Park & Society News
For Immediate Release:
February 7, 2011
The Mount Rushmore Society celebrated 81 years of supporting Mount Rushmore at its annual meeting held January 28, 2011, at the Alex Johnson Hotel. Society President Gene Lebrun opened the meeting with approximately 100 members and guests in attendance. As part of the agenda, Marilyn Owen was honored posthumously with the first 2011 Individual Friend of the Faces Award, and Xanterra Parks & Resorts was awarded the first 2011 Corporate Friend of the Faces Award.
Past President Al Johnson accepted the individual award for the Marilyn Owen family. Owen was recognized for her significant volunteer time given to the Society, as she served on the Mount Rushmore Society board since 1995 and the Mount Rushmore Bookstores committee since 2001. She was also the chair of the Mount Rushmore Bookstores committee for three years.
Xanterra Parks & Resorts General Manager Russ Jobman and Food Services Manager Lloyd Shelton accepted the corporate award for the organization, honoring them for a significant amount of time, money and in-kind services given to Society functions. The award recognized the organization for partnering with the Society in planning and executing the organization’s popular presidential fund-raising dinners for the last eight years and their continued sponsorship of the Independence Day Celebration.
As part of the meeting, President Lebrun discussed three new agreements that the Society signed with the National Park Service (NPS) in 2010: (1) the Parking Concession Contract which will be effective through 2016. (2) A new five-year Cooperating Association Agreement to continue operation of the Mount Rushmore Bookstores and Mount Rushmore Audio Tour at the park. (3) And, a new five-year Friends Group Agreement, which is the fund-raising agreement between a nonprofit and the NPS.
Lebrun also announced that the Society contributed more than $291,503 to Mount Rushmore in FY 2010.
Society contributions in 2010 included the following:
· Event support for the Independence Day Celebration;
· Park visitor center staffing;
· Promotion of park events and services;
· In-kind donations; and
· More than $176,329 in educational and interpretive funding for the park through the Mount Rushmore Bookstores and Mount Rushmore Audio Tour.
The source of funding for these contributions included revenue from the Mount Rushmore Bookstores, Mount Rushmore Audio Tour, sponsors, parking revenue, in-kind donations and unrestricted contributions.
New officers for 2011 were elected during the meeting. Ruth Samuelsen of Rapid City was elected to lead the organization as president. Other officers elected were Past President Gene Lebrun of Lynn Jackson Shultz & Lebrun, Vice President Andy Knight of Rossum & Neal Realtors; Secretary Judy Allen of Rapid City; and Treasurer Leroy Ketel of Ketel Thorstenson, LLP. Roxann Basham of Black Hills Corporation and former Black Hills Badlands & Lakes CEO Bill Honerkamp were elected as new board members.
They are joining current board members Judy Olson Duhamel, Dr. Sidney Goss, Nancy Gowen, Tom Griffith, Kay Jorgensen, Phil Lampert, Tim Raben, Joe Bruch and Justin Cutler. Emeritus directors include Glenn Barber, Jim Bell, Johnny Brockelsby, Mike Derby, Al Johnson, Royal McCracken and Jim Nelson. Outgoing emeritus directors were recognized and included Eddie Clay, Jim Kuehn and Fred Whiting.
More information on the Society’s contributions and activities during FY 2009-2010 is detailed in the 2010 Annual Report found at www.mountrushmoresociety.com or may be requested by calling 605-341-8883.
For Immediate Release:
December 15, 2010
Mount Rushmore Society Announces New Staff
The Mount Rushmore Society is proud to announce that Bob Dominicak and Laura A. Jones have become staff members of the nonprofit organization. Dominicak is now the parking division manager and will oversee the parking operations provided by Presidential Parking, Inc. at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Jones has joined the organization as the retail manager of the Mount Rushmore Bookstores, overseeing the retail operation of three outlets at the Memorial as well as the Mount Rushmore Audio Tour.
Dominicak is a graduate of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology with a degree in civil engineering and has 34 years experience as a consulting engineer in South Dakota and Colorado. Before joining the Society, he spent the last six years with the City of Rapid City in the Growth Management Department as a project engineer and assistant director. He is a Mount Rushmore Society member and past board member.
 Partially sponsored by the Mount Rushmore Society and regional partners, South Dakota will be represented in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade this year. Tune in to see Mount Rushmore's America's Pride float roll down 7th Avenue!
For Immediate Release:
September 27, 2010
“Eisenhower” to Appear at Rapid City Middle Schools
Re-enactor Bruce Hoff of Texas will bring history to life as President Dwight D. Eisenhower during visits to three Rapid City middle schools September 30 and October 1. Sponsored by the Mount Rushmore Society (Society), this free event is to engage area 8th grade students about the life, personality and role President Eisenhower had on the country. On Thursday, September 30, Hoff will give a presentation and entertain questions to South West Middle School from 9:20 am -10:20 am and to West Middle School from 2 pm-3 pm. On Friday, October 1, he will do the same at Dakota Middle School from 2 pm-3pm.
In addition, he will visit West Hills Village on October 1 at 10:30 am to discuss “war strategy” with many of the WWII veterans who reside there. His presentation will focus on the challenges of WWII and Eisenhower’s impact during that time. (Media: Please note that this event at West Hills is for the residents and media only. It’s not open to the public.)
Bruce Hoff of San Antonio has been portraying General and President Dwight Eisenhower for more than six years at notable venues like the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives and Records Administration and the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute of Texan Cultures. A “big fan of Eisenhower” and history buff, Hoff will give insight into the highlights and challenges of “the General,” “the President” and “the Man” throughout his various presentations in the Rapid City area.
This school outreach also serves as a kick-off to the Society’s annual presidential dinner which is a fund raiser to support projects and programs at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This year, the dinner is themed, An Evening with Dwight D. Eisenhower, and will be held Saturday, October 2, beginning at 5pm in the Mount Rushmore’s Carvers Cafe. The evening program will feature President Eisenhower and a gourmet meal consisting of a menu that Eisenhower would have served at the White House. A silent auction, live auction and a gourmet wine raffle will be a part of the evening. Xanterra Parks & Resorts and Canyon Lake Liquors, LTD are sponsors. Tickets are $75 per person or a table of 8 for $600. Seating is limited. To rsvp, please call 605-341-8883.
In addition, an online auction consisting of the items that will be featured during the event will be available now until October 1 at www.mountrushmoresociety.com. For more information, go to the website or call 605-341-8883.
For Immediate Release:
August 4, 2010
Contact: Sandie Thielen at 605-399-6000
Naturalization Ceremony to be Held at Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The United States District Court of South Dakota will hold a Naturalization Ceremony at Mount Rushmore National Memorial on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 2pm in which approximately 100 people will become new American Citizens. The ceremony will be held in the Amphitheater and is sponsored by the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society.
Representatives of the United States District Court, United States Citizenship & Immigration Services and the South Dakota Army National Guard will participate in the ceremony. During the ceremony, special guest speaker, Brendan Johnson, the United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota, will share his unique experience with American citizenship as it pertains to the adoption of two of his children from Ethiopia.
More than 80 members of the Dakota Choral Union will perform three patriotic songs, including the National Anthem with featured soloist and new citizen Juliana Depaula Tomek of Brazil. In addition, Graham Thatcher will present presidential readings, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial’s Acting Superintendent Hugh Dougher, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society, the Daughters of the American Revolution and students from West Middle School will make special presentations to the new citizens.
Following the ceremony, Pennington County Auditor Julie Pearson will be available for voter registration outside the Carvers Cafe. Registration will be open to all eligible South Dakota voters, not just those from Pennington County.
The public is invited to attend this celebration of citizenship of the United States. The ceremony is free. There is a $10 parking fee per car.
Hours and Scheduled Events:
Gates: 7:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.
Gift Shop: 8:00 A.M. – 10:30 P.M.
Audio Tour: 8:00 A.M. – 4:00P.M.
Visitor Ctr.: 8:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.
Info. Ctr.: 8:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.
Sculptor’s Studio: Open
Carvers Café: 8:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Fudge Shop: 11:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M
Evening Program/Lighting Ceremony: Nightly at 9:00 P.M. (Program lasts for approximately forty-five minutes.) Beginning August 15, will begin at 8:00 P.M.
September:
6 Labor Day
11 Patriot Day
17-23 Constitution Week
25 National Public Lands Day
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