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 KarenTownsend@rrpfoundation.org.

Board of Directors Meeting Summary - Wednesday March 15, 2006, 8:15 am
James River Park Visitor's Center, Reedy Creek

Foundation President Casey Cockerham called the meeting to order. A brief business meeting was conducted prior to the Strategic Planning session.

President Casey Cockerham discussed a potential partner application that pertains to a specific project. Discussion followed regarding formulating an application that is a project application rather than a partnership application and, pending further definition, the Board voted to create a project category in addition to the existing partnership category.

Bill Conkle reminded the group about the Earth Day events, scheduled for April 22, and stated that exhibitors, vendors, and activities are being sought.

Diane Dunaway reported on a gear swap that is being hosted by the James River Outdoor Coalition, which will take place on April 29 at the 17th Street Farmer’s Market. Diane also submitted a letterhead idea, and John Zeugner indicated that P,R, & CF director J.R. Pope had offered to print 500 copies.

Larry Miller reported that a flash memory camera will be installed in Bryan Park in order to address the vandalism concerns. He also reported that a meeting will be held on March 16 regarding the James River Park conservation easement process.

John Zeugner reported that a work party will take place in Bryan Park on March 25th, headed by Hatcher Church, and that other groups are looking to partner with parks for similar projects. Bill Conkle mentioned that Councilwoman Ellen Robertson is working on a clean-up effort in Cannon Run.

Mary Lois Mitchum discussed the Trout Unlimited programs that will take place in Byrd Park on April 7 and 8. The April 8 event is open to the public.

Strategic Planning Session
Committee heads reported on the status of each 2005 goal. Committees will continue to prioritize and work on objectives for the 2006 goals:

1. Board Development
2. Resource Development
3. Education/Outreach
4. Public Relations
5. Partner Relationships
6. Administration
7. Financial Management

Calendar of Upcoming Board Meetings and Other Events

April, 19 2006 - Maymont
May 17, 2006 - T B Smith
June 21, 2006 - Belle Isle Visitors Center

Summer Recess...

September 20 - TBA
October 18 - TBA
November 15 - TBA
December 13 or 20 - Board Breakfast

Regular board Meetings are held at 8:15 am on the third Wednesday of each month.  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.

Attention All Partners - Volunteers Available, Projects Needed!

Bernadette Findley, who is with the Church of the Latter Days Saints recently contacted the Foundation with a tremendous offer.  Her church is planning a huge volunteer day on Saturday, June 3^rd.  They have about 500 folks, half of whom will go to the James River Park, leaving 250 needing work projects and good parks to go to.

This is an important opportunity for parner groups.  It's unclear whether you need to make arrangements for transportation, or lunch, but capturing 10, 30 or 50 workers can help make a nice project materialize.

Bernadette’s work phone is 750-2640, and cell is 270-6593. 

Partner News

From Friends of James River Park...

The Friends of James River Park in collaboration with the VCU Life/Sciences Department is undertaking a survey of park visitors to determine how often the park is used and by whom.The survey will take place once per month on Wednesdays and Saturdays from April through September.  Volunteers who interview park visitors during a four hour shift will be rewarded by the following incentives:  A Torch Light Tour of the Pump House, Membership in Friends of James River Park for one year, A Friend of James River Park T-shirt and Summer Tube ride down the James River. Volunteers must be at least 17 years old or accompanied by an adult.

Contact Cliff Fox (jcfox@vcu.edu) or Jeff Gillieo (jriverk@aol.com) to volunteer.

From Bill Conkle, Foundation Board Member...

Earth Day Richmond will be Saturday, April 22nd, 2006, from 10am-4pm at the south side of the Mayo Bridge (14th Street). A combination of the annual Fish Festival and the Mayor's Walk and Roll, this year's event will have music, food, art, dance, exhibits, earth-friendly goods, and plenty of activities! Individuals are encouraged to get out of their cars and walk or bike to the festival along the James River and Floodwall down to Art Works and Plant Zero (320 Hull Street) in Old Manchester.

The Fish Festival will have exhibits and activities that celebrate the renewed health of the river and the return of migratory species. There will be shad fishing, fish printing, fish releases, river hikes, fish sampling, fly fishing demos and lessons, fishway tours, fish handling and even fish to eat!

The Mayor's Walk and Roll promotes a healthier hometown with safe routes for cyclists and pedestrians. Choose from several walks or bike rides, or create your own route to the festival. The Mayor's Walk and Roll, hosted this year by the Old Dominion Railway Museum, encourages all ages to get active and enjoy the outdoors by walking, running, biking or otherwise rolling (on skates, in wheelchairs, etc.). There will be bike and pedestrian-related exhibits and a facility for securing bicycles so riders can freely participate in the Earth Day event. Aside from the Fish, Bike and Walking themes, non-profit exhibitors and earth-friendly vendors will line the streets, while music from two stages will fill the air along Hull Street. Artists, performers, vendors, environmentalists and other earth-friendly activists will educate and entertain attendees.

Earth Day is a people's festival for all those persons interested in making our City and Planet a cleaner, safer and healthier place to live, work, learn and play. To find out more information, register for a FREE exhibit/vendor space, or sign-up to lead a walk or bike ride or other activity, go to www.earthdayrichmond.org . You may also write to earthdayrichmond@aol.com or call 804-786-5492 for more information about Earth Day.

From Billie Raines,City of Richmond Clean City Commission Coordinator...

Bryan Park will be the place to be April 29th as Richmond celebrates Arbor Day 2006.  As a part of the morning's activities, people looking to safely get rid of electronic devices, such as computers and TV sets, will be able to drop them off from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon at Bryan Park that day for environmentally friendly recycling.

The Arbor Day Family Festival activities will kick off at 8 a.m. with a 5K "Run for the Trees" in the Park.  From 9 a.m. to noon, festival activities will focus on fun for the whole family. All Arbor Day Family Festival events are free, except for the race.  The 5K Run for the Trees is a fundraiser, the proceeds of which will be used to plant trees in an underserved Richmond community at a later date.  The $15 registration fee guarantees race participation, a limited edition Run for the Trees T-shirt, and tree seedlings to plant in Bryan Park.

For more information or to register for the 5K Race, go to www.dof.virginia.gov and click on the "Run For The Trees" logo, or call Lisa Krajewski at 804.328.3031.

Resourceful Links for Partner Groups

Each month we include links to a few websites that might prove helpful or informative to our partner groups...

A collaborative program of Indiana University and the National Park Service, the National Center on Accessibility is the nation's premiere resource promoting access for people with disabilities in recreation.