Friends of the Muscatatuck River Society Meeting: March 1 in the Jennings County Visitor's Center at the Muscatatuck County Park Meeting called to order @ 7:03pm ATTENDANCE: Tom Moore Sherida Moore Kevin Jayne Troy Jackson Simeon Stearns Leanne Whitesell Les Ticknor Bill Suhre Susannah Hole Greg Fischesser Susan Heitzman Minutes: Approved as read. Treasurer's report: Simeon Stearns reported a balance of $3416.71. Outstanding balance in excess of $900.00, including the purchase of Workbooks for Scipio Elementary Report was approved as read OLD BUSINESS: 205-j grant update: Judith Gold (JCHD) submitted the application on time via email and postal mail and we are still awaiting a response. Progress will not be known until May. Jennifer Boyle is our contact @ IDEM on the grant status. IDEM announced that there is a 319 grant supplemental funding available for plans in their implemental stages, resulting from a surplus of state funding. Simeon Stearns will call IDEM tomorrow to get more details by this week. Memorial and River Sweep ideas: A suggestion was made to contact organizations to donate canoes for the high school students to use at the cleanups to encourage their involvement. Possible choices suggested were the Rockville Sugar Valley and DNR storage surplus. The group chooses not to pursue at this time, but it was noted that Larry Jacobs of the Boy Scouts (873-8359) can be contacted for possible canoe loan-outs. Previous mention of installing a memorial plaque at the Rock Garden upstream of the Dryden Bridge, and may already be in place. Tabled (not confirmed). John Allman is working on the project; Bill Suhre will offer support to John from FMRS to complete this project. Suggestion from Cody Kreutzjahn to advertise cleanups @ High School with flyers: The students provided good volunteers last year. Simeon and Leanne to make and deliver to to Cody during the JCHS Career Day event in April. Kevin Jayne suggested promoting more Boy/Girl scouts & youth involvement: Kevin, Leanne Whitesell and Simeon Stearns to contact Cub/Boy/Girl Scout leaders Larry Jacobs, Dan Wright, Dave Shaw, Larry Treadway, Rick Apsley and others to discuss the idea. Kevin Jayne to pass out to Cub Scouts and Girl Scout representatives, if the flyers are printed by April 1. Jim Tekulve suggested at the annual meeting to post a FMRS memorial sign at the Vernon Commons or Sullivan Ford access sites. Cherie Ticknor researched into state-highway-style signs from her workplace (State Highway Department). Metal sign may be available through the Tourism Attraction Sign and Application Policy. Sign examples are available at the internet link www.indianalogo.com. Simeon Stearns will also follow up with Larry Allsop on obtaining a "DNR-Style" sign for the memorial. Simeon Stearns will attend the next Vernon Town Council to approach Vernon Mayor Dan Wright to obtain permission to display our sign at the Commons. Tom Moore will talk to Steve Heitzman, the Vernon Commons groundskeeper, about proper placement of the sign. Greg offered to make a blueprint of sign layout. Proposed wording on the sign: "Dan Shade Access Point. This site is maintained by FMRS" Bill Suhre suggested that contributions from the annual Orlo Bloomquist Memorial Canoe Race, held between the Commons and Green Bridge, could be donated to FMRS in trade for accountability and insurance support during the race. Susannah Hole will ask Terry Stevenson at Historic Hoosier Hills if FMRS can sponsor. A waiver is to be filled out by each participant. Bill brought permission forms for the race and for the Wayne Durbin/Dan Shade Memorial Rendezvous. It was suggested that each canoe have a trash bag to pick up trash along the way; their bags will be added to our totals, and would count as their participation in the sweep. During the Annual Meeting, Frank Biehle complimented the Society on its organization and motivation, and how it has grown beyond its original intentions. Park office sign: Greg Martin is looking into more alternatives Trash and recycling can program: Concept: Tabled until next meeting. FRMS will have a booth at the Jennings County Fair; Les Tiknor and Kevin Jayne to look at setting up next to booth and booth. Booth personnel can maintain the bins during their shift. Kevin Jayne will look at the bins currently in use at Sand Creek Elementary, also looking into placing our logo on that style of bins. Annual Meeting Review: Suggestions were solicited from around the table to improve the meeting function. Ideas noted: - Look into mandatory sign up ideas to encourage all attendees to sign in. Idea: Door prize signup to entice signup - Keep Susannah Hole's Powerpoint presentation and expound upon it. Susannah suggested taking more pictures to include in the presentation. Maybe look into contacting Plain Dealer to arrange photographer? - Keep the "around the room" idea session to get more group ideas and participation - Use and enforce meeting agenda and time management to keep the group's attention - Everyone felt the Library location worked much better than the Visitor's Center for room accommodation Phone tree: Kevin Jayne sent list to select people to review; He feels that we need to have a mandatory sign-up strategy (i.e. assign a host/hostess at the entrance). DNR partnering report: Check out our link on the web - http://www.in.gov/dnr/outdoor/canoe/rivorg2.htm Brochures: They are now available for distribution, and are currently on display in Visitor's Center. Leanne Whitesell and Simeon Stearns to distribute to Muscatatuck and Crosley Wildlife Refuge, Library, Health Department, and the Courthouse Annex. Troy Jackson to distribute to Jim Dandy's and Comfort Inn. NEW BUSINESS: Leanne Whitesell and Simeon Stearns's schedule: - Hayden Science Club (with Terry French and Donna Stanley), involving 20 kids for 40 minutes at Water Treatment Plant every Wednesday starting in March - Nature educational classes with Brownie troops during the next seven Mondays - April 28-May 15: Leanne's Personal Vacation - April 27-29: Simeon's personal vacation - Earth Day April 22 at the Visitor's Center Dave McCorvie (North Vernon Treatment Plant supervisor) report: Did not show to report on the river water warning signs at the Commons. Processed sewage was dumped in river in late December. The sign was reported to the group by Ken Huff in December. Action Register for April sweep Work site assignor - Ken Trash bags - Larry Food - Kevin (Papa John, McDonalds, Subway) Drinks - Sherida to call IGA, Walmart Water - Simeon Jersey Gloves - Simeon to contact Dave Turner Sheriff's Dept Registration - Susannah (pre-registration to confirm info on file, coordinate new sign-in's) Trash removal - Tom to talk to Jim Reeves Giveaway item ideas - Simeon to get with George Upling Weigh-in - Tom will contact Frank Biehle Thank you notes - Sherida Survey Stakes FPBH Chad Ebinger - Simeon Decals - Simeon to take to Subway Volunteers- FFA, sheriff, mayors - John United Methodist Men's and Youth Groups, Boy Scouts - Kevin First Christian and First Baptist groups - Simeon Girl Scout Volunteers - Simeon Tobias Ford - Cheryl and Kevin to coordinate this site Crosley 4 wheel drive pick-up and operator - Larry Probation officers - Tom Gary Smith involvement - Ken Invite Billy Bright and politicians to our cleanups and events - Simeon and Tom Student council - Leanne Post clean-up - Les Camera Person - TBD Publicity - Troy to issue minutes to contact group Message in elementary school notes - Tom Scott County coordination - Simeon to contact Jerry Goodin Kiwanis -Tom Shriners- Kevin Newspaper - Sherida JCHS-TV - John Radio PSA, billboards, marquee, HHH newsletter - Leanne to look into PSA @ WJCP Flyers @ stores - Bill Website - Leanne & Greg Martin Thank you for the $1000 check from Coffee Creek Conservation fund - Sherida Status of the railroad rails at the commons: Tabled. Bill Suhre to contact his connections with the railroad to inquire about this. Set agenda for the next meeting: - Action Register - APC Environmental section (Simeon Stearns) - Hoosier River Watch Workshop April 2 - Bill Suhre: Jeremy Suhre and James Grove will give access to Coffee Creek fro their property for 205j testing - Susan to propose idea to Tom and Sherida Moore on Service Learning (EXTRA) - Leanne: Cleanup educational stations @ Vinegar Mill (need volunteers) Meeting adjourned @ 9:11 pm NEXT RIVER SWEEP IS...APRIL 23 Mother Nature Thanks You Use the TIP LINE. Call 1-800-847-4367 (1-800-TIP-IDNR)