FMCA takes pride in America

November 2003

By Todd Moning
FMCA.com editor

It's only natural for FMCA to support Take Pride In America (TPIA), a national campaign to inspire more volunteer service on America's public lands.

"FMCA members' volunteerism is not something new," said Don Eversmann, FMCA executive director. "Our members have always believed in enhancing this country's public lands and resources, and they take great pride in giving back."

TPIA, launched in April 2003 by the Department of the Interior, promotes volunteer activities to improve parks, refuges, historic sites and recreation areas on federal, state or local public lands.

FMCA is one of more than 100 charter partners in TPIA. In addition to a monetary donation, the association has agreed to encourage volunteer action and spread the Take Pride philosophy.

TPIA is part of President George W. Bush's USA Freedom Corps volunteer service initiative, dedicated to fostering a culture of service to others.

"Our chapters have been doing projects like this in a volunteer manner for years," Eversmann said. FMCA has more than 450 active chapters throughout North America. Many of them organize and participate in special charitable projects year-round. For example, they have:

• built homes for the homeless
• picked up trash along highways
• painted shelters at campgrounds
• recycled cans to benefit charities
• served as campground hosts

TPIA events can take place in local streets, parks, and schools, as well as in national recreation and public land areas. They can involve holding fund-raising events; repairing grounds or fences; or constructing or maintaining trails, campsites or shorelines.

Examples of Take Pride projects under the new initiative: Volunteers cleaned up and prepared a newly constructed group campground near Roseburg, Ore. Minnesota Vikings players helped to build a new playground for a kids' charity. Boy Scouts and troop leaders cleaned up shoreline at Black Butte Lake in Northern California.

TPIA sponsors a national awards program to recognize volunteers for their "exceptional contributions of time and service."

President Ronald Reagan launched the first Take Pride In America. That effort, from 1986 to 1993, resulted in more than 10 million hours of volunteer service to public lands.

The renewed program is intended to be more inclusive and far-reaching, but the purpose remains the same: to generate volunteer service projects that help protect, restore, and maintain public lands and enhance visitor enjoyment of these places.

Take Pride In America
www.takepride.gov

Department of the Interior
www.doi.gov

USA Freedom Corps
www.usafreedomcorps.gov