2020 Regional Friends Gatherings

Calling all Friends of NY state parks and historic sites...Parks & Trails New York and the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation invites you to a regional gathering of Friends this Fall.

The main goal of the Friends gatherings is to provide an opportunity for learning, networking and information-sharing among Friends groups and park staff. Due to the current nature of the pandemic, this year’s regional meetings will be hosted virtually over Zoom. But there will still be plenty of opportunity for asking questions and networking.

The last regional meetings were held in 2016 and more than 200 Friends and staff of New York State Parks and Historic Sites attended, including representatives from 60 Friends groups, covering every region of the state. We hope that by hosting regions virtually, we will be able to have even more Friends join us this year.

Four regional meetings will be held on Thursdays in October and November. Each meeting will be approximately 2 hours long, with one hour for updates and one hour for breakout sessions. During the first hour, you can expect a video messages from Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid, and State Council of Parks Chair Lucy Waletzky, plus reports from regional directors and members of the State Parks executive team. PTNY will also be sharing highlights from recent successful campaigns, updates on Park and Trail Partnership Grants and exciting upcoming initiatives. In the second hour, Friends will have the opportunity to connect, brainstorm, and gain insights from peers on a variety of topics.

We recommend attending the event that is targeted for your region as you will receive updates particular to your region and be able to network with nearby groups. However, feel free to attend a different meeting if you have a scheduling conflict--there will be opportunities for networking and important updates provided at each event.Save the dates

• Capital Region/Saratoga, Palisades, and Taconic: October 8, 4-6 p.m.
• Central, Finger Lakes, Thousand Islands: October 22, 4-6 p.m.
• Allegany, Genesee, Niagara: October, 29 4-6 p.m.
• New York City & Long Island: November 5, 4-6 p.m.

You can RSVP here. We will also be sending out a more detailed agenda in the next few weeks so please keep an eye on your inbox and our website for updated information. Please RSVP at least a week prior to the meeting you plan to attend.

We look forward to seeing you there!