2008-09 Activities of Friends of Belfast Parks:SUMMER:
August 1, 2009: Maine Citizens' Summit on Parks. Keynote speaker was Dr. John L. Crompton, the nation’s foremost authority on the real dollars-and-cents value of effective park and recreation systems. In addition to his insights into how a well-managed system can have a significant economic impact on a community, a roundtable discussion explored the kind of strategies, arguments, and vocabulary that concerned citizens and dedicated volunteer board members can use in fighting for appropriate budgets in these difficult times.
July11-12, 2009: 14th annual ARTS IN THE PARK. Click here or on the "Arts in the Park" tab above for information, photos, etc.
June 23, 2009: Quarterly Membership Meeting. Agenda items included a financial report, Arts in the Park update, a Dog Park Committee update, and a report on the upcoming August 1 "Summit on Parks." New business included discussion of saving the "McNally" property (adjacent to Belfast Common) and CMP property on the east side of Belfast.
SPRING:
May 31, 2009: "Playing It Safe at the Dog Park," a talk and slide presentation by Kate Dutra, dog trainer at Green Acres Kennel, Bangor, Maine. Dutra showed how to read canine body language to avoid situations which are stressful or dangerous for dogs.
April 4, 2009: 3rd annual "April Stool's Day." Quite a few pounds of dog poop were picked up from Steamboat Landing, Heritage Park, and The Common.
WINTER:
March 18, 2009: Quarterly membership meeting. Agenda items included the formation of a new "Friends of Belfast Dog Park" committee, which will be connected to FOBP in the same way that Arts in the Park is, viz., the chair of this new committee (Debbie Hockensmith & Dale Kuhnert) will be members of FOBP, and will report to them on a quarterly basis; FOBP pledged $3000 to the new playground to be constructed in City Park.
March 10, 2009: Eastern Maine Recreation & Park Association Meeting in Belfast. Members of Friends of Belfast Parks served luncheon to this group, and provided a Powerpoint presentation for Jim Bell, Director of Parks & Recreation.February 28: "Bowling for Biscuits" fundraising event at the Lookout Point Bowling Center yielded approximately $2000 toward maintenance and improvements to the Belfast Dog Park.
December 9: Quarterly membership meeting. Agenda items included a financial report, a discussion of the dog park, and the beginning of a discussion of a possible Dog Park Committee, requests from Parks and Recreation Director Jim Bell, and collaboration with the Hutchinson Center on a speaker for next year.
November 28-9, 2008: Fundraising event at the dog park yielded $2059 towards the cost of the new pavilion, built by Jim Shaver, with help from Viking Lumber.
FALL, 2008:
October 2: FOBP hosts a dog park users' meeting. About 28 people attended to review the dog park rules, to discuss what they liked about the dog park, and what they thought could be improved. Volunteers were sought for upcoming programs and events.
September 20: FOBP Tent at 104th birthday of the City Park. Volunteers served cake and ice cream.
September 16: Quarterly membership meeting. Agenda items included a financial report, membership growth, and election of officers. They are:
President: Carol Good
Vice President: Chris Urick
Secretary: David Boyer
Treasurer: Dale Kuhnert
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| FOBP purchase signs for many of the parks in Belfast. |
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| John Crompton spoke to a crowd of approximately 70 people on August 1, 2009. |
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| Dog trainer Kate Dutra instructs an audience member about how to handle a dog fight. |
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| October 2, 2008: Debbie Hockensmith leads a discussion about what people like, and what they think can be improved, about the dog park. |
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| Volunteers Rosie Rodgers and new FOBP Secretary, Dave Boyer, serve cake and ice cream at the 104th anniversary of City Park in September of 2008. |
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| The location for Arts in the Park is pretty spectacular. This photo was taken from the picture window in French & Webb's conference room. |
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