What can I do?

Every time I tell someone about Graydon Springs Outdoor Legacy, the first thing they say is, "Wow. That's neat, but its going to be a lot of work!" You are correct! But, building & securing a legacy should be hard work, right? Otherwise, why would I have reason to pass it along to the next generation? The next thing they say is, "Let me know what I can do to help." We are finally to the point that we can respond, "FUNDRAISERS!" & "Get the word out!" 

We have two things to focus on at this point in the start up of GSOL: Name Recognition & Fundraising. We have taken serious looks at who we are serving, who our supporters are & in what manner they would all like to achieve these 2 goals. We have multiple fundraisers for you to have fun with your friends & family as well as spread the word that GSOL exists. Anytime you can bring GSOL up in conversation, please do. If you know someone who is interested in any of the 5 goals (education, sustainability, recreation, preserving Ozarks history, or community building), please spread the word. 

Here are the currently planned fundraiser event. Of course, you are welcome to donate at any point without an event.

High-5 Fundraiser - ongoing through 5-5-11!


Oscar Watch Party - February 27 - multiple locations, you could even participate from your own home!

February 22 Trivia Night - Springfield's McSalty's Pizza on Battlefield

March 15 Trivia Night - Springfield's Garbo's Pizza in Chesterfield Village


We hope to see you soon! I will continue to share fun ways to spread the word about GSOL.


-Alexis/Taxi

Oscar Watch Party fundraisers

So the little indy film with tons of awesome Ozarkians has 4 Oscar nominations to its name! Which leads to some questions....

Are you really excited that the world has any idea that the Ozarks even exists thanks to Winter’s Bone? 

Felling a little bummed that the world is starting to believe Ozarkians are just clannish meth-heads? 

Do you wish you could support Winter’s Bone in the Oscar race and still show your friends that the Ozarks has some good as well as bad?

You’re in luck!

As part of Graydon Springs Outdoor Legacy’s High 5 Campaign, the 5 girls of GSOL are hosting Oscar Watch Party fundraisers. (Check out the blog for details on what we do! GraydonSprings.blogspot.com)

Here’s how it works:
You can pick from 5 ways to help
1. You donate 5 dollars at the door to support GSOL
2. Every time they flash to someone who was in Winter’s Bone you donate 50 cents
3. You donate 5 dollars every time Winter’s Bone wins something
4. You donate 50 cents every time they cut to someone wearing green. (This category could be a pretty safe bet if you are on a budget since who knows what the 'it' color will be this year.)
5. You donate 50 cents every time a speech runs long or an introduction gets messed up

Think all of this sounds fun and don’t live in the Ozarks and want host your own party?

You’re in luck here too! We love to spread the fun and would welcome GSOL Oscar Watch Parties across the globe. Just email GSOL at GraydonSprings@gmail.com and we will send you a scoring sheet. Remember a party’s a party no matter how small!

These are all fun and easy ways to support this new non-profit bent on saving Ozarks heritage and outdoor education for future generations.

Have more questions? Just email us at GraydonSprings@gmail.com.

GSOL Jan 2011 Meeting

Check it out! Our next meeting will take place on Wednesday, Jan 26, 6:30-9pm at the Panera on East Sunshine, Springfield, MO. Can't make it? No worries! Email us your ideas, thoughts or witty comments & we will make sure to throw it on the agenda!


Hope to see you there!


What is YOUR outdoor legacy?
-Alexis

Give a High 5 to GSOL!

You just thought the days of "High 5-ing" someone to celebrate, encourage or welcome were in the past! It is time to give a big High 5 for on behalf of Graydon Springs Outdoor Legacy!


5 FAQs:

• #1: Why 5? There are many reasons, here are 5:
1. 5 Goals
1. Education
2. Recreation
3. Community building
4. Ozarks History
5. Sustainability
2. A $5 donation won't put a burden on most budgets.  
3. There are 5 Founders of GSOL.
4. Anyone can be involved, babies to college students to the wiser generations!
5. A High-5 is a really fun way to start out a grass-roots organization!
• #2: What is a GSOL High 5? Simply put - $5 donations (or more in $5 increments) from as many people as possible. 
• #3: How can I be involved? Send in a donation of $5 or more to our shiny new PO Box
• Graydon Springs Outdoor Legacy, PO Box 834, Ozark, MO 65721
• ***CORRECTION ALERT! At original posting of this blog the PO Box was incorrect. The correct PO Box number is above!***
• #4: Is there an online donation option? Great question! Not yet, but it is coming soon. Keep your eye open for that awesome announcement!
• #5: Where do I direct questions about the High-5 fundraiser? email GraydonSprings@gmail.com, on facebook, or by leaving a comment here!

Back to the Future from the Year 2010!

I apologize for not posting this in a more timely manner. I was under the impression that I would be able to edit & post from my smartphone...alas, I cannot at this time. Anyway, on to the post that was supposed to be posted last year, on Dec 29. 

The last meeting of 2010 was a HIT! Last night we met at Panera & took over the little back nook. 10 people were there! 10 people in 2010! There has been a flurry of activity this month, even though our web presence has been a bit quiet. Lots of research, paperwork & networking has occured & will continue. Here are a few of the highlights:

1. RESEARCH:
• We are pretty sure the hoopla that the botanist made about "the fern" all those years ago was all over a tiny plant called the Geocarpon. It only grows in Western MO & a few spots in Arkansas & Louisianna! Listed endangered by the Missouri Department of Conservation and threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It seems that it is one of the world's rarest plants & most likely lives at Graydon Springs! We are developing plans to research it & protect it...of course, we must buy the land first.
• We have researched all kinds of fundraising ideas & details to go along with those. 
2. PAPERWORK & ADMIN:
• Plans are in place to open a bank account in the new year.
• 501(c)3 paperwork is coming along.
• As soon as that is mailed, we can open an account with Community Foundation of the Ozarks. This will enable us to take donations & donors recieve tax deductions.
• Rhonda & I will be joining the National Association for Professional Women on behalf of GSOL.
3. FUNDRAISING:
• Kristy said she & others were doing the math of how many campers were likely involved in Camp Wakahni over the years. Yes, we realize many (like myself) were multi-week &/or multi-year campers...but lets just go with general numbers here. We approximate there could have been close to 17,500 campers over the years there! Now, if we could track down all of those people & each of them donates just $5, we would have $87,500!
• I am happy to announce that we have our first $5 donation from a friend of mine that wasn't ever a camper there, but has a great enthusiasm for our goals. I promise it was super easy to ask a friend for $5. 
• For more information about this effort, please see the next blog post. 
• If you have questions about this fundraising idea, please just shoot us an email.
• We would like to create a HUGE push for fundraising & "friend-raising" in the month of April - Earth Day Month. 
• A family-oriented Adventure Race of some kind. 

More updates to come! What is YOUR outdoor legacy?
-Alexis

Kids Incorporated!

Howdy everyone! I know its been a bit since I updated the blog. Sorry about that. So, tonight, you will get a quick list-style update. 

*Had a GSOL meeting at Panera on East Sunshine in Springfield on Nov 16. Lots of good news!

*Our mission statement was approved by the attorney who is kind enough to look over our stuff before sending it in! This meant that the paperwork was sent in soon after. This meant that the State of Missouri approved our articles of incorporation soon after that!!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE INCORPORATED! It made me feel the need to sing the theme song to Kids Incorporated!

*We are now working on our business plan.

*We are now working on our 501(c)3 paperwork as well. 

*I had a super meeting with Community Foundation of the Ozarks! They were great & helpful. As soon as our 501(c)3 paperwork is sent in, we can set up a fund with CFO to begin fundraising!!!!! 

*We will need "all hands on deck" soon. Even if this just means you fundraising from your family & friends...that's awesome! We plan to share at least 1 viable fundraising idea at the next meeting. Please share any ideas that you might have!

*If you would like to join in on any phase of this exciting journey, please don't hesitate to contact one of us with the place you will fit in. The more help the better!

******NEXT MEETING: December 27, 2010, Panera Bread on East Sunshine. HOPE TO SEE YOU OR HEAR YOUR IDEAS THERE!*******

Favorite of 5?

As we continue on this exciting journey of revitalizing this amazing gem of the Ozarks, we have come to some conclusions that have been apparent for years. There are many camps around the country that were opened in the 1960's that were simply intended for summer camp. This was great at the time...but slowly we have seen these camps fold under financial strains, urban areas encroaching on the properties, as well as just an inability to really keep up high quality facilities (even rustic ones) during 9 months of disuse & 3 months of heavy use year after year. Because of this, we know that Graydon Springs Outdoor Legacy MUST find year-round uses of the property for it to not return to what it is currently. We realize some uses of the property may not be year-round by itself. By combining all of these will make it a great resource to the Ozarks & USA at large! Below is a quick list of the 5 viable areas we see making Graydon Springs a year round facility. What is your favorite of 5? Maybe that's where you can become involved!

Education

• Environmental Education Center
• for schools
• for public classes
• for Summer Camp focuses on Environmental Education/Sciences
• Training ground for aid workers destined for remote areas
• Training ground for volunteers of all kinds of areas
• Space for a ‘Seeds of Peace’ type camp- http://www.seedsofpeace.org/

Recreation

• Campground for public use from the trail 
• Summer Camp
• Recreation - adventure training, races, orienteering

Ozarks Heritage

• Nature preserve
• Site for historic education- dealing with early settlements, 19th century medicine, early 20th century science
• A place for ‘train enthusiasts’ to gather
• Wildlife/Native American education

Sustainability

• “Lab” for green technology & techniques
• Agriculture - local, organic, gardens, possibly lease pasture land to other parties
• A teaching center for sustaniable agriculture techniques

Community

• Family Retreat Center - to foster healthy families, which prevents child abuse issues in Ozarks, etc
• Host music festivals
• partner with other organizations to find new uses for property