SPRING 2020

LAKE METROPARKSvolunteersvolunteersThank you!Volunteering is any activity that involves putting your unpaid time, energy, and skills to work for the greater good. Through volunteering, individuals can create positive change on many fronts—human rights, faith communities, health, education, sports and recreation, social services, arts and culture, emergency services, the environment and conservation, animal welfare, and community support development—the list is endless.

Volunteering with Lake Metroparks is fun, rewarding, and inspiring. It can be a life-changing experience. Clean, safe parks and affordable programs as we conserve and preserve the natural resources of Lake County is all a part of our mission.

Lake Metroparks thanks its amazing volunteers for their dedication and talents, volunteers who make it possible for us to deliver on our mission. Thank you for that passion and commitment that you so generously offer all year long. Happy National Volunteer Week!

Merle WalkerVolunteer Program Manager

Future Volunteer OpportunitiesPlease use our online volunteer management system, Volgistics, to search and sign up for possible future volunteer opportunities with Lake Metroparks. We hope to be able to offer events this summer/fall and are especially hopeful to move ahead with Halloween Hayrides and Country Lights later in the year. If you need help with how to log in and use Volgistics, email volunteer@lakemetroparks.com and request assistance!

We miss you!Volunteers play a vital role in the success of the park district. The world and our daily lives have unexpectedly changed quite dramatically these past few weeks. These are certainly tough times for everyone, and during National Volunteer Week, it is especially important to emphasize how much I and all the Lake Metroparks employees appreciate the time and dedication provided by our volunteers. We haven’t seen each other lately; we miss you and hope that you are doing well!

The operation of Lake Metroparks has been impacted; we are thankful we’ve been able to keep park trails open and continue to welcome visitors that want to connect with nature and take a break to exercise, reflect, and revive. We wait, watch, and prepare to cautiously and safely take steps to increase our programs and activities. We reopened our golf courses beginning April 24, taking careful measures to comply with public health guidance. We will slowly transition our operations, and we just don’t know how long it will take or exactly what our programs and events will look like. I imagine you miss much about your “old routine,” including your volunteer service to Lake Metroparks. We look forward to seeing you again as we do our best to continue to provide services to benefit our community.

The rest of this year is going to be a lot different than we had planned and hoped for. Due to health restrictions there are events and programs we simply will not be able to provide this year. Right now, we do not know which events/programs we will be able to deliver and which we will not be able to offer. This list will change as time marches on. As of now, all programs through May 17 and all events through June 15 are canceled. Facilities that have been closed will remain closed through at least May 17. We will continue to reevaluate how and when we are able to operate later in May and into June. We are also suffering a significant loss of revenue from the COVID-19 shut down that will limit what we will be able to offer this year…even if we can do so safely. So please bear with us as we make our way through this unchartered territory.

Kindly check for park district updates to learn what is going on: visit your parks often both in person and online via our website and social media. Thanks so much for all you have done for us in the past and for your continued passion for and support of Lake Metroparks. Stay safe!

Paul PalagyiLake Metroparks Executive Director

AL SUSINSKAS

THE VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT MISSIONThe Volunteer Department supports the Lake Metroparks’ mission by providing a substantial resource of volunteers to enrich and expand Lake Metroparks services and programs as well as generate goodwill through citizen participation in Lake Metroparks.

THE MISSION OF LAKE METROPARKSTo conserve and preserve the natural resources of Lake County while providing a variety of safe, affordable and enjoyable educational and recreational programs and activities that enhance the quality of life in Lake County now and for generations to follow.

Keep Us InformedTo help keep our records updated, please send us any changes to your address, telephone numbers or e-mail. Keep in touch! If you would like to receive information from us via e-mail, please forward your e-mail address to Merle. LAKE COUNTY PROBATE JUDGE

Mark J. Bartolotta

BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERSGretchen Skok DiSanto • Frank J. Polivka • John C. Redmond

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORPaul Palagyi

Lake Metroparks does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, nationality or disability in employment, services, programs or activities. Should special assistance be required in visiting facilities and/or participating in programs or activities of the Lake Metroparks, please call 440-358-7275 at least 48 hours in advance.

Lake Metroparks Volunteer DepartmentMerle Walker 440-585-3041 x6419 mwalker@lakemetroparks.com

Beverly Caduff 440-585-3041 x6322 bcaduff@lakemetroparks.com

Rachael Haffey 440-585-3041 x6520 rhaffey@lakemetroparks.com

ROGER LOKAR

We haven’t seen each other lately—we miss you and hope that you are doing well!