Friday night we had our last big fundraising event for the construction of campgrounds at Mildred Kanipe Park. It was a five-course gourmet dinner at $65/plate with a different wine for each serving. Many local artists and authors offered their works for sale, with most of their profits going to benefit Kanipe Park. The event was held at the Umpqua Valley Arts Association's lovely building in Roseburg from 6 to 9 pm. Most of the food and all the wine was donated, and the food was prepared by a very good caterer who also donated her services. Mike and some others served as waiters, white napkins on trays and all. Between servings the waiters ate and drank wine in the kitchen. By 8 pm everyone was happy, waiters included.
Celia was to give a brief talk thanking the community for their support, but due to her glasses mysteriously disappearing, her friend Jenny graciously offered to read it for her. When it was all said and done, members of the Friends of Mildred Kanipe Park had to help wash the dishes, which reminded Mike of KP duty when he was in the Army. It was an assembly line type of production with people washing, rinsing, drying and putting away. The floor became wet due to drainage problems, but not a dish was broken, and the wine continued to flow freely until the job was done.
Our agreement with Douglas County was to raise $65,000 in six months. The County would match it with funds from Mildred's trust to construct campgrounds on the park to help make it self sufficient, making it unnecessary to clearcut 20 acres on the park to fund this project. In less than three months the community raised almost $71,000, including a $10,000 grant from an old timber family in the County. (see attached picture of board members)
Cheers!
Celia & Mike 
