Twice in the past two years, the parks have been threatened with total closure. Now, because of drastic budget cuts, operating hours for many parks have been significantly reduced, curtailing public access. With more budget cuts to come, the parks are also falling severely behind in much-needed maintenance and repairs, with AISP at the top of that list.

The passage of the November ballot measure, known as Proposition 21 or the California State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010, would ensure a stable, reliable and adequate source of funding for our state parks. Funds would come from an $18 annual State Parks Access Pass surcharge on most California vehicles, entitling them to free, year-round admission to all California State Parks.

AIA is one of numerous organizations stepping up to support this urgent funding initiative. By passing Proposition 21, we can ensure a healthy future for Angel Island State Park and all other California State Parks.

 
What You Can Do:

LEARN MORE
For more information about this effort, please visit California State Parks Foundation

VOTE
Most importantly, vote on November 2nd!

Terry O’Neill and Joy Spicer, the high bidders at the Angel Island Association (AIA)’s 4th Annual Angel Lights Benefit spent a spectacular July 4th weekend at Angel Island State Park’s (AISP) Civil War era Camp Reynolds.  Terry was joined by her husband Paul Nargiz and Joy was accompanied by her partner Corrine MacDonald.

It was a rare combination of staying overnight at the historic “Quarters 10″, a VIP tour with celebrity television personality Doug McConnell, scrumptious hors d’oeuvres, by assistants Gary Morgret and Kristopher Carroll and a gourmet 8-course East Indian dinner prepared by AIA Board member and international designer, Sudha Pennathur with the assistance of her husband, Ed Messerly.   A surprise treat, provided by Sudha, were saris for all the women to wear for the evening dinner!  After dessert, guests were taken to a strategic spot on the island to watch fireworks exploding around the Bay. Following this spectacle, guests retired to the comfort of cozy beds for an overnight stay in “Quarters 10”, the beautifully restored Victorian style officer’s quarters at Camp Reynolds. And, as co-bidder Terry O’Neill recalls, “Oh yes, and then there was the mother-of-all-breakfasts” the next morning.

“It’s not often that an auction donor feels as though they didn’t pay enough for an experience” noted Terry. “My husband Paul and I are still living out of the laughter and fun we had 4th of July at Camp Reynolds. Those 24 hours felt like time slowing down and a much needed rest.”

Corrine MacDonald related: “What a wonderful 24 hours! Joy and I felt like we were away for a long, well needed, vacation!! Terrific company, splendid location AND delicious food…what more could one ask for? We truly enjoyed ourselves and are trying to gear up for the real world this week…it’s not easy.”

Special thanks to Ranger Jack Duggan, who greeted the group, new AIA Board member and AISP Docent Linda Moore for her input during the tour, AIA Operations Manager, Jacquie Klose the master coordinator of the event and Kathy Taft, Gary and Kristopher who assisted Sudha with “kitchen and clean up detail.”

There are only three ways that you might be lucky enough to spend the night at AISP’s Quarters 10 . . . you are AISP staff or their visiting family, you earn the privilege by volunteering on the island, or you attend AIA’s 5th Annual Angel Lights Benefit where attendees will have the rare opportunity to bid on next years overnight experience.  

4th of July – the group arrives on the Angel Island – Tiburon Ferry. 

AIA’s Operations Manager Jacquie Klose, Ed Messerly, Gary Morget and Kristopher Carroll . 

Terry O’Neill, new Board member and docent Linda Moore, Corrine MacDonald, Joy Spicer and Doug McConnell listen as Ranger Jack Duggan talks about the Islands vegitation. 

At the Visitor Center, taking in an overview of the Island – Joy Spicer, Corrine MacDonald, Terry Spicer and Doug McConnell. 

The hike to Camp Reynolds – Doug McConnell, Corrine MacDonald and Terry O’Neill. 

A view of Civil War era Camp Reynolds from the Bay. 

Quarters 10, Camp Reynolds. 

Twin bedroom at Quarters 10.

Touring the East Garrison Guard House Museum with Doug McConnell. 

Paul Nargiz, Linda Moore, Doug McConnell, Corrine MacDonald, Joy Spicer and Terry O’Neill touring the jail cells at the East Garrison Guard House. 

Touring the AISP Immigration Station. 

“Kitchen detail” – Sudha Pennathur, Joy Spicer and Corrine MacDonald.

Sudha Pennathur dresses Terry O’Neill in a sari as Kathy Taft looks on. 

Board member Sudha Pennathur makes an entrance.

Jacquie Klose, Kathy Taft, Terry O’Neill, Sudha Pennathur, Joy Spicer and Corrine MacDonald wearing saris provided by Sudha. 

4th of July – dinner table.  

Ed Messerly and Kristopher Carroll, bringing the feast to the table. 

The gourment, 8-course East Indian feast prepared by Board member Sudha Pennathur. 

Joy Spicer, Jacquie Klose, Ed Messerly, Sudha Pennathur and Paul Nargiz.

A toast by Terry O’Neill. 

Enjoying the feast. 

Breakfast at Quarters 10 – Corrine MacDonald, Joy Spicer, Sudha Pennathur, Terry O’Neill and Paul Nagriz.

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Earlier this year, Chase created an entirely new approach to corporate philanthropy. The program, Chase Community Giving, let people decide where Chase donated $5 million. Over 500,000 charities from across the country were involved — the results were extraordinary. Thanks to the involvement of people like you, 100 charities in 31 states received donations from Chase.

Chase Community Giving is back to give away another $5 million… the top donation is $1 million, the next 5 runners-up will each receive $100,000 and all 100 charities that make it to the second round will receive $25,000. The power of giving is in your hands – please cast your vote for Angel Island Association! YOU are our best recruiters!  Please share this link with family, friends, and neighbors!   Voting ends July 12th – the winners will be announced July 15th.

An important note about the voting process: If you have an existing Facebook account – when you signed up you had the option to provide a phone number to verify the account – if you choose not to – it causes the voting instructions on the screen to not make sense. Below are the instructions that do work. Should you experience any other problems don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance.  Every vote counts!

1. Click on the words “Vote Now” or “Get Started to Vote” to the right of Angel Island Association name.
2.  A small window will appear on your screen, click on the “thumbs-up like” icon in that window.
3.  The small window will refresh itself. Next to the icon a link with the words “Verification Required” will appear, click on that link. 
4. Once again, a new window will appear. Near the top of that window look for the “thumbs-up like” icon. Click on the icon.
5.  A small “security check” window will appear requesting that you enter the words displayed below to verify your vote.

Every year for just one weekend cannons and muskets boom out on Angel Island reenacting the life and times of the common soldiers of the Civil War, the culture that helped to shape an era.

This past weekend visitors were treated to hot cinnamon buns freshly baked in the brick oven at the historic Bake House and music of the period played from the front Porch of Quarters 10 – the one time residence of an Officer and his family. Living history demonstrations included; 19th Century military tactics of the Signal Corps, weapons use, hourly cannon firing, medical treatment and infantry drills. Jen Roger, Volunteer Coordinator and President of The National Civil War Association notes “It was a blast this weekend. Couldn’t have had more fun.”

Many thanks to all the volunteers, docents and re-enactors that participated!
 

The video is a demonstration of loading a standard infantryman’s rifle musket, while a sharpshooter (on the left ) loads his breech-loading Sharps rifle. The infantryman needs at least 20 seconds to load his musket while the sharpshooter can load his Sharps in less than 5 seconds.

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The event started on AISP, and we’re told, was the highlight of the trip. Hosted by Angel Island Association (AIA), Sue and Roger Hefty (who “purchased” the overnight experience at last year’s Angel Lights fundraiser), the group had the unique opportunity to spend the night in the Civil War Quartermaster Warehouse at Camp Reynolds.  

“Angel Island was a once in a lifetime experience.” recalls Carol Whipple.  “I saw the moon hanging over the Golden Gate Bridge outside the Quartermaster building at 2am… I almost rang the bell to get everyone up to experience it.”

40 Miles in 4 Days is a memory that will last forever, but one that likely will be recreated; by the end of the adventure everyone was discussing plans for next year.

In addition to the experience, the group raised nearly $900 for AIA through donations from friends and family. Thanks to all who donated to AIA on behalf of 40 Miles in 4 Days!

And, special thanks to our friends at Jessie et Laurent, the Marin-based gourmet meal delivery company, who donated all of the amazing food for this event and REI, outdoor gear, equipment and clothing company for supplying the sleeping bags! 

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It was the first time Tourism Cares – a Massachusetts-based nonprofit backed by the tourism industry – selected a site on the West Coast to assist. The program, which began in 2003, has sent volunteers to Ellis Island, New Orleans and other locales.

“What we look for in a site is a place where we can make a difference,” said Bruce Beckham, executive director of Tourism Cares, explaining why Angel Island was chosen. “We are giving back and keeping these places beautiful. Our people come out and work like crazy. The work is rewarding.”

The selection of Angel Island State Park could not have come at a better time as the state grapples with budget problems that have cut $1 million to state parks in Marin and $14.2 million statewide. The shortfall has forced Angel Island to cancel environmental living and other interpretive programs, as well as defer maintenance work.

“This absolutely helps us,” soted aid Roy Stearns, spokesman for California State Parks. “If they didn’t come here today to do the work on Angel Island, the work wouldn’t get done for another year or two. We just don’t have the people, time or the money to get to some of this stuff.”

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May 23rd thru May 26th a dozen family and friends will gather from multiple states to hike, run, and perhaps even crawl 40 miles in 4 days to raise funds and awareness in support of Angel Island State Park (AISP).  The event starts on Angel Island, then continues on to trails through the Marin Headlands, including the Inverness, Stinson, Muir Woods and Green Gulch areas.

Sue Hefty, event organizer, conceived the idea after taking visiting family on various Angel Island and Marin Headland hikes. She recalls, “During the hikes we always seemed to talk about someday doing a multi-day adventure in the area.” Sue, of Mill Valley California, turned the talk into action and organized the event. Several of the participants, from Oregon, asked how best to support the California parks which they heard were in danger of being closed due to the state’s budget crisis. Sue immediately thought of Angel Island. “To have this historic and beautiful park within a large urban area is such a gift; one that we need to pass on for others to experience” said Sue.

Through a donation to Angel Island Association, you too can join the efforts of this avid group of supporters, ensuring this unique landscape is maintained and preserved for generations to come.

AIA accepts the following methods of payment:

• By phone (415) 435-3972 or by check/fax, by completing and sending this printable form
• We use PayPal to accept secure, online donations. If you don’t have a PayPal account, you can use their service to donate with your credit card. Just click on the “Donate” button.

 

Recent AIA work includes: 1) funding Travel & Tour Scholarships to the island for schools from low income areas, 2) production of a video highlighting the natural, historical and cultural significance of AISP, 3) funding equipment for oil spill remediation, 4) launching a new website to serve as the virtual gateway to the island, 5) funding fire restoration and protection efforts on AISP, 6) assisting in the installation of solar powered lights atop the island, and 7) partnering with AISP on the kick-off of a major project that AIA hopes will result in the revitalization of Ayala Cove – the gateway to the Island.

No goods or services will be received. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. AIA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, tax identification number 51-0152954

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President Obama described “harsh interrogations … and crowded, unsanitary barracks” at the station that is now known as the Ellis Island of the west.

Saturday, May 8th, visitors to Angel Island remembered this important history at the event “Poetry in Motion: in Celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Immigration Station,” featuring readings by authors: Maxine Hong Kingston, Nellie Wong, Daryl Ngee Chinn, and Albert Flynn DeSilver (Former Poet Laureate of Marin County). Performances by: Taiko drummers Elaine Fong and Bruce Mui Ghent and The San Francisco Girls Chorus. Students from Novato and San Rafael high schools read their poems relating to their experience immigrating into the United States.

The remainder of the afternoon included self-guided tours of the Immigration Station Museum.

When was the last time you visited Angel Island?

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Celebrated in over 175 countries each year, the work toward a clean environment continues. This past Saturday, April 17th, in celebratation of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) in partnership with Angel Island State Park (AISP), organized a group of 150 volunteers from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Oracle and National Charities League (NCL) for restoration and environmental improvement projects at the park.

In addition to organizing volunteers for cleanup, California State Parks Foundation awarded Angel Island State Park with a $3,000 Earth Day grant to purchase supplies needed to carry out the day’s work. This generous grant was made possible due to a donation from PG&E.

California state parks currently face a $1.2 billion maintenance backlog that cannot be addressed due to extensive staff and funding shortages. Thanks to the support of organizations like CSPF, Angel Island Association, and other generous donors who provide supplemental funding, expertise, in-kind contributions and volunteers, the community will be able to enjoy state parks for generations to come. 

Earth Day check-in staff from: National Charities League, Pacific Gas & Electric and California State Parks Foundation.

Volunteer Paul Gurian flanked by Angel Island State Park Volunteer Coordinators Jen Rogers and Robin Joseph.

Volunteers aboard the Tiburon Ferry in route to Angel Island State Park.

Earth Day – volunteer orientation.

Earth Day volunteers, team members from the “Pothole” gang, filling in potholes along a main path.

Earth Day volunteers, the “Pothole” gang, with team leader Jacquie Klose (front-center), Angel Island Association’s Operations Manager.

Pacific Gas & Electric Earth Day volunteers and Angel Island State Park staff.
 

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Reopened to the public in February 2009, after an extensive renovation which started in August 2005, Angel Island’s United States Immigration Station (USIS) will be temporarily closed May 10 thru 25th, to complete Phase I of the restoration project.

The closure will not affect other historic sites, ferry service or park concessions.

We thank you for your patience and continued support as the Park works toward completing restoration of this National Historic Landmark. Please note: the completion date is subject to change. Should you have questions, please call Angel Island State Park: (415) 435-5390.