High Vistas Newsletter, 2014-2015 Winter-Spring

Because of You‌

Volunteerism is stronger then ever!

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Home Schooling spans 469 Miles Page 3

Future Stewards engage Page 4

Winter 2014

High Vistas Journal The newsletter for members of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway

Pat Yourselves on the Back!

You Planted 1,200 New Trees

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and Cut Down 1,000 Old Ones!

s a Blue Ridge Parkway visitor you come for the scenic views and the Parkway experiences you love.

The blazing fall leaves, lush forests, long distance vistas and spring flower blooms draw you back year after year.

Sadly, those views are compromised by commercial development and overgrowth. But thanks to you, FRIENDS is able to work to save the views you cherish.

The Save Parkway Views mission is two-fold: 1) plant

trees to restore the ecological buffer zone between the Parkway and encroaching development; and 2) clear overlooks and vistas of overgrown trees and plants to open up the breathtaking views that keep Continued on page 2 >>

Continued from page 2

Thank You Volunteers!

2,226 x 102,347 = $2,506,968

Parkway Volunteers visitors coming to the Parkway year after year.

In November 2014, 85 volunteers braved freezing temperatures to help plant 1,200 trees at FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s tree planting event along the Parkway at Bamboo Gap, North Carolina. Working alongside staff of the National Park Service - Blue Ridge Parkway, children, youth and adults from several communities in western North Carolina planted 700 white pine seedlings and a mix of 500 hardwood seedlings. We are so grateful to those volunteers who participated in the planting and to all who give so generously to FRIENDS making these plantings possible.

Since the program began, your dollars have provided for 6,440 trees to be planted in areas where views and ecological buffers have been compromised.

Also that same November, ten chain-saw wielding members of a National Park Service Arborist Incident Response Team arrived in Roanoke to begin one of the most significant efforts that Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway has ever undertaken. With funds raised through Virginia Blue Ridge Parkway license plate sales, overlooks and vistas have begun to be cleared of overgrowth starting with this week- long blitz in the Roanoke area. FRIENDS’ goal is to continue these efforts until all 469 miles of vistas and overlooks on the Parkway are restored!

You should be proud to know that your Virginia Blue Ridge Parkway tag is making a real difference for the Parkway.

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Hours of Service

In Wage Equivalency

NEW FRIENDS WEBSITE has launched!

Have you visited the new site yet?

Email your comments to Staff@FriendsBRP.org

Congratulations to the Roanoke Valley Chapter of FRIENDS for receiving an award from the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation for excellence in cultural resource protection for Adopt-A-Cemetery program projects.

Thanks to all who give so generously to support projects of such cultural and historical significance.

In Memory of Richard Maurer Volunteer and Friend

Memorial Funds will provide park benches and support for educational programs in the Highlands District.

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway

Thanks Zach and Zoë Thank you for Empowering Education on the Parkway

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he Schmitt family from New Jersey traveled all 469 miles of the Parkway last September. Because of programs that you help support, Zach, age 10, and Zoë, age 11, were able to experience an educational week they’ll remember for the rest of their lives!

Zach and Zoë sent letters to FRIENDS about their adventure. We loved them so much, we thought we’d share one of them with you.

I’m sure Zach and Zoë would thank you for giving to FRIENDS and keeping the Parkway

www.FriendsBRP.org

alive and thriving so that millions of others can enjoy the same wonderful experiences.

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Your Dollars are Working Future Stewards Invest for the Future

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hank you for supporting FRIENDS Alternative Break Program which is growing and going strong. In October, six students from Notre Dame University were hosted for a week by the Fischer Peak Chapter of Your donations keep FRIENDS. Their service projects youth engaged in our park included repairing one of the cemand cultivate stewardship for the future. etery fences on the Parkway.

If you want to become a steward or would like more information on stewardship programs, please contact Fernando Gracia at 540.772.2992 or Fernando_Gracia@ FriendsBRP.org

These programs are working, thanks to you:

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Alternative Break Program Junior Rangers Program

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Summer Steward Internship Youth Volunteer Program

Success for Cultural History Sowing the Seeds with Sweat Equity and Membership Funds

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embers like you made it possible for the Brinegar Cabin Garden to be brought to life last Summer! For two years the garden was dormant due to lack of funding and manpower. The Northern Highlands Chapter of FRIENDS took on the project to ensure the interpretive story of the Brinegar farmstead is complete.

Kids and adults alike enjoy learning about the different types of crops that were grown in early Appalachian life. Flax, for example, was planted, harvested and spun into linen thread to weave fabric for clothes. Interpretive

Ranger Jacki Sloop explains, “It’s difficult for children to imagine that something growing in the garden eventually winds up being our clothing.”

Your membership in FRIENDS means that historically important sites like the Brinegar Cabin remain a vital part of the Parkway experience!

FRIENDS Board of Directors President - KEN RANDOLPH, Rockydale Quarries, Corp Vice President - DAVID POTEET, Nomad Mobile Guides Secretary - LYNN DAVIS, Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources & Environment Treasurer - J. RICHARD WELLS, Lesiure Media 360 STEVE BEYER, Leisure Media 360 KIM BLAIR, Ferrum College MARTHA BOGLE, National Park Service Superintendent, retired WILLIAM BRENTON, JR., The Brenton Group KYLE EDGELL, Caricature Artist MARY JANE FERGUSON, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians GEORGE HUMPHRIES, Professor of History, Mars Hill University JONATHAN IRELAND, Ballyhack Golf Club PERRY KEYS, Sales Executive Enterprise Software

FRIENDS Staff SUSAN JACKSON MILLS, PH.D, Executive Director MICHELE G. CRIM, Director of Marketing & Donor Fundraising FERNANDO GRACIA, Director of Programs & Community Outreach BROOKE NUNLEY, Membership Services Coordinator MARY ELLEN BELCHER, Administrative Assistant

FRIENDS Volunteer Staff Jill Darlington-Smith Kathy Van Duzer Virginia Ehrich

Richard Hoffman Pam McCallister Pauline O’Dell

P.O. Box 20986 Roanoke, Virginia 24018 540.772.2992 | 800.228.PARK (7275) www.FriendsBRP.org | Staff@FriendsBRP.org Insta