The Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and enhancement of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the values it represents through a partnership with the National Park Service. The Mount Rushmore History Association supports the educational, historical and interpretive activities at the park. The Mount Rushmore Institute provides an environment of learning and dialogue, inspired by Mount Rushmore, to advance the cause of freedom and the principles of democracy. The Star-Spangled Banner Great Success Takes Great Partners Fall 2009 Diana Saathoff, Executive Director ndependence Day at Mount Rushmore is great event and other signature South years of a destination and a dream for thousands Dakota events like the Sturgis Rally, the Partnership Iof people. Deadwood Days of 76 and the Custer Many have waited Buffalo Roundup, to name some of the 79 Mount years to spend their biggies. Each is a unique event with great Rushmore Independence Day participation by federal, state, and county National here. Their stories are law enforcement and emergency services. Memorial Society heartwarming. Each has a host agency to take the lead, a Although this private enterprise to help fund the event Mount year’s foggy fireworks and each has the powerful promotional Rushmore display was a arm of the South Dakota Department of Saathoff History disappointment to all, Tourism. Association I heard again and again that our guests will The patriotic fireworks display come back another year. Even with Mother broadcasts internationally, positively Mount Nature’s wicked sense of timing, the patriotic impacting Mount Rushmore and the Rushmore display is here to stay. The public loves the National Park Service. For the visitor Institute event, our sponsors give generously and our industry, the impact is felt each year as partners put great effort and resources into hotels are filled, meals are consumed, Parking hosting it. souvenirs are purchased and new Division Special events like this cannot take place ambassadors for South Dakota go home without the cooperation and full integration and recount their fantastic vacation of partners—all working to make big things continued on p. 7 happen. Partnerships are the core of this InsideSociety News p. 2 Park News p. 4 Institute News p. 5 Bookstore News p. 6 Parking News p. 7 Fireworks p. 8 RushmoreSociety News Avoids Economic Woes Gene Lebrun, President hat a wonderful summer creeks and President Lebrun, up an average of 4.1 % for western South Dakota, streams. addressing the over 2008, and 6.6% over the Black Hills and Mount Mount Independence Day budget. June and July W Celebration crowd Rushmore. Here it is August, and the Rushmore’s saw the best sales ever for in the park’s prairie, the valleys and the Hills are all Independence Amphitheater on those two months, and still green and lush! My family was out Day Celebration July 3rd. by mid-August the sales in early August and we toured the Hills began with were $29,000 over August and spent a few days in Custer State crowds of 2008. Park. It was obvious that the wildlife gathering It also has been is also enjoying Mother Nature’s early on July 3rd to enjoy a variety of an amazing year for the parking generous array of healthy plants and cultural and entertainment activities. concession. Through the end of July, grasses interwoven with running The day culminated with a once-in-a total revenue (and visitation) has been lifetime “northern lights” show over up 11% from 2008. That amounts to an the Memorial that evening. (For those increase of $250,000 in revenue! July of you who were not there, “northern was our first “million-dollar month” lights” is what fireworks look like when with gross revenue of $1,025,125. As of Thea combined Star-Spangled newsletter for theBanner set off during intense fog!) Having this writing, August is up 12% from last Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society, the Mount Rushmore History grown up in northern North Dakota, year. Association and the Mount Rushmore where I saw a lot of northern lights Interestingly, although the Institute shows, I thought that our man-made motorcycle count during the Sturgis Mount Rushmore National Memorial display of colored skies was unique Rally was down about 4.5% from Society President: Gene Lebrun and awesome! The great teamwork 2008, the car count during the same Mount Rushmore History Association Chair: Nancy Gowen among the various entities thanked period was up 28.6% from 2008 for an in this newsletter made the event overall traffic count increase of almost Mount Rushmore Institute President: Jim Nelson successful, in spite of the glitch in the 8% during the Rally. Thanks to Bob Parking Committee Chair: Leroy Ketel weather. (And, sponsors, we promise Mudlin and his crew at Presidential Executive Director: Diana Saathoff to fix the reserved parking problem for Parking and to Mason Short, parking Parking Division Manager: Mason Short next year’s event). division manager, for their fine work As the tourism season started this at handling the many visitors as they History Association Division Operations Manager: Megan Matzen year, there were predictions and fears arrive and depart the park. Development Director: Mary Larkin of a slow year and season for Mount Please mark your calendars Rushmore. As it turns out, at least for the events coming up at Mount Finance Director: Lynn Bauter through the end of August, Mount Rushmore yet this fall, like An Evening Publications/Communications Director/ Membership Newsletter: Debbie Ketel Rushmore has been having a great with John Adams (see p. 3) and the season. The History Association’s Mount Rushmore Institute’s Achieving Administrative Assistant: Pam Wright bookstore operations for the first 10 America’s Energy Independence forum History Association Administrative Assistant: Jana Young months had a gross profit of $12,000 (see p. 5). over the same period in 2008 and Also, Society board members, Inventory Manager: Mary Bentley $24,000 over what was budgeted. A don’t forget to make your reservations Contact Information part of that has been the great job for the Annual Board Retreat on Society Office: Lynn Bauter, Megan Matzen and October 9-11, which will be held in PO Box 1524 crew have done in keeping down the Custer State Park at the new Creekside Rapid City, SD 57709 (605) 341-8883 expenses. The cost of goods sold is Lodge next to the Game Lodge. Fax: (605) 341-0433 down 2% from 2008. Retail sales are [email protected] www.mountrushmoresociety.com www.mountrushmoreinstitute.com The Society sponsored the three remaining World War II Navajo History Association Office: Code Talkers in their visit to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial park and receipt of an American 13036 Hwy 244 Keystone, SD 57751 flag during the July 3rd flag- 605-574-3142/1-800-699-3142 folding ceremony. [email protected] www.mtrushmorebookstore.com www.mountrushmoresociety.com p. 3 Good Luck Mary! Membership Gathers for Picnic Diana Saathoff, Executive Director Ruth Samuelsen, Vice President ociety Development Director ore than 80 Mount Mary Larkin is heading west S Rushmore Society members, after two years of great service staff and National Park to the Mount Rushmore Society. M Service staff gathered for the annual She is a very talented individual membership picnic held at the park who has on August 30. This was the first event done an planned after the new membership outstanding levels were promoted. The event job raising included a scrumptious meal by money, Xanterra Parks & Resorts, a dramatic awareness presentation by “Abigail Adams” and friends portrayed by Carol Saunders and a for projects Mount Rushmore quiz which tested at Mount the knowledge of those in attendance. Rushmore. Larkin Congratulations to Mary Kay Baker Mary and her husband, who came in first and Elf Swan who Dan, have decided to move back was the runner-up in the quiz! to California to pursue their So far the new membership respective careers. She will be program has been well received. Society member Judy Allen enjoys the meal greatly missed as she has done a during the Society Membership Picnic on To date, we have more than 3,000 terrific job for the Society. Mary Aug. 30 at the Memorial. members, including all membership immersed herself in the mission levels. We are excited about of promoting, preserving and Membership brochures are the possibilities for expanding supporting Mount Rushmore available at the Mount Rushmore membership opportunities, benefits through her very successful Society office by calling 605- and activities through ongoing fund raising and sponsorship 341-8883 or online at www. development of the Society’s efforts. She has been an integral mountrushmoresociety.com. electronic communication. team member in all aspects of sponsorship recruitment, grant writing, project planning Check out our Online Auction at www.mountrushmoresociety.com and event execution, including from Sept 21 to Oct 2 for your opportunity to purchase unique the presidential dinners, items and support Mount Rushmore! This way, you can be a naturalization ceremonies, part of the event even if you can’t attend on Oct 3rd. Independence Day fireworks, and membership activities. In addition, Larkin was RSVP instrumental in working with An Evening With John Adams 341-8883 Black Hills Harley Davidson, resulting in the donation of a The Mount Rushmore Society 2009 Harley Davidson patrol invites you to spend the motorcycle to Mount Rushmore. evening with a Most recently, Mary took true patriot! on the role of curriculum coordinator for the Mount Plan to attend our annual Rushmore Institute and has Presidential Dinner at made great strides toward Mount Rushmore National Memorial’s Carvers Cafe. advancing the organization and elevating the promotion October 3, 2009 and content of future Institute 5 pm Social .