AGENDA for FRIENDS OF THE NORTH FORK OF THE SHENANDOAH RIVERBOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Thursday September 11, 2008
6:30 pm Call to Order – Ron
Approve Minutes from August Board Meeting -
Business/Governance Committee:Financial report - Gary
Strategic plan discussion:
- Work plan discussion
- Committee assignments
Status of Quick Books effort - Kim and Gary
- discuss categories
Web based monthly and on line giving - update.
Insurance Update - Kim
New Board Members
- discussion - any updates?
Committee Updates and Action Items:Science Committee - Drinking Water Study - Letter of Inquiry has been filed with Oakhill for Phase I which would be for $4500 to pay an intern and fund meetings with officials. Out of phase I we would have a test protocol and budget for some drinking water supplies testing. Phase I is being done in conjunction with the Riverkeepers. On a related matter, the Potomac Riverkeeper and I have met with the Fairfax County staffer that has been pressing on EDCs. The county is working on drinking water test protocols and legislation and we agreed to cooperate going forward.
- E. coli and Benthics - Our proposal to VEE is still under review. In the meantime I was to file for matching with Oakhill but having trouble getting FOSR to give us a current budget. Will keep pressing.
- FNFSR lab - on a related matter, Ken Owens is asking the Board for $200 for supplies to continue his e. coli sampling. Here is Ken's note to me...
"John, I have the details now. The supplies come in sets of 10 tests at$ 19.65.This would cover approx. two samples /month in duplicate. A case of 4 kits for $78.60 would carry us for 4 mo. ie. end of November. Another case brings us up to end of March for $157.20 by which time I imagine Karen will be able to take over? If not we can do a few more inside the $200. Ken."
This is testing at one site near Ken's house and he has been sending the data to the state. I do not believe that FOSR is posting the data and may not wish to as it is not done under a certified operation. Please put this to a vote. I want to stay neutral on this.
Fundraising Committee - Fish Fry 2008 update - Leslie Watson/Diane Gould
- Sept. 27 Sponsor reception
- Board calls to sponsors
- Fundraising plan discussion
- 10 reasons to give to Friends….
- Holiday mailing ($7160 in 2007, majority $50 or more) - give away, or not?
- Membership update: - 2008 - $13,290 with 195 renewal checks
- 2007 - $14,175 with 228 renewal checks
- 2008 - 17 new members - $835
- 2008 Riparian recruitment - 52 new members - $3610
Legislative Committee - Smith Creek septic issue/package plant = on hold (but current septic system is not functioning properly.
- potential lamb slaughtering facility.
- Shenandoah Forum meeting - Shen. Co. Comp. plan
- Patrick Felling - new policy person at Pot. Conservancy's Winchester office - focused on Shenandoah and Frederick Counties.
- how can we work together - on what issues?
Education and Outreach Committee - MARPAT proposal - send 2007 taxes?
- Herald ideas - discussion with Susan - Leslie
- Spring insert - "State of the River" and other articles
- Essay contest - middle schools - topic discussion
- Oh Deer program - Cacapon Inst.
- Future rain barrel and other workshops for spring 09 - Cindy
- Possible internship - volunteer - any ideas?
- Governor's school - how to approach them?
- GLOBE
- WRAC - students involved in stormwater management/Get the Dirt Out Campaign Jeff Kelble).
- Canaan Valley Institute
- Master Naturalist program - Patrick Felling (Pres. Master Naturalist) new policy person at Pot. Conservancy in Winchester office (focused on Shenandoah and Frederick Counties).
- Edinburg Ole' Time festival:
- volunteers - Sept. 19-21
Miscellaneous: - Smith Creek update - septic issues
- Woodstock Chamber - Sept. 27 at Fort Valley Nursery
- Blue Canoe presentation - 3 new members and sold 2 t-shirts
- County Fair - 80 new (interested) contacts - Bob Devlin won the prizes and will likely join!
Grants:- Chesapeake Bay Restoration funding - due Oct. 1: Grant funds will be awarded in May-June 2009. To be eligible for receiving a grant, applicants should submit proposals emphasizing environmental education or restoration and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay. Projects focusing on environmental education should increase public awareness and knowledge about the Bay, and projects of a restoration and conservation nature should be action oriented. Grants are awarded for one year, except in special circumstances. Grant funds may not be used to supplant existing state or local general fund appropriations.
- Chesapeake Bay Stewardship fund - Pre-proposals are due by October 31, 2008: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with EPA and the Chesapeake Bay Program, will award grants on a competitive basis of between $200,000 and $1 million each to support the demonstration of innovative approaches to expand the collective knowledge about the most cost effective and sustainable approaches to dramatically reduce or eliminate nutrient and sediment pollution to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. A total of up to $12.9 million will be awarded through this solicitation.
- Center for Watershed Protection technical grants - rolling grant cycle: These small watershed organizations play a key role in local watershed management and, collectively, in regional water resource protection and restoration. The goal of the mini-grant program is to strengthen the technical capacity of these watershed organizations in the areas of stormwater and watershed management.
- Fish America grants - due October 6: Proposals should request funds for local efforts to accomplish meaningful on-the-ground restoration of marine, estuarine and riparian habitats, including salt marshes, mangrove forests, and freshwater habitats important to anadromous fish species (fish like salmon and striped bass that migrate to and from the sea). Emphasis is on using a hands-on, grassroots approach to restore fisheries habitat across coastal America and U.S. Territories of the Caribbean.
New Business:
MINUTES for FRIENDS OF THE NORTH FORK OF THE SHENANDOAH RIVERBOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Thursday September 11, 2008
6:30 pm Call to Order – Ron
Attending: Ron Falyar, Cindy Frenzel, Jack and Margaret Lorenz, Kim Uhl, Gary Proctor, Leslie Watson
Approve Minutes from April Board Meeting -
- approved
Business/Governance Committee:Financial report - Gary - we're at a deficit through August, but that is due in part to the $26,000 paid to complete the Trace Organics grant.
- the 2007 taxes have been completed
Strategic plan discussion: - Work plan discussion:
- We are moving forward with some work plan goals but are lagging behind in the science
goals and the monthly giving program.
- We discussed the need for developing projects that will clarify the goals and strategies of strategic plan. The Science committee is on its way to funding some projects but the other committees need to work on this.
- Governance Committee: - Kim is going to send employee policies back out to Mary and Margaret for
their review and then on to the Board for final approval.
- Committee assignments - keep committees as they are in work plan.
- Education and Outreach, Policy and Advocacy, Science and Monitoring, and Fundraising.
Status of Quick Books effort - Kim and Gary
- Kim and Gary will meet to arrange Quicken so that it is easy to do the taxes next year. Specifically, the cost of income is tracked right now how Kim has things set up - need to catch
sales and special events in these categories.
- Kim will meet with Gary soon to discuss Quicken and to discuss financial policies. They will send around a draft for the board to approve
Web based monthly and on line giving - update.
- Kim, Leslie, and Susie are working on getting this online
Insurance Update - Kim
- Friends switched to Travelers for liability insurance.
- Kim is working on getting Directors and Officers insurance from Travelers as well.
- Kim recommends going with Travelers b/c they have better coverage that includesTravelers $1million cap outside liability plus coverage for lawyer costs = $1300 annually.
- Kim also recommends acquiring workers compensation insurance. While workers comp. is not required in VA until there are 2 full time employees, he feels it would be a good idea to go ahead and get this since Friends is becoming more of a professionally run operation. Workers compensation from Travelers for 2 full time staff is rated so many dollars per dollar of salary - $447 annually - coverage adjusts for inflation.
- Kim will resend his previous workers comp. email around to get Board approval on workers
comp. - $447 - not obligatory but is recommended.
New Board Members - discussion - any updates - NO UPDATES.
Committee Updates and Action Items:Science Committee - Drinking Water Study - Letter of Inquiry has been filed with Oakhill for Phase I which would be for $4500 to pay an intern and fund meetings with officials. Out of phase I we would have a test protocol and budget for some drinking water supplies testing. Phase I is being done in conjunction with the Riverkeepers. On a related matter, the Potomac Riverkeeper and I have met with the Fairfax County staffer that has been pressing on EDCs. The county is working on drinking water test protocols and legislation and we agreed to cooperate going forward.
- KIM HIGHLY RECOMMENDED GETTING A UNIVERSITY INVOLVED IN THE STUDY.
- BOARD WANTS TO CONTINUE BEING INVOLVED WITH DRINKING WATER
ISSUES….
- E. coli and Benthics - Our proposal to VEE is still under review. In the meantime I was to file for matching with Oakhill but having trouble getting FOSR to give us a current budget. Will keep pressing.
- FNFSR lab - on a related matter, Ken Owens is asking the Board for $200 for supplies to continue his e. coli sampling. Here is Ken's note to me...
"John, I have the details now. The supplies come in sets of 10 tests at$ 19.65.This would cover approx. two samples /month in duplicate. A case of 4 kits for $78.60 would carry us for 4 mo. ie. end of November. Another case brings us up to end of March for $157.20 by which time I imagine Karen will be able to take over? If not we can do a few more inside the $200. Ken."
This is testing at one site near Ken's house and he has been sending the data to the state. I do not believe that FOSR is posting the data and may not wish to as it is not done under a certified operation. Please put this to a vote. I want to stay neutral on this.
- BOARD APPROVED THIS MONEY FOR KEN TO GO FORWARD WITH HIS E. COLI TESTING.
Fundraising Committee - Fish Fry 2008 update - Leslie Watson/Diane Gould
- Sept. 27 Sponsor reception at PJ Designs
- Board calls to sponsors - Leslie will send out a list of names and a script encouraging past sponsors
to attend the reception.
- Fundraising plan discussion
- 10 reasons to give to Friends….
- Board members asked to come up with 10 reasons to give money to Friends.
- Holiday mailing ($7160 in 2007, majority $50 or more) - give away, or not?
- Approve ordering the ornaments - contact Susie to get this set up.
- Membership update: - 2008 - $13,290 with 195 renewal checks
- 2007 - $14,175 with 228 renewal checks
- 2008 - 17 new members - $835
- 2008 Riparian recruitment - 52 new members - $3610
Legislative Committee - Smith Creek septic issue/package plant = on hold (but current septic system is not functioning properly.
- potential lamb slaughtering facility:
- need to write some comments regarding this application for a potential package plant.
- comments should focus on the need to have adequate language for maintenance of the package plant.
- Kim brought up the issue of VDOT and Power companies spraying pesticides along the river thus killing riparian vegetation - feel there should be regulation for spraying herbicide near riparian areas?
- follow up?
- Shenandoah Forum meeting - Shen. Co. Comp. plan
- Margaret and Leslie will attend Sept. 16 meeting and support 90% of growth focused in urban areas.
- Patrick Felling - new policy person at Pot. Conservancy's Winchester office - focused on Shenandoah and Frederick Counties.
- how can we work together - on what issues? - stormwater?
- Margaret said that we should follow up with New Market hooking sewer lines with Broadway and stay on top of this issue.
- Woodstock Sewage Treatment plant - fresh water aquarium being built - does Friends want to be involved?
- Pollution credit trading was discussed - now STPs can buy and sell pollution credits among one another - need to check on this policy and how this works - Margaret will follow up?
- Kim asked if the Woodstock STP expanding sewer lines at this point?
- A Way-2-Play seems to be moving dirt again - how are they dealing with sewer/waste? Will they hook up with Town and/or pay taxes.?
- follow up?
Education and Outreach Committee - BOARD RENEWED STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS ON ADULT POPULATION FOR NOW SO TRY TO GET VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH STUDENT AREA - AND CINDY COULD SERVE AS COORDINATING ENTITY… . .
- MARPAT proposal - send 2007 taxes?
- if they ask for this information will send in the 2007 taxes.
- Herald ideas - discussion with Susan - Leslie
- Spring insert - "State of the River" and other articles - yes - on board with this.
- use good essays but not great to put in the insert
- possibly use a highschool student to write an article
- use Carlye ??? as intern to help write articles and specifically the state of the River article.
- Essay contest - middle schools - topic discussion
- think of a topic for middle schools - board will get back to me on this.
- Oh Deer program - Cacapon Inst.
- deer are major destroyers of riparian buffers so "Oh Deer" is a deer control program
for high school students.
- water portion of Cacapon's program is very good - do we want to be involve with this? Funded by MARPAT
- for this, someone would have to be willing to take this on.
- How/should we communicate with the student population?
- get a volunteer who wants to do this…..like Jan Sommerfeldt did with Nancy Carr - Cindy can help
coordinate.
- Future rain barrel and other workshops for spring 09 - Cindy
- We have tentativel scheduled a workshop for March sometime with Clean VA waterways.
- train the trainer after the main class - we could possibly build rain barrels after this
class.
- try to make the most of the popularity of rainbarrels this year.
- Rain barrel theme - landscaping the rain barrels working with Ft. Valley?
- Car washing place interested in getting rid of their barrels - President of the car washing Association.
- Bowman Apple has barrels as well.
- Woodstock Town Council member - wants us to help her become familiar with natural resource issues.
- Other Workshop ideas - please submit!!
- Possible internship - volunteer - any ideas?
- Carly Keller - new volunteer for Friends
- JMU science student - wants to volunteer with Friends in some capacity
- potential research projects - please give us your ideas for her.
- figure something out - how we could best use her - possibly the State of the River report - pulling together information, etc.
- Governor's school - how to approach them - this needs to wait for a little = strategic plan.
- become more familiar with local tools
- GLOBE - worldwide organization with a water element.
- WRAC - students involved in stormwater management/Get the Dirt Out Campaign Jeff Kelble).
- Master Naturalist program - Patrick Felling (Pres. Master Naturalist program in Warren County) new policy person at Pot. Conservancy in Winchester office (focused on Shenandoah and Frederick Counties).
- Cindy will contact to see what it takes to get involved in this program.
- Cindy would like to pursue getting involved in this program - get more information
and present it at the next board meeting.
- Jim and Annette Fitzsimmons - Rachel Fitzsimmons may be interested in volunteering.
- Edinburg Ole' Time festival:
- volunteers - Sept. 19-21 - no parade.
- do similar type of raffle as at the Fair - Kim would like to donate something to the
Ole' Time festival.
- focus on Saturday and Sunday morning.
Miscellaneous: - Smith Creek update - septic issues
- Woodstock Chamber - Sept. 27 at Fort Valley Nursery
- Blue Canoe presentation - 3 new members and sold 2 t-shirts
- County Fair - 80 new (interested) contacts - Bob Devlin won the prizes and will likelyjoin!
Grants:- Chesapeake Bay Restoration funding - due Oct. 1: Grant funds will be awarded in May-June 2009. To be eligible for receiving a grant, applicants should submit proposals emphasizing environmental education or restoration and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay. Projects focusing on environmental education should increase public awareness and knowledge about the Bay, and projects of a restoration and conservation nature should be action oriented. Grants are awarded for one year, except in special circumstances. Grant funds may not be used to supplant existing state or local general fund appropriations.
- Chesapeake Bay Stewardship fund - Pre-proposals are due by October 31, 2008: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with EPA and the Chesapeake Bay Program, will award grants on a competitive basis of between $200,000 and $1 million each to support the demonstration of innovative approaches to expand the collective knowledge about the most cost effective and sustainable approaches to dramatically reduce or eliminate nutrient and sediment pollution to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. A total of up to $12.9 million will be awarded through this solicitation.
- Center for Watershed Protection technical grants - rolling grant cycle: These small watershed organizations play a key role in local watershed management and, collectively, in regional water resource protection and restoration. The goal of the mini-grant program is to strengthen the technical capacity of these watershed organizations in the areas of stormwater and watershed management.
- Fish America grants due October 6: Proposals should request funds for local efforts to accomplish meaningful on-the-ground restoration of marine, estuarine and riparian habitats, including salt marshes, mangrove forests, and freshwater habitats important to anadromous fish species (fish like salmon and striped bass that migrate to and from the sea). Emphasis is on using a hands-on, grassroots approach to restore fisheries habitat across coastal America and U.S. Territories of the Caribbean.
New Business: Town Creek submission requirements
- Riverkeeper - stormwater involvemet - how does Friends want to be involved?
- is Jeff interested in controlling sediment or increasing membership base.
- train people and share information publicly regarding stormwater
management, cattle in the river, etc. - want to avoid confrontation.
Adjourned: 9pm
Calendar:- September 13 - FNFSR river cleanup
- September 16 - Shen. Co. public forum - Comp. Plan
- September 17 - Northern Shen. Valley Regional Policy Committee meeting
- September 19-21 - Edinburg Ole' Time Festival
- September 24 - Shen. Co. pubic forum - Comp. Plan
- September 27 - Fish Fry sponsor reception - 4pm
- October 3-5 - Chesapeake Bay Watershed Forum - Shepherdstown, WVA
- October 11 - FNFSR Fish Fry
- November 8 - FNFSR Household Cleaning products workshop - Edinburg
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