The Park Center exhibits are complete! At the grand opening in June, original CCC men and their families cut the ribbon. Lynn Stoval from the Greenville Water System and Lou Fontana from SCPRT also attended the ceremony.

• We had another successful Friends Day in April. WYFF was kind enough to broadcast public service announcements about the event. We are well on our way in the plans for this April's event. Check our website for updates.

• Approximately 4000 school children participated in the Discover Carolina and high school programs this year, lead by Interpretive Ranger Cathy Taylor. We had 432 people in the summer program plus 56 people in Cathy's Saturday hikes. The Friends 4th Saturday programs saw 234 people. And 821 people attended the popular Music in the Woods series over the summer as well, thanks to the work of Sarah Clanton.

• The Friends won the President's Award from the National Association of State Park Directors in 2008 for their part in the renovation of the bath house into the new Park Center. Phil Gaines (SC State Park Director) presented the award to the Friends at the Pazdan-Smith Group offices downtown. Go Friends!

• The park staff has a new John Deere Gator, courtesy of the Friends. We purchased the much-needed vehicle at the end of the summer. It will come in handy during Friends Day, the Camp Buckhorn renovation and in everyday activities.

• The Friends helped fund the new wayside signs that are now installed at the park. Look for them as you hike and bike the park.

• We have moved our membership database to a program called Constant Contact. It will help us stay in closer touch with our members, and increase donations, volunteerism and exposure.

• Camp Buckhorn is due to close at the end of this year for the long-awaited renovations. The lodge will be updated but still keeping with CCC historical standards.

•The Graham Foundation has generously lead this effort with a $100,000 challenge grant based on a 2:1 match.

•The Pazdan Smith Group, with special appreciation to Joe Pazdan, has agreed to donate preparation of the design and plans, a $30,000 in kind gift.

• The Hollingsworth Funds ($20,000), Parkland Trust Inc. ($10,000), and The Sakas Foundation ($10,000) have all been extremely generous in these tough economic times.

• Many individuals, including Gene McCall and the Arthur McCall Foundation, have been very charitable as well.

• We say good bye to Gene McCall, Marie Burgess and Betsy Smith and thank them for their work on the Board. We welcome Rob Howell, Stan Freemon and Sue Beattie to the board.

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,
Allison Walker
President, Paris Mountain State Park Friends