Dear Friend of Rosedale,
Happy 10th Anniversary of our community’s purchase of Rosedale! And there is much to celebrate. Rosedale is green and beautiful, and every day neighbors come together there to enjoy its charms. I was there recently with several other Cleveland Parkers, watching the sunset through the beautiful fall colors across the Rosedale grounds. I was also there on Thanksgiving Day, when one group was playing touch football and another Sardines.
Today, I’m writing to remind you that it is time to renew your annual Rosedale membership and dog license for another year, so that it does not lapse at the end of December. I hope you will do so, because, as a neighborhood-funded park, Rosedale’s only source of financial assistance is you.
Managing the park has settled into a fairly predictable financial pattern. The baseline budget — for lawn care, tree care, insurance, water and electricity for irrigation, and funds to support the Easter Egg hunt, June BBQ, and Hallowe’en community events — adds up to around $35,000 per year.
In addition, each year brings expensive contingencies. In 2012, we have had to spend nearly $20,000 removing dead and fallen trees, pruning the boxwoods, replacing and moving our irrigation pump, and more.
That means that, as a neighborhood, we can never slack off on our support for Rosedale. Everyone who values having this historic, lovely village green — guaranteed safe from developers — needs to keep on giving, every year.
So please take a few minutes now to renew your $100 annual membership in the Conservancy for 2013. And, if you wish to continue bringing your dog to Rosedale during 2013, you must also renew your dog license ($50 per dog) at this time as well. We will then send you the new green 2013 Rosedale dog tag.
And please strongly consider giving a further gift above that. Rosedale depends heavily on gifts over and above the $100 membership level. (Rosedale is a 501(c)3 organization, and your contribution is tax deductible.)
Keep Rosedale thriving and beautiful. Please renew your support now.
With gratitude,
Roger Pollak
President