After a meal with all the Mexican food classics -- from fajitas to empanadas and even a few margaritas, President Ann Bennett called the meeting to order. The program began with the announcement of the Board of Directors for 2016, and the presentation of a Certificate to Shimek Forester John Byrd "in appreciation of his five years of support, patience, and enthusiasm for equestrian projects." Pictured with John Byrd are the Board Members of FOS (l-r): Ringo Covert (Special Projects), Debbie Miller (Ttreasurer), Lora Conrad (Secretary/Editor), Marsha Achenbach (Vice President/Trails), Neal Hartman (at-Large Board Member) and Ann Bennett ( President.)
John spoke to the group about the projects on which FOS and DNR have been working together this year. These included:
Extension of the Wet Weather Trail: The William M and Donna J. Hoaglin Foundation funded the FOS to expand the WWT by 2.2 miles, with DNR and FOS providing the labor and equipment and the Foundation providing the rock. With rains at record levels all year, this has been begun but not completed. All rock has been purchased but about one mile of the rocking has been completed. The project will be completed as soon as the ground is dry enough to haul the rock to the trail locations where it is needed without damaging the trail.
The Kiosk Project: This project is designed to replace the kiosks in all four Shimek campgrounds. Funding was provided by a grant from the Lee County Charitable foundation, and the Iowa Horse Council in August 2015 as well as funds from GOFundMe donations. An interpretive panel honoring Dr. Bohumil Shimek is also part of this project and is now under development. The project will be completed when the message boards and panel are installed in spring 2016.
He also reported that DNR plans to expand the day parking area in the upper campground, hopefully in 2016. However, there is just no suitable location for day parking in the lower campground.
Southeast Iowa District Parks Supervisor Tom Basten also attended the dinner and addressed the group. He was very complimentary of the FOS both for their effectiveness in volunteering and for their fund-raising. He also reported that the open position of DNR Technician previously held by Cody Brothersen has been advertised. He hopes to have the position filled by about March. Now in this photo, you will, of course, note that Tom has a black eye---which was not a result of any action of FOS, but rather he tells a story of an elbow in the eye by a friend??? Oh well, better ask him.
During 2015, there were 47 FOS Volunteers who gave 848 hours of their time and were honored tonight. Recognition for the largest number of reported volunteer hours in 2015 went to Bonnie Moothart, who donated over 65 hours to FOS. Special recognition was also given to Cody Brothersen and his partner Chelsie Rohrs for their many hours of work on the campgrounds and recruiting about half a dozen of their family members to work beside them last spring.
Randy Dillon was named the Bennett Volunteer of the Year for five years of lending his financial expertise to FOS to "provide financial reconciliation, reports, and advice." Randy was very complimentary of the accurate records kept by Treasurer Debbie Miller. Randy was presented with a certificate from FOS and a beautiful elm bowl, made and donated by Bob Achenbach.
President Ann Bennett passed the bowl around for all to see---and to kick off the 2016 fund raising campaign for FOS to provide $2,000 to purchase rock for WWT maintenace. The heavy rains and winter weather each year mean that repairs must be made regularly to the WWT to assure that it continues to be usable in wet weather. A total of $540 was collected at the dinner! To donate to this campaign by credit card, go to https://www.gofundme.com/foswwt
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