The Signature News - Friends of Pompeys Pillar

Friends of Pompeys Pillar
1523 14th Street West, Suite 2
Billings, MT 59102
Contact us at:
Office: 406-969-5380
Fax: 406-969-5381
info@pompeyspillar.org
www.pompeyspillar.org
The Signature News
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5
Mission Statement:
“To preserve and protect Pompeys Pillar National Monument through education, interpretation, and special projects, and to support the BLM in its management of the site.”
Springtime!
Editor: Jodi Kinn
Mark Your Calendars in
2016!
April 8th and 9th: Interp. training
April 13: Study Group @ 7:00 pm
April 22, 23: Volunteer Training
April 30: Opening Day!
July 30: Clark Days
All Year Long: Pompeys Pillar is open
to walk-in traffic for you to enjoy!
It’s Almost Time and We Need Your Help
Jonathan Peart
It’s hard to believe but Pompeys
Pillar National Monument opens at
the end of next month. Opening
Day is scheduled for Saturday, April
30th. A friendly Ranger or a
Friends of Pompeys Pillar volunteer
will be in the fee station at 9 A.M.
to greet and welcome visitors. This
year, the Friends of Pompeys Pillar
volunteers will be collecting visitor
fees as well as working in the gift
store, doing maintenance and acting
in the role of interpreters. Volunteers play a critical role at Pompeys
Pillar National Monument and we
are grateful for each and every one
of them.
As we did last year, we will have a
“Community Cleanup Day” to
spruce up the Pillar on Opening
Day. Last year volunteers helped
with pruning and cleanup around
the River Walk and around the
Interpretive Center. It really made a
huge difference in the appearance
of the Pillar for incoming visitors.
We invite you to join us this year!
We will provide lunch for the vol-
unteers and rangers who help with
the cleanup and volunteer at the
monument that day. Please let me
know if you can make it by emailing
m e
at
j ona thanpeart@pompeyspillar.org.
interpretation. While there will be
training specifically for interpretations, we want to begin by offering
interpretation training earlier in the
month. The dates for this are Friday, April 8th from 9 A.M. to
Noon at the BLM office, with a
field trip in the afternoon or
Saturday, April 9th from 9 -12 at
the Friends of Pompeys Pillar
office, with the possibility of a
field trip in the afternoon. Please
RSVP to the office if you are interested in either of those interpretation trainings.
Volunteers Needed. Annual
volunteer training is scheduled for
Friday, April 22nd or Saturday,
April 23rd from 8 A.M. to 4
P.M. Lunch will be provided for
those attending the training. The
training is being revamped this
year to focus more on training
people for the job they will be
doing. Whether you are volunteer- Last week, Linda, our gift store
ing in the gift store or doing interpretation, for example, there will
be special training for you. If you
haven’t let us know which day you
will be attending, please less us
know so we can plan for lunch.
We will also be holding a special
training for those interested in
interpretation. Many of you have
asked for more specific training on
manager, and I attended the Association of Partners for Public
Lands (APPL) convention. In
addition to workshops, we buy
many of the items at their trade
show that are available in our gift
store. For those of you who have
been associated with us for a long
time, you know that we have been
members of this organization for
many years. Last week APPL
became the Public Lands Alliance.
To quote the staff of the organization: "Public Lands Alliance"
captures the essence of our organization - a unified, powerful community dedicated to the preservation, enrichment and enjoyment
of America's most treasured places.
In becoming the Public Lands
Alliance, our organization continues to fulfill the strategic plan we
adopted in 2014. It enables us to
align our external identity with our
evolution as the national voice for
nonprofit public lands partners, a
leader in growing effective and
successful partnerships, and
a vital network for nonprofit leaders and land
managers.”
We look forward to continue to work with Public
Lands Alliance in the coming years.
A Word from Dave Lefevre, Monument Manager
Marching Toward
Another Great Season
It seems like winter never really arrived and we are already gearing up for opening day. I’m anxious to
see where we can take things this year together. I’m happy to announce that we will be bringing back
three of our seasonal park rangers from last year, which will make things much easier to hit the ground
running, and which should also give us more time to commit to recruiting, orienting, and training volunteers.
Dave Lefevre
Monument Manager
It’s encouraging to already have a stronger commitment by our volunteers, several of who have stepped
up to fill critical roles at the interpretive center. In addition to operating the gift store and continuing to
provide a presence on the rock throughout the summer, we’ve already had several people volunteer to
assist with fee collection and with delivering formal interpretive programs. This is exciting, because as
anyone who has been around a few years knows, we often find ourselves shorthanded by the end of the
summer, which means that we cannot provide the amount and quality of programming that we would
like to. It is already looking like this could be a banner year for programming at the Pillar, and with continued commitments from our volunteers, we should be able to achieve the vision of offering interesting
and high-quality programs throughout the season.
I know that it has been said again and again, but I want to reinforce the importance of volunteers to
Pompeys Pillar. In FY2015 alone, volunteers contributed over 3,000 hours of service at Pompeys Pillar.
That’s a huge contribution. That is equivalent of two seasonal park rangers, or to put it into financial
terms, almost $70,000 in value. It’s not only the good work that is being done, but our ability to take
those contributions and leverage them through grants and other means, that creates a lasting value. It’s
no doubt that the funding we get both internally through appropriations and externally through grant
funding is connected to the value that is provided through volunteerism. We really couldn’t do it without you, and because of your dedication, we will continue to grow our programs, provide a well maintained facility, and engage a greater number of volunteers at our site.
Reach out to your friends and family and encourage them to share in the experience at Pompeys Pillar.
Regardless of their interest, we can find something fun and productive for them to be involved with.
With your help, this Fall we will be celebrating another great year and potentially one of the biggest years
we have had for volunteerism since the Bicentennial.
Thank you for your ongoing dedication to the Pillar and visiting public. I’ll see you out there soon.
Sincerely,
Dave Lefevre
Photos by: Jonathan Peart
Laura’s VISTA Corner
Hello Everyone!
I cannot believe how time flies, this past month has been a whirlwind. So far Billings is shaping up to be a lovely place to spend
this upcoming year. So far, I have learned so much by being here
at Friends of Pompeys Pillar. Who knew Lewis and Clark had
such a fascinating hand in the history of the United States?
This past month, I have been kept busy with scheduling fourth
grade classes for Every Kid in a Park program; we already have
895 students visiting the monument this spring! I am also continuing the work on the Teacher Tote programs; I am hoping to have a
volunteer training within the next month for volunteers who
would be willing to conduct these programs in the classroom.
These programs cover anything from Lewis and Clark’s actual
journey to creating food webs on the animals surrounding Pompeys Pillar. If you have any interest in participating please contact
me at pompeyspillarVISTA@gmail.com. I am very excited to get
to know you all and to continue my education at this wonderful
organization.
Laura Yourd
2016 VISTA Volunteer
Photos by: Jonathan Peart
Volunteer Spotlight
This months Volunteer Spotlight goes to Sheryl Stout! Sheryl has been a
long-time volunteer who has worked in the gift store and serves on the
Honor Garden committee. In 2008, Sheryl was recognized as Volunteer
of the Year. In 2013, Sheryl worked in the gift store on both Saturdays
and Sundays. Sheryl had a long career of teaching which she brings the
same skills out to the Pillar every time she is there.
Thank you so much Sheryl for all that you do for Pompeys Pillar! Your
warm smile and kindness is such a welcoming feeling in the gift store!
Volunteer Training!
Volunteer training will be held on Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23 at Pompeys
Pillar National Monument. Volunteers do not have to be present for both days. Please
choose a day that works with your schedule, RSVP to Jonathan which day you would
like to attend, and come enjoy a nice day of catching up with other volunteers.
There will be more task-oriented training this year with more job specific roles. The
training this year will be more in-depth than previous years, so please make sure to
RSVP today!
Interpretive Training Opportunity!
There will be an exciting new interpretation training opportunity that will
be hosted by Bob Hall. The training is called Basic Interp. 101. There
will be two opportunities for you to take part in this if you are interested:


Friday, April 8th: 9am - 12pm at the BLM field office with a field
trip in the afternoon.
Saturday, April 9th: 9am - 12pm at the Friends of Pompeys Pillar
office with a possible field trip in the afternoon.
Please RSVP Jonathan Peart if you are interested in taking part in this exciting interpretive adventure! To reserve your spot, please email Jonathan
at jonathanpeart@pompeyspillar.org.
Photos by: Jonathan Peart
Study Group
The next study group will be held on April 13th at 7:00 pm in the conference room at the Friends of Pompeys Pillar
office located at 1523 14th Street West, Suite 2. The subject for this study group is:
▪ Lewis & Clark Journals edited by: Gary Moulton, University of Nebraska Press. Volume 8, June 10, 1806September 26, 1806
We will be reading and discussing a chapter each month until we finish.
Please come and join us for the interesting discussion and conversation that takes place during these meetings. We
hope to see you there.
Become A Member:
www.pompeyspillar.org/membership
Become A Volunteer:
www.pompeyspillar.org/volunteer
Lewis and Clark: Fun Facts
Traveling to Washington D.C., Lewis and the other
members of the expedition received a warm welcome
from nearly place they went. Many towns held special
events to herald the explorers’ return as they passed
through.
Once reaching the nation’s capital, Lewis received
payment for his courageous efforts. Along with his
salary and 1,600 acres of land, he was named governor of the Louisiana Territory. Lewis also tried to
publish the journals that he and Clark wrote during
their great adventure. Always prone to dark moods,
he began to have a drinking problem and neglected
his duties as governor.
Source: http://www.history.com/topics/lewis-and-clark
WE ARE UP TO 369
LIKES!!
We reached our milestone of 350
Likes by the beginning of the
2016 season! Help us reach our
next goal of 400 Likes!
Memories of the Pillar
This months memory of Pompeys Pillar is from Helen Bryson:
When the visitor’s center was in the Log Cabin, we had a bird feeder mounted on a pole outside the North window. Volunteers,
staff, and visitors enjoyed watching birds without going outside.
One morning, two ladies stopped in to visit since they had heard about Pompeys Pillar. They explained they could only stay a short
time. They were on their way to a bird watching meeting in Bismarck.
After watching the birds at the feeder, they decided to go down toward the river to see more birds.
In a short time they were back. They compared notes and decided to make another trip in the trees. They were back shortly to
compare notes again.
This went on until mid afternoon when they decided they must be on their way.
We often thought how their good word of bird watching at the Pillar was spread because of this “short” visit.
Helen Bryson
Thank you to Helen Bryson
for sharing these wonderful
memories.
This is the second of a new
series called Memories of the
Pillar. If you have memories
or want to share memories
of others, please send a short
biography and/or pictures to
info@pompeyspillar.org.
2016 Members
Bruce and Susan Barrow
Gen Becker
Linda Brewer
Helen Bryson
Bill Cole/Cole Law Firm
Nancy Curriden
Irv and Esther Cuthbertson
Hank and Kay Deming
Thanks to our Volunteers and Members
Neal Gunnels
Carmen Hall
Case Haslam/M.L. Schuman
Anthony Hayman
John LeVar
Mike Penfold
Arle and Armand Lohof
Margaret Ping
Robert and Susan Lubbers
Sherri and Ron Ramseyer
Richard and Cheryl Mankle
Norman Schoenthal
Michael J. Marsh/RASE LLC
Judy Hugelen
Ann Sheene
Jenn Mayrand
Imag’N That Embroidery
Loris Tangvik
Jerry Michels
Julie Jackson
Judith Wallinder
Joe and Temia Keel
Kirk Michels
John Moorhouse
Bill and Lisa Weaver
(Baskin Robbins)
Melody Dobson
Nancy Kemler
Daniel Keyes
Stanley C. Wells
Thomas Doneker
Jodi Kinn
Mark Morse and
Teresa Darnielle-Morse
John and Patricia Eastman
Jeff Kitchens
Mary Jo and Jerry Noser
Candice Forrette
Dan and Marlene Krum
Roger and Pat Otstot
Susan Gilbertz
Mike and Carol Lamphier
Jonathan Peart
Jim and Peggy Good
Rachel Lehmann
Derry Pence
Ron and Nancy Deming
If you do not see your name on the list of 2016 Members, please consider renewing your membership with
the Friends of Pompeys Pillar! A membership letter was
sent out in November, 2015. If you did not receive this
letter, please contact the Friends office. Thank you so
much for your previous and current support of the
Friends organization!
2016 Donations
Pete and Leslie Boothroyd
Mike Lamphier
Jonathan Peart
In Honor Of
Pete Boothroyd
2015/2016 Grants
Nemont Telephone
Cooperative
Billings Gazette - Jeans Day
Downtown Exchange Club
Joyce Jensen/Jensen Foundation
Jonathan Peart - Executive Director
The Morris and Winterowd
families in honor of
Milt and Gloria Wester’s
50th Wedding Anniversary
Linda Farnes - Gift Store Manager
Laura Yourd - VISTA
Memorials
A great way to honor or remember someone is to make
a donation to the Friends of Pompeys Pillar.
If you do not see your name on this list, please
contact the Friends office! We want and need you
back as volunteers for the 2016 season!
Leslie Boothroyd
Stephen Whisner
2016 Staff
2016 Volunteers
Susan Barrow
Gloria and Milt Wester
Hank Deming
Mike Lamphier
Kay Deming
Rachel Lehmann
Larry Field
John LeVar
Linda Brewer
Joyce Jensen
Helen Bryson
Carolyn Jones
Pat Otstot
Bobby Denton
Jodi Kinn
Roger Otstot
Mary Denton
Carol Lamphier
Jeff Sherman
Jerry Michels
Dave and Stephanie
Lefevre and Jonathan
Peart in honor of Evelyn
Deming
Carmen Hall in honor of
Guadalupe and
Jesus Galvan
Susan Barrow, Helen
Bryson, and Milt and
Gloria Wester in Honor of
Eva VanArsdale
Jerry Michels in honor
of James Michels
Robert and Sharon
Wolske and John and
Jonathan Peart in honor of Raedawn Pasco in honor
of Willie Oblender
Margaret Ping
Wills
Leave a bequest to the Friends of Pompeys Pillar to help
us further our protection of our National Treasure.