“Parkitecture” 68(2):3-5 by Charles Palmer - Yosemite Online

YOSEMITE ASSOCIATION
2005 ANNUAL REPORT
Illustrations are by Shirley
Spencer, from her forthcoming
book on shrubs of
the Sierra.
Featuring exciting educational programs,
improved systems and facilities, impressive
accomplishments, and talented new staff, 2005 was a heartening year for the Yosemite
Association. The period’s single most significant development was the completion of
the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center lobby remodel, which included the total makeover of
the association’s bookstore. The outlet now boasts state-of-the-art fixtures, lighting,
and computer systems, along with a new location in the former National Park Service
dispatch office.
The improved facility paid immediate dividends with a marked increase (18%) in
gross sales for the year—a remarkable figure given the previous year’s strong sales.
This growth boosted the Yosemite Association to its second highest gross income
(before our Aid-to-NPS donations) in the past fifteen years.
Our membership, a supportive and dedicated bunch that’s over 10,000 strong, was
integral to our success. Besides their dues, YA members donated nearly $100,000 in
response to our annual fundraising mailer, and as volunteers contributed over 11,700
hours of labor to various restoration, educational, and other programs in Yosemite.
The Yosemite Cooperative Student Intern Program (sponsored jointly with the
University of California at Merced and the NPS) expanded in 2005 to involve six college
students. They received extensive training in a variety of Yosemite subjects and in the
ways of the park service, while providing an important supplement to the park’s interpretive
division.
YA’s publications program continued to create and issue successful educational
products and materials. The “Yosemite Commemorative Edition” of the California State
Quarter proved to be our most popular sales item for the year, and our park identity
logo series was expanded with the addition of Yosemite Valley products. During the
year, YA’s fine press book, A Trip to the Yosemite, was named one the “Best 50 Books of
2004” by the American Institute of Graphic Arts.
In the administrative area, YA is now better equipped to keep track of our sales,
inventory, and financial data. In 2005 we purchased and implemented a new integrated
software system called Navision that has made our accounting and sales functions
much more efficient. While the transition to Navision was at times painful, the new system
holds great promise for improving our overall operation.
Our educational programs took on new life under new director Pete Devine. Some 750
participants enjoyed a broad-ranging variety of Yosemite Outdoor Adventure programs,
including our second annual birding festival, and a botany symposium featuring worldrenowned
conservationist Peter Raven. The Yosemite Art Center served over 2,000 park
visitors during its six-month run, with talented volunteer artists offering free art lessons
in Yosemite Valley.
On top of extensive programmatic and in-kind support of the NPS in Yosemite, YA was
able to contribute nearly $160,000 in cash to important park educational initiatives during
2005. With the steadfast assistance of our members, friends, volunteers, vendors,
and others, our association continues to make a difference in Yosemite.
We extend our thanks and appreciation to every single person who involved him- or
herself in our activities in 2005. It is because of you that we are able to accomplish what
we do in Yosemite.
Steven P. Medley
President
18 ANNUAL REPORT 2005