The Friends of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Board of Directors meeting was

called to order on Monday, March 31, 2008, at 7 p.m. at the Kickapoo Reserve

Visitor Center by President Brad Steinmetz. Members in attendance were Bonnie

Sterling, Chuck Hatfield, Marcy West, Chuck Reynolds, Brian Turner, Paige

Baumgartner and Butch Sterling.

 

Correspondence

 

1. Thank-you from Don Nelson on behalf of the Prairie Enthusiasts for the

scholarships at the LaCrosse conference.

2. Thank-you from the students who received the scholarships.

3. Thank-you from the Vernon County Historical Society for our donation of

"Kickapoo Valley-Gem of Wisconsin" book to their collection.

4. A note from Rosanne Boyette with an anonymous donation to help with

travel expenses when doing the library talks on the "Gem of Wisconsin."

 

Minutes from the Dec. 17. 2007 meeting were approved by Brian Turner/Paige

Baumgartner.

 

TreasurerÕs Report

 

 Chuck Reynolds reported the March 31 financial statement: Checking

$6,824.03, Savings $4,744.83. Petty cash was $50. Total 11,618.86.

 

Chuck also had a breakdown of the expenses for "Between Fences."  The

exhibit budget ended up with a deficit of $543.92 in expenses (with no income figured in).

 

There was a question about the large expenditure on dog food for the Winter

Festival. Sponsors of the dog race were supposed to be responsible for some of the cost. Brad will check on this item.

 

There was a question about the $1,000 budgeted for Volunteer Day. We no

longer sponsor the lunch at Rockton and it was discussed if we wanted to

provide T-shirts. Marcy West suggested we consider giving volunteers a pair

of work gloves. Brad will follow-up.

 

Brad said the IRS reporting for nonprofits has changed but the IRS does not

have the forms ready. We will use them next spring.

 

Old Business

 

Winter Festival: We had snow and lots of people. The Winter Festival for

2009 has been moved back a week.

 

Between Fences: There were approximately 1,500 visitors to the Reserve

during the "Between Fences" exhibit. The budgeted expenses amounted to $11,000. Copies of the BF programs are on DVD and are available to view at the Reserve. Brad also put together a scrapbook on the project and he will write a report to the Wisconsin Humanities Council.

 

Publishing projects:

 

Chuck Hatfield has requested updated quotes from the publisher for the Nuzum

book and they came back the same. He is coming down to the final decisions

on the book. Brad is writing the introduction and they told of all the

information available to add to this book.

 

The Friends have not been reimbursed for "Kickapoo Valley-Gem of Wisconsin"

as yet from the Nuzum Grant.

 

Archival System: Chuck, Brad, Marcy and Bonnie will look at what we want?

What information do we want to put on the system? How are we going to access

this? Etc.

They will meet and bring back some information to the next meeting.

 

Corps of Engineers: Chuck Hatfield has e-mailed the Corps and will follow up

with a phone call or letter. Feingold and KindÕs people have offered to help

us convince the Corps to find several boxes in the Corps possession.

 

During this discussion, it was noted that maybe we could link our archival

system with the Wisconsin Historical Society or maybe they would do the

archiving for us. Chuck and Marcy will make the inquiries.

 

New Business

 

Spring C lean up Day – April 19: Volunteers will be asked to pick up

roadways and Friends can work on the Community Garden.

 

Rendezvous: The rendezvous planners have spent $60 for flyers of the $200

that was made available to them from the Friends.

 

Kickapoo County Fair: The Friends will have a hot dog, brat and Italian

sausage food stand at the fair, the last weekend in July.

 

Committee Reports

 

Membership/Recruitment/Volunteers: The Friends has 72 members.  The

discussion touched on business memberships which have not been pursued.

 

The newsletter is out and will be posted on the website in a matter

of days.

 

Marketing/Sales/Communication: Marcy suggested we consider some good quality mugs and glasses to use at functions and be available to sell.  We will also look into a water jug to sell.

 

Carol Nelson has designed a new sales area and the Friends are selling cards

from Bill Mapp.

 

A motion was made and seconded Chuck Reynolds/Chuck Hatfield, to take a $130 ad out in ÒThe VisitorÓ, a visitorÕs guide published by ÒThe Country ConnectionÓ.

 

Finance/Grants/Budget: The Friends received a $250 donation from the Brian

Rude family /The La Crosse Foundation. Brad will e-mail the person who

administers the La Crosse Foundation with the Friends Mission Statement, as

requested.

 

The Friends website will be linked to a form for renewal of membership.

 

The Wisconsin Horse council grant continues.

 

Marcy reminded everyone about the Earth Day program.

 

A motion was made by Brian turner, seconded by Chuck Reynolds to adjourn.

 

 

Respectfully submitted by Bonnie Sterling, secretary