FRIENDS OF THE KICKAPOO VALLEY RESERVE

MEEING

MARCH 17, 2009

 

The March 17 meeting of the Friends of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve was

called to order at 7 p.m. by President Fritz Cushing,

 

Present were Maggie Lee, Becky Zahm, Brad Steinmetz, Chuck Hatfield, Chuck

Reynolds, Brian Turner, Paige Baumgartner, Patti Knower and Bonnie Sterling.

 

The secretaryÕs report was approved with one correction. Chuck

Reynolds/Chuck Hatfield.

 

The treasurerÕs report was read: $19,428.71 checking, $6,797.24, savings,

Total $26,225.95. Approved. Brian Turner/Pattie Knower.

Correspondence:

A thank-you from the Ontario mealsite seniors, Lower Wisconsin History and

Norskedalen.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

a. Kickapoo Reserve/Chacocente Reserve fund-raiser

Maggie Lee reported on the Kickapoo Reserve/Chacocente Reserve fund-raiser

to be held at the Visitor Center on May 9, beginning at 4 p.m. There are

nature walks and a raptor workshop planned, with food being served from 5-7

p.m. There will also be video displays of the Reserve and Chacocente.

 

The Lees will furnish the meat, beer, water and soda, with volunteers

bringing salads and desserts. The meal will be $8 with a donation for the

beverages. There will be a bonfire from 7-9 p.m., with Jim Pierce music

around the fire.

 

Lee and Becky Zahm requested $100 from the Friends to pay for miscellaneous

items and they also asked for volunteers.

A motion was made and seconded to provide $100 for the event. Pattie

Knower/Brian Turner.

 

b. Proposed amendments to by-laws

Chuck Hatfield reviewed the proposed amendments to the by-laws that had been

handed out before the meeting.

A motion was made and seconded to accept these amendments. Chuck

Hatfield/Bonnie Sterling.  Chuck and Bonnie will have an updated version of

the by-laws for board members at the next meting.

 

c. Nuzum Grant

There was a discussion of the computer/archival program that will be

purchased with the Nuzum Grant. It was decided to locate the primary

equipment in the office at the CorpÕs building and turn this into a Friends

office.

There are two computer experts who will be contacted about the final

equipment needed, A  contract to set up the server-based archival system

will be offered to one.

Chuck Hatfield has been in touch with Sauk County Historical Society and

there is a person there that has helped him in his research and he

recommended we approach her and ask if she will do the training for the new

programs. He suggested we contract her over the next two years, holding

training when needed. There is also online training that can be purchased

with the program, and it was decided to do so and use this as users became

more familiar with the programs.

 

A motion was made and seconded to move forward with the idea of a

server-based archival system with three-four work stations housed in the

CorpÕs building, pay for the broadband installation, training and a computer

expert to set this up out of the Nuzum Grant money. Brian Turner/Chuck

Hatfield.

 

d. St. Paul visit to Corps

Chuck Hatfield reported it was very difficult dealing with the Corps of

Engineers. Now they are telling him it is "unclear" if the can commit to  a

visit by the Friends to finish scanning information from their files. Brad

Steinmetz said Rep. Kind and Sens. Feingold and Kohl need to be contacted

and let them know about the games being played by the Corps. Chuck will also

call the contact at the Corps in the morning, March 18, and tell her there

will be a group coming on April 14-15 expecting the material to be

available.

 

e. Heritage Days

Brian Turner suggested the theme "Homecoming on the Reserve" for July 3-5.

This will follow the outline of the Heritage Days, a few years ago, but will

only be pictures collected from the community and will cover more than the

Reserve, preferably the valley.

It was also discussed that a Friday evening reception be held for the

release of the reprinting of the "Kickapoo Pearls."

 

A motion was made and seconded that Brian go ahead with the planning and a

news release and the Friends will provide $300 for expenses. Paige

Baumgartner/Pattie Knower.

 

f. Other old business

Chuck Hatfield reported Dale Murry, lead editor of the "Pearls" project,

will write the forward for the reprinted "Kickapoo Pearls" book, she will

tell the story of the "Pearls."  The printer and binder are ready, as soon

as the forward is written.

 

NEW BUSINESS

a. A motion was made and seconded to donate $500 to Jason Leis for the horse

trail project. Chuck Hatfield/Brian Turner.

 

b. Spring Volunteer Day: There will be mulch for Star Valley Memorial and

the Community Garden. On April 18, Friends volunteers can work on the

Community Garden and there is also highway clean up.

 

c. Friends Board of DirectorÕs meeting frequency

A motion was made that the Friends board  meet bi-monthly with meetings in

February, April, June, August, October, December. Chuck Hatfield/Patti

Knower.  The next meeting of the board is Tuesday, April 21.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

The Committee Reports were tabled until the April meeting.

 

Other business-members concerns: Brian Turner said since the Winter Fest

Auction proceeds came to the Friends, perhaps the Friends and Reserve could

partner the event.

A motion was made that Fritz explore this option with the Reserve. Chuck

Hatfield/ Bonnie Sterling.

Chuck Reynolds asked if it was too early to contact Sting Ties for the

December event. Brad Steinmetz said he would see them in June, and make the

contact.

 

There was a motion to adjourn. Pattie Knower/Brian Turner.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Bonnie Sterling, secretary