Friends of the Muscatatuck River Society Monthly Minutes Opening: 11-4-03 Call to order by President Dan Shade at 7:00PM. Attendance: Dan Shade Ken Huff Tom and Sherida Moore JoAnn Hallawell Susannah Hole Joann Moore Pauline Hensley Simeon Stearns Jennifer Ertel Minutes: From last meeting reviewed and accepted. Treasurer's Report: Local balance is $1070.56. HHH balance is $1000. Old Business: 319 Grant- Our grant is a reimbursement grant which means that we send bills to the HHH, they send them to the 319 people, and then the money flows back. So all these people (Larry, Jennifer, Phyllis of HHH, and others) have to be in close communication on money matters. It also means that we must get receipts for anything to be reimbursed. The purchase of supplies is considered a project under the grant. Jennifer purchased a computer and an all in one printer. Some match items need not be exact at this time of start up. Starting with the December meeting, the FMRS meetings will be held at the Visitor's Center. The annual open house meeting will still be held at the library. Several items need to be addressed by December 31st in order to satisfy the grant: Develop a survey public awareness on water quality issues. (JoAnn and Simeon) Get before pictures of dumpsites cleaned by FMRS. (Susannah) Have a press release (marketing). Conduct the developed survey. Produce a QAPP. Develop a non-point source educational program for youth (hunter ed. at Jr. High) and adults. Possibly a video purchase. Perhaps earn a BS/GS merit badge. Develop a marketing strategy for the FMRS. Perform a river clean up-done. Arrange interagency agreements. Sub-contract with employees Sim and Jennifer, they will use a 1099. Other items addressed: Office furniture needs- computer desk, 2 chairs, area rug, displays for school/walls, D.O. meter, and digital camera. Signage at the park River Watch signs- INDOT is on vacation. Wal-Mart Fundraiser- JoAnn says that preparations are on schedule. PAYT Commissioner's meeting report- The PAYT program was a done deal according to the commissioners before this meeting took place. The commissioners want it to be inconvenient and expensive enough that citizens will opt for private pick up of their refuse. In a later call Ed Judd did say that they would entertain the idea of no cost bags to people that qualify, e.g. those who qualify for free and reduced lunch programs. The Area Plan may be able to require landlords to provide private pick up of rental refuse. We were informed that Rumpke gets the current price for recyclable material before deciding whether to dump the recycle bins from here in their landfill or take them to the regional recycling center. If the price is high enough, then they take them to recycle. There is a question of the legality of this practice. It is a proposal that an FMRS representative be at each collection site on the first week of PAYT to make sure everyone is covered under the new system. The beneficiaries would be informed that this would be a one time only occurrence. We discussed actively pursuing recycling grants. Sherida got the kisses in the PDS. New Business: Meetings are changing location to the Visitor's Center. Susannah put us up for an award along with Kim and we are being recognized. FMRS received the Hoosier Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society 2003 Conservation Accomplishment Award for Groups, Individuals, and Industry. In other words- we were the best in the state at doing what we do this year! A great off shoot of this is that it can put us in a position to be granted grander things in future that will help clean the river. The award will be presented at the Purdue Memorial Union- West Faculty Lounge on Thursday, November 20th @ 6:00 PM. You may call 346-3411 ext. 3 to RSVP. Dan, Ken, Larry, and Simeon are planning to attend. Earth Team support volunteers- Susannah has found another way to enable us to get recognition for our efforts with a national USDA/NRCS group. It was voted on to join the Earth Team as long as it does not adversely affect our group. We are ordering 144 T-shirts the same color as the tan ones that some us now have. They should be in by year's end. We will give away a few at the annual meeting. Everyone cleaning at the June clean up will receive a shirt at the end of the job. Bud Beesley has a grant writer program at the library, which we will use if it is to our advantage. Earth Day- Child size white T-shirts to the BCE-K for Earth Day Pictures. Goldie of the solid waste district has a Dr. HAZMAT grade school curriculum for non-point source pollution, which may dovetail well with our goals and grant requirements. Joann Moore will take care of the Community Calendar listing with Josh Taylor of the PDS. Use the TIP LINE. Call 1-800-847-4367 (1-800-TIP-IDNR) Adjournment at 8:50 Next Meeting: Tuesday, December 2nd, 2003, 7:00 PM in the kitchen at the Jennings County Visitor's Center in the Muscatatuck County Park. Agenda: Minutes Treasurer's report OLD BUSINESS: 319 Grant- update of committee work and HHH Visitor's Center office furnishings update River Watch signs update County Trash Ordinance update NEW BUSINESS: Let us know of any new business that we need to put on the agenda. Set agenda for the next meeting. Adjourn