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The best tool we have to help preserve Crowell Hilaka is the place itself! The four open house events allow people to get a look at the property and get a sense of its potential. One down, three to go! Let’s get the word out to friends and neighbors. You may use this non-political template to make fliers to distribute at your church, school, job, or activity meeting place:
http://www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org/uploads/4/3/4/1/4341799/ch_open_house_flier_2014_with_credits.pdf The next opportunity to visit the property is this Sunday, October 5. 2-5 pm . Volunteers will be posted at especially scenic locations to take pictures of your whole group that you can upload onto the Richfield Together page. We can ALWAYS use more volunteers! Instructions and orientation provided on site. Contact Corey Ringle corey.ringle@gmail.com or 216/299-1051 to volunteer this Sunday. To volunteer at later events, sign up here: http://www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org/ . Signs supporting Ballot issues 10 & 11 have sprung up all over Richfield! If you would like a sign to display in your yard, or want to contribute to, or help with the campaign, please visit www.richfieldtogether.com . The Richfield Together campaign is the most viable option for preserving Crowell Hilaka. So imagine your FoCH board’s dismay when we found out that as a non-profit organization, we aren’t allowed to contribute funds to that effort! After much tearing of hair and gnashing of teeth, we realized that there WAS something we could do to help with campaign costs. And we did it! Last year many, many people collectively pledged several thousands of dollars toward FoCH’s purchase of the property. We turned out to be a few million dollars short. But were hoping to contact these generous supporters sometime later to ask if they could re-direct those pledges toward some possible restoration project on the Kirby estate at CH. However. The campaign is a higher priority. We are in the process of contacting supporters, releasing their pledges, and urging them to write a check for that amount to the Coalition for Greater Richfield. We are happy to report that many already have! Imagine our beloved president Corey, in a dramatic stance upon the top of the gas cut, crying out “ RELEASE the PLEDGES – And let slip the Dogs of War!” Kinda stirs the blood, doesn’t it? Anyway. Please give whatever you can to the Coalition for Greater Richfield at www.richfieldtogether.com. Meanwhile, we had a fundraiser already set up. We consulted with members of the Coalition to see if we should turn it over to them – or even cancel it. They said it sounded like a great event and we should keep it rocking. Music for the Millwheel will go on as planned October 11 at Farm Flanagan’s massive 19th century barn. Doors open at 7. Concert starts at 7:30. Music by Cleveland Jumping Fleas, Backroom Boys Bluegrass Band, Tina Bergmann & Bryan Thomas. Technical support by Woodsy’s of Kent. Concessions, campfire ( weather permitting) available during intermissions. To learn more: http://www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org/music-for-the-millwheel.html Proceeds will go toward as-yet-undetermined projects at CH. ( We have a list! ) . Final approval for any work will, of course, be up to the RJRD board representing the people of Richfield. Next Friends of Crowell Hilaka meeting : Tuesday, October 14th, 2014 at 7:00pm: - Update on Richfield Joint Recreation District and timeline. -Update on Coalition for a Greater Richfield and timeline. -Tinker’s Creek Green on the Green, Hudson: Report and thank you - Music for the Millwheel, Flannigan Farm: Report and thank you - Crowell Hilaka Open House: Still looking for volunteers - Update on Oct 18th open house - Update on Oct 26th open house -Third annual Christmas Cookie Sale - Finances: Committee Update - Marketing: Update (brochures) (social media) - New Business We’re normally a pretty casual group. A little more intense and excited in the past couple months, but still friendly. Visitors welcome! Lynn Richardson
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We had a great meeting Tuesday evening! If you were able to join us, thank you so much for your time! If we missed you, here's a brief synopsis of what was missed:
Your pal, Corey. It’s a new era in the history of Crowell Hilaka.
The very talented, energetic board of the Richfield Joint Recreation District has embraced preservation of Crowell Hilaka. They have been working pretty much non-stop to get Crowell Hilaka on the ballot in November. The conservancy, township, village, and FOCH have all been working along with them. It’s an impressive group of people, and it has been an honor to be on the team with them. The RJRD board members are: Bob Lucas blucas@rjrd.org Bill Taylor btaylor@rjrd.org Donna Skoda dskoda@rjrd.org Floyd Ostrowski fostrowski@rjrd.org Kelly Clark kclark@rjrd.org Pat Norris pnorris@rjrd.org Ralph McNerny rmcnerny@rjrd.org The board’s work so far: http://www.richfieldvillageohio.org/VillageHall/RichfieldJointRecreationDistrict.aspx RJRD meetings for August will be Mondays, 7:30 at Village Hall. They are open to the public. As awesome as this is, the future of Crowell Hilaka won’t be secure unless the people vote for it. By law, the RJRD board can’t use public money to campaign for passage of the levy. What we need is a campaign committee. The job of the campaign committee is to let people know about the levy and encourage them to vote for it. It is an absolutely crucial role. If you are interested, contact Bobbie Beshara (Mayor@richfieldvillageohio.org) for more information. It’s not yet clear how much FoCH as a nonprofit corporation can be involved in the political campaign. We’re looking into that. Meanwhile, we ARE allowed to educate people about Crowell Hilaka: Ohio’s Hidden Treasure. Other opportunities to help: Friday, August 8. March with FoCH in the RIchfield Parade 6:00 pm Parade forms at the old Richfield Elementary School (across from the Village Town Hall, 4410 West Streetsboro Road, Richfield, OH 44286). Please wear a shirt promoting Crowell Hilaka (a FoCH shirt, an old Crowell Hilaka camp shirt, a homemade shirt promoting Crowell Hilaka, etc.) If you would like to order a new FoCH shirt, please contact Lucy: lhanigosky@cox.net Sunday, August 10. Community Days. RHS booth 10am – 5pm A perfect opportunity to talk with people! In addition to our display, we will have a kid-friendly activity. Plus, if we have enough people volunteering to demonstrate and teach lemmi sticks, we can keep that going throughout the day. If you can be in the parade or take a shift at community days, contact Corey corey.ringle@gmail.com TBA Trail clearing & housecleaning; work party at CH TBA Open house docents October 11 Music for the Millwheel 7 pm at Farm Flanagan A fund and friend-raising event. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 kids 12 & under. Performers include:
Follow the link above for more details and ticket info. - The next Friends of Crowell Hilaka meeting is Tuesday August 12, 7pm at Richfield Historical Society Museum. We should have dates and details on the work party & open house by then. Things are moving so fast, it’s hard to say exactly what else we might be talking about. We hope to have a member of the RJRD board talk to us about their work and what else we could do to help. Visitors and new members welcome! RJRD ( Richfield Joint Recreation District) beginning work on Crowell Hilaka
The RJRD is in the driver’s seat to get Crowell Hilaka protected and managed for public access. If successful, Crowell Hilaka will be owned by the citizens of Richfield- both Township and Village- starting next year. As you read this, members of the RJRD board are being appointed. Once the board is formed, they will be working to meet required deadlines for the November ballot. Thank you to EVERYONE who went door-to-door, or donated toward the brochure and mailer campaigns, or helped at an event! Friends of Crowell Hilaka was very influential in helping to build support for the RJRD. We hope to keep providing education, support, and the means for those living outside Richfield to contribute to preserving this beautiful heritage site for everyone to enjoy. Got it done! - FoCH by-laws have been revised to reflect our support of public access. - FoCH website www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org updated to show our support of RJRD. - FoCH brochures distributed, revised, and available for more distribution - FoCH tables at Richfield Community Garage Sale and at Richfield Food Truck Rodeo Next up! - FoCH pledge drive to buy the property is on hold. If RJRD delegates any responsibility to FoCH, those who have already pledged will be given the opportunity to maintain their pledge under new terms. Donations to support the promotion campaign are still welcomed and are tax deductible. http://www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org/pledgedonate.html - Richfield Community Day - Sunday, August 10. FoCH has applied to sponsor an ice block sledding activity. Besides being fun and unusual, it gives us an excuse to highlight Kirby history - Friends & Fund Raising Event. October 11 at Farm Flanagan. The Planning team has room for creative individuals. - Open House at Crowell Hilaka. Western Reserve Land Conservancy says it is very likely they can arrange at least one open house this fall. Date TBA - $$$$$ Decisions to be made. With all of the upcoming opportunities to promote Crowell Hilaka, the FoCH board has some decisions to make at our meeting this Tuesday, July 8; at RHS Museum. Meeting time: 7pm. Besides the upfront cost of various events and literature, we need to consider ads & promotional items ( such as T-shirts & yard signs). Everyone welcome. The more input we have into these decisions, the better. Hope to see you on Tuesday, Lynn lynndragonwing@roadruner.com Discussions continue between Richfield Township and Village on the formation of a Joint Park District ( JPD ) that could preserve Crowell Hilaka. A JPD will allow citizens of both communities to be able to decide the issue by voting on it.
Friends of Crowell Hilaka sent out large picture post cards to every household in Richfield last week, urging them to contact their township or village officials. The mailer included a tear-off coupon to be returned to these officials. So far 58 coupons have been returned - all in favor. But time is running out. A vote on the JPD may take place as early as June 5. If you would like to help the neighborhood canvass team in the next few days, contact Corey Ringlecorey.ringle@gmail.com or 216/ 299-1051. Team members visit just a few houses at a time, meet the neighbors, and let them know that they can make a difference by contacting their officials. Talking points are provided. Raising awareness/ raising money both in and out of Richfield: our next project is a table at the community rummage sale on Richfield Village Green. Saturday, June 7. 8am – 3pm. We are talking about Crowell Hilaka AND selling odds & ends from a couple of estates. We can use help setting up ( 7 am at the Historical Society Museum) and staffing our table. If you are able to volunteer a couple hours, just show up. Next meeting of FoCH is Tuesday, June 10. 7pm. Richfield Historical Society Museum updates on the JPD progress; vote on revised bylaws; discussion of upcoming events - Lynn Richardson Good Evening My Fellow FoCH-er's!
Our next membership meeting is Tuesday, May 13th at 7:00pm at the Richfield Historical Society's Museum (3907 Broadview Road, Richfield, 44826). We have a lot to prepare for as we have a plethora of fund/friend-raisers over the next few weeks! Agenda:
Thank you to everyone for all your time and efforts! We couldn't have been this successful without everyone's efforts! Your friend, Corey. Richfield Township and Richfield Village are in series of discussions about formation of a joint park district. IF they can agree, THEN the issue would be placed before the people of Richfield in November. The citizens of Richfield ( both Township and Village ) would decide if they want Crowell Hilaka enough to pay for it. One of the main areas of concern: The township’s only revenue comes from property taxes. More houses = more income. There is room for lots of houses in the 300 acres of Crowell Hilaka. On the other hand, there are many people in Richfield who moved there because it is rural & too many housing developments would destroy that. This is something that only Richfield residents can decide for themselves.
What we can do to help: - Lower the cost to Richfield by making a pledge to Friends of Crowell Hilaka. Support matters! The $33,000.00 pledge from the Buckeye Trail Association has come up many times in the discussions – as much for the commitment it represents as the actual dollar amount. The beauty of a pledge is that you can help save this land AND help preserve the historic structures ( which might not be included in the Joint Park District Plan). If the deal falls through or the park district doesn’t need our help, then you pay nothing. - Donations help spread the word. Promotion costs money: brochures, fliers, signs etc. Donations are tax-deductable. http://www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org/pledgedonate.html - Hands on help. Our meeting on May 13 ( 7pm at Richfield Historical Society Museum) will include a training session on How to Present the Best of Crowell Hilaka. Useful talking points for casual conversations, booth staffing, and school presentations with FAQs and fun facts. also -We are accepting items for our rummage sale and plants for our plant sale. We need helpers for the June 22 Sunday Funday. We are forming committees for the second “S’more Enchanted Evening” Fundraiser, bylaws revision, and Camp Clean Up Day AND if you live in Richfield...........contact your government officials. Formation of the Joint Park District costs nothing, but provides a way for the communities to create a plan to be placed on the ballot in November. Lynn Richardson Hello All!
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us last week for our meeting. Please review the minutes and add/change as necessary: Present: Pat Boczar, Lucy Hanigosky, Cookie Krizmanich, Lynn Richardson, Rob Richardson, Corey Ringle, Donna Spiegler, Barb Starr, and Judi Zivic General Comments and Questions: - Judy shared her involvement with the Cleveland Restoration Society and how they work with built environments to preserve historical buildings. - Discussed name. It has been suggested before that Crowell Hilaka is difficult to pronounce and spell. Would we consider changing the name, but we already have "brand recognition" with girl scout alumni as well as the village and city who drive pass the signs every day. Decided to refine google search engine so visitors can search us by Kirby, Richfield, etc. Let's start a discussion for the key words. Slogan: - Like "Preserve" over "Save". Makes us sounds less desparate. - Like "Ohio's" over "Richfield's". Reaches out to a larger audience and we can always print brochures just for Richfield if we want to reach out to a target audience. - Lots of discussion on hidden. We had a few other suggestions. Endangered seemed popular too. Do we want to have a poll? - Treasure liked by all. Making the slogan "Preserve Ohio's hidden treasure" Business Cards: - Save money and keep it single sided. - Vertical Card with white ariel font in black strip to reach Crowell Hilaka Preserve Ohio's hidden treasure - Only the website, no facebook - Email: do we use donate or contactus @friendsofcrowellhilaka.org? - Use the "office" phone aka Donna's land line with FoCH voicemail. - Use the Richfield Historical Society address Brochure: - Add membership / mailing flap (thanks Judi for sending a great template) - Change font to Ariel (keep 12pt) - Change green to black with white letters, no all caps, photoshop mill wheel. - Reduce pictures and simply to 4 main topics. - Middle fold to have map, revised logo - Map to add location names - Group discussion said to reduce photos, later discussion with Mike Wheeler said to keep them. - Please see attached back. I'm still working on the map side. Should be sending out soon. General: - Pat suggested "hidden" have an advent calendar like promotional board. Big map with fold up flaps revealing what's underneath. - EarthFest 2014 (Sunday, April 13th from 8:30m-5:00pm at the Cuyahoga County fairgrounds). Please e-mail Beth Sanderson for more information. - Jenny, please post time and date of the Buzzard Day. - Judi and Cookie worked on a time line for us. - Suggested Committees from the January 14th Meeting Minutes: Business Plan – Corey Ringle and Jenny Austin. Would like to bring in Mike Wheeler, Lori Spencer, and Meg Slifcaf. If you are interested, please let me know (corey.ringle@gmail.com) Membership (dues and contacting) – Donna Spiegler (organizing database and dues collection) and Beth Sanderson (phoning non-computer members and researching membership incentives). If you are interested, please contact Donna (dspiegler@gmail.com) Marketing – Barb Starr for pricing and ideas. Sarah Spiegler is monitoring our facebook. Barb, please let us know if you are interested in the position. Website – Rob Richardson. (interrobang@yahoo.com) Political (Levy and Bond) – Lynn, Corey, Lucy, Jenny (2-person rotation) If you are interested in attending town hall meetings or pulling the community into FoCH, please e-mail the group. I'm available tomorrow, Lucy, will you be interested in joining me? Recreation – Corey Ringle. I'm going to reach out to Ruth Josek. Education Liaison – Kelly Clark and Ruth Aveson. Historian / Research – Lynn Richardson. Fundraising – Lucy Hanigosky (Lucy would head community outreach and fundraising. If interested in spear heading an event, you would be in charge, but report to Lucy as you progress, just in case, god forbid, something would to come up. That way we have two deep leadership. There were a lot of great suggestions for fundraisers, would the following folks be interested in spear heading some of the events we noted below?) Mardi Gras: Cookie S’more Enchante Evening: ? Plant Sale: Beth Sanderson Richfield Garage Sale: (June) Lucy Hanigosky Community Outreach – Buzzard Day: Jenny Austin Richfield Community Days: (August) Sunday Funday: (June) Corey Ringle and ?? Please let me know if I left anything out. Look forward to hearing from everyone as we continue to develop the logo, slogan, cards, and brochures. And as always, thank you everyone for all your hard work! Respectfully submitted, Corey. |
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