Jeremy Curtis – Superintendent of the Oregon Caves National Monument
The Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau is a non-profit organization cooperating with the National Park Service (NPS), bureau of the United States Department of Interior, in the preservation, stewardship and improvement of cultural and natural resources of the Oregon Caves National Monument. The Oregon Caves and the Chateau are unique assets of national significance that contribute to the identity and economic well-being of the local community. The Oregon Caves Chateau, a national landmark and the primary historic structure in the Oregon Caves National Monument is one of the three publicly owned, historic lodges of Oregon that provide overnight accommodations. The furnishings and setting create a feeling of nostalgia that is unforgettable.
The Oregon Caves and Chateau have not had a Friends Groups since the 1950’s. The Friends will be raising the needed funds to restore the interior and the furnishings and to show local, statewide and national support for a priority in the National Park Service budget for the full structural restoration of the Chateau.
GOALS
Build the Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau into a strong partner organization to provide financial and volunteer assistance for the benefit of the Oregon Caves National Monument.
Develop Restoration, Conservation and Maintenance Plans for the Chateau, Monterey Furniture, and historic Guide Dormitory
Educate citizens, historians, businesses, on the importance of restoring the third of three publicly owned historic lodges in Oregon.
Develop and enhance the financial support for the proper historic conservation and maintenance of the Chateau, Monterey Furniture and Guide Dormitory
Broaden base of volunteer and community support for the restoration and maintenance of the Chateau as a working, historic lodge.
Connect the Oregon Caves National Monument, the Caves, and the Chateau to Cave Junction, Grants Pass, Brookings, Crescent City, Medford, Roseburg and neighboring regional communities as well as the important role the Monument plays in travel and tourism for the State of Oregon.
Founding Donors
The Friends would like to extend a special thank you to the following “Founding Members”. These remarkable individuals and organizations expressed confidence in the Friends by making the first contributions of $1000 or more during the Founding period from May 2008 to May 2013.
The Avista Foundation
The Architecture Foundation of Oregon
The Carpenter Foundation
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund of the National Historic Trust
The Four Way Foundation
The Kinsman Foundation
Meyer Memorial Trust
The Oregon Community Foundation
Robertson E. Collins Fund of OCF
The Oregon Cultural Trust
Southern Oregon Sanitation
Donations in Memory of Connie Baker Palmer
Chapman and Kathy McGrew – Crew of 1968
Illinois Valley Community Development Organization/Oregon Caves Outfitters
The Lium Family Sue, Michael and Stephen
James and Della Lium
Evergreen Federal
Menno Kraai and Jennie May Donnell
Trudy Kraai Monsma
Harm and Marian Kraai
Sue Densmore
George and Molly Spencer in memory of the Bakers and the Palmers
Kasey Holwerda
Pete and Trish Varney
Craig and Cynthia Ackerman
Mike and Karen Beverly – Crew of 1966-1969
Jerralynn Ness and Bernie Thurber
National Environmental Education Foundation
Scott Nelson and Margaret McGoldrick
Alan Dennison
Scott Robson
Lam Research
Inaugural Board
The Friends thank the Founding Board, partners and staff for their leadership in the development of the VISION of the Friends between May 2008 – May 2011.
Steve Swearingen – Chairman
James Dole – Vice Chairman
Ron Fox
Dean Wendle
Dave Thompson
Kenny Houck
Menno Kraai
Dave Toler
Kris Woodburn
Paulie Brading
Jim DeCourcey
Liaison /Partners:
Craig Ackerman, Superintendent of the Oregon Caves National Monument
Robert Schumacher, Executive Director, Oregon Caves Outfitters.
Staff:
Sue Densmore – Executive Director
Leadership Advisory Board
The Leadership Advisory Board of the Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau is a wonderful group of advisors from across the United States. Their advice and counsel continues to be invaluable as the Friends’ move forward with the restoration and conservation of the National Monument’s Guide Dormitory, Chateau and its historic collection of Monterey Furniture. The Leadership Advisory Board is an “advisory only” group, so we seek input from time to time, and rely on their expertise in strategic planning as well as fundraising. We hold an annual gathering of the Leadership Advisory Board and our advisors are included in special events around the state as well as at the Monument.
Leadership Advisory Board
Linny Adamson – Mt. Hood
Emile Amarotico – Ashland
Sarah Baker Munro – Portland
Cory Benz – Lake Oswego
Paulie Brading – Medford
Joanne Carlson – Portland
Robert Christnaught – Portland
Carol Edelman – Portland
Mike Finley – Medford
Gerald Frank – Salem
Barbara Heyerman – Ashland
George Kramer – Ashland
Sara Lea – Lake Oswego
Sue Lium – Alaska
Robert MacLellan – Ashland
Jack McGowan – Sisters
Jan McGowan – Sisters
Merrill A. Tony McPeak – Lake Oswego
Kathy Mead – Lake Oswego
Jerralynn Ness – Portland
John Snider – Medford
George Spencer – Portland
Bernie Thurber – Portland
Pete and Tish Varney – Littleton Colorado
Steve Vincent – Medford
Joyce White – Portland
Foundation Support and Thoughtful Advisors
Jane Jarrett – Architecture Foundation of Oregon
Emily Mostue – The Carpenter Foundation
Christine D’Arcy – The Oregon Cultural Trust
Hugh Rowland – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Preservation
Steve Welch – The Four Way Community Foundation
Keith Kinsman – The Kinsman Foundation
Greg Chaile – Oregon Community Foundation
Doug Stamm, Eric Jones – Meyer Memorial Trust
We would like to thank and honor Jack Mills, Co-Convener of the Leadership Advisory board, who regrettably passed away in 2011. Jack’s passion for the Friends will be dearly missed.
Staff
Sue Densmore has been the Owner and President of Sue Densmore Communication Strategies since 1996. The former General Manager of Rogue Waste Systems, Rogue Disposal and Recycling and Dry Creek Landfill and a consultant to a wide range of businesses including the development of the Schmiesing Eye Surgery Center, People’s Bank of Commerce, the Umpqua Land Exchange Project and the communities of White City and Gold Hill. This has included developing core business strategies, business and marketing plans for new companies, re-engineering existing companies to help them find their focus and plan their future and the full or partial implementation of the plans.
Lucas Pelton, founder of MOM+POP, Ltd. and soma Design Group, deals with everything design… And everything technical.
From our web site to print collateral, web programming to print separations, he’s our go-to. Bringing over 20 years of experience in web design and business consulting, he’s an invaluable resource.
The Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau was formed in 2008, in cooperation with the National Park Service, to preserve, protect and improve the cultural and natural resources of the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve
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Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau | P.O. Box 2195 Grants Pass, OR 97528 | www.FriendsOCAC.org