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Time to DO something, folks (read on. . .
particularly the Volunteer Schedule
below).
As with most volunteer groups, the Friends of the Parks is stepchild of a
marriage between Need and Don't Have. But it wasn't always that way.
"Once upon a time, Need met Have, married, and did pretty well; the Friends
of the Parks was conceived and flourished. Then came relatively hard times. Work was
scarce. Money sources dried up. The honeymoon was over. Need and Have parted ways.
"Need eventually met Don't Have. They married, but only because they had so
much (or so little) in common. The Friends of the Parks had a home, but was sickly,
and not expected to survive. Even the Fairy Godmother gave up!
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"After living on Life Support for about a year and a half, some one mercifully
pulled the plug. Surprisingly, the Friends of the Parks lived, but drifted into seclusion.
"Like all wood nymphs, the Friends of the Parks evasively darts hither and
yon in shadows, hoping secretly to be seen and appreciated."
NEWSFLASH! Rumor has it that this once elusive and oft misunderstood recluse has emerged
in the Jefferson Ohio area. Apparently disguised as a Friends of the Parks member, the
appearances coincide with the bi-monthly meetings (see schedule below).
The Friends of the Parks needs nurturing. . . Now is the time!
Are you some one who appreciates the potential of the Friends of the Parks
and all that can be accomplished?
There is a growing number of people who feel this way, y'know.
I'd like to acknowledge them all here & now, but there are just too many (sigh).
The Friends of the Parks promises much of what was
missing from the failed relationship between Need and Have. Plenty of work for us
volunteers, and the wherewithal to guarantee fellowship in blood, sweat and blisters.
Awww, c'mon. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
The worst that can happen is a real appreciation of the greenspace --- and
perhaps the poison ivy --- here in Ashtabula County.
The nicest part is how we encourage Fairy Godmother to give the Friends of the
Parks another shot at happiness and fulfillment!
And the price is right! Join with us!
Membership in the Friends of the Parks is free
(yes, FREE!) for those who volunteer at least ten hours' work per year.
Better yet, all the fresh air and exercise is free, too!
Of course, you're welcome to share in all this glory for as little as $7 per
year* if volunteerism isn't your bag. And you can still do some work if you'd like.
Think of the nice people you can meet. I've met most of them, and they really are very nice. Y'don't believe
me? Find out for yourself!
Give serious thought to this opportunity of a lifetime.
Handy with a rake and shovel? Falling behind in your calesthenics? Do the kids
need to work off some steam?
Do we have a deal for you:
Supply the energy, and we'll supply some tools!
The Western Reserve
Greenway/Trail needs you, too. The sooner it opens, the sooner we can all use it to hike, bike
and expand our horizons.
. . . . . VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE
. . . . . Volunteers are needed for landscaping
and general maintenance between 9:00 a.m. 'til 11:00 a.m. on the first Saturday of every
month, April through November, in the new staging area at the end of Old Austinburg
Road. . . at the bottom of the newly paved access road. If you're not familiar with
the Old Austinburg Road, it's just west of (and visible from) the Ashtabula-Austinburg Road
overpass near Forman Road.
The"National Make-a-Difference Day" volunteer
clean-up in the Western Reserve Greenway's main staging area on Lampson Road on 13th April 2002
was a success. Many thanks to all who helped. See the Western Reserve Greenway/Trail page
for more info.
Are you a budding author? There's a newsletter that begs attention.
Do you have ideas to bounce off the wall? We love people who are innovative, and
who are willing to share ideas and experiences.
Yearning to get into politics? Start at the bottom and work up!
Join The Friends of the Parks now. . .
Or, better yet, attend our meetings that are
held the first Wednesday of every other month at 6:30 pm in the basement meeting room at the OSU
Extension Office, 39 Wall Street, Jefferson, OH. The current schedule is:
June 5th, 2002; August 7th, 2002;
October 2nd, 2002; December 4th, 2002. . . Hey, you can figure
it out from there, no? Besides, I don't have a perpetual calendar handy.
Members wish to actually visit the parks and
properties held in our district. We'll call it "bonding," for want of a better word, but it makes
sense.
There will be more specific information in newsletters.
All kidding aside, folks, getting involved with the Friends of the Parks is more
than volunteerism. It's actually fun. It's educational. And it's much, much more. But one
can't swim without getting in the water!
For more information about Friends of the Parks, please write to the address at
the top of this page or e-mail us.
* Individual annual membership ($10 for family membership)
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