Tales from A Volunteer

Landmark Park welcomes volunteer Kate Kirkland as a guest blogger to share some of her experiences.

Hi! My name is Kate Kirkland and I am a volunteer at Landmark Park. I have been volunteering since 2004.

One of the first tasks I was given when I started volunteering was to help demonstrate washing clothes the old fashioned way. In the 1890s, women would build a fire and bring water almost to a boil. Then, the clothes would go into the massive cast iron kettle with lye soap. To get all the stains out of the clothes, I would move the clothes to a wooden stump and start to beat them with a stick, the same stick that was used to stir the pot. One gentlemen commented that I must have been mad at my brother that day because I was beating the clothes so hard! If the stains did not come out, I would put them back in the hot water. In my opinion, washing with lye soap was hard because it felt so greasy to me.

After the washing demonstration and a few other volunteering experiences, I feel like I have found my calling. I enjoy playing my violin with the Landmark Dulcimer club. They so graciously allow me to play with them, even though I am not a concert violinist by any stretch of the imagination. The dulcimer club has a Jam Session every first Saturday of every month at 1 p.m. in the Interpretive Center Classroom. I try to go as much as I can! The session is for both inexperienced and experienced dulcimer players (or in my case, violin players). The dulcimer is a stringed American folk instrument and the club performs during some of the special events at Landmark Park, including Spring Farm Day, Victorian Christmas and Wiregrass Heritage Festival.

To join the volunteer experience at Landmark Park, call 334-794-3452. Not only does the park depend on volunteers, you may just learn something new while you're there!

Notes From Our Guest Book

A guest book sits in the Interpretive Center at Landmark Park, just waiting to hear what visitors have to say about the Park. Here are some of our favorites from 2010, so far. On your next visit, make sure to sign in and let us know what you think about the park.

Kata R., Bogota, Columbia: Me Encanto!

Kristin S., Baltimore, Maryland: I came all the way from B-More just to see Dothan

Carol B., Cottonwood: Wonderful place, interesting for visitors

Kathleen M., New Orleans, LA: Very Nice

Amariah W., Portland, OR: I've loved this place since I was very small

Bob H., White Cloud, MI: Neat

Steve O., CA: Loved It!

Jim A., Enterprise: Very cool place for young children

Amanda C., Enterprise: Very nice way to spend an afternoon

Matt P, Eufaula: Very nice for babies

Sophia L., Dothan: It's nice. This is the first time I've been here and I enjoyed the walk

Stephen P., Auburn: I loved it. This was the best place ever

Sarah K., Germany: Great, wonderful place

Angela P., Sicily: Awesome!

The Batista family, Puerto Rico: We love it. Cool!

Don D., MI: Excellent facilities and personal tour of the farm area!

Jessica D., Geneva: Will be back again and again

Krissy P., Germany: The Parrish family loves Landmark Park

Jon H., (no location given): Been gone 10 years and still love this park.

Slamka family, Racine, WI: Clean and comfortable walk

Karla A., Quebec City, Canada: Beautiful escape from the city. Thank you.

Rachel A., Mililani, Hawaii: Thanks! Aloha!

We would love to hear from you!

Q&A With Membership Coordinator Janis Lepley

ABOVE: Membership Coordinator Janis Lepley presents 2000th Landmark Park member Buster Padgett with his membership packet.

Summer, once again, is upon us. Kids are out of school and looking for something to do. Why not join Landmark Park and take advantage of our special programs to keep kids entertained and engaged in learning.

Landmark Park recently signed up 2000th active member, Buster Padgett. To commemorate this occasion, we have a chance to hear from Janis Lepley, membership coordinator at Landmark Park.

LMP: Janis, tell us a little about your background. How long have you worked at Landmark Park?

JL: I was born and raised in Franklin, TN. I have lived in Dothan for 20 years. My family joined Landmark Park in 1990, several years before I started working for the Park. We grew to love it immediately. My family attended Special Events, camps, workshops, Music by Moonlight, etc. Both of my children worked part-time for the Park while in high school and college. I have worked for the Park a total of 10 years. I was hired as Office Manager in 1995. I left for a few years and was rehired as Membership Coordinator in 2006.

LMP: How has the park changed over the years?

In the 10 years I have been associated with the Park, I have seen numerous changes such as the addition of The Martin Drug Store, The Stokes Activity Barn and the Barnyard Playground. We also have more and ‘bigger’ special events. We also just recently acquired a new Digital Planetarium. Exciting changes are always happening at Landmark Park.

LMP: Tell us about the membership programs offered at Landmark Park. Are there different levels?

JL: We have 8 different levels of memberships for individuals/families. These are as follows: Individual, Senior Couple, Family, Historical, Heritage, Heirloom, Legacy and President’s Circle. The Park of course has members at each level. The most frequently purchased level is the Family level. Your basic membership includes free daily admission, free admission to the Planetarium, free admission to almost all special events, a subscription to our quarterly newsletter "The Lark," and advance notice and discounts on special programs. As the level increases, so do the benefits.

LMP: How can a corporation or business support the membership program?

JL: Landmark Park also offers several levels of Corporate membership. The business may choose to pay for the level of their choice or exchange a membership for goods or services from the business.

LMP: How important are members to the survival of Landmark Park?

JL: Landmark Park is very dependent on memberships. Membership support generates a constant cash flow throughout the year. We have members that visit the Park every week or month and are able to take part in a lot that we have to offer. We also have some members that are not even able to visit us anymore but they remain supportive by renewing their membership yearly. We are so appreciative of our members!

LMP: What are some of the favorite events and activities at Landmark Park?

JL: My personal favorites are Spring Farm Day, Wiregrass Heritage Festival and Victorian Christmas. The general public obviously enjoy these too since we usually have a large crowd attend these events. We offer many other special events and a great number of workshops throughout the year. Since I am a birder and love the outdoors I have enjoyed attending Bird and Tree ID workshops. There is always something fun, interesting and educational going on at the Park.

LMP: How can people join Landmark Park?

JL: There are several ways to join. Potential members can join with a cash, check, debit or credit card while visiting the Park. They may also go on our website at www.landmarkpark.com, print out and complete the membership application and mail it in with payment or join using PayPal. They may also call me and give me the information over the phone or I will be happy to mail out a packet of Park information. Included in that packet is a membership return envelope.

LMP: Thanks, Janis, for talking with us about Memberships! Anything you would like to add?

JL: A yearly membership to Landmark Park also makes a great gift! Families can use this gift all year.