Dear Pam:

As the year wraps up, we at PPFF want to thank you again for all that you do. We would also like to wish you and yours the best this holiday season and in the New Year ahead!

Yours in the Outdoors,

Marci J. Mowery, President

TRAINING 

We are working on the 2023 training schedule, which includes a series of Zoom sessions for new and returning board members. These will happen in January and February.

Are there any particular skills that you and  your board members need? Let us know and we will see what we can make happen.

As a reminder, if you are preparing food to sell, someone (preferably several someones) will have their “Cooking for a Crowd” certificate. This four-hour course can be taken online at Penn State Extension and the $25 fee is a legitimate expenditure to train friends members. 

Access the online course at extension.psu.edu/cooking-for-crowds-online.

KNOW

We mentioned last month the return of I Love My Parks Week next May. One idea you might consider for the week is hosting a community, get acquainted event. Invite your "neighbors" - local residents, elected officials, tourism/chamber folks - out for a day in the park to introduce them to your work and what the park itself offers. We have found that oftentimes the people closest the park property are the least informed about what happens there. Some how-to and form materials can be found on the Friends Resources page of the website in the "Fact Sheets and Other How-Tos" dropdown. #ILOVEMYSTATEPARKS

KNOW, TOO

After being asked several times to sign contracts for vendors attending a park or forest event, we realized that we needed to create a contract for food vendors that not only recognized the upcoming DCNR vendor protocols, but also protected the interest of the friends group. The new contracts were field tested by several chapters this summer, and with their input, we created the new food vendor contract.

Pam has also worked to create a flow chart to help you when deciding if an event needs insurance, are contracts needed, etc. All of these items can be found at Event Prep and Planning on the Resources page. Expect some refinements over the coming weeks - and share your thoughts with Pam on what might be missing!

KNOW THE THIRD

As you know, it's annual report time again. And Conflict of Interest time as well. Each member of the chapter's board (as well as all PPFF board, staff, and volunteers) must complete the COI each year. You should review the Policy each year and complete and sign the form itself.

See Friends Resources, Annual Report and Supporting Documents dropdown for the annual report form and the conflict of interest forms to print and sign. If you prefer, this year Pam turned the COI into a Google Form you can complete online. 

SHARE

In November, Secretary Dunn joined PPFF for a conversation about the three new state parks and what is happening in DCNR. If you missed the live broadcast, enjoy the video at our YouTube channel.