On October 17, 2009 the friends of Johnstown Flood National Memorial and the National Park Service (Superintendent Joanne Hanley and Chief of Interpretations Megan O’Malley met from 8 AM to 5 PM in the St Michael United Methodist Church, Main St St. Michael.  We all went over a new Mission Statement.  We then went over the answers to the questionnaire we sent out to our members, then our hopes and plans for the future.  Then we separated into different areas and discussed future issues, education, publicity, and the Clubhouse.  In the next month the Park Service put through their ideas of what a Friends group should be able to do, we then received the final draft on Feb 1, 2010.  The National Park Service will now draw up a Friends agreement.

      Merna Smay our devoted and long time secretary stepped down from her position and was presented with a gift card from Barbara’s Hallmark Gift Store at our November, 2009 meeting.  Merna continues as the Vice Chairman.

      The Friends of Johnstown Flood National Memorial had their annual Christmas Party at the Johnstown Flood National Memorial with a dinner catered by Capri Catering of Johnstown, exchange of gifts and entertainment by Park Ranger Gregory Zaborowoski Singing his original songs and then some Christmas songs.

      Helen Slonac was elected as the secretary at the November 2009 meeting and will assume her position starting January 2010.  She also serves on the Board of Directors and is a retired teacher from Forest Hills Area school district.

      Friends of Johnstown Flood National Memorial will have a Basket Party fundraiser on April 25^th, Sunday afternoon at St. Johns Activity Building on Railroad St. Johnstown.  Our next fundraiser will be the second annual Used Book Sale August 6, 7, and 8^th at the Clubhouse, National Register Historic District, Main St., St Michael.  Friday 10 AM to 8 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM, Sunday 11 AM to 4 PM.

      On May 29, 2010 Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, the National Park Service will be presenting the play “Colonel Unger” at the Clubhouse in the National Register Historic District, Main Street, St. Michael.  Written by Education Specialist Gregory Zaborowoski it will be presented 3 times that day.  On May 31^st Monday the Clubhouse will be open with the Friends of Johnstown Flood National Memorial presenting tours of the building in costume, refreshments will be available from 10 AM.  That evening over 2,209 luminaries will be lit on the dam as a commemorative to the victims of the 1889 Johnstown Flood.