New Year, New Leadership! In January, the Friends of the Middle River Board of Directors completed long-range planning to fill critical positions on the board. Board Chair, Joe McCue, has rotated off the board. Our new Board Chair is Nancy Owens. Welcome, Nancy! Nancy is an avid paddler and previously worked many years with the Lifelong Learning Institute at James Madison University.
Joe has been with FOMR since its early days in various capacities and has served as chairperson twice. The board recognizes the tremendous contributions Joe has made and we look forward to his continued contributions in the future. The board renamed several committees and reassigned some committee work to better reflect the purpose and the mission of FOMR. All 2021 board positions and committee chairs are now filled as follows:
Chair: Nancy Owens Vice-Chair: John Bauman Secretary: Tom Shapcott Treasurer: Jeanine Botkin Fundraising Committee Chair: Lonni Neavear Science Committee Chair: Pete Cooper Stewardship Committee: Dave Mangun Education Committee Chair: Marion Bittinger Community Programs Committee Chair: Paul Bryant Marketing and Public Relations Committee Chair: Antonio Martinez
There are many sub-committees that perform the activities of these committees. Some of the activities you may be familiar with like E.coli and benthic monitoring, river clean-up, and organized paddle trips have continued even during this past year of COVID-19 restrictions. However many of our education events were canceled. We feel confident they will continue in the future and we will need your help as a FOMR member to fulfill these activities!
Please contact Kate if you are interested in better understanding and/or volunteering for any of these committees. Kate: info@friendsofthemiddleriver.org, 540-609-8267. | 
