Appalachian State University Chapter

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway has welcomed its first college chapter at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. The Appalachian State University chapter is currently recruiting members who love the Parkway and are willing to volunteer their time to help with Parkway projects that are brought to the attention of the FRIENDS organization by the National Park Service.

On April 12, the chapter organized their first trail maintenance project at Price Park, the inaugural event for the first university-affiliated chapter of Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The group spent approximately two hours installing water bars, busting debris dams and excavating and reinstalling a wooden bridge near Bee Creek under the guidance of Ranger Dave Bauer and Josh McMann.

History of Chapter Formation

The chapter held an organizational meeting of about 25 interested students October 18, 2007 under the guidance of faculty advisor, Heather Preston, Department of Communication at Appalachian State University. Preston notes that the chapter idea “was the brainchild of my students in Public Relations Practices. They chose the Blue Ridge Parkway as a client for the semester, so a student-run university chapter of FRIENDS was the ideal choice to help the Parkway accomplish its mission to preserve regional culture.”

  

The chapter completed all requirements for starting a chapter on campus by creating a constitution which was reviewed by the university’s Club Council and passed on to the Director of the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership where it was granted final approval. The chapter has designed its own logo for use on apparel and other merchandise to assist with their fundraising efforts. Membership in FRIENDS will be discounted for students with part of the dues going back to the chapter to assist them with planning their projects.

Dr. Neva Specht, University Liaison to the Blue Ridge Parkway, notes that “having a Blue Ridge Parkway FRIENDS’ chapter on campus provides a great opportunity for student involvement with the Parkway. As more faculty and staff work on Parkway related research, it makes sense that more students will be interested in volunteering for the Parkway. The creation of the Chapter will now give them a way to get involved. I am especially excited because the idea for the chapter came from interested students; it shows how important the Parkway is to them and to the University.”

The first official chapter meeting was held November 14, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. in the Multicultural Center, room 112, on the first floor of the Plemmons Student Union. Club officers were introduced, and information regarding the club’s mission, membership details, advisory staff, and upcoming events for next semester  was also shared.

Caroline Thompson, president of the chapter, states that “Appalachian State is extremely excited about forming the first chapter of FRIENDS on a college campus, and we look forward to helping the FRIENDS organization with local projects and planning”.

If you would like more information contact FRIENDS at staff@friendsbrp.org