january 2000 friends of white clay creek state park newsletter

8/9/2019 January 2000 Friends of White Clay Creek State Park Newsletter

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THE FWCCSP RECORDVOLUME 2 NO.4:TAHlAlll2'f .)OODFriends of White Clay Creek State ParkOfficers:President: Andrew Urquhart 239-2471Vice-Pres: Frank Rawling 738-0913Treasurer: Kyle Bottorff, 239-9828Secretary: Mark Keese, 455-1076Current Project Leaders:Trail Watch: Christa StefaniskoAdopt-a-Highway: Dee & Dick BensonPark Benches: Andy UrquhartLand Acquisition Advocacy: Andy

Urquhart501 C-3 Tax-Exempt Status: Frank

RawlingReforestation: AI Zverina and Christa

StefaniskoBirder's Guide: Mark Keese, Gene HessBirding Festival: Frank RawlingTrail Improvement Work: Wendel CasselMEETING SCHEDULE REMINDERThe next meeting of the Friends willbe our 3rd annual meeting on March16, 2000 at 7:00 PM at the JudgeMorris Estate on Polly DrummondRd. Join us for desserts, tours of thebuilding, and listen to our guestspeaker Charles Salkin, Director ofParks and Recreation for the State ofDelaware update us on what projectsare being implemented and/orplanned for our park.CALENDAR OF EVENTSNew with this edition of the newsletter isa calendar of events that lists activities

with known dates for the first 6 monthsof the year.Note: Executive Committee Meetingdates are provided so that members maybe able to propose ideas or voiceconcerns by contacting an executivecommittee member prior to the meeting.January 10 - Exec Comm. Mtg.February 7 - Exec Comm. Mtg.February 26 - Trail WorkMarch 6 - Exec Comm. Mtg.March 11 - Adopt-a-Highway CleanupMarch 16 - Annual Membership Mtg.March 18 - Adopt-a-Hghwy Rain DateMarch 19 - Trail WorkApril 10 - Exec Comm. Mtg.April 15 - Christina River Clean-Up /

- Trail WorkMay 6-7 - Migratory Birding FestivalMay 8 - Exec Comm. Mtg.May 20 - Trail WorkJune 3? - National Trails DayJune 5 - Advisory Board Mtg.June 5 - Exec Comm. Mtg.June 18 - Trail WorkJune 15 - Quarterly Membership Mtg.July 4 - Liberty DayMEMBERSHlP RENEWALWOW! A whole year has flown by, andnow it's time again to ask you to renewyour memberships in FWCCSP. Lastyear we were blessed with a 98+%renewal rate. Let's go for 100% thisyear! We'll be sending out a separatemailing with a renewal form and astamped return envelope for yourconveruence.

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ANNUAL REPORT by Andy UrquhartBy all measures, 1999 was anoutstanding year for the Friends ofWhiteClay Creek State Park. Read all about itin our Annual Report, which will beincluded with your membership renewalforms (or sent separately if yourmembership is not up for renewal joined after 9/30/99).MEMBERSHIP REPORT by KyleBottorffThe FWCCSP continued to grow at ahealthy rate in the fourth quarter of 1999with the addition of 18 new members (a15% increase), This brings themembership total to 136 at year's end.Sixty-four new members joined during1999 for an 89% increase in membershipsince the end of 1998. This rapid growthis a testament to the strong support in thecommunity for a Friends group, and anindication of the strong organization thatwe have put together in the last 2 years.We are looking forward to continuedgrowth, both in membership and inactivities in the coming year.TREASURER'S REPORT by KyleBottorffFor the fourth quarter of 1999, revenueswere $468 and expenditures were $300for a net surplus of$168. Revenue wasderived mainly from new member duesand contributions for the park benchproject. Major expenses were for benchmaking supplies and an application toreceive SOI-C3 status (tax exemption fordonations). For the fiscal year 1999,revenues were $2087 and expenses were$1332. Major sources of revenue werethose already listed above, while

expenses included projects, mailing,publicity and corporation fees. Asummary of the finances can be found atthe end of the newsletter.REFORESTATION by AI ZverinaA flurry of activity has occurred since thelast newsletter with regards to ourreforestation initiative. A site has beenselected for our initial efforts to promoteforest regeneration in a few of the fieldsin the park. The field we willconcentrate on initially is on Possum Hill.We plan to plant approximately 1000trees ofvarious native species on half ofthe field, with the other half to be plantedin 2001. This year's planting will takeplace in the spring. It will be atremendously labor intensive effort. Wewill be contacting you when we have aspecific planting time scheduled to solicityour help in this very important project.FWCCSP TO CO-SPONSOR BIRDINGFESTIVAL by Frank RawlingThe FWCCSP, in partnership with theFriends ofBombay Hook NationalWildlife Refuge, will offer a weekendbirding festival on May 6-7, 2000. Thetheme of the festival is migratingsongbirds. The festival will begin onMay 6 at Bombay Hook NWR and moveto White Clay Creek State Park on May7. Have you ever seen a CeruleanWarbler? White Clay Creek State Park isthe only reliable breeding location forthis species in Delaware. Have you everseen a Black-and-White warbler? Or aCanada Warbler? Here is your chance.Join us for a fun-filled and informativetwo days of searching for these and otherwonderful, colorful songbirds during thepeak period of spring migration. Bird

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walks at both locations will be led byexperienced birder's (Ed. Note: Most ofthe White Clay Creek SP walks will beled by members of the FWCCSP). Also,there will be lectures on the how andwhy ofbird migration. Bombay HookNWR and White Clay Creek are famousas stopover points for migrating birdsand this festival will likely draw birdersfrom 200 or more miles away. Markyour calendar! We will provide moredetails closer to the event.LOOP TRAIL REPAIRA dedicated group of volunteerscompleted most of the repair andrenovation work to the popular andheavily used Preserve Loop Trail onNovember 14, 1999. This trail followsthe west side of the creek from theNature Center up to the PA state line.One remaining project is to relocate abridge resting on a severely eroded andundercut bank between the NatureCenter and Chambers Rock Rd. WendelCassel will be co-ordinating this effortwith park staff.PARK BENCH PROJECT UPDATE byAndy UrquhartSince the last newsletter, we completedand installed 7 new benches in the parkbringing our total to 10. Each was adonated bench, with a brass plaqueattached dedicating the bench accordingto the wishes of the donor. Specialthanks are due to volunteers WendelCassel and Gary Stefanisko, and toSuperintendent Nick McFadden whohelped in all phases of the project.FWCCSP HELPS ADVOCATE FOROPEN SPACE by Andy Urquhart

We hope soon to hear an announcementof final agreements to add an additional378 acres to the park. This is partiallydue to the efforts ofmembers BobBennett, Dorothy Miller, and myself whohave advocated the appropriation offunding for open space preservation aspart of a broad coalition ofenvironmental and civic groups.KESTREL BOXES PLANNED FORPARKWe are planning in the coming year toinstall some nesting boxes for kestrels inthe park. Kestrels are absolutelygorgeous small falcons. We feel the parkwill be enhanced by providing them moreopportunities to nest within the parkwhere they can be seen and enjoyed byall visitors.FWCCSP OBTAINS SOI-C3 STATUSThe FWCCSP have received approvalfrom the IRS to be considered 50 l-C3, astatus that is crucial ifwe wish to seekcorporate and endowment fundcontributions to help fund larger projects(e.g., reforestation) as we continue togrow and move forward as anorganization. This status allows donorsto deduct their donation from their taxes(without fear of IRS audit). Mostcorporations or foundations simply willnot donate to organizations that do nothave this status. Special thanks goes toFrank Rawling who spent quite a lot oftime sifting through the virtuallyindecipherable documents, rules andregulations in order to get thisapplication approved.

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SUPERINTENDENT'S CORNERAt the December 9, 1999 meeting, NickMcFadden brought us up to speed onsome projects and activities within thepark. Contractors are finally outrepairing the flood damage to the parkinglots, including the drainage problems.FEMA will be contributing funds to helppay for the repairs.The former equestrian center is beingrenovated into a new maintenance. Thiswork should be completed soon.More gates are in place. There are nowtwo permanent gates on Smith Mill Rd(9-foot rd.) that prevent a direct drivethrough from Thompson Station Rd. toPaper Mill Rd. There is also a gate atThompson Station Rd. that is closedform dusk until dawn everyday. Gateposts have been installed at theintersection ofCreek Rd. withWedgewood Rd. and with Hopkins Rd.These gates are not being closed now,but will be later after a closure ploicy hasbeen set. We will update you on this asit develops.The Schaen cider mill restoration isproceeding through the early stages. Theequipment has been received and is in theprocess of being tested. A draft of thearchitectural drawings are almostcomplete.Once again, holiday tours will beconducted at the Judge Morris Estate inDecember.There are no further updates on theWedgewood Rd. footbridge at this time.A new trail map will be coming out soon.

Stay tuned.Christmas tree recycling is now locatedoffofPaper Mill Rd. instead ofWedgewood Rd.Finally, Nick announced a reorganizationwithin the parks system, whereby parkswill now be grouped together intoregions, typically of 3 parks in closegeographic proximity with one of thepark superintendents overseeing theentire region. White Clay Creek SP isgrouped with Lums Pond SP and (Ithink) Fort Delaware SP and will besupervised by Mike Felker,superintendent ofLums Pond SP.MEMBERSHWLEADERSOUGHT

The Friends are looking for ways togrow their membership and they wantyou to lead the effort! Current ideas thatmight be expanded on are a newrecruiting poster, a new brochure thatupdates our accomplishments andon-going projects, and a web site. Otherideas are welcome. If you are interestedin taking the lead on this importantcommittee, call Tom Hallenbeck.NEWSLETTER EDITOR TO STEPDOWN by Mark KeeseIt has been a great honor and privilege toserve you as the founder and editor ofour newsletter. I am now planning tostep aside and pass the mantle of editorto someone else in order to concentrateon other projects. I f you would like tobecome the vital link in keeping ourgrowing membership informed of all thetremendously exciting projects that wehave going on now, or are planning toimplement in the next year or two, then

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please call one of the executive officerslisted at the top of this newsletter.MINUTES FROM MEETING:December 9, 1999 by Mark KeeseThe December meeting of the FWCCSPwas called to order at 7: 08 PM, presidentAndy Urquhart presiding. There was atotal of 28 members and guests present.The minutes form the September 23rdmeeting were approved unanimously.The treasurer's report was provided inKyle's absence. There are 133 memberscurrently, and a balance in the treasury of$1489.60.An update of projects was provided byTom Hallenbeck. It focused on selectprojects rather than a complete list of allprojects.On November 14, seven peoplereconstructed large sections of thepreserve loop trail between the NatureCenter and Hopkins Rd. One section stillremains that requires moving a bridge (orremoving it and installing a new bridge ina different location). this is tentativelyscheduled for early January.An idea was put forward to schedulemonthly trail work activities (seecalendar).AI Zverina gave us an update on thereforestation project. The field site hasbeen selected, and planting is scheduledfor sometime in early spring (see articleabove). It was emphasized how muchlabor will be required to get this going.Some of the details were discussedconcerning digging of holes, acquiringtrees and topsoil, mulch, watering after

planting etc...Frank Rawling talked about a plan tocoordinate a birding festival with theFriends of Bombay Hook NWR for May6-7 (see article above). People wouldbird at Bombay Hook NWR on the 6thand at White Clay Creek SP on the 7th.Last year this event drew about 1500people to Bombay Hook NWR. Theformat would be: bird in the morningfrom 7:30 AM to about 12:00, break forlunch, talks and slide shows from1:00-3:00 followed by more birding from3:00 to 5:00 PM. There will be somelogistics to work out (e.g., remoteparking and bussing of participants intopark). If you are interested in helpingwith logistics, contact Frank Rawling.The bird finding guide for White ClayCreek SP should be ready in time todistribute to participants at the birdingfestival.Rick Hall and Kyle Bottorff have beenexploring different options for getting aweb site for our organization. Nodefinite decisions have been made yet.On the advocacy front, the Open SpaceCouncil met this past Tuesday andapproved the acquisition of379 acres tothe park. These deals are not yet final,they should be so in a month or two.There were no new projects proposed.Discussion then turned to other activitiesfor the Friends group of a more social,educational, and fun sort. We attemptedto run a trip in October to HawkMountain to watch migrating hawks,unfortunately the weather did notcooperate and we were rained out two

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weekends in a row. Ideas were solicitedfor other such activities that we couldprovide for our members (e.g., otherbirding trips, field trips, hayrides, etc ... ).Nick gave an update on somepark-related topics. See thesuperintendent's comer for a completerun down ofhis comments.Carolyn White, the state parks mediarepresentative and publicist, announcedthat Delaware State Parks will becelebrating their 50th anniversary in2001. A wide variety of special eventswill be held, with a "blow-out" kickoffcelebration on July 1,2000. Carolynurged us to keep our eyes and ears openfor announcements concerning theseevents. With the increased visibility forstate parks in general, we may benefit byreceiving a boost in membership.The next meeting will be our specialannual meeting on March 16, 2000 at7: 00 PM at the Judge Morris Estate (seeannouncement at top of newsletter).We have a need for some volunteers tofill some positions, both short-term andlonger-term:SecretaryNewsletter EditorAudit Committee (short-term) (Ed.Note: This has been completed).Membership CommitteeIf you have an interest in any of thesepositions, please contact a member of theExecutive Committee.The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 PM

Newsletter submitted by Mark Keese,Secretary, FWCCSP

fWccsp2-4.doc

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Friends of White Clay Creek State Park1999 Statement of Activity and 2000 Budget

Unrestricted Support and RevenueCategory 1999 Budget 1999 Actual 2000 Budget

Contributions $200.00 $110.00 $110.00Contributions - Named Benches $400.00 $983.98 $500.00Investment Income $18.00 $27.90 $30.00Membership Dues $610.00 $965.00 $1,045.00

Total Support and Revenues $1,228.00 $2,086.88 $1,685.00Expenses

Category 1999 Budget 1999 Actual 2000 Budget501 (c)(3) $0.00 $150.00 $235.00

Application $0.00 $150.00 $0.00Certificate of Incorp. Modification $0.00 $0.00 $235.00Corporation Fees $75.00 $75.00 $75.00Mail $140.00 $60.54 $140.00Meetings $50.00 $55.86 $60.00Pro jec ts $760.00 $824.71 $1,390.00

Named Benches $560.00 $734.71 $250.00Reforestation $0.00 $0.00 $700.00Birders Guide $0.00 $0.00 $300.00

Other $200.00 $90.00 $140.00Publicity $80.00 $145.98 $165.00Taxes $20.00 $20.00 $20.00

Total Expense $1,125.00 $1,332.09 $2,085.00Excess (Deficiency) of Support and $103.00 $754.79 -$400.00Revenue Over ExpensesNet Assets, Beginning of Period $911.30 $911.30 $1,666.09Net Assets, End of Period $1,014.30 $1,666.09 $1,266.09

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january 2000 friends of white clay creek state park newsletter

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