Mike Collett attended the National Park Foundation (NPF) meeting in Washington on April 28 and 29. Hill Day is an annual meeting of NPF partners (A funding raising organization is a partner, thus, the Friends of Kennesaw is a partner) and members of Congress. This year’s meeting started with a tour on Tuesday, April 28 of the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, VA by the National Parks Friends Alliance (NPFA).
After the tour a Meet and Greet was held at the Department of Interior’s Penthouse. NPF assigns an NPF guide to the partners to help them prepare for the meeting scheduled by NPF with their Representatives and Senators. Mike was assigned to Hollis Hughes, Associate Vice President, Strategic Partnership Growth, Corporate Partnerships. Hollis reviewed Mike’s presentation and ensured he navigated through the Congressional and Senatorial Offices in time to attend his scheduled meetings. The Meeting and Greet also gave partners a chance to meet other members of the NPF staff and members from other Parks. Hollis introduced Mike to her boss Chad Jones, Senior Vice President, Corporate Partnerships.
Wednesday, April 29 started with breakfast and a welcome from the senior leadership of the NPF at a meeting room in the Cannon House Office Building. After breakfast Mike and Hollis reviewed this presentation. The presentation covered funding issues of concern with both the NPF and NPF partners. A short presentation of the partners park and a two-way question and answer section. The meeting may have one or more partners attending.
The first meeting was with Congressman Barry Loudermilk’s Legislative Assistant, George Copelan. Also in attendance was Brittany Jones, of the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy and her guide Caroline Cook.
After lunch Mike’s next meeting was with Congressman Andrew Clyde’s Legislative Assistant Larson Upchurch. Also attending was Max Raphelson of the Appalachian Trail Foundation and his NPF guide Karen Culerland.
After this meeting Mike and Hollis went to their meeting with Senator Raphael Warnock’s Legislative Correspondent James Ziegeweid. At this meeting and the next all four of the Georgia parks in attending were in attendance. Katharyne Gabriel NPF Council Member, Chief of Coca-Cola HR, North America, Chad Jones, Adrienne Wojciechowski, Director Federal and Diplomatic Affairs Coca-Cola, Brittany Jones and Caroline Cook, Fred Boules, Friends of Andersonville, and Tricia King Mins Partners of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Moccasin Bend.
From there they headed for a meeting with Senator Jon Ossoff’s Legislative Correspondent Alejandro Quinones-Schoene. All of those attending Senator Warnock’s meeting also attended this meeting.
After four productive and mentally exhausting meetings we had a break of just over an hour in the Russell Senate Office Building meeting room before our finial event.
The day ended with a reception at The Observatory at America at America’s Square. This gave us a chance to talk and share experiences with other partners we met and review the day with NPF staff that were not part of our meetings.
In summary 86 partners attended this event with 286 meetings consisting of 133 attendees. Unfortunately, only 55 Representees or Senators attended a meeting.
Interested in supporting the mission of the Friends of Kennesaw Mountain? Consider donating today at https://friendsofkmnbp.org/giving-membership/donate/
