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PRESIDENT'S REPORT
by Beverly Paulson, President of the Board
Centennial talk is in the air and activity is everywhere! Plans
for events at Crater Lake National Park and gateway communities are in
full swing. I will attempt to bring you current with some of the
activities. The Board of the Friends of CLNP met Saturday, January 26
for five hours at the Douglas County Library in Roseburg. Susan
Comerford, a local professional artist, set the tone and inspiration for
the day by exhibiting three large paintings, part of the series she is
creating of scenes around Crater Lake.
The Board made additional plans for the Employee Reunion, an event
scheduled for August 26, 2002. This is coordinated by the Friends and
the Administrative Division of Crater Lake National Park. This reunion
will be held in the park and former employees, volunteers, contractors
and concessionaires are invited. Please spread the word.
Beginnings are wonderful and endings are satisfying. Such was the
case when we announced the book titled, "Crater Lake National Park - A
History" authored by Rick Harmon is at the OSU Press with a due date in
March. It is described in the OSU Press spring catalogue. Watch for
information on availability.
The Board is securing a second display unit, featuring a beautiful
4-fold picture of Crater Lake, complemented with information on the
Friends and the Park.
One will be at the Steel Center on a permanent basis and one is
available to be used at community events throughout the area. It is
designed for indoor use. Centennial 2002 is a perfect time to showcase
Crater Lake and to promote membership of the Friends.
Call George Buckingham, coordinator of the traveling display at
(541) 783-3136, or e-mail crlaranger@aol.com
to reserve this unit for a
special event in your community. Another topic at the board meeting was
membership recruitment. The Friends currently have 89 memberships. Can
we challenge ourselves to increase our membership to 200 in 2002? It is
possible if every member of the Friends recruited at least one new
member! Share the newsletter, a brochure (enclosed) and your experience
at the Park with someone who has a passion for this beautiful, unique
and inspiring place.
Yes, centennial talk is in the air. On January 28, I attended a
presentation at the sixth annual Southern Oregon Visitors Association
(SOVA) Tourism Symposium at the Seven Feathers Convention Center in
Canyonville. Cindy Deas, Crater Lake Centennial Coordinator,
facilitated this session. SOVA represents a seven-county area and
facilitates communication and marketing ideas with the gateway
communities to Crater Lake. They are an effective group! Chuck Lundy,
Superintendent of Crater Lake National Park, gave a detailed overview of
plans for the Centennial Celebration on August 25.
Sue Shaffer, chair of the Cow Creeks gave an overview of the Cow
Creek legend regarding the formation of Crater Lake. This account is in
the book "The Mountain With A Hole In The Top," a publication of the
Shaw Historical Library. She said, "We should stop and learn from the
experience of 7000 years ago. Lust for greed, power and position often
lead to destruction. It is better to help one another and our
community. As we pass through this life, we need to extend our hands to
assist each other."
Allan Foreman, chair of the Klamath Tribes, described the tribe's
early life in the Crater Lake area and said, "The Tribes still holds to
the sacredness of the mountain. It is truly a holy place where all will
be blest!"
Look for and listen to Centennial Talk and Writings. It seems to
be everywhere!
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
by Chuck Lundy, Superintendent,
Crater Lake National Park
Thoughts On 2002
Early yesterday evening I walked out of my office and headed for my
car, preparing to drive home. Then something happened. I looked up at
Garfield Peak to see the fog swirling and the wind howling as another
winter storm brewed. I turned left to ski for an hour, instead of
turning right to drive home, and experienced that renewed connection
with the park that is so easily lost in the press of daily life. Its
moments like these that remind me why Crater Lake National Park is a
national park.
The issues, priorities, budgets and crises we deal within managing
the park come and go. What remains is the park itself, and the unique
and inspiring idea behind it. As I look at the park, and watch how
visitors interact with it and appreciate it, it encourages me how well
we've done in our first century. It also gives me hope that one hundred
years from now, our visitors will still be able to feel that connection
with the resources and meaning of the park, and that the park will
continue to succeed with that unique national park concept of
preservation and enjoyment.
The growth and support of the Friends of Crater Lake National Park
are equally encouraging to me. Beginning with our retreat late last
year, continuing through the collaborative planning of the park reunion,
and most recently in our meeting to start developing the Adopt-a-Trail
program, I'm impressed with the renewed sense of stewardship and energy
within the Friends. While the centennial year, and the century ahead,
will bring challenges and opportunities we can't predict, the active
support and involvement of partners such as the Friends will always be
vital to the long-term success of our national parks. Thank you for
what you contribute to Crater Lake National Park!
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