JROC Minutes:

JROC Meeting

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Brian Mutchler, Presiding

Meeting Called to Order: 6:14PM

• Attendance: Greg Velzy, Rich Young & Sandy, Brian Mutchler, Tricia Pearsall, Ralph White, Nathan Burrell, Margaret Maslik, Chris Hull, Jen Slabaugh, Weston Spivey, Susanne Smith, Brian Mutchler, Marianne Swann, Bill Swann, Mike Tyler, Barry Dixon, Sally Wetzler, Vernon Simmons, Odelle Robertson, Steve Ellison.

• Approval of February 4, 2009 Meeting Minutes: Minutes approved.

• Treasurer’s Report: Approximately $13,000 in bank, $4,000 committed leaving $9,000 for projects)

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• Membership: 34 paid members

• Recent/Current Projects & Issues:

James River Park Flier– Español. Once map is correct, brochure ready for printer: Kinker Press. Discussion to delay distribution until late April, so that brochure will have greater seasonal impact. OK. Distribution will proceed as noted before with volunteers from Richmond’s Hispanic Liaison Office. Also will distribute at Ancarrow’s and at Earth Day Celebration.

JROC Pamphlet: Thanks to Rich Young for designing flier. Looks Great! We need to tweak the design and put into Illustrator format. Wade Kinker can help us do that. 500 published for Banff Film Festival. Wade Kinker printed pro bono. Many, Many Thanks! Will publish 1500 more.

Trails: Nathan Burrell, Trails Manager for the City Of Richmond

· Focusing on ½ mile trail in Forest Hills Park and behind Patrick Henry School.

· Working to develop Greenways Regional Comprehensive Trail Plan.

· Working to restart Park Patrol. Mike has stepped to the front. Also looking for cooperation of 3 organizations (MORE, JROC, FOJRP) to help with traffic control at Pony Pasture – groups of 2-3 to patrol 3-4 hours. Fill out worksheet and report on observations. Report to Emergency Communications if serious, but basically not enforcement – if you see something going on, give a call. Then a report will be coordinated form observations. Discussion ensued concerning the matter of identification, talking to park goers….more like park ambassador…Need to work with EMS to ensure egress.

Meet on March 25 at 6:30 at Park Headquarters to discuss matter. If interested in becoming a park ambassador or further involvement, attend!

· Bridge at Rattlesnake Creek – toward Oxford – needs rebuilding. Need $300 to complete. (Cheapest Nathan Burrell project to date)

· Nathan then showed us the newly purchased rock tools. Impressive to the extreme!!!!! We need to institute a working quarry.

Pumphouse Update: Last 2 weekends have been great. Meet-Up group had 12 people on Saturday. Ramp about 12ft. from the other side. JROC Project: Saturday, March 7 – 9:00AM

Gear Swap: April 18, 2009 10 – 2 at Plant Zero, 220 Hull Street in conjunction with Earth Day

· Posters – Rhianna Garner will design. Allocate $300 towards effort.

· Will need tables, clothesline. Please e-mail Sally if can help with tables, set-up etc.

(Tricia had to leave. Sally’s minutes)

• New Business:

Elections: Slate proposed:

President: Brian Mutchler, Vice-President: Greg Velzy, Secretary: Tricia Pearsall with Chris Hull as alternate (thank you), Treasurer: Sally Wetzler, Membership Chairman: Susanne Smith. New Board Members: Margaret Maslik, Weston Spivey and Vernon Simmons. Slate passed

JROC Brainstorming Session held February, 18^th 6:00pm at Sally’s house The ‘well attended’ – (only Sally and Brian) brainstorming meeting updated the Committed Funds list to remove monies that were not used. Brian is checking with Ralph on some others. A revised list will be available at the next meeting. The May meeting – Pot Luck - will be limited to brainstorming projects and future plans

Grants: Jen Slabaugh asked if JROC had ever tried for grants and offered to do research.

Ralph Report :

o Friends of the James will be having a bus tour with new council on 4/18/09

o There have been several university/college work programs working in the park – some local, also from Iowa & New Hampshire

o Requests to JROC to help with maintenance – primarily trash removal – will probably be coming, especially when Belle Isle opens up again – Greg asked if we should start a pilot program of removing trash cans at 14^th Street Takeout and posting signs asking that all trash be taken with you when you leave. Ralph disagreed and doesn’t think it will work in this environment. Greg said that trashcans have been removed at many takeouts (Maidens as an example) and Great Falls Park has a total “take it with you” policy. (Tricia adds…most of the length of the C & O Canal trail has same policy and it works)

(Sally had to leave. Brian’s minutes)

Announcements:

o Trip Jennings on NatGeo TV: running the Lower Congo and speaking on a year of adventures: Papua New Guinea, China and the Congo: March 6^th 7:30PM at the Henrico County Administration Board Room 4301 Parham Road.

o Shoot the James: a photographic salute to the James River by 18 Richmond photographers opens First Friday 6-10pm at art6 Gallery, 6 East Broad St. Catalog proceeds benefit JROC.

o Banff Film Festival: Sat. March 14^th 6:30pm at James River High School. Will have JROC table.

Conference Request: Nathan Burrell requested $275 to attend a conference.

Adjourn: