|
Hello
Friends of FDRD, March
marks the beginning of the home stretch of 2007 program planning– I,
for one, can’t wait to get back out on the trails with all of you!
But before we get out there, we’ve got a few more months of
“behind-the-scenes” work to set us up for another fun summer of
stewarding our local National Forest lands. Our first event,
FDRD’s 3rd Annual Party-Meeting-Membership Drive, is on
March 19, and we invite you to join us for the evening. Read on to
learn more about that evening and how to get involved in our 2007
efforts. For more information about FDRD, please visit our website at www.fdrd.org. If you have any feedback, suggestions, and ways to improve this newsletter, please share them with us. ENJOY!!
|
|
FOREST
STEWARDS PROGRAM
Did You Know That…….. in 2006, its inaugural season, the Forest Stewards Program (FSP), through its 20 Stewards and three partner organizations, generated 902 volunteer service days and 5,500 hours of volunteer service on our local National Forest lands! WOW – that’s more than a two-year full time position!
FSP
Crew Leaders discuss the importance of effective erosion control
structures, including this check dam, during Crew Leader Training last
summer Click here to find out how you can join the 20 Inaugural Stewards in the Forest Stewards Program efforts in 2007! |
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Monday, March 19 – Friends of the Dillon Ranger District (FDRD) – 3rd Annual Party, 6 – 8 PM, Frisco Rec Building, 110 3rd Street in Frisco (corner of 3rd and Granite). Join FDRD and the community for a fun evening of celebrating local natural resource management organization’s volunteer efforts. FDRD will share 2006 program impacts and present our 2007 summer volunteer offerings and the Volunteer Calendar. Participating calendar organizations will host information booths. Snacks and beverages will be provided throughout the evening. Contact Guff Van Vooren at guffvanvooren@msn.com or 970-389-6058 for more information. Potential Contract Position – FDRD continues to secure funds to support an additional contract position for 2007 and beyond. This position will oversee FDRD’s Service Project Season Program, including coordination of eight service projects and “on-demand” projects, compilation of the volunteer calendar, and participation in Forest Stewards Program Crew Leader Training and kiosk installation projects. Please contact Guff Van Vooren at 970-389-6058 or guffvanvooren@msn.com if you are interested in this potential contract position. Volunteer Calendar – FDRD is compiling this 3rd Annual Volunteer Calendar. Look for it to role out in May. We hope it is a useful resource as you determine ways to give back by participating in the volunteer efforts of the many wonderful non-profit organizations dedicated to natural resource management in our community! Last year, 33 organizations participated in this calendar and a few of them have started to add their dates to the calendar, via our website. If you are one of these organizations that has not, please follow procedures here. Deadline for including dates is April 15 (tax day – two deadlines in one day - aargh!). Wish List – Our volunteers are our greatest gift - only through them are we able to fulfill our mission. Be a part of a team that makes 2007 our best year ever! 1. Board Member/Advisory Board Member: monthly meetings/sub-committee work 2. Sub-Committee Leaders and Team: programs, membership/volunteer recruitment, fundraising/grant writing, marketing, education, and training 3. Service Project Team: media relations, flyer creation/distribution, food solicitation/pick up 4. Forest Stewards Program: crew leader, ranger patrol, outreach educator, family stewards, youth stewards, adopt-a-trail groups 5. Service Project Volunteer: see dates below for half-day events 6. Member: your financial support of our efforts 7. Corporate Sponsor: involve your organization in financial (or in-kind) support of our efforts These are great way to meet the wonderful people and businesses of our community, while giving back to your local National Forest lands. Contact Guff at 970-389-6058 if you are interested in these most excellent opportunities. ____________________________________________________________ Forest
Stewards Program Update The Forest Stewards Program includes 6 initiatives: Crew Leader, Ranger Patrol, Outreach Educator, Adopt-A-Trail, Family Stewards, and Youth Stewards. We are currently recruiting for these efforts (including those below) and hope you will consider joining us for the 2007 season. Application deadline is April 23 and our first training is May 12. Click here for details and on-line application. This exciting program is a great way to get involved in an ongoing effort with friends, family, and co-workers. The
Town of Frisco Mt. Royal Adopt-A-Trail Project Join the Town of Frisco and FDRD as we team up to maintain and patrol one of Frisco’s gems – the Mt. Royal Trail. Volunteers are needed for the following trial maintenance days: June 23, July 21, Aug 25, and Sept 15. In addition, as a part of Frisco’s Adopt-A-Trail effort, we are currently recruiting for one crew leader and one ranger patrol to participate in the Forest Stewards Program. VOC/SCOSAT/FDRD Crew Leader Training – Join Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC), Summit County Open Space and Trails (SCOSAT), and FDRD as we co-host this annual crew leader training in Summit County. Mark your calendars for this most excellent 3 day experience – June 29 - July 1. Both individuals and organizations are encouraged to participate in this exciting training and education opportunity – it’s a great way to improve your trail-building skills and grow your organization’s stewardship efforts on our public lands! FDRD is very excited to continue this effort, in its second year, with VOC and SCOSAT and looks forward to similar collaborative efforts with other local organizations. |
|
DRD HAPPENINGS DRD
Job Openings – DRD is currently hiring for the
following position: · Summer Seasonal Employee – Hill Foundation Crew Leader – mid-May – mid-August, 2007. Each year, the John J. Hill Memorial Fund provides opportunities for under-serviced youth to gain work experience in an outdoor setting. This contract position will lead 2 – 3 youth crew in the following efforts: weed pulls, fence building and removal, litter pick up, campsite restoration, fire pit installation at Green Mountain Reservoir, and trail maintenance. Duties include vehicle transportation to project sites and youth mentoring, including career and life skills building. If interested, please contact Ken Waugh at 970-262-3446. Environment
Presentation to Leadership Summit Class – Rick
Newton, Dillon District Ranger, was invited to present at the Leadership
Summit Program’s February Environment Session. Newton educated
the participants on the history of the USDA-FS and introduced them to
various local environmental issues that DRD addresses through
multi-stakeholder collaborative processes. He then presented a
current issue case study to the class, assigning a stakeholder group to
each participant. Each group presented solutions to the class,
simulating the benefits (and challenges) of collaborative
multi-stakeholder processes in conflict resolution. Finally, the
class discussed ways to get involved in local environmental issues,
including FDRD efforts. A few participants shared their FDRD
experiences as Board and Sub-Committee Members, Volunteers, and Members.
The presentation was very well received and several participants
expressed interest in future involvement in FDRD efforts. Leadership
Summit Program, in its second year, is a nine month leadership training
program designed to cultivate and inspire collaborative leaders for a
better Summit County. For more information on Leadership Summit
Program, contact Guff Van Vooren or visit http://www.keystone.org/leadershipsummit.html.
|
DATES TO REMEMBER
(mark your calendars!) FDRD
Events ·
Monday, March 19 – 3rd Annual
Party-Meeting-Membership Drive – 6 – 8 PM, Frisco Rec Building, 110
3rd Street in Frisco (corner of 3rd and Granite). Snacks and
beverages will be provided throughout the evening. Contact Guff Van
Vooren at 970-389-6058 or guffvanvooren@msn.com.
Other
Local Events · Friday, March 2 – High Country Conservation Center’s 18th Annual Tim McClure Memorial Benefit, Bergenhof Restaurant-Base of Peak 8, Breckenridge Ski Resort. Evening includes a buffet style Italian dinner, a large silent auction, raffle drawings, and live entertainment. Contact 668-5703 or recycle@colorado.net. FDRD’s
2007 Event Schedule – “Join In On The Fun”
|
NEXT BOARD MEETING
(FDRD Board Members will meet on the first Monday of each month at DRD at 6PM) Monday,
March 5, at 6:00 PM at the Dillon Ranger Station.
Open to our members and other interested parties. To RSVP or to
include potential agenda items for FDRD Board consideration for future
meetings, contact Guff at guffvanvooren@msn.com
by Sunday, March 4. |
|
We
look forward to spending another fun evening with our “Friends” on
March19. Help us, and several other local organizations dedicated
to natural resource management, kick-off another great season of
Stewardship in and near Summit County. Thank
you for all that you do for FDRD – I look forward to all the fun times
ahead with you in 2007. See
you on the trails! With
sincere thanks,
Guff
Van Vooren Executive
Director Friends
of the Dillon Ranger District |