Auditions Before you know it, January will be here and with it Auditions for the 8th Annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre at the Carlisle Visitors Center. The ALL VOLUNTEER group of Mystery in the Park Players will again be entertaining audience members next May 2013. Become a part of the fun and mark your calendars now for the January 8, 2013 audition at 7:00PM at the Carlisle Visitors Center. Auditions will be a cold reading from the script and men are always encouraged to Auditions. Questions should be directed to bxfmusic@hotmail.com anytime after November 1. HOLIDAY Lights The Heat wave will soon be over, school will begin, Halloween will come and go and it will be time to set up for Holiday Lights. On the Lighted Trail the Friends will be decorating our OUTDOOR area with the Theme of the Movie A Christmas Story. We will be deco- rating on November 10 from about 9:00AM to 1:00PM. We would love your input and help. If you are the creative idea person, feel free to email me your ideas to go with the theme. I have a rough (very rough) sketch of a decorating plan, but am ALWAYS looking for more help. If you love to decorate outdoors, then we can use your help on November 10 (heavy duty staple guns and zip ties welcome!) For more information or to contribute some ideas, please email bxfmusic@hotmail.com. Fall Hay Wagon Rides & Corn Maze Assistance The Fall Hay Wagon Ride and Corn Maze program at the Carlisle Reservation Equestrian Center is a very popular Fall program in the Metro Parks. It runs Saturday and Sundays from Saturday, September 22nd through Sunday, October 28th from noon to 4 p.m. each day. The Carlisle Naturalist staff has worked hard to expand the program to meet the demands of the growing attendance numbers. With all this expansion, we need to ensure the guests have a pleasant experience and also that we are able to manage the crowds that attend. One solution that has been successful in years past and will also be implemented this year is for us to charge $1 per person for both entry to the Corn Maze and for a ride on the Hay Wagons. The money collected will be directed back into the program s budget to offset costs for the seeding of the Corn Maze and to pay Hobby Hill Drafts for their services. We also publicly advertise that the end of the program is at 3 p.m., although it will technically run until 4 p.m. This is to make sure that all those who are in line by 3 p.m. will receive a ride. We will not admit people into the line after this time. We are asking Friends of Metro Parks to assist us during the Hay Wagon weekends to help sell/collect tickets. This program will require 3-4 volunteer participants each day; one person to sell tickets at the Grandstand, one volunteer to collect tickets at the Hay Wagon Ride, another to collect tickets at the Corn Maze and a possible fourth volunteer to help relieve others as needed. If you are interested in helping with this program, please contact Mary Ewers at the Carlisle Visitor Center by phoning (440) 458-5121 ext 232 or by emailing her at mewers@metroparks.cc. Thank you! 9
A Letter from the Director Dear Friends, I am honored to be with you today as you celebrate another year of unprecedented accomplishments. Since becoming Director a few short months ago, I am simply amazed by how much the Friends contribute to the success of the Lorain County Metro Parks. On behalf of the staff and the Board of Park Commissioners, we are extremely grateful for all of your work in each of our parks. We cannot say thank you enough for your contributions whether at French Creek Nature Center, True North Theater, at one of the Nature Nook Gift Shops, assisting with programs and animal care, Halloween Fair or Holiday Lights, the list goes on almost endlessly. This has been yet another exciting year for us with several new faces or old faces in new roles. We are excited that the construction of our new Mercy Recreation and Health Center is on schedule to be opened in January 2013 and the new Inclusive Playground will be ready for people of all abilities in June 2013. I, along with the staff, am so very appreciative for your expertise, caring attitudes, commitment and hard work that you contribute on behalf of the Lorain County Metro Parks. We would not be so incredibly successful without each and every one of you. I look forward to continuing our wonderful partnership and becoming even more successful in our endeavors in the coming years. Sincerely, James E. Ziemnik, Director Lorain County Metro Parks Columbia Park Volunteers Thank you to the steadfast volunteers at Columbia Park!! The Weekly Walker Leaders have had to put up with some rather hot and muggy weather even with the early morning time. Any work done in the afternoons has probably been almost unbearable. I guess it will even out when you are leading the walks this winter in the freezing cold! Please don t let this scare off any new volunteers because it is still a most enjoyable volunteering experience. -Thanks once again, Char Kline Columbia Corps Leader Friends Volunteer Orientation Each member of Friends needs to attend a 1 hour orientation session. Our regular Orientation will be on September 11th at 10:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. at the Carlisle Visitors Center. There will be an additional orientation this fall at Columbia Station on Tuesday, October 9th at 7:00 p.m. If you or someone you know would like to attend, please have them contact the park at 440-458-5121 to register! 10
Financial Report 07.01.2011 06.24.2012 BEGINNING BALANCE INCOME Cash Box In $ 5,150.00 Interest Income $ 15.27 Citizens Committee $ 1,580.00 Donations $ 388.80 Annual Dinner $ 302.00 Breakfast with Santa $ 2,133.00 Spring/Fall Pancake Breakfast $ 4,102.00 Murder Mystery Play $ 15,187.00 Annual Dues $ 1,989.00 TAPS Membership $ 395.00 T-Shirts / Patches / Vests $ 240.00 Volunteer Insurance $ 1.00 Nature Nook Income-Carlisle $ 7,105.65 Nature Nook Income-Schoepfle G $ 4,024.84 Nature Nook Income-Splash Zon $ 967.60 Nature Nook Income-Miller $ 22,659.28 Old Fashioned Christmas $ 408.45 Halloween Fair $ 11,917.78 Holiday Lights $ 9,060.06 Other Income $ 83.55 Schoepfle Gardens Plant Sale $ 1,818.00 Pop / Candy $ 71.25 TOTAL INCOME EXPENSES Bank Fees $ 593.21 Meals $ 83.45 Utilities $ 202.46 Cash Box Out $ 5,150.00 TAPS Expenses $ 979.28 Donation-Endowment Fund $ 10,000.00 Donation-Citizens Committee $ 6,880.00 $ 30,199.90 $ 89,599.53 Financial Report 07.01.2011 06.24.2012 Donation-General Park $ 17,000.00 Health Permit $ 255.00 Annual Dinner $ 567.53 Breakfast with Santa $ 582.13 Spring/Fall Pancake Breakfast $ 3,207.16 Newsletter $ 896.14 Office Equipment $ 803.00 Hiking Stick Program $ 327.38 Nature Nook COGS $ 14,030.00 Nature Nook Supplies $ 680.75 Nature Nook Tax - Carlisle $ 727.47 Nature Nook Tax - French Creek 174.65 $ Nature Nook Tax - Schoepfle Gar 246.84 $ Nature Nook Tax - Splash Zone $ 66.72 Nature Nook Tax - Miller $ 1,137.72 Pop / Candy / Popcorn $ 403.30 Miller Consignments $ 3,478.32 Office Supplies $ 901.87 Membership Supplies $ 232.43 Halloween Fair $ 8,499.94 Holiday Lights $ 3,284.30 Murder Mystery Play $ 4,908.19 Miscellaneous Expense $ 499.82 Park Sponsorships $ 129.40 Postage $ 619.55 Professional Services $ 6,938.92 Small Appliances $ 262.12 Old Fashioned Christmas $ 169.45 Volunteer Expenses $ 591.08 Corps Expenses $ 1,136.78 TOTAL EXPENSES $ 96,646.36 ENDING BALANCE $ 23,153.07 11
Awards 100 HOURS 2011/2012 GRAND TOTAL HOURS 17,306 Adkins, Eirene 177.5 June, Cheryl 558 Adkins, Gary 187 Kline, Charlotte 750.5 Azok, Donna 112.5 Lauffer, Donna 259 Bailey, Michael 103.5 Lauffer, Jeff 100 Barlik, Charlotte G. 232 Lauffer, Ron 201.5 Barlik, Robert C 231.25 Lawson, Jennifer 202 Bartin, Connie 287.25 Layton, Jo 101 Bartin, Fred 192.5 Miller, Maxine 153 Bowers, Brian 422 Moseley, Dotty 102.5 Bradley, Linda 226 O'Hara, Beverly 136.5 Breda, Cindy 116.5 Painter, Shirley 502.5 Brocklesby, Melissa 100 Pastor, Pamela 682 Clark, Elaine 382 Pitts, Sandy 950 Clark, Shane 213 Poley, Rosemary 218.25 Czipa, Patti Ann 178 Pritchett, Timothy 141.5 Dunn, Jeremy 148 Pyle, Kathy 138 Eging, James 151.5 Roessler, Gretchen 260.75 Ellis, Mary 207.5 Rothacker, Paul 123 Farmer, Karen 194.5 Sako, Charlie 304.25 Fedor, Darlene 164.5 Sako, Judy 452 Ferris, Linda 154.5 Singleton, Jan 108.5 Fide, Lisa 100 Smith, Dave 284.5 Fieger, Barb 187.5 Smith, Karen 131.5 Gildermeister, Cheryl 606 Solderitsch, Albert 100 Grasmehr, Bill 166.5 Solderitsch, Joyce 100 Herrmann, Harry 129.25 Spencer, Nancy 179.75 Herrmann, Jane 118 Sunman, Karen 167.75 Herstek, Charlotte 173 Swanson, Carl 114 Hirth, Margo 204 Thompson, Jim 105.5 Hoening, Teresa 131 Urban, Jeff 262.25 Holland, Bob 599.25 Weber, Eva 285 Holland, Marge 699.5 Weber, Tom 242 Horvath, Ruth 320.5 Wickman, Pauline 328.75 Joviak, Audrey 120.25 Wolf, Donna 246 Joviak, David 156 Wolf, Ted 170 Joviak, Nancy 152 Worcester, Charlotte 100 Awards Hour Pins 50 Hours Name Tags Krone, Toni 250 Hours Batcha, Joe Le Scoezec, Jeannine Barlik, Charlotte Bodnar, Dawn Lynch, Jennifer Bartin, Connie Bowers, Brian Masica, Bill Biddle, Sue Brocklesby, Brian Mika, Margaret Bowers, Brian Brockesby, Melissa Miller, Loretta Clark, Shane Burns, Bonnie Nash, Patsy Dunn, Jeremy Cordray, Jim Pabin, Theresa Dzoba, Elizabeth Cunningham, Carol Pastor, Arryona Horton, Ellen Eging, James Perkins, Janis Lauffer, Jeff Ellis, Mary Platt, Vincent Masica, Ethel Farmer, Karen Poley, Rosemary Roessler, Gretchen Fedor, Darlene Pyle Kathy Smith, Kyle Anthony Fide, Lisa Ramos, Minerva Wickman, Pauline Friedel, Dave Resar, Margaret Galvin, Barb Roe, Denise 500 Hours Griffiths, David Roessler, Gretchen Adkins, Eirene Hewitt, Bill Schneider, Mary Adkins, Gay Hewitt Joann Sekerak, Carol Clark, Elaine Hille, Ken Smith, Karen Cox, Catherine Hirth, Margo Spencer, Nancy Gremba, Diane Hoening, Teresa Stager, Sharon Kershaw, Mary Ann Hudak, Marge Straub, Adele Miller, Nancy K. Huntley, Gary Sunman, Karen Pritchett, Timothy Jenkins, Chuck Thompson, Jim Wolf, Donna Jenkins, Sandy Wickman, Pauline Wolf, Ted Joviak, Audrey Wiley, Barb Kapur, Desh Wiley, Jim 750 Hours Kasick, Nadine Bartin, Fred KIonya, Linda M. Brownson, Roger 12
Halloween.... Photography By: Roger Brownson.... 13 Awards Hour Pins Clark, Elaine 1750 Hours 3750 Hours Dankowski, Tom Kline, Charlotte Holland, Bob Grasmehr, Bill Sako, Judy Holland, Marge Lauffer, Jeff Sherry, Larue Lee, Dick Lawson, Jennifer Singleton, Jan Pastor, Pamela Smith, Dave Urban, Jeff 2000 Hours 4000 Hours Weber, Tom Brown, Betty Holland, Bob Wolf, Donna Kline, Charlotte Holland, Marge Sako, Judy 1000 Hours 4250 Hours Fieger, Barb 2250 Hours Holland, Marge Herstek, Charlotte Joviak, David Koury, Maxine R. June, Cheryl 6000 Hours Lauffer, Donna Gildenmeister, Cheryl Sako, Charlie 2500 Hours Weber, Eva June, Cheryl 6250 Hours Miller, Maxine Gildenmeister, Cheryl 1250 Hours Breda, Cindy 2750 Hours 7750 Hours Painter, Shirley Austin, Arlene Sandy Pitts Solderitsch, Albert Solderitsch, Joyce 3000 Hours 8000 Hours 1500 Hours Petraglia, Matt Sandy Pitts Czipa, Patti Ann Horvath, Ruth 3250 Hours 8250 Hours Kline, Charlotte Pastor, Pamela Sandy Pitts Painter, Shirley Swanson, Carl 3500 Hours Holland, Bob Pastor, Pamela
Cars @ Vermilion.... Photography By: Roger Brownson.... French Creek
Easter Egg Hunt.... Photography By: Roger Brownson....
Christmas.... Photography By: Roger Brownson....