A Good Friend to Carl
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Friends of Carl Sandburg
This week, Friends of Carl Sandburg (FOCS) will kick off a series of fun and family-friendly events as part of their 2021 Glassy Mountain Celebration. First up will be the Big Brassy Concert Saturday, August 28th in the Amphitheater at the Sandburg Home National Historic Site. Although this special musical event is nearly sold out, there will be plenty of other opportunities to be part of the ongoing Glassy Mountain Celebration and to support one of Flat Rock’s most famous and frequently visited venues.
FOCS is an all-volunteer organization composed of individuals who share an interest in, and respect for, Sandburg’s history and pride in his family’s home at Connemara. The organization’s Mission Statement reads:
“. . .to support and promote directly the historical, scientific, literary, educational, and interpretive activities of the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site.”
For over 30 years, FOCS has worked towards its mission by supplementing the Park’s funding and programming in a number of different ways - all of which serve to promote, protect, and help preserve the Park and its many historic and natural resources.
Promotional activities include educational initiatives and free programming for children, free family-friendly events, and cultural and literary resources. FOCS also helps with the maintenance and protection of the Sandburg Home’s unique artifacts, irreplicable landscapes, and exceptional trails. In addition, efforts and funding provided by FOCS help preserve Lillian Sandburg’s goat herd, gardens, and the many historic buildings in the Park.
The 2021 Glassy Mountain Celebration was inspired by the need to find new and non-traditional ways of fund-raising during the past 18 months complicated by the ongoing pandemic. FOCS Treasurer, John Berglin, says the celebration is a way to keep people engaged with Sandburg in ways that are fun, multi-generational, and safe. “For us as an organization, the main thing is to involve the community. We were trying to come up with a way to get the community involved safely during the pandemic.” As a result, FOCS developed a series of event ideas that afford visitors and friends the opportunity to support and enjoy the Park in a variety of ways.
Events that fall under the umbrellas of the 2021 Glassy Mountain Celebration include:
August 28th: The "Big Brassy" Concert with Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra. This is the inaugural FOCS benefit concert and will feature a performance by the Brass Quintet of the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra. Limited seating in the Park Amphitheater.
September 18th to October 16th, FOCS will share your selfie photos at the Glassy Mountain overlook or with the FOCS Bear in downtown Hendersonville. They would love photos of individuals, families, and pets with a few words about what makes the Glassy Mountain Trail and Sandburg Home special for you! Tag your posts with #BigGlassy.
After September 26: The Friends will announce the winner of their Quilt Auction. The Quilt was created by Beth Berglin, a local Flat Rock quilter, and finished at the Sheridan Kay Quilting Studio. The pieced quilt top was inspired by a vintage quilt that was acquired from a small antique shop in Southern Illinois and is believed to be circa 1930’s/1940’s. The finished quilt measures 81″ by 81″ and will be on display at the quilting studio, located at 1680F Spartanburg Highway in Hendersonville. To purchase tickets, click here.
October 9: Dry Falls Brewery will be hosting FOCS for a special fundraising event from 12 noon to 5 pm. In honor of the occasion, Dry Falls has created a special Big Glassy beer which will be sold with commemorative mugs. There will also be Big Glassy t-shirts for sale and the afternoon event will be the perfect way to financially support and celebrate all the great work done by FOCS. Dry Falls Brewery, 425 Kanuga Rd. in Hendersonville, 12:00 to 5:00.
October 16th: The 2021 Bearfootin’ Auction will conclude and a percentage of the winning bid for “Big Glassy” the FOCS Bear will support FOCS. All bidding will occur virtually, but there will be an in-person countdown celebration on Saturday, October 16 from 4-6 p.m. at the Historic Train Depot on 650 Maple Street where bidders and onlookers are invited to join us in a fun environment for the final hour of bidding. Live music and refreshments will be provided. For details on how you can bid on Big Glassy, go to https://www.accelevents.com/e/BearfootinArtWalkAuction
Of course, you can support FOCS throughout the year in a number of important ways. You can get involved with Friends by making an annual donation, serving as a FOCS Board Member, or volunteer, or by making a memorial or legacy gift. This year’s benefit concert, in fact, will pay homage to the memory of Miles K. Sollom who left a generous legacy gift to FOCS earlier this year. You can learn more about how to donate at https://friendsofcarlsandburg.org/donate/ or contact Friends via email at focsnc@gmail.com.
The funding provided by FOCS goes to a wide array of programs and services- all of which complement and enhance the work being done through the Park’s regular budget. The Park comes to FOCS each year with a list of funding requests that are not covered in their normal operating budget. The two groups agree on the priorities and amounts and the FOCS goes to work to support the Park. In a typical year, the Friends will try to raise 20-25k annually but varies year to year with 2020 impacted by the pandemic.
Examples of programs and initiatives funded by FOCS include:
The Fresh Kids Program: Allows area students to work as volunteers in the barn and learn about both The Park and the realities of working with farm animals.
Educational Initiatives: FOCS helps fund and maintain curricula for educational groups Pre-visits, During Visit, and Post-Visit. They’ve also developed a virtual program for groups that can not physically visit the Park. Some of the funding goes to hiring an area teacher to maintain and update the curriculum each year.
Financial Assistance for acquiring and caring for the goats of the Sandburg herd
Music programming such as the Music Festival and Sandburg Sing-Alongs
Support for the Writer in Residence Program
Support for Christmas at Connemara
Volunteer Recognition for individuals that volunteer in the house, in the barn, for trail work, and the gardens
Dallas Owens, President FOCS, is proud that his organization can add so much to a place that is already very special. “If we didn’t exist, the Park would continue, but there are some important programs that wouldn’t get funded. So we are very proud that we bring a lot of added value to the Park.” Ellen Sugarman, Vice President FOCS, also volunteers in the Goat Barn and sees first hand the positive impact Sandburg Home Historic Site has on visitors to the Park. “It is so unique that we have a National Park in our backyard. And that it is free and has a working barn and livestock herd.” She also enjoys watching the multigenerational visitors that frequent the Park. “We have parents and grandparents who tell us that they remember visiting the park with their parents when they were children. It’s really a joy to see how much visitors enjoy the Park.”
Park Superintendent, Polly Angelakis, is also grateful for the array of benefits that are provided by FOCS. "The Friends are outstanding partners. They help support events such as the annual Sandburg Music Fest, Sandburg Singalongs, Christmas at Connemara, writer workshops, Storytelling Slams, annual nationwide student poetry contest, and other programs which promote Carl Sandburg's multi-faceted legacy."
The next time you have the opportunity to visit the Sandburg Home National Historic Site, be sure to remember all the ways that FOCS enhances your experience. Through their hard work and dedication, one of the crown jewels of Flat Rock is an even better experience for the thousands of visitors who wander around the place Carl and Lillian Sandburg loved so much and generously arranged to share with all us through the National Park Service.
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Learn more about Friends of Carl Sandburg and donate online at: https://friendsofcarlsandburg.org/
Or Send email to: focsnc@gmail.com
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