Taking it to the Next Level!

We had a fantastic meeting on Tuesday, October 19! Thank you to Becky, Laurie, Kristy & 2 newcomers - Mary & Melissa for a wonderful discussion! Thank you to Drury for allowing us to use a conference room. If you weren't able to attend, that's ok. Here are some highlights of the meeting. If you see a place to put your passion, talents, or skills to use, then step right up! 


Graydon Springs Outdoor Legacy Steering Committee
October 19. 2010  - Drury

Shared Powerpoint with a few extra attendees to explain purpose of GSOL.  Open discussion.  Thanks to Mary and Melissa for joining us!

Followup items/ideas:

• Need to establish as 501(c)3 - PRIORITY #1!! - Alexis is the lead.  We need to review the criteria to establish this status and decide on basic organizational structure.  We know it costs $500 to register - steering committee will front the money. Would like to get this status before end of year (ideally Nov) to take advantage of charitable giving in 4th quarter for 2010 tax deduction. Shooting for deadline:  Submission by Nov 5th.  Since we have no idea how long the IRS will take to process, we need to work quickly.  Alexis - will start working on that while Kristy, Becky and Laurie start business plan. Divide and conquer! 
• Registing for Historical/Environmental Protection/Preservation/Endowment/Register or whatever.  We feel the historic "dual springs" or ferns near Drury Acre or the 1880s well houses might qualify for something.  Ideas that Sierra Club "Clean Water Act" initiative might apply to the springs, Mo Dept of Conservation - ferns, EPA - something, Historic Groups, etc maybe too.  James River Watershed has a group in Springfield - maybe they would know of a resource for our Springs.  Also gather research on any Native American connection to the land.  Elise is the lead on this.  All of this info will be important to help share the significance of this land to potential donors :)  Deadline:  Something to share by Nov 16th meeting
• Kristy talked to Kevin Killian about some of this and Boys Ranch still wanting to use some pasture land for their horses.  - we will use some of this info in drafting business plan ideas
• Contact Ozark Greenways - let them know what we are up to since we desire to promote & utilize the Frisco-Highline Trail traffic - Alexis.  
• Camp Photo from Google Maps or Polk County Assessor - Kristy has.  This will be useful in the business plan.
• Write basic business plan - just a few pages to start sharing ideas with potential board members, early donors - Becky, Laurie, Kristy.  Shoot for deadline:  November 5th.  

Then we start the process of securing funding. Get ready! It's time to take this to the next level!!!!


Please let us know if you have any ideas, or other contacts who might be interested in joining the team!

I'm So Excited - for Next Tuesday's meeting, that is!

In case you haven't heard, we are holding our first Public Discussion Meeting next week! Consider the blurb below the "theatrical trailer" for the meeting:


We wanted to tell you about something we're pretty excited about... do you remember Camp Wakahni? The property is up for sale again and we are creating an interest group to find a way to purchase the property and make it usable to the community for a variety of purposes. The property is a little run down, but has excellent potential for a variety of Educational, Recreational, Historical, Sustainable and Community uses. It is just too much of a gem to let go! Right now, we are just gathering ideas from various groups and community members with the hope that together we can make this happen. We are meeting to discuss ideas next Tuesday night, October 19 at the Shewmaker Center at Drury at 7pm. We would love for you to join us!


You know you are excited! You just can't wait to get involved at the very beginning of this AWESOME legacy project! Thus, you should come!!!


If you cannot make it, do not fret! We will be posting minutes of the meeting soon after. Read them. Love them. Feel like you were actually there...then respond to the info. YOUR participation is desired! This is a legacy for everyone - including YOU!


Lastly, if you know someone who you think would be interested in hearing more about GSOL, please pass this along to them. THANK YOU!

And Now for the Morning News

Originally Posted on the ning site by Alexis Webb Bechtold / Taxi on July 7, 2010 at 8:47am

Last Friday I had a meeting with President Todd Parnell at Drury. This was exciting to hear the real story of if they were interested in Graydon Springs. He confirmed that they did pursue a partnership with Good Samaritan to be able to use the property as a lab. Good Samaritan said no thank you. Drury then came up with a proposal that involved creating something similar to Heiffer International. Good Samaritan again said no thank you. So, they just kind of dropped the pursuit.

We are now talking to the group that put together this proposal. President Parnell said that he liked our ideas...we just need to be able to buy the property. So, we now get ready for some fun meetings & brainstorming! Any ideas or thoughts, let me know.

Let's get this rollin'! Woohooo!

ORIGINAL COMMENTS:
Comment by Alexis Webb Bechtold / Taxi on July 8, 2010 at 8:26am
Update: Becky (Batty) & I will be meeting Regina Waters, Tracy Sooter & Darla (I don't know her last name) from Drury Friday at 11am. Please let us know if you have any thoughts on this meeting. Thanks!

Planning & Meeting & Signing

Originally Posted on the ning site by Alexis Webb Bechtold / Taxi on June 15, 2010 at 8:30am

Good morning GSOL!


The summer heat & the crickets in the evening remind me of all of the fabulous memories of Wakahni...which leads me to thinking of my Legacy that I want to leave...GSOL is where I want to be! Can you feel the excitement?!

Things are kicking up again! Here is a quick list of happenings:
■GSOL Articles of Incorporation will go in the mail as soon as Becky & Laurie Thomas sign them (the paperwork is currently signed by the Webb girls & is located in KC - must travel to Spfld to the Thomas' hands - then to the mailbox).
■I am setting up a meeting with Drury's President Parnell & hopefully the VP Radecki. This will be to discuss partnering or at the very least support in our project. I plan on brainstorming ALL possibilities for partnerships since GSOL is in its infancy & Drury is a huge name. If you have ideas of how GSOL can partner with Drury, PLEASE post it here or message me ASAP. Remember, this is brainstorming time, so no idea is a bad idea - those ideas can lead to the most awesome ideas ever. Please share them as you think of them. Don't wait! Now is the time to shine!
■Drury's President Todd Parnell would be an excellent person to have excited about GSOL (he was friends with my dad also). Check out this article about him . Notice his involvement in Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, Missouri Clean Water Commission and is a trustee of the State Historical Society of Missouri.
■Once the Articles of Incorporation are sent in, I will contact the current owners of Graydon Springs, Good Samaritan Boys Ranch, and discuss our plans & any possibilities they may see viable to their organization & GSOL.
■We still need to be thinking of fundraising ideas. Again, no idea is a bad one! Let your creativity flow!

Fun in the summer sun! Let's get this going & leave one awesome Legacy for the Ozark generations to come! Wahoo!!!!

See you all soon!
-Alexis/Taxi