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 April 19, 2006, 8:15 am
Maymont Park

Foundation President Casey Cockerham called the meeting to order.

P, R & CF liaisons reminded members about the three-fold event that was taking place on April 22 at the May Bridge, including an Earth Day celebration, the Fish Festival, and the Mayor’s Walk and Roll Event. The Friends of Forest Hill Park and the Forest Hill Civic Association will host a House Tour of the Stone House on Sunday, April 23.

J. R. Pope, P, R, & CF director, made a presentation to the city’s planning commission regarding capital improvements projects, and will provide more details at the May meeting. Mr. Pope also described the Mayor’s City of the Future project – a broad vision to reinvent and revitalize Richmond. Funding for various departments will be allocated over the next five years. Mr. Pope also discussed some areas where the department’s allocation will be applied, including restoration and upgrades to city parks, repairs to the Landmark Theater, James River Park’s Nature Center, Dogwood Dell, and upgrades to playgrounds. Foundation members offered additional suggestions.

Casey Cockerham stated that he will meet with executive directors of various groups to discuss options for funding an executive director’s position, and will bring suggestions to the May meeting. The possibility of having a Board member handle bank deposits was discussed; Polly Jefferson volunteered to take on that duty. With regard to the Strategic Plan goals, Casey asked that each committee chair determine the most efficient way of communicating with his/her team to accomplish goals.

John Zeugner encouraged Board members to continue consideration and recruitment of potential new members. He also reported that a planned presentation to City Council will take place after the 2005 annual report is complete.

Treasurer, Carl Otto reported that the transition to Trish (Bookkeeper Solutions) is working well – letters have gone out to donors and partners. The annual audit will be done by August. A credit card machine is still available for use for donations.

The Festival of Arts at Dogwood Dell will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. The Foundation agreed to sponsor a reception for opening night on June 9. Barbara Brock described an effort to create a roster of Dell volunteers past and present, with a recognition of the volunteers planned for closing night on August 12. On a motion by Carl Otto, and a second by Pat Brown, the Foundation approved a donation toward volunteer recognition gifts for this effort.

The Friends of Bryan Park will host a 5K race and tree planting on April 29 to raise money for planting trees in underserved areas. They also participated in a successful cleanup day with the Church of the Latter Day Saints.

Strategic Plan Committee chairs are asked to review their goal plans and discuss direction and priorities at the May meeting. Joyce Stargardt reported that she is working on written job descriptions for the Foundation officers, and also volunteered to represent the Foundation at Citizen’s Advisory Board meetings.

Calendar of Upcoming Board Meetings and Other Events

May 17, 2006 - T B Smith Community Center
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 - DOGS IN PARKS – KNOW THE RULES

(The Department is making a concerted effort this summer to deal with the issue of dogs in parks.  Please pass this information on to your groups and republish in individual newsletters if possible)

In an effort to increase safety and minimize risk to all users of our parks, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and Animal Care and Control would like to remind the public of the city’s laws regarding dogs in parks and on playgrounds.

Now that the weather is warmer and more people, including dog owners and their pets, will be outdoors, it is especially important for the public to remember these laws that are intended to prevent any unfortunate events from happening in our city’s parks.

First and foremost, dogs and cats must be licensed in the City of Richmond, and no unleashed dogs are allowed in any city park – other than Barker Park, which is the city’s dog park located adjacent to Dogwood Dell.

In addition, no dogs at all – leashed or unleashed – are allowed at Byrd Park, Maymont, the Azalea Gardens at Bryan Park, park recreation areas, children’s play lots, athletic fields, or any area posted as an area where dogs are not allowed. This is especially important to remember now that so many children will be playing outdoors in city parks and on playgrounds during the summer and participating in summer sports on the city’s athletic fields.

Also remember, it is not just good manners to clean up after your pet, it’s the law. Section 10-86 of the city’s code requires dog owners to pick up and remove animal waste.

The laws regarding dogs in parks are set forth in Section 10-174 of the city’s code, and individuals who break these laws can be fined as much as $250.

To report a violation of these ordinances or an animal in need of assistance, please call Animal Care and Control at 646-5573. For an after hours animal emergency, call 646-5123. And of course, in any emergency you can always call 911.

Visit the city’s website at RichmondGov.com for valuable information on this and other city services, or visit Animal Care and Control.

Partner News

A couple of FAN event announcements from Joyce Stargardt...

Fan District Association will be sponsoring concerts in June - The Binford Concert Band (approx. 60 musicians) play in Scuffletown Park, The Choir (approx. 75) and Harp Ensemble (10 musicians) in Paradise Park, and the String Orchestra (approx 40 musicians) in Lombardy Park.  We’re thinking of successive Thursday evenings in June (1, 8, 15) at 6:30 for about an hour.  Exact dates and times to be determined.

June 24 - Celebration of the Strawberry Street Cafe 30 Year Anniversary - The 400 Block of Strawberry Street will be blocked off for vendors and walking a portion of the proceeds will go to the Children's Museum. The museum will also set up areas in Scuffletown Park for children's activities.

From Jerry Miller, Friends of Laurus Park...

The Friends of Larus Park will be meeting on May 15th at 7:00 p.m. at 3020 Darnley Road, Richmond VA 23235. The guest speaker will be John Pope, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Richmond. For more information on the meeting, please contact Jonathan Young at 928-9881.

Department announcements from Christy Everson...

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
The City Dance Theatre, the department's competitive dance troupe, is featured on page 140 of the May issue of Richmond magazine. The troupe won 21 first place awards at the regional DanceAmerica Competition in Virginia Beach and will perform its award-winning routines May 20 at Grace Street Theater. The performance starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for students, seniors and children. Tickets sell out quickly for this award-winning group, so make your reservations today. Call 646-3673.

50th FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS KICKS OFF JUNE 9
This year marks the 50th anniversary for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities' Festival of the Arts at Dogwood Dell. The season kicks off on June 9 at 7:45 p.m. with renowned jazz singer René Marie, and on June 10 we'll bring you the ever-popular KOS (formerly known as the Kings of Swing). Pack your picnic, bring the family and enjoy this year's season of outdoor family entertainment in the park. The schedule is attached, or you can find it on the department's website at www.RichmondGov.com/parks.

JUNE 10 IS THE REGIONAL JAMES RIVER CLEANUP
Get out your sturdy shoes and work gloves, and join the hundreds of volunteers throughout eight jurisdictions who will help clean up the James River on Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In Richmond, you can meet at the Pony Pasture Rapids or the James River Park Headquarters at Reedy Creek.

Resourceful Links for Partner Groups

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

BENEVOLINK
http://www.benevolink.com/nonprofits.

More than 1,800 Richmond-area nonprofits received funding from the very first quarter of the new Golden Gift powered by Benevolink. Of these, 275 nonprofits received $100 or more in one quarter alone. Several generated more than $1,000 through the new program in the same period. Given this is only the first of 4 giving periods for the new year-round program, we're talking impact and opportunity!

VIRGINIA NATURAL RESOURCE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
http://www.virginia.edu/ien/VNRLI_app.htm 

A successful program to help Virginia's leaders address difficult environmental and community issues will kick off its seventh yearlong program this fall. Applications are due Monday, May 15th. VNRLI is open to all people who are involved with issues of natural resources in Virginia, professionally or in their communities.