IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL SUPPORTERS:

Your support of the Florida Folk Festival made a difference! After much consideration, I am pleased to announce that Florida State Parks will assume production of the 50th Anniversary Florida Folk Festival. The Festival will be held as scheduled at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs on May 24-26, 2002.

Our decision was in large part due to the outpouring of support we received from you and hundreds of Florida Folk Festival supporters from all over Florida. That, coupled with support from Senator Richard Mitchell, Representative Dwight Stansel, and the Department of Environmental Protection Secretary David Struhs, allowed Florida State Parks to enthusiastically embrace the Festival. We are also grateful that the Secretary of State's Division of Historical Resources is providing much needed guidance and support to us during this transition.

Many Floridians such as you have expressed an interest to help. As Florida State Parks received neither staffing nor full funding for the event, donations and volunteers are critical to insure the Festival's continuation. Contributions can be made to the Stephen Foster Citizen Support Organization, c/o Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park/Florida Folk Festival, P. O. Box G, White Springs, FL 32096-0435. Specify that your donation is directed toward the Florida Folk Festival. Volunteers can also write this address or contact Park Services Specialist Jon Kay at (386) 397-4331 or e-mail him at jon.kay@dep.state.fl.us.

Even if you are unable to make a donation or volunteer to assist with the event, we certainly hope that you will be able to attend this wonderful cultural event. The park, as well as the state's new Nature and Heritage Tourism Center, can be conveniently accessed from I-10 (Exit 43) or I-75 (Exit 84). Information on the schedule of events will soon be posted on our website at www.floridastateparks.org.

We at Florida State Parks are excited about this new endeavor and feel sure that with the continued support from individuals like you, the 50th Festival will be a successful and memorable event.

Wendy Spencer, Director Florida State Parks 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS 500 Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000 Visit the Real Florida at www.floridastateparks.org

To her great credit, Katherine Harris transferred 110k from her DOS budget to DEP for the festival!

happy harpgirl