Accomplishments 2008

By supporting Friends we support Paynes Prairie

Revenue Projects

Friends carries out a number of activities to generate revenue. These include but are not limited to:

• Book shop operations
• Donations
• Membership dues
• Endowment fund development
• Special events
• Grant development and administration
• Provision of firewood at the Campground

Visitor Services Programs & Events

• Held a successful Star Gazing evening event in January
• Held a successful Art on the Prairie event in October
• Provided support for Literacy month event in June
• Continued Geology and Sinkholes hikes
• Continued The Prairie By Bicycle interpretive rides
• Continued the Gentle Walk and Talk program
  
  

Public Education Programs

• Supported Alligator Education programs by volunteers and staff for schools and other groups
• Provided funds for ranger-led interpretive programs
• Continued Friends-staffed interpretive programs
• Initiated contacts with the Legislative Delegation
• Participated in presentations to the Alachua County Board of Commissioners and the Gainesville City Commission
• Participated in Community Outreach presentations by Friends director JulieAnne Tabone and Park Services Specialists Sarah Herve
• Staffed information booths at local festivals and community events
• Staffed an information booth at the weekly Farmers' Market in downtown Gainesville
• Participated in the Florida Museum of Natural History's Butterfly Festival

Park Development Programs

• Supported remediation work on pavement and bridges for the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail Supported, through a Tourism Product Development grant, the reconstruction of
  the Savannah Boulevard entrance gate.
• Purchased longleaf pine and wire grass seedlings for ecosystem restoration project
  
• Received grant for funding of new native plant landscaping at Ranger Station
  
• Participated in support of the Old Florida Heritage Highway Corridor Master Plan
  
• Participated in creek clean-up program.
• Provided an additional power pruner for trail maintenance
• Provided maintenance on audio-visual equipment in the Visitor Center
• Provided new flagpoles at the Savannah Boulevard entrance
• Provided Hardware for bridge repairs on the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail
• Provided a new saddle for the working horse herd
• Provided veterinary medications for the working horse herd
• Provided funding to rebuild ATV for resource management
  
• Purchased landscaping design for South entrance
  
• Other miscellaneous equipment as needed

Citizen Support Organization (CSO) Program Service

• Continued regular quarterly publication of the Newsletter
• Participated in the Conservation Stewards Awards Banquet with ACT
• Increased membership to over 500
• Completed an internal audit of the corporation accounts
  
• Completed annual report filings with the State
  
• Held an Annual Election Meeting and reception at the Visitor Center
  
• The Friends of the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail, Inc. was merged into FOPP
  
• Adopted a Code of Ethics for Directors

More About Friends:
Citizen Support Organization
Accomplishments
Goals
History
The Board of Directors
Advisory Committee
Our By-laws
Annual Financials
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