Friends of Schoharie Crossing Annual Appeal for 2024

                                                                                          The Friends of Schoharie Crossing

                                                                                                   PO Box 140

                                                                                                   Fort Hunter, NY 12069

Hello Friends,

Wow, how the years fly by! The chilly weather has returned and the Membership Drive for 2024 is happening now! The beautiful Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site and its Friends are again counting on your support to continue long time programs, be available for day-to-day activities, special events, grants, and this coming year assist in the planning of the 2025 Bicentennial Celebration of the Erie Canal.

You can either join through our website or mail us the form included at the end of this letter.

The Friends have had a successful year of encouraging participation of our friends and family at the Historic Site. We picked up trash during Canal Clean Sweep and I Love My Parks Day, we planted flowers at the Visitor's Center, and cut brush to help maintain our Eagle Trail.  The Friends also saw the completion of stabilization on the Schoharie Creek Aqueduct; something we have partnered in advocacy toward accomplishing for many years.

The Friends tabled events and spread information at the Visitor's Center during the Old Engine Show in July and at the Fulton County Museum History Day in October. We participated in a local “Trunk or Treat” at the Fort Hunter Engine and Hose Company. These were all a lot of fun!

We also again assisted at the popular PTNY “Cycle the Erie Canal” refreshment stop at the Visitor's Center which continues to attract riders from across the United States and abroad. This is always an educational and fun day. (And you get a volunteer t-shirt!) 

Other activities included helping to supply refreshments for Canal Coffee Day and some meetings. Grants were secured and we covered some costs for storytellers, musicians, speakers, and applied funds for maintenance at the site.  While New York State does maintain the grounds and has paid staff, a Friends group is essential to obtain certain grants specific to the need of education, maintenance, entertainment, and historic value which are offered by Parks and Trails, Saratoga Arts, Historic NY, and others. For instance, we received the grant funding to make the inaugural Rock the Lock series a success at Yankee Hill Lock this past summer.

We are looking to increase wayfinding and interpretive signage for the many trails and to increase handicap access to the aqueduct this coming year as well as maintaining the Little Free Library and the communities’ favorite yearly events.  Friends support Geocaching, the many musical programs offered at the Putman Canal Store at Yankee Hill and at the Visitor's Center, hikes, and educational speakers at monthly meetings.

We also participate in our own education and networking events. This year included Advocacy Day at the Capital and the Saratoga Capital Regional Friends Meeting in Lake George this November. A tour of the new museum and Lake George Battlefield Park was included, making it an educational trip in more ways than one.

We hope you will continue to be a part of the active, dedicated, and amazing group of people who help to maintain our outdoor spaces and the Schoharie Crossing.

Volunteering time or monetary donations are equally needed and appreciated.  Bring your ideas and a friend!

Thank you for past and future support.

        Marjorie Savoie

        President

    The Friends of

    Schoharie Crossing                                                                                             

 

Some of the benefits of being a member are:

 10% discount in the museum gift shop

  Schoharie Crossing “Swag” based on membership tier

  Advance notice of programs and events

  A quarterly newsletter (via email or USPS)

  Email updates regarding what is happening at the site.

  Input and a vote on how or what the group does to assist the site.

  *** Knowing you contributed to preserving a part of our shared past for future generations! ***

 

 

You can also provide a donation or complete an

online membership securely by visiting this website:

https://the-friends-of-schoharie-crossing.square.site/

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