Monday, October 22, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
In case you were wondering…
It was a typical September school day in 2006. Wes Elam sat in computer class working on a website about skateboarding. Mr. Gudorf asked him something like, “Why don’t you guys have a skatepark yet?” Wes replied something like, “We need money.”
Wes continued to tell the story of how he and other skaters had attended meetings and tried to get the city to build a skatepark in Celina. Soon Mr. Gudorf realized two things: First: Wes seemed to know a lot about the skatepark effort, and second: Skateboarders of Celina have been trying to get a skatepark built for a very long time.
Soon Wes was giving names, places and ideas faster than Mr. Gudorf could follow up on them. Wes, his friend Clayton, and Mr. Gudorf (Keith) set up a meeting with Mrs. Sharon LaRue, Mayor of Celina, and parks director, Mr. Jeff Fortkamp. Mr. Fortkamp showed the three the research he had personally done over the years including pictures of skateparks he had visited in surrounding communities. The Mayor was on the side of the skateboarders for sure. The bottom line: it will take $40,000 to get a skatepark in Celina.
As the three began to brainstorm moneymaking ideas, it was Wes who first said, “It’d be cool if we could have a Skate Day.” Mr. Gudorf said, “What do you mean?” Wes began to describe what he meant.
In the next few days, the first Skate Day had been scheduled for the Saturday during Thanksgiving break at the First Church of God parking lot on Fairground road in Celina. Jon Wenning, owner of Jony-D images was contacted and things really began to take off. Jony’s brother had recently bought a DJ system and was able to provide the music. Wes, Clayton, Caleb and Keith (Mr. Gudorf) rode around town with a borrowed trailer picking up all the neighborhood ramps, rails, boxes etc. to use for Skate Day.
Keith fired up the grill and made hotdogs. The Hannahs showed up as they have now for almost every skate day. McDonald’s donated the orange drink. Other food and snacks were donated for the day. We earned $150 on that first Skate Day with about 70 skateboarders in attendance.
That’s how this most recent effort got started. This year, Skate Days and fundraisers have added about $5,000 to the Celina Skatepark Fund for a grand total of just over $12,000.
Yes, we need more money, but the best thing to happen this year has been getting the word out to Celina and the surrounding communities that skateboarders need a place. If you have time, check out http://www.concretedisciples.com/skateparksdb/display_state.php?state=OH and see the good, the bad, and the ugly in the parks around Ohio. Celina doesn’t just need a skatepark, WE NEED A GREAT PARK!
Thanks to all those in the area who have been trying and helping to get a skatepark for the last who-knows-how-many years! IT CAN HAPPEN. WE CAN DO IT.
Wes continued to tell the story of how he and other skaters had attended meetings and tried to get the city to build a skatepark in Celina. Soon Mr. Gudorf realized two things: First: Wes seemed to know a lot about the skatepark effort, and second: Skateboarders of Celina have been trying to get a skatepark built for a very long time.
Soon Wes was giving names, places and ideas faster than Mr. Gudorf could follow up on them. Wes, his friend Clayton, and Mr. Gudorf (Keith) set up a meeting with Mrs. Sharon LaRue, Mayor of Celina, and parks director, Mr. Jeff Fortkamp. Mr. Fortkamp showed the three the research he had personally done over the years including pictures of skateparks he had visited in surrounding communities. The Mayor was on the side of the skateboarders for sure. The bottom line: it will take $40,000 to get a skatepark in Celina.
As the three began to brainstorm moneymaking ideas, it was Wes who first said, “It’d be cool if we could have a Skate Day.” Mr. Gudorf said, “What do you mean?” Wes began to describe what he meant.
In the next few days, the first Skate Day had been scheduled for the Saturday during Thanksgiving break at the First Church of God parking lot on Fairground road in Celina. Jon Wenning, owner of Jony-D images was contacted and things really began to take off. Jony’s brother had recently bought a DJ system and was able to provide the music. Wes, Clayton, Caleb and Keith (Mr. Gudorf) rode around town with a borrowed trailer picking up all the neighborhood ramps, rails, boxes etc. to use for Skate Day.
Keith fired up the grill and made hotdogs. The Hannahs showed up as they have now for almost every skate day. McDonald’s donated the orange drink. Other food and snacks were donated for the day. We earned $150 on that first Skate Day with about 70 skateboarders in attendance.
That’s how this most recent effort got started. This year, Skate Days and fundraisers have added about $5,000 to the Celina Skatepark Fund for a grand total of just over $12,000.
Yes, we need more money, but the best thing to happen this year has been getting the word out to Celina and the surrounding communities that skateboarders need a place. If you have time, check out http://www.concretedisciples.com/skateparksdb/display_state.php?state=OH and see the good, the bad, and the ugly in the parks around Ohio. Celina doesn’t just need a skatepark, WE NEED A GREAT PARK!
Thanks to all those in the area who have been trying and helping to get a skatepark for the last who-knows-how-many years! IT CAN HAPPEN. WE CAN DO IT.
Skate Day #7
On Saturday, October 6th we held our 7th Skate Day. The day ended with another $500 in the Celina Skatepark Fund. Everybody seemed to be having a good time. Jake's quarter-pipe was a popular spot. The Fresh Park equipment saw a lot of use as well. Thanks to all who gave and participated. We're hoping to schedule another soon.
In addition to the money collected during Skate Day, a few skaters (Tiffany, John, Jordan)turned in money from selling the "Go Skateboarding" discount cards. These sell for $10 and they're good until September 2008. Jony-D was able to get businesses to offer some amazing discounts on the front and back of the card. If you think you can sell some of these cards, then see Keith at school, or Jony-D at his shop to sign out a stack. Jony got 1000 of them printed at no cost so they are pure profit to the skatepark when you sell them!
In addition to the money collected during Skate Day, a few skaters (Tiffany, John, Jordan)turned in money from selling the "Go Skateboarding" discount cards. These sell for $10 and they're good until September 2008. Jony-D was able to get businesses to offer some amazing discounts on the front and back of the card. If you think you can sell some of these cards, then see Keith at school, or Jony-D at his shop to sign out a stack. Jony got 1000 of them printed at no cost so they are pure profit to the skatepark when you sell them!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
CMS Skateboarders Meeting
Yesterday after school Jony-D and Keith met with about 20 middle school skaters. We discussed the future plans for a skatepark. Jony-D is predicting that we'll have the funds necessary in two years. He said the city is on our side and ready, but WE have to come up with the money.
Keith (me) gave a run down of the money as of October 1st. We need $40, 000 to get this thing started. We currently have $10,686.90 in the Mercer County Civic Foundation skatepark fund and $1,122.72 in the Celina Skatepark Fund checkbook for a total of $11,809.62. This includes all of the money donated through Skate Day admissions, concessions, Beef Jerky sales, T-Shirt sales, "Go Skateboarding" card sales, the Hannah's donation in memory of Nate, business donations, personal donations, Lakefest and Ribfest donations, American Legion and Eagles donations, etc. Money was spent to buy Freshpark quarter-pipes, ramps, boxes and rails because of the complaints that we had nothing good to skate at our Skate Days. Jerky and T-Shirt sales more than paid for the equipment. We think it was a good and necessary investment for Skate Days and ultimately for the park.
In addition to dollar donations, let's not forget that we also receive donations of peoples' time and materials. Jony-D puts in a lot of time coming up with ideas and asking people and businesses for money and donations, the banner, etc. Thanks to Wal-Mart and the First Church of God we have places to skate for Skate Day.
"YOU (SKATEBOARDERS) ARE THE FACE OF THIS WHOLE EFFORT TO RAISE MONEY FOR A SKATEPARK." That's something like what Jony-D said that made perfect sense. Let's remember that people are always watching you everywhere you skate. What they think about you and your behavior is what they think about building a park. Good? or Bad?
MORE TRUST, LESS TROUBLE.
That's our motto.
kg
Keith (me) gave a run down of the money as of October 1st. We need $40, 000 to get this thing started. We currently have $10,686.90 in the Mercer County Civic Foundation skatepark fund and $1,122.72 in the Celina Skatepark Fund checkbook for a total of $11,809.62. This includes all of the money donated through Skate Day admissions, concessions, Beef Jerky sales, T-Shirt sales, "Go Skateboarding" card sales, the Hannah's donation in memory of Nate, business donations, personal donations, Lakefest and Ribfest donations, American Legion and Eagles donations, etc. Money was spent to buy Freshpark quarter-pipes, ramps, boxes and rails because of the complaints that we had nothing good to skate at our Skate Days. Jerky and T-Shirt sales more than paid for the equipment. We think it was a good and necessary investment for Skate Days and ultimately for the park.
In addition to dollar donations, let's not forget that we also receive donations of peoples' time and materials. Jony-D puts in a lot of time coming up with ideas and asking people and businesses for money and donations, the banner, etc. Thanks to Wal-Mart and the First Church of God we have places to skate for Skate Day.
"YOU (SKATEBOARDERS) ARE THE FACE OF THIS WHOLE EFFORT TO RAISE MONEY FOR A SKATEPARK." That's something like what Jony-D said that made perfect sense. Let's remember that people are always watching you everywhere you skate. What they think about you and your behavior is what they think about building a park. Good? or Bad?
MORE TRUST, LESS TROUBLE.
That's our motto.
kg
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