Subject: Opportunities to Get Involved!

Call for Volunteers

Friends of the Middle River has a number of different volunteer opportunities we're seeking help with soon. Can you help?


Education Event at Shenandoah Valley Campground


Friends of the Middle River (FOMR) is hoping to hold our third riverside education event for campers at the Shenandoah Valley Campground in July. This one to two-hour event offers three or four "learning stations" with different themes. Campers drop into the activities of choice. In previous years we included an art activity, a rock-breaking activity, fly-tying, an aquatic insect activity, a fish talk, a litter activity, or a wildlife show. Kids range from about age 5 to age 15, and parents often attend, too. 


A handful of volunteers are needed to help run the event-- setting-up of the public address system, banner and tables, guiding the crowd, assisting instructors and driving through the camp to announce the event to campers at their campsites. No experience necessary!

If confirmed by the campground, we will offer this event likely in July. Sign up HERE if you'd like to be contacted about volunteering once the details are finalized.


Red Wing Roots

June 23-24-25


Red Wing Roots is one of FOMR's best fundraising festivals of the year. If you are attending the festival and are willing to hang out at the FOMR table for a shift or two to sell raffle tickets and FOMR merchandise and talk about our work, we'd really love the help! Since the event is three days long, having many volunteers reduces the burden of staffing coverage. Unfortunately, FOMR cannot supply festival entry tickets: Please purchase your own tickets before signing up to volunteer, and be aware that festival tickets are selling out fast. Volunteer HERE!


Committee and Board of Directors Participation

in 2024


We are seeking volunteers to serve on committees, lead as a Committee Chair or serve on the Board of Directors in 2024. FOMR currently has the following committees: Science, Stewardship, Education, River Access Program, Safety, Community Programs, Communications, FriendsFest, Board Development, and Fundraising. Each committee leader is the visionary of and coordinator for the tasks the committee undertakes. In addition to committee roles, FOMR’s Board of Directors creates our strategic plan for bringing FOMR’s mission to life, choosing between all the activities and programs we could do, to what we actually will do to achieve our highest goals. Join us? Start the conversation HERE!

Clean the Bay Day Results


On June 3, 63 volunteers from FOMR, Shenandoah Green, JMU Valley Scholars, Skyline Rotary, Staunton Rotary, & Shenandoah Valley Club for the Deaf, cleaned litter out of Lewis Creek Watershed at four sites as a part of the region-wide Clean the Bay Day hosted annually by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Preliminary results indicate that local volunteers filled 49 trash bags, weighing 1,365 lbs! Thanks go to Fred Blanton of the Lewis Creek Watershed Advisory Committee for coordinating all the organizations!

Fall General Election for

Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation Board



Perhaps you or someone you know would consider running for office in the November 7th general election to provide vision and passion for the environment by running for the Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District Board (HSWCD). To run, paperwork must be filed by June 20th. 


"The Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) was established to help guide the delivery of soil and water conservation services to citizens of the commonwealth. The Board is supported mainly by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) staff for programs covering soil and water conservation and dam safety and floodplain management.” (from their website https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/vs-and-wcb )


The Headwaters District represents Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro. The Soil and Water Conservation District is overseen by a Board of Directors, consisting of two representatives from each of the three localities to be elected during the November 7th general election.


It currently appears there is one seat opening for a Waynesboro resident, and it is possible there will also be one seat opening for an Augusta County resident and a Staunton resident.


The official Election Notice can be found at https://headwatersswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Director-Election-Public-Notice.pdf


Request for Prizes or Auction Items


Our FriendsFest Committee is starting to plan out all the prizes for our FriendsFest picnic and raffle drawing which will be held on September 17 (Raindate, Sept. 24).


We are seeking donations of prizes of hand-made or river-related new items that can be offered in our silent auction or in the raffle. The Kayak and Stand Up Paddleboard prizes can be won by any raffle ticket holder-- ticket holders need not be present at the picnic to win. But we will have additional prizes EXCLUSIVELY for FriendsFest attendees.  Additionally, we will be hosting an additional silent auction fundraiser for items that appeal to specific interests—items like a handmade fly rod, or guided fishing trips. Do you have an idea for a donation? Contact Jan and leave a message at 540-480-2884, or email her at janpainter3@gmail.com. Thank you!

May's E.coli Report


Water levels in Augusta County's rivers continue to be low and muddy banks are increasingly visible. Due to the very low amount of rain our area received in May, the E. coli counts for the past month continue to be low at the sites on Middle River that we test. Check out all the sites' E. coli scores HERE!

Amazing Behind-the-Scenes Admin Volunteers


FOMR has one part-time administrative employee, but there is still a lot of work our volunteers do to augment Kate Guenther’s efforts. In the past year, a team of 22 volunteers helped with proofreading and editing of the newsletter, grant applications, press releases, and copy on the website. Our volunteers help solve computer and technical issues on our website, created the new online Middle River Paddlers group, create virtual maps, create event signage, brochures, and promotional merchandise. Volunteers stuff envelopes for mailings. There is a wide range of behind-the-scenes, sometimes tedious administrative tasks, but many hands make for light work. We love our FOMR administrative and marketing volunteers! Want to help in one of these areas? Let Kate know at info@friendsofthemiddleriver.org.

Current RAP Booklet Version 3.16.23

Upcoming

June


23-24-25 FOMR at Red Wing Roots

27 FOMR Board Meeting


Friends of the Middle River

P.O. Box 131,

Verona, VA 24482

540-609-8267

Email: info@friendsofthemiddleriver.org

Friends of the Middle River, PO Box 131, Verona, Virginia 24482, United States

You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.

Powered by:
GetResponse

    This is an online snapshot of a newsletter created by the owner of All Members (fka fomrmccue) (Friends of the Middle River, PO Box 131, 24482 Verona, United States) and sent via GetResponse on 2023-06-14. Report abuse