Good weather and rebounding visitation to Great Smoky Mountains National Park combined to produce a strong year for the Great Smoky Mountains Association, which was able to contribute $2.6 million for park projects in 2014.
'What a difference a year can make,' GSMA Executive Director Terry Maddox said about the organization's effort in 2014, which resulted in a $2.6 million contribution to the national park. 'As bad as 2013 proved to be, 2014 was a year filled with superlatives.'
The trend toward a better year began early in the season, Maddox said.
'As soon as the weather broke in early spring, it was clear the mood of the visitor was upbeat. Both visitation and sales confirmed this to be the case for the remainder of 2014.'
As significant accomplishments, Maddox highlighted two organizational events in 2014, starting with the Collections Preservation Center construction project, which is proceeding in Townsend, TN, with funding from GSMA and Friends of the Smokies; and the receipt of an unsolicited, four-year $2.2 million donation from an anonymous longtime GSMA member, targeting elimination of the loan GSMA secured to construct the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, which opened to the public in 2011.
GSMA's contribution to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is made up of three categories:
* in-kind services, which are primarily labor expenses, as well as development costs of numerous free-to-the-public publications
* special projects funded by GSMA interpretive operations, which are provided for a host of educational, historical,
* interpretive and scientific projects
GSMA's 2014 contribution details include:
* In-kind services, $810,602, which includes salaries for more than 60 employees who serve the public in the park's backcountry information office, its library, during living history demonstrators, publications development and in the visitor centers.
Special projects funded by GSMA, $1,572,522:
* $1.2 million - Collections Preservation Center construction project
* $18,500- Association of Partners for Public Lands sponsorship and dues
* $500 - Experience Your Smokies
* $38,199 - GSM Institute at Tremont store net proceeds
* $1,394 - GSMNP Digital Storytelling
* $1,260 - GSMNP podcast upkeep $2,941 - GSMNP Purchase Knob website
* $16,375 - GSMNP resource education interns $1,000 - GSMNP Special 2014 anniversaries
* $6,969 - GSMNP visitor center door counters $20,000 - Hemlock woolly adelgid control
* $400 - Leave No Trace program
* $112,349 - Oconaluftee Visitor Center/Collections Preservation Center interest on loan
* $580 - Resource Education Grant establish Student Archeology Field School
* $12,183 - Resource Education intern housing
* $2,127 - Resource Education support costs
* $11,868 ' Save the Hemlock t-shirt proceeds
* $26,750 ' Student Conservation Association interns
* $15,182 ' Sugarlands Visitor Center lighting
* $6,774 - Sugarlands Visitor Center media upkeep
* $11,299 - Trails Forever Endowment
* $35,840 - visitor center utilities
* $12,682 - Volunteers In Park support
* $17,350 - Wildlife seasonal staff support
Interpretive operations totaled $265,294 and included funds for special events, festivals, demonstrations and the park library.
This year's $2.6 million donation brings GSMA's total contribution to the national park during its 61-year history to $34,158,885.
Looking ahead to this year's projects, GSMA has pledged more than $1.45 million in park aid for 2015, including some $113,000 for educational programs, $43,000 for wildlife and visitor protection staff, and more than $600,000 to staff nine visitor centers in and around the national park.
A non-profit organization, Great Smoky Mountains Association derives its support primarily from sales of National Park Service-approved educational products and membership dues. Those who wish to enrich their Smokies experience are encouraged to 'Get Rooted in the Smokies' through membership. For more information about GSMA, visit www.SmokiesInformation.org or call toll-free 888.898.9102.
Comments
Nice work!
Wonderful! Proud to be part of the organization!
Danny Bernstein www.hikertohiker.com