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704 Lisburn Road | Suite 102 | Camp Hill, PA 17011 | 717.236.7644
Dear Pam:
While summer doesn’t OFFICIALLY start until June 20th, for many the season begins with Memorial Day weekend. Visitors across the state flocked to state parks and forests. Your work to improve these places is commendable and make the visitor experience even better. Thank you!
Marci J. Mowery, President
TRAINING
LAST CALL! A free interpretive hosts training (best practices for working with the public) will be offered ONE LAST TIME at Codorus State Park on June 17 and 18.
Unfortunately, it will be "one LAST time" - the curriculum designer is no longer making it available at no cost so next steps for the educational staff are under consideration. There is, again, no cost (PPFF covers the cost of the materials) but you do need to register. Check out the flyer for additional details.
KNOW
As evidenced by your annual reports, several groups have new board members who may not know who's who at PPFF. In fact, some who have been around for a while might like a refresher. Until we meet in person (Chapter retreat, anyone?), here are the basics:
Marci Mowery, President of PPFF. Come to me whenever you have a big picture question or need help with a bothersome issue. If it's policy, writing (or finding) a grant, a "should we or shouldn't we?," I'm the first place you should start. I can help you think strategically and love to brainstorm new ideas. If you'd like to do that from the seat of kayak or in a pair of hiking boots, I truly do believe our brains work better outdoors. I can be reached at the Camp Hill office (as can Jenna, Tasha, and Bernadette) at 717-236-7644.
Jenna Behringer, Office Assistant. Jenna processes all of our online store orders (and fills your Chapter's need for sales items as well), wrangles a group of office volunteers and more details we can to think about, and answers the phone. If you need materials for an event, Jenna can provide handouts of all sorts. A regular ol' waterbug, rivers, lakes, streams are her natural habitat.
Tasha Ferris, Public Engagement Coordinator. Tasha loves to kayak – even bought a second boat so friends can’t say things like, “Well, I’d love to go but I don’t have a kayak.” With years of graphic design and project management experience, Tasha communicates PPFF’s mission to the outside world - and to your chapter with her monthly social media tips. If you don't receive them and want to, let her know!
Bernadette Howard,is our bookkeeper and expert on all things financial. If you're the group's treasurer, you will know Bernadette very well. She handles deposits, statement balancing, check-writing - how the money has to come in and go out. Like any true numbers type, she knows how things have to be done and can help you stay on the right side of the auditor and IRS.
Pam Metzger, Membership Coordinator and Western PA Office. When it involves your technology, it's Pam. She manages the online donations/ payments system (NEON) and has set up donation pages, reports, and automatic donor acknowledgments for each chapter. She manages our website, posts your events to our calendar, and promotes your activities through the weekly Take Five/Fridays With Pam. If you have a question about how any of that works or need changes to what's set up, get in touch with Pam at 814-233-5703.
The youngest member of the staff, Phoebe (here with her peeps), is a quick learner and we have no doubt that before too long she’ll be writing for the newsletter, managing donations, and mailing passports – making all of the rest of us quite redundant. In the meantime, when she isn’t out in the field exploring, she is diligently protecting PPFF staff by tearing the stuffing out of rogue stuffed office sharks.
KNOW TOO
We link our contact information in each issue of the Monthly along with a reminder to check the Friends Resources page of the PPFF website. There is a LOT of good information there - just look at all those dropdowns (and there's more below those...)
SHARE
We just finished the annual awards banquet where we celebrated the amazing work of people making a difference in conservation, recreation, and stewardship. Learn more about your fellow volunteers with a click to the program, linked on the PPFF home page.
And it's NOT too early to think about nominations for 2025!
SHARE TOO
We will soon begin to see movement on the state budget. PPFF supports Governor Shapiro’s proposed budget for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as well as the $8.5 million investment in trails and $5 million into the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps. We will keep you apprised with where the budget is heading.
SHARE YET MORE
The Friends of Beltzville recently received their first Bags to Benches bench from NexTrex's recycling program. Chair Diane Szwajkowski invites any interested chapter to reach out to her if you'd like to find out how to make it happen for your park or forest.
BONUS!
We have the potential opportunity to purchase some trail tools. If your group has a need, please fill in the requested information on the linked Google Sheet. Be as specific as you can—links to Forestry Supply or other vendors work! We may not be able to meet all needs, but hopefully we can put a dent in them.
RESOURCE REMINDER:
The PPFF website is a great source of information and guidance with forms you can use and information you should know.
You receive this monthly email as a result of your position with a Chapter of the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation, our board, or interested DCNR staff.
In spite of the {Required by Anti-Spam laws} unsubscribe link provided below, PLEASE do not unsubscribe from this email or you will miss important Chapter information. If you are no longer a member of the Chapter's board, please contact Marci or Pam to let us know.
