Friends of Tennessee State Parks share social time after opening of the 7th annual Friends Conference at Montgomery Bell on Friday, October 8. 29 of 35 active Friends Groups were represented at this year’s conference.
The President’s Breakfast on Saturday, October 9, was well attended. TDEC Commissioner Jim Fyke was the featured speaker.
(l-r) Ronnie Douglas, State Parks Sales Manager, Van Rutherford, Vice President, Friends of T.O. Fuller State Park, and Pleas Jones, Friends of T.O. Fuller, at the 2010 Friends of Tennessee State Parks Conference.
Friends of Harrison Bay State Park pose in front of the welcome screen.
(l-r) Lana Rossi, President, Friends of Cordell Hull Birthplace Park, is joined by Nancy Schelin, Tennessee State Parks Volunteer Coordinator.
(l-r) Fount Bertram, President, Friends of Edgar Evins State Park, is joined by Roland Creekmore, President, Friends of Fall Creek Falls State Park, and Scott May, Past President, Friends of South Cumberland State Park, and now a Friend of T.O. Fuller State Park in Memphis.
(l-r) Dr. Dennis Horn of the Tennessee Native Plant Society chats with Greer Tidwell, Vice President, Friends of Radnor Lake State Park.
Friends of Burgess Falls State Park are joined by Burgess Falls Park Manager Bill Summers, (second from left).
(l-r) Dan Whittle, President, Friends of Long Hunter State Park, shares a laugh with Nancy Schelin, TN State Park Volunteer Coordinator.
(l-r) Del Truitt, Vice President, Friends of Cumberland Trail State Park, and Greer Tidwell, Vice President, Friends of Radnor Lake, enjoy the evening social on Friday, October 8.
(l-r) Teresa Dugger, Vice President, Friends of Henry Horton, and Stacey Cothran, President, Friends of Henry Horton, beside the Friends of Henry Horton State Park exhibit booth.
Friends of Montgomery Bell State Park help young friends build birdhouses during the 2010 Friends of Tennessee State Parks annual conference.
John Bass, Montgomery Bell State Park Ranger, assists young nature enthusiasts during the 2010 Friends of Tennessee State Parks annual conference.
Friends of Montgomery Bell State park keep busy with eager birdhouse during the 2010 Friends of Tennessee State Parks annual conference.
Friends of Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park discuss how to best communicate their park story with Nancy Dorman, Tennessee State Parks’ Resource Management Division.
Al Hethcoat, Sr. leads Friends of Johnsonville State Historic Park in a discussion during preparation for “telling their park’s story” at the 2010 Friends of Tennessee State Parks annual conference.
Mimi Bliss, Owner, Bliss Communications, leads a lively session on Telling the Story of Your Park
Dr. Dennis Horn, Tennessee Native Plant Society, presented an engaging session on Tennessee’s Native Plants.
Dana Stein, Secretary, Friends of Montgomery Bell State Park, leads a field trip at Montgomery Bell State Park’s greenhouse.
(l-r) Judy and Steve Stearns display copies of the Tennessee Conservationist (l-r) Judy and Steve Stearns, Friends of Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, show their copies of The Tennessee Conservationist magazine to Nancy Schelin, Tennessee State Parks Volunteer Coordinator.
Friends enjoy catching up! (l-r) Nancy Meidinger, Friends of Bicentennial Capitol Mall; Lana Rossi, Friends of Cordell Hull Birthplace; Alice Sells, Friends of Bicentennial Capitol Mall and James Rea, Friends of Bicentennial Capitol Mall.
(l-r) State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath joins Carey Sanders, President, Friends of Big Cypress Tree State Park, daughter Kaitlyn, and wife Kym, Secretary, Friends of Big Cypress Tree State Park.
Tennessee State Parks Assistant Commissioner Mike Carlton provides an inspiring session on the Value of State Parks: Engage the Heart, Head and Hands on Saturday morning at the 2010 Friends of Tennessee State Parks annual conference.
Friends of Bledsoe Creek shared ideas with conference participants.
State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath provides an overview of Montgomery Bell State Park to conference participants.
Mike Carlton, Assistant Commissioner, Tennessee State Parks shares a laugh with Darel Hess, Friends of Long Hunter State Park.
Teresa Dugger, Friends of Henry Horton State Park shares a laugh with Friends of Fort Loudoun State Park.
Gary Farris, Friends of Tims Ford State Park, works with the Friends of South Cumberland as they prepare a joint presentation on what makes their parks special.
Friends of Tennessee State Parks pose for a group photo on Sunday morning before beginning early roundtable sessions at the 7th Annual Friends Conference at Montgomery Bell State Park
Delicious food and beverages were set up and served up by Montgomery Bell’s Hospitality Services beside Acorn Lake at the 2010 Friends of Tennessee State Parks annual conference.
Lakeside pavilion is ready for Saturday’s buffet dinner during the 7th Friends of Tennessee State Parks Annual Conference at Montgomery Bell State Park.