Friends of the Muscatatuck River Society Monthly Minutes Opening: 11-9-04 Call to order by Ken Huff at 7:07PM. Ken provided cookies that were unable to make it past the prison specifications. Yeah, Ken! Attendance: Les Ticknor Troy Jackson Leanne Whitesell Everett Sparkman Tom Moore Sherida Moore Simeon Stearns Ken Huff Minutes: Approved as read. Treasurer's Report: $818.94 Old Business: FMRS sign for the Park office- Greg has a bid from Imagination Graphics- he will get more bids. Follow up grant decision- being awarded the second phase of the 319 grant is not looking completely favorable. Jennifer Boyle wants us to consider applying for a 205-J grant which allows groups to do physical things like buffer strips, riparian borders, etc. She will come to the December meeting to inform us and to field queries. T-shirts- We still want to get them out to the people who worked this year at any clean up. They are dated and they need to be in the public eye. If you know of someone to give a shirt to that deserves one, then let us know. Seeing these shirts may arouse curiosity and interest in observers. Tabled. Kevin is working on a phone tree. KEVIN HAS A NEW BABY BOY, KAMERON, 8 LBs. 14 OZ! So his items are tabled this week. Tabled. Trash and Recycling can program- Kevin is going to check out the feasibility of FMRS offering tri-sectioned recycling bins to places like the county park, Crosley's, and McDonald's in an effort to aid recycling, keep the river cleaner, and publicize the group. Hopefully the grant would pay for the receptacles. Les will get with Kevin concerning recycling containers he has that can handle big events. Ken is going to check with the Fair Board to see if we possibly will recycle at the fair this year as a fundraiser. Memorial ideas-we may try to finance through aluminum recycling and pass the hat donations at the annual meeting. 1 Plant a shade tree in the county park. A catalpa tree has been ordered which we will pay for. Obtaining a catalpa tree is becoming a problem. If anyone is able to procure one, then please let us know. 2 Place a bench under the hemlocks in the Calli Preserve to overlook the Muscatatuck. Ken inquired and the benches will need to match other benches at the preserve. Tom found that the recycled plastic wood engraved benches at Brush Creek Elementary were in the $400 range. 3 Place a plaque at Sullivan's Ford, which Dan always kept clean. (Jo Ann will check this out) Jo Ann is on vacation Proposed new amendment: A majority of voting members present may elect an officer to fill a vacated post. Final reading; vote was unanimous to approve. FFA- John Huff and crew placed 11th in the nationals this year. He needed to borrow our water quality evaluating Green Kits and has now returned them. Fall Sweep Review-Steve Cardinal and Brian Talkington will brief us on hazardous materials at our convenience. Annual Meeting- February 1st, 2005 at the County Park. There is a possibility of an FMRS week in the lobby of the Visitors' Center. If so, then the 2004 HAZMAT Suburban may set up a display. Format:Pitch-in, introductions Kevin/Tom, Susannah-power point, Sim -presentation and traveling display; year in review presentation may be divided between Sim, Leanne, Bill, etc..., induct officers, maybe have FMRS WEEK at Muscatatuck County Park. Prosecution/Culprit detection procedure- document everything and that is all. The rules and procedures aren't too strict for the evidence until the law enforcement/prosecutors are in possession of the contraband. Ken gave Sim the evidence. Scott County Prosecutor Steve Wahlman is going to take on the case. Identification and removal of hazardous materials- Ken says not to pick up the suspicious stuff . We will have HAZMAT education on site for the sweeps. New Employee Leanne Whitesell- We are so happy to have her on board. Leanne reported that she instructed over 200 5th graders from all Jennings County Schools at the annual Forestry Field Days held this year at the Community Building. She presented a 20 minute watershed demonstration using newspaper, plastic bags, chocolate, soap, water, and other items to simulate our topography. NEW BUSINESS New attendee, Les Ticknor, was recognized and asked to share. Correspondence- we received an inquiry concerning a 205-J grant. Set 2005 Calendar- Major Dates: Annual Meeting February 1st at 7:00PM Spring Sweep April 23rd 8-12 Shady Sweep October 1st 8-12 Heavy Equipment for sweeps- Partner with Barber Rental, Brooks and Earl, Dave O'Mara, Jason Law, Lee's Wrecker Service...Troy and Sim will contact them. Leanne will approach the DNR with Ken's idea of the state helping spread the work and connect would be volunteers to environmentally friendly groups like ours. Les was not able to get any information on us from the Muscatatuck Wildlife Refuge. Sim will look into more brochures for FMRS. Use the TIP LINE. Call 1-800-847-4367 (1-800-TIP-IDNR) Adjournment at 9:00 Next Meeting: 7:00, December 7, in the Jennings County Visitor's center at the Muscatatuck County Park Agenda: Minutes Treasurer's report OLD BUSINESS: Memorial ideas Park office sign Follow up grant report Trash and recycling can program Annual Meeting Phone tree DNR partnering report Brochures NEW BUSINESS: Jennifer Boyle of grant 205-J Set agenda for the next meeting. NEXT RIVER SWEEP IS...APRIL 23 Mother Nature Thanks You