Plans and Goals for the Next Three Fiscal Years
2023 - 2026
Strive to complete Annual Plans
Emphasize attracting new members into our CSO as well as retaining current members.
Encourage CSO members to volunteer.
Recruit additional members into our Board of Directors, especially those who possess beneficial skills and energies.
Send monthly emails about the CSO and park to CSO members.
Continue to update our Facebook page.
Fund the purchase of additional canoes and kayaks to add to and replace worn-out boats.
Purchase materials and/or labor as needed to maintain or improve the kayak launch area, as well as equipment used for kayak tours and classes.
Fund and provide staffing for The Villages annual Outdoors Recreation Expo and other events as they arise.
Fund and provide staffing for the park’s annual Kids Fishing Clinic
Fund and assist with adding outdoor activities.
Attend the annual FSP/CSO symposium.
Continue kayak Eco-Tours, Moonlight Tours, and Kayak 101 Classes
Recruit and Qualify additional Paddle Tour Guides
Continue Purchasing and selling firewood.
Develop and fund new marketing ideas.
To the extent possible – meet unanticipated funding and staffing needs of the park’s manager and volunteers.
Accomplishments
2022
Provided daytime kayak Eco-Tours, nighttime kayak Moonlight Tours, and Kayak 101 Classes to 320 customers.
Increased the CSO membership from 86 to 100 members.
Sent monthly emails of various topics to all CSO members
Updated and posted articles on our Facebook page.
Contacts with a local newspaper reporter helped increase the number of articles about the park. The paper reaches over 100,000 readers.
Purchased firewood and sold it to campers.
Provided a dinner for park volunteers before most left for the summer months.
Talked with over a hundred people at our booth at the Villages Outdoor Expo
Talked with over a hundred people at our booth at the Villages Government Day
A boat and motor donated to the CSO in 2021 was sold for $15,000 and the money will be used for park projects.
Purchased a new motor for the park’s pontoon boat
Provided equipment and food for the Kids Fishing Clinic. Many members volunteered to help the children during the clinic.
Purchased four single kayaks for the park
Renewed two years of WildApricot for our website
Purchased stickers, coozies, and smart phone credit card holders for sale in the park office
Purchased a lift basket with harness to be used to help trim trees
Purchased metal conduit to replace existing weathered PVC handrails along park walkways
Accomplishments
2021
In January, after a delay due to Covid, we started our daytime kayak Eco-Tours and nighttime kayak Moonlight Tours
In September, we started Kayak 101 Classes to teach basic kayaking skills
Implemented electronic registration and payment of kayak tours and classes through our website
Provided kayak tours and classes to 333 customers
Provided free kayak tours for a Girl Scouts Troop that were camping at the park.
Purchased material to improve the kayak launch area
Purchased solar powered lights for boat and kayak launch areas
Increased the CSO membership from 36 to 86 members. Individuals now sign up for membership through our website.
Sent monthly emails of various topics to all CSO members
Updated and posted articles on our Facebook page
Contacts with a local newspaper reporter helped increase the number of articles about the park. The paper reaches over 100,000 readers.
Purchased firewood and sold it to campers
Paid for the installation of an ADA restroom in the maintenance building