A question I am frequently asked is how many people are using the Ney Nature Center. The County Commissioners are interested as a Le Sueur County Park. The Ney Environmental Education Foundation Board is interested in respect to our education programs and field trips. Visitors are just interested.
I collect information to answer these questions in a couple of ways. One is membership; we track the number of members for our organization and continuously invite people to become a member of the Ney Nature Center. Membership to the Ney Nature Center has advantages for both the member and the organization. Members receive discounts to programs and building use. Membership creates communication advantages, this newsletter for instance is mailed directly to members before it is handed or set out for others. The number of members we have helps us gauge whether we are meeting the needs of the park users or program participants. Do you value our trail system enough to support it thorough membership? That is a question that the board asks. Through your membership our Board of Directors, which meet monthly to steer the direction of programs and park development, represents you.
A second way I collect information is counting participants. Keeping track of registrations, keeping count in my head as I greet people during open houses, and tallying the names in the guestbook after each event. Our fieldtrip program charges a $1.00 fee for each student attending so a count of participants in those programs is always accurate.
As a Le Sueur County Park this facility is open to everyone and we extend invitations to everyone. One thing I cannot do is track the number of people who come and enjoy the park, using the trails or picnicking. I recognize vehicles that are regularly parked in the lots, not knowing to whom they belong. All the Board members have reported the experience of running into an acquaintance somewhere and their conversation about the Ney Nature Center. They relay a recent visit or seeing an article in the newspaper about a recent event. They express their interest or appreciation for their experience at the park. I can speak for myself and I think the other Board members would agree that we enjoy these moments of recognition as being associated with the Ney Nature Center and the great things happening here. We take pride in the work we do to move the Ney Nature Center forward with trail development, enhanced interpretive programs, promotions and publications and ever changing program topics and events.
With all this said, I would like to personally invite one and all, members and nonmembers, frequent visitors and those who have never visited to join us at our 1st annual Fall Festival on October 17th. Besides all the fun we will have with games, tours, programs, demonstrations and food, this event gives us a chance to socialize with others who love the Ney Nature Center as much as we do. You can show your appreciation of the Ney Nature Center by renewing your membership or joining as a member for 2010. Provide feedback on the work we have done throughout the year and the work we plan to do in the future. Weigh in on decisions that are currently being discussed by the Board of Directors. Above all come and have fun, bring your family, friends, neighbors and enjoy the Ney Nature Center! I am looking forward to meeting the owners of those cars I recognize!
