October 27, 2007

                                                                                                                             

The Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve was called to order at 5:07pm on Monday, October 27, 2007 by President Brad Steinmetz. In attendance were Brad & Carolyn Steinmetz, Bonnie & Butch Sterling, Patti Knower, Chuck Reynolds, Gwen & Chuck Hatfield, Jack & Maggie Lee, Brian Turner, John & Rita Hoffman, Peggy & Chuck Pasker, Saundra McGinnis and George Wilbur.

Brad began with a report on the year's activities of the Friends of the Reserve.

Our website – kickapoofriends.org has been upgraded thanks to Al Buss from Readstown. Al trained Brad, Chuck Reynolds and Patti Knower so that they can do simple maintenance.  It is much more user friendly and a big improvement on the previous website.  Gwen Hatfield suggested putting our registration form on the site for people to download.

Brad reported that the membership in the “Friends” was down by approximately one-third, mainly due to lack of renewals from Organic Valley and Kickapoo Valley Ranch.  Membership is now around 80 “Friends.”

“Between Fences” Update: Brad & Carolyn will go to the Grand Opening in Hales Corners, and peruse the logistics of getting the exhibit to La Farge.

On December 1^st, the “Friends” will have a booth at the small town Christmas event in La Farge.  We hope to be able to sell  T-shirts, plates, books, coffee & C.O.E. prints. 

On December 8^th, our Holiday Cookie Walk will commence at 2pm.  At 4pm we will present the awards to the winners of our Fences photo contest.  String Ties will perform their music at 7PM.

November 6^th is the deadline for the public to vote on their favorite photographs, They will remain on display in the meeting room until the award presentation on December 8^th.  All winning photographs will continue to be on display throughout the “Between Fences” exhibit.

Jonel is sending out postcards to educators, inviting them to the “Between Fences” exhibit. The KVR will host a training session for docents on January 10^th, - the day before the exhibit begins.

Brad then showed a Power Point presentation of the past years' highlights:

The Spaghetti Supper proceeds went to victims of the flooding that happened in Vernon and Crawford counties - $700+ was donated to the Gays Mills, and Soldiers Grove Lion's Clubs. On November 12^th at the Lawton Public Library in La Farge, there will be a talk about our recently released book, “Kickapoo Valley: Gem of Wisconsin.”                                             Our new publishing project for next summer will be a compilation of the Ralph Nuzum booklets that are about the Kickapoo Valley.                                                                              We received  $11,700 in a Nuzum Grant to put towards the archival of old publications.       A Rendezvous featuring lifestyles of the 1720's-1730's, will take in May 2008 and will replace our Heritage Days events that were held in July for the past two years.                  George Netum became an honorary, lifetime member of the “Friends” of the Reserve.       An outdoor fence display is the teaser for the Smithsonian Fences exhibit.                             A retrospective of “The People Remember” will be the final program for “Between Fences.”

Treasurer’s Report – Chuck Reynolds distributed and reviewed the annual meeting financial report. Balance is $10,749.22.                                                                                   We will get reimbursement for publishing expenses of the “Gems” book.                            Various Sponsors will help with our expenses for “Between Fences.”Marcy received a Department of Tourism Grant of $6000 which will help with advertising expenses for the Smithsonian exhibit.  (Thanks!)  We plan to cover the area from St. Paul to Madison.                                                                                                                  The Wisconsin Humanities Council grant of $2500 (Thanks, Brad!) will help cover the expenses of the great programing we have scheduled for the exhibit.

Other Business   - The Board terms of Bonnie Sterling and Chuck Reynolds were expiring.  They were both nominated for another 3-yr. term.. The motion to close nominations and reinstate Bonnie & Chuck by Gwen/Brian was met with unanimous approval.

Brad announced that all were invited to a volunteers appreciation dinner in the Milky Way cafeteria at Organic Valley.  Joanne Shird had prepared an outstanding meal of appetizers, spaghetti, bread, salad and homemade desserts! MANY THANKS!!

The Annual Meeting for 2008 will take place on the last Saturday of October at 5PM, followed by the appreciation dinner. Motion: Saundra/Carolyn

Adjournment was at 6PM. Motion: Patti/Bonnie

Respectfully Submitted by:

Patricia DeMark Knower