How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Well, the site is now "officially open to the general public" and we've gotten a lot of positive feedback, fixed a few previously undiscovered glitches (thanks!) and settled into the daily maintenance routine. I'm still interested in any ideas you have about improving the site, so keep those cards and letters coming!
We've also spent quite bit of time exploring the property the last few weekends. To this point, we've discovered 2 additional creeks, a "new face" to what had been previously known as The Rock, a beautiful grotto in the bluff along one of the larger creeks
and that there's a lot of work ahead of us if we're ever going to get near the building stage (read - trees, trees everywhere!)
We did get 3 of the 4 old vehicles moved off the property, thanks to one of our new neighbors and found someone to do the road work once the necessary funds are available. I have spent quite a bit of time talking to folks about the overall vision we have for Stone Haven and have been tremendously encouraged by the enthusiastic response I'm seeing. The director for the local Independent Living Center has even offered to lend us a hand for our first Benefit Concert (planned for October 22 - more on that when the time gets closer) by playing bass guitar!
We're planning our first Volunteer Work Day for September 10 with a Creek Clean-Up Float Trip. I'm going to try and get some publicity for the event through the Missouri Dept of Conservation to help us raise awareness of the new venture, although it is admittedly WAY too soon to even begin thinking about offering float trips - but hey, we can have SOME fun along the way :)
As far as what's next - my current project is preparing a Power Point presentaion to use when the time comes, but we're really in Wait Mode on most things. The paperwork for the 501(c)3 status is ready, but the filing fees were raised on July 1 of this year, so we need to gather those funds before we can proceed and I'm hesitant to begin Full Force Promotion until we actually have approval. I don't anticipate any problems, but no sense in counting our chickens before they hatch - especially since there's a chance some of them might turn out to be roosters!
OK - that's all I have for this time.
Upward and Onward!
Marji
We've also spent quite bit of time exploring the property the last few weekends. To this point, we've discovered 2 additional creeks, a "new face" to what had been previously known as The Rock, a beautiful grotto in the bluff along one of the larger creeks
and that there's a lot of work ahead of us if we're ever going to get near the building stage (read - trees, trees everywhere!)We did get 3 of the 4 old vehicles moved off the property, thanks to one of our new neighbors and found someone to do the road work once the necessary funds are available. I have spent quite a bit of time talking to folks about the overall vision we have for Stone Haven and have been tremendously encouraged by the enthusiastic response I'm seeing. The director for the local Independent Living Center has even offered to lend us a hand for our first Benefit Concert (planned for October 22 - more on that when the time gets closer) by playing bass guitar!
We're planning our first Volunteer Work Day for September 10 with a Creek Clean-Up Float Trip. I'm going to try and get some publicity for the event through the Missouri Dept of Conservation to help us raise awareness of the new venture, although it is admittedly WAY too soon to even begin thinking about offering float trips - but hey, we can have SOME fun along the way :)
As far as what's next - my current project is preparing a Power Point presentaion to use when the time comes, but we're really in Wait Mode on most things. The paperwork for the 501(c)3 status is ready, but the filing fees were raised on July 1 of this year, so we need to gather those funds before we can proceed and I'm hesitant to begin Full Force Promotion until we actually have approval. I don't anticipate any problems, but no sense in counting our chickens before they hatch - especially since there's a chance some of them might turn out to be roosters!
OK - that's all I have for this time.
Upward and Onward!
Marji
