Stop the Name Change for Rocky River Nature Center
Target:
Cleveland Metroparks Board of Commisioners
Sponsored by:
In a very political move, the Cleveland Metroparks Board of Directors are using Metroparks resources to thank the judge that appointed them.
They are renaming the Rocky River Nature Center, without consulting the staff, the community they are supposed to represent, nor the volunteers - all of whom do not want the name change. They have held meetings for these folks - only to let them voice their opinions and so defuse them, while ordering the new signs and continuing full steam ahead. All signatures must in by August 6, 2008, as the board meeting is on the 7th.
Update 8/7/08;
Folks, the board voted unanimously to change the name! Keep signing - we have to show the voter base here doesn't want this! We're moving to litigate.
To whit, the petition reads:
They are renaming the Rocky River Nature Center, without consulting the staff, the community they are supposed to represent, nor the volunteers - all of whom do not want the name change. They have held meetings for these folks - only to let them voice their opinions and so defuse them, while ordering the new signs and continuing full steam ahead. All signatures must in by August 6, 2008, as the board meeting is on the 7th.
Update 8/7/08;
Folks, the board voted unanimously to change the name! Keep signing - we have to show the voter base here doesn't want this! We're moving to litigate.
To whit, the petition reads:
Petition to Stop the Renaming of the Rocky River Nature Center
We, the undersigned patrons, volunteers, and citizens of Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township do hereby enjoin the board of Directors of the Cleveland Metroparks to stop the renaming of the Rocky River Nature Center for the following reasons: RRNC is a well established Nature Center with its own identity and ought to be able to continue to be so in fact and name; the renaming idea is basically, on the part of our three board members, a political move in our eyes, and does not serve the Cleveland Metroparks, but themselves; the renaming idea does not serve the Cleveland Metroparks, and does not fit either the philosophy (Conservation, Education, Recreation) nor the spirit of the Cleveland Metroparks. While we do agree John J. Donnelly ought to be thanked for his mandated role of appointing our park commissioners, we disagree with the renaming of the nature center. For the board members, who were appointed by Judge Donnelly, to be making the decision to name the nature center is a conflict of interest. In a very political move, the Cleveland Metroparks Board of Directors are using Metroparks resources to thank the judge that appointed them.
They are renaming the Rocky River Nature Center, without consulting the staff, the community they are supposed to represent, nor the volunteers - all of whom do not want the name change. They have held meetings for these folks - only to let them voice their opinions and so defuse them, while ordering the new signs and continuing full steam ahead. All signatures must in by August 6, 2008, as the board meeting is on the 7th.
Update 8/7/08;
Folks, the board voted unanimously to change the name! Keep signing - we have to show the voter base here doesn't want this! We're moving to litigate.
To whit, the petition reads:
They are renaming the Rocky River Nature Center, without consulting the staff, the community they are supposed to represent, nor the volunteers - all of whom do not want the name change. They have held meetings for these folks - only to let them voice their opinions and so defuse them, while ordering the new signs and continuing full steam ahead. All signatures must in by August 6, 2008, as the board meeting is on the 7th.
Update 8/7/08;
Folks, the board voted unanimously to change the name! Keep signing - we have to show the voter base here doesn't want this! We're moving to litigate.
To whit, the petition reads:
Petition to Stop the Renaming of the Rocky River Nature Center
We, the undersigned patrons, volunteers, and citizens of Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township do hereby enjoin the board of Directors of the Cleveland Metroparks to stop the renaming of the Rocky River Nature Center for the following reasons: RRNC is a well established Nature Center with its own identity and ought to be able to continue to be so in fact and name; the renaming idea is basically, on the part of our three board members, a political move in our eyes, and does not serve the Cleveland Metroparks, but themselves; the renaming idea does not serve the Cleveland Metroparks, and does not fit either the philosophy (Conservation, Education, Recreation) nor the spirit of the Cleveland Metroparks. While we do agree John J. Donnelly ought to be thanked for his mandated role of appointing our park commissioners, we disagree with the renaming of the nature center. For the board members, who were appointed by Judge Donnelly, to be making the decision to name the nature center is a conflict of interest.
We signed the "Stop the Name Change for Rocky River Nature Center" petition!
# 189:
9:18 pm PDT, Aug 17,
Deborah Jones, Ohio
# 188:
8:01 am PDT, Aug 16,
Annie Wheat, West Virginia
# 187:
11:28 am PDT, Aug 13,
Billie Stephenson, New Mexico
I moved to New Mexico a year ago. The weather and parks out here are just as great as the RRNC is. DO NOT CHANGE THE NAME. I am coming back to Cleveland in another month. Keep the RRNC name - it is historic!!! Thank you, Billie M. Stephenson
I moved to New Mexico a year ago. The weather and parks out here are just as great as the RRNC is. DO NOT CHANGE THE NAME. I am coming back to Cleveland in another month. Keep the RRNC name - it is historic!!! Thank you, Billie M. Stephenson
# 186:
6:14 pm PDT, Aug 11,
Name not displayed, Ohio
Dear Board of Directors; While I do appreciate all John J. Donnelly has done. I do not feel it is appropriate, nor does it send the right kind of message to the voters. I agree with the Cleveland Metroparks philosphy to conserve, educate and preserve our parks.
Dear Board of Directors; While I do appreciate all John J. Donnelly has done. I do not feel it is appropriate, nor does it send the right kind of message to the voters. I agree with the Cleveland Metroparks philosphy to conserve, educate and preserve our parks.
# 185:
3:49 pm PDT, Aug 11,
Ada Napolitano, Ohio
# 184:
1:53 pm PDT, Aug 11,
Jan McClung, Florida
# 183:
4:28 am PDT, Aug 11,
Gail Chappell, Ohio
# 182:
7:20 pm PDT, Aug 10,
John Singleton, Ohio
Please listen to the people and thank the judge another way
Please listen to the people and thank the judge another way
# 181:
4:59 pm PDT, Aug 10,
Name not displayed, Ohio
# 180:
9:41 am PDT, Aug 9,
DONALD MASAITIS, Ohio
AS A RETIRED BIOLOGY TEACHER AND NATURALIST, I THINK THE CHANGING OF THE NAME OF THE RRNC WOULD DO A VAST INSERVICE TO THE CENTER AND THE COMMUNITY. THIS PARK CENTER IS KNOWN ALL OVER THE U.S. FOR MOST OF THE TOURISTS TO THE CLEVELAND AREA VISIT THESE CENTERS AND HAVE MEMORIES OF ONE OF THE FINEST NATURE CENTERS CLEVELAND HAS. DON'T CHANGE THE NAME. I AM SURE ALL OF MY FORMER CO WORKERS AT THE OLD RRNC WOULD FEEL THE SAME AS I DO. THIS MUSEUM/ NATURE CENTER REPRESENTS THE WORK OF ALL OF US NOT JUST THE CURRENT INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS NOT A METROPARK WORKER. THE NAME AS IT STANDS REPRENTS US ALL, LET IT BE!! DON MASAITIS
AS A RETIRED BIOLOGY TEACHER AND NATURALIST, I THINK THE CHANGING OF THE NAME OF THE RRNC WOULD DO A VAST INSERVICE TO THE CENTER AND THE COMMUNITY. THIS PARK CENTER IS KNOWN ALL OVER THE U.S. FOR MOST OF THE TOURISTS TO THE CLEVELAND AREA VISIT THESE CENTERS AND HAVE MEMORIES OF ONE OF THE FINEST NATURE CENTERS CLEVELAND HAS. DON'T CHANGE THE NAME. I AM SURE ALL OF MY FORMER CO WORKERS AT THE OLD RRNC WOULD FEEL THE SAME AS I DO. THIS MUSEUM/ NATURE CENTER REPRESENTS THE WORK OF ALL OF US NOT JUST THE CURRENT INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS NOT A METROPARK WORKER. THE NAME AS IT STANDS REPRENTS US ALL, LET IT BE!! DON MASAITIS
# 179:
11:07 pm PDT, Aug 8,
Roxie Schliesman, Wisconsin
# 178:
7:24 am PDT, Aug 8,
Name not displayed, Ohio
leave the name alone
leave the name alone
# 177:
9:20 pm PDT, Aug 7,
Name not displayed, Maine
# 176:
4:06 pm PDT, Aug 7,
Deborah Stroh, Ohio
# 175:
1:07 pm PDT, Aug 7,
Name not displayed, Ohio
It's ridiculous to change the name. Will they rename it when the next person serves 18 years? Leave it as the Rocky River Nature Center.
It's ridiculous to change the name. Will they rename it when the next person serves 18 years? Leave it as the Rocky River Nature Center.
# 174:
9:24 am PDT, Aug 7,
Name not displayed, Ohio
# 173:
9:17 am PDT, Aug 7,
Name not displayed, Ohio
Appointments by the Probate Judge are created by the Ohio Legislature. He appoints only because of legislative edic and not because of any particualr interest he may or may not have. If a person wants his name on the nature center, let him or her donate 50 million dollars for naming rights. How much has J. Donnelly contribution dollar wise? He's a great guy but what has he done that others have not done. Any person on the board who has been appointed by Judge Donnelly should not be allowed to vote.
Appointments by the Probate Judge are created by the Ohio Legislature. He appoints only because of legislative edic and not because of any particualr interest he may or may not have. If a person wants his name on the nature center, let him or her donate 50 million dollars for naming rights. How much has J. Donnelly contribution dollar wise? He's a great guy but what has he done that others have not done. Any person on the board who has been appointed by Judge Donnelly should not be allowed to vote.
# 171:
7:49 am PDT, Aug 7,
Name not displayed, Ohio
I will no longer vote for any Metroparks levy if the name changes.
I will no longer vote for any Metroparks levy if the name changes.
# 170:
7:46 am PDT, Aug 7,
Robert Patrick Sutter, Ohio
Please rescind your decision to politicize the park by naming it after the jurist that controls the board appointments. This does nothing to increase the value of the nature center, but certainly carries overtones of pandering. With the events being investigated in Cuyahoga County, we do not need additional questionable decisions being made without citizen input.
Please rescind your decision to politicize the park by naming it after the jurist that controls the board appointments. This does nothing to increase the value of the nature center, but certainly carries overtones of pandering. With the events being investigated in Cuyahoga County, we do not need additional questionable decisions being made without citizen input.
# 169:
7:41 am PDT, Aug 7,
Name not displayed, Ohio
Np more financial support if name is changed.
Np more financial support if name is changed.
# 168:
7:15 am PDT, Aug 7,
Helen Vickory, Ohio
Under NO circumstance should the Rocky River Nature Center be named for ANY individual. And certainly not without the general consensus of the taxpayers that support the Rocky River Nature Center on a regular basis.
Under NO circumstance should the Rocky River Nature Center be named for ANY individual. And certainly not without the general consensus of the taxpayers that support the Rocky River Nature Center on a regular basis.
# 167:
6:02 am PDT, Aug 7,
Name not displayed, Ohio
A name should be something that permanently designates a location. The Rocky River will remain long after the judge is gone and forgotten.
A name should be something that permanently designates a location. The Rocky River will remain long after the judge is gone and forgotten.
# 166:
5:38 am PDT, Aug 7,
Richard Sanders, Ohio
Leave the name Rocky River Nature Center. It is just so much more appropriate than to put the name of a public official in its place.
Leave the name Rocky River Nature Center. It is just so much more appropriate than to put the name of a public official in its place.
# 165:
5:37 am PDT, Aug 7,
Jeffery S. Cheiky, Ohio
# 164:
3:50 am PDT, Aug 7,
Jim Hartland, Ohio
Nothing against Judge Donnelly, but I can't approve of putting his name on the Nature Center.
Nothing against Judge Donnelly, but I can't approve of putting his name on the Nature Center.
# 163:
7:16 pm PDT, Aug 6,
Brian w. Burtch, Ohio
# 162:
6:14 pm PDT, Aug 6,
Heather Hicks, Ohio
# 161:
6:09 pm PDT, Aug 6,
Jeff Schuler, Ohio
Look [back] before you leap [forward].
Look [back] before you leap [forward].
# 160:
4:26 pm PDT, Aug 6,
Walter H. Allen, Ohio
I am opposed to the name change. The current name is descriptive and appropriate. A more fitting honor would be to name a room or library, something suitable to the persons contribution to the Rocky River Nature Center. Thank you.
I am opposed to the name change. The current name is descriptive and appropriate. A more fitting honor would be to name a room or library, something suitable to the persons contribution to the Rocky River Nature Center. Thank you.
# 159:
1:22 pm PDT, Aug 6,
Peggy Speck, Ohio
# 158:
11:43 am PDT, Aug 6,
Deborah A. Drossis, Ohio
I live at the top of Shepard Hill on Mastick Road and have for 27 years - and visit the nature center regularly. I am also a practicing attorney and know Judge Donnelly. He's a great judge but I oppose this change - it is pure politics and quite unnecessary. Don't fix what is not broken. Please leave the name as is.
I live at the top of Shepard Hill on Mastick Road and have for 27 years - and visit the nature center regularly. I am also a practicing attorney and know Judge Donnelly. He's a great judge but I oppose this change - it is pure politics and quite unnecessary. Don't fix what is not broken. Please leave the name as is.
# 157:
8:26 am PDT, Aug 6,
SJ SC, Ohio
# 156:
7:40 am PDT, Aug 6,
Terri Martincic, Ohio
Please don't change the name of our beloved Rocky River Nature Center. I really don't want to think of any one person when I hear mention of the nature center. I'd rather think about the River that runs near it. Nature is the focus, let's keep it the focus. Thank you, Terri RRNC volunteer
Please don't change the name of our beloved Rocky River Nature Center. I really don't want to think of any one person when I hear mention of the nature center. I'd rather think about the River that runs near it. Nature is the focus, let's keep it the focus. Thank you, Terri RRNC volunteer
# 155:
7:11 am PDT, Aug 6,
Elena Pintilie, Canada
# 154:
5:49 am PDT, Aug 6,
Lynda Chrystal, Ohio
# 153:
7:27 pm PDT, Aug 5,
Patrick Horning, Ohio
# 152:
6:27 pm PDT, Aug 5,
C.J. Onyak, Ohio
# 151:
6:24 pm PDT, Aug 5,
Amy Onyak, Ohio
Why do we have to "junk up" a sign which is already fine the way it is? Politics! Politics! Politics!!!!!!!!!
Why do we have to "junk up" a sign which is already fine the way it is? Politics! Politics! Politics!!!!!!!!!
