The purpose of this monthly newsletter is to keep Foundation partners and affiliate groups better informed with monthly updates on our activities, upcoming meetings, and other news of interest.  Your input is welcome.  If you have content to add to a future newsletter, wish to subscribe, or want to unsubscribe, please contact the Foundation webmaster/secretary, Karen Townsend at webmaster@rrpfoundation.org.

Board of Directors Meeting Summary - Wednesday January 17, 2007
Landmark Theater

President Joyce Stargardt called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

Introduction of Guests: George Hastings, Vice-Chair of the Recreation and Parks Citizens’ Advisory Board, was introduced. The CAB is a council-appointed committee charged with relaying citizens’ concerns to the department and making recommendations for resolution. Each council district can have two representatives on the Advisory Board; at present there are several vacant slots. Alice Lee currently serves as the CAB Chair.
Sarah Engelhardt was welcomed as a new Board member. Sarah serves on the Capital One legal team.

PRCF Director, J.R. Pope described a planned project for renovating the Pump House, located below Dogwood Dell in Byrd Park. The renovation project will turn the Pump House into the James River Park’s Visitors’ Center, to include an interpretation center, a gift shop, and interpretive boat tours. The upstairs will be restored as a dance hall with an upscale catering kitchen, to be used as a rental facility. Mr. Pope also discussed the possibility of a reflecting pool in front of the Carillon.

Mary Lois Mitchum reported that parks and recreation centers are currently busy with winter projects. All basketball programs are at capacity, and more gym space is needed. She thanked all involved for their participation in building the playground at Fonticello Park. She stated that an average of 40 – 60 children are utilizing the playground on nice days.

President, Joyce Stargardt reported that the Foundation currently has 12 members, with space available for 21. Joyce also asked for recommendations to fill the Vice-President slot, and suggested that members begin keeping track of their volunteer hours. Pat Brown will share a form for tracking hours, and also suggested that this be made part of the strategic plan. Joyce hopes to have the Executive Committee meet two weeks prior to each Foundation meeting to discuss pending business. Recognition was given to Polly Jefferson for her efforts in depositing and recording donations, and to Karen Townsend for her continuing work on the website.

It was reported that the Friends of James River Park are leading tours of the park system. George Hastings reported that the next one will take place on March 10, with March 17 slated as a rain date. Ralph White will lead the March tour, and the organizer of the program is John Johnson, who can be reached at mksml@msn.com.

John Zeugner presented the treasurer’s report in Carl Otto's absence. He distributed copies of the proposed Foundation budget for 2007.The report contains actual figures from 2006 and estimates for 2007. Polly Jefferson asked about the Friends of James River Park endowment fund, which is a special fund set up with Davenport LLC. The Friends group can use the Foundation’s broad name and 501c3 number, but the fund will draw its own interest, to go to the Friends of JRP. A similar account will be set up for the Foundation, started with a $10,000.00 donation from John Zeugner.

Pat Brown moved to approve the 2007 budget, pending an adjusted total after raising the amount donated to the partners’ Luncheon to $500.00. On a second from Casey Cockerham, the budget was approved.

Executive Director, John Zeugner reported that Capital Conservancy Land Easements will become co-easement holders with the PRCF department. Jose Hernandez, operations manager of the Urban Forestry unit, will be leaving the DPW. John stated that the Friends of Urban Forestry need to meet with the director of DPW to stress the importance of a qualified replacement. Anna Halverson, who received a grant to do a tree inventory in Ginter Park, will be leaving, but has a replacement to finish the project.

The rafting contract for the James River has been amended. Commercial companies and groups who offer rafting at a charge can get permits at a cost of $15.00 per put-in site, and will be assigned times. Non-commercial rafting, or those rafting just for fun will not need a permit.

Partner and Departtment News

A Department announcement from Barbara Brock concerning StoryCorps – Mobile Storybooth Tour

StoryCorps is a national initiative to instruct and inspire Americans to record one another’s stories. Traveling Airstream trailers are outfitted with soundproof recording studios, and travel across the country collecting the stories of everyday Americans. Participants invite a friend or loved one to record a 40-minute interview about their lives, sharing stories only they can tell.

This program is done in partnership with the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, where recordings are archived for future generations to hear. A recording of their interview is given to each pair of participants. There are no rules regarding the type of stories that can be shared, and recordings can be made in any language.

Some examples of recorded interviews include: a grandson interviewing his grandmother about how she and his grandfather met, and an interview between a girlfriend and boyfriend about his father that culminated in a marriage proposal.

StoryCorps will be in Richmond from Feb. 27 – March 21, and will record a total of 114 interviews during that time. The location of the mobile recording studio is still to be determined. There will be a facilitator there to record the interview and help with questions as needed. It’s recommended that one participant be the interviewer, and the other the interviewee, and that children younger than 10 years of age not be brought to the mobile booth.

Reservations for the Richmond interview slots will be taken beginning at 10:00 a.m. on February 13. Reservations may be made online, or by calling 1-800-850-4406. There is no charge for the interview, but those making reservations online will be asked for a credit card number (which will not be charged). There is a one reservation limit per family, and people are encouraged to check back for cancellations and new openings if they can’t get a reservation initially.

More detailed information is available on the StoryCorps website: www.storycorps.net.

Calendar of Upcoming Board Meetings and Other Events

February 26 -  Strategic Planning Retreat at Byrd Park Round House (8:15am-Noon)
March 21 - Annual Partner Luncheon at the Carillon in Byrd Park (Noon)
April 18 - Regular board meeting at Chimborazo Park Round House
May 16 - Regular board meeting, location TBA
June 20 - Regular board meeting, optional?
Summer Recess - July & August
September 19 - Regular board meeting, location TBA
October 17 - Regular board meeting, location TBA
November 14 - Regular board meeting, location TBA
December 12 - Board Breakfast, location TBA

The upcoming strategic planning meeting will replace our regular meeting for February.  Regular board meetings are held at 4:00 pm on the third Wednesday of most months. (NOTE THE NEW AFTERNOON MEETING TIME!)  Locations vary as noted above.  Partners are cordially invited to join any or all Board Meetings.  For directions, please refer to the City's web page for community center information.