Submitted by Anthony Lamprose

Under a blue October sky and a colorful canopy of autumn leaves, Black Rock Mountain State Park's Friends chapter, Black Rock Buddies, joined park staff in officially dedicating the Marie Mellinger Center, capping a decade-long effort to build an enclosed activity building for Georgia's highest state park.

During the ceremony, Black Rock Buddies treasurer and past president, Debbie Chisholm, recalled her efforts with Norma Campbell, the late co-founder of the Friends chapter, to persuade members of the Georgia General Assembly to support the project. "The beautiful facility we are dedicating today just shows you what one person's dream can achieve," said Chisholm, referring to Campbell's concept of building an activity building for the park. "Norma saw the need and set about finding a way to fill it," Chisholm said. "Without Norma's vision, the park would not have such a fine building. It shows us all what one person can accomplish."