We will restore, protect, promote and ensure a clean,
Healthy,flowing San Bernard River for the sanity and
Enjoyment of present and future generations.                                                                              
Adopted by the FRIENDS OF THE RIVER San Bernard OC on 3/28/06

F.O.R. San Bernard Activity Update
September 2006

Summary of News, Accomplishments and Events in September 2006

September 2 F.O.R. held its first Labor Day boat parade honoring five local area Volunteer Fire Departments – Brazoria, Wild Peach, River’s End, Old Ocean and Jones Creek. 15 boats (including one canoe) "paraded" 7 miles down river, then returned to Ken and Janice Wasek's, for awards, dinner and festivities. Read more about the parade, view photos and see the parade winners on www.sanbernardriver.com Thank you to our Parade Chairman, Vanessa Taylor, our Sponsors, local Fire Depts. And all who participated to make the Labor Day Parade a success.

September 7  Approximately 30 F.O.R. Members attended the Annual Brazoria Chamber of Commerce Dinner held at Dido's. Friends Of the River was recognized by both the Brazoria Chamber of Commerce and the Brazoria Heritage Society. Pat Webb was asked to speak on F.O.R.s  1st fundraiser  ^{to be held on October 21, 2006.}

September 11 F.O.R. Member, Judy Burnett worked with Brandi Jones, owner of Quality Power Products in Brazoria to create store front window displays, featuring F.O.R. promotional items . Assisting in clean up and window design were F.O.R. Volunteers: Gloria Powell, Peggy Davidson and Jeanette Swatloski. If you have not stopped by to see these wonderful lighted diplays, please do so. These hard working ladies did an awesome job - in 100 degree weather.

Quality Power will now be carrying a large stock of F.O.R. Items at all times.... Yours for a small donation !

September 13 The River Mouth Committee met with Brazoria County Beach Restoration Task Force. Brazoria County projects seeking grant money from CIAP were discussed. Grant applications were due in Austin, October 2. Additional letters of support were requested by that deadline.

September 13  Orientation, media and sound checks were conducted by the OC/Interium Board members, in preparation for the upcoming Board Of Directors Election Program.

September 16 (A brief recap of) F.O.R.'S 1st Annual Board of Directors election, was held in the auditorium of the 1933 school in Brazoria. Announcer for the event was Fred Kanter. A review of the history of the F.O.R. Organization was given by Pat Webb. The original 16 member F.O.R. Organizing Committee was recognized, on stage. Darrell Powell was also recognized, as F.O.R.'S Webmaster, taking the reins earlier this year from Eileen Kenneda, who designed and created the original website. Also brought onstage, with the group was F.O.R.'S attorney Lynn Klement, as was Clean Team Chair, Dave Pope. Committee Chairs Vanessa Taylor, Roy Edwards and David Pope each gave updates on current activities. Nominating Committee Chairman, John Wallace, introduced the nominees for election of the 1st Board of Directors. Nominees each then told a little about themselves, and of their desires to be elected to serve as board members. Friends Of the River members then voted. Elected for the positions of Board of Director were: Perry Stroud, Janice Edwards, Daniel Aplin, Marie Breakiron, Artie Burnett, Ken Corley, Linda Wright, Tom Valliere, Bob Bailey, Nancy Kanter, Mike Demland, Chaney Moore, Pat Webb, Bruce Barner, Teresa Schlumpberger. Lisa Neasbitt was chosen as Board Alternate. County Precinct 1 Commissioner Donald "Dude" Payne withdrew his name from the candidate list before the election, due to a possible conflict of interest. Original San Bernard River songs were written and performed by Pat Webb, Nancy Kanter and Eveline Nachtegaele. A film presentation of Organizing Committee meetings, F.O.R. Flags, F.O.R. events and the film of the KHOU Dying River segment, was presented, by Tom Valliere.

September 16 The River Mouth Committee collected signatures on a F.O.R. Resolution supporting the Brazoria County grant application for CIAP funds for the San Bernard Sand Source Study. The Committee also collected signatures for a letter of support for all three Brazoria County CIAP grant application: San Bernard Sand Source Study, San Luis Pass Inlet Management Study, and Surfside Beach Artificial Reef. Over 75 signatures were collected on each document.

September 18 The River Mouth Committee created a packet of photos with detailed copy of times and locations that F.O.R. has shown displays and / or had some form of public outreach / education concerning the San Bernard River. This packet of information was mailed to Kelly Hamby, chairman of the Brazoria County Beach Restoration Task Force, for inclusion with the San Bernard Sand Source Study CIAP grant application.

September 23 F.O.R. members attended the Fraternal Order of Eagles Fish Fry / fund raiser, as public outreach/education of the San Bernard River. A river mouth display was set up for the day and photos were taken to include in the County’s Grant application for CIAP funds.

September 23 The River Mouth Committee created individualized packets of information on the San Bernard River mouth for Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchinson. F.O.R. Member Robin Hardwicke will take these packets to Washington D.C. for her personal audiences with these senators on November 2, 2006.

September 26 The River Mouth Committee arranged F.O.R.'s Bulletin Board at 2J’s Restaurant to display photos and copy generated for the education / public outreach documents, which were attached to the CIAP Grant application for the San Bernard Sand Source Study.

September 28  River Mouth Committee Chairman, Roy Edwards, and Jan Edwards represented Friends Of the River by attending the dedication ceremony for the Neotropical Bird Sanctuary Tower in Quintana.

September 28  The River Mouth Committee received a cover letter and Resolution from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (U.S. House of Representatives – Docket 2765) authorizing Assistant Secretary of the Army, John Paul Woodley, Jr. to determine if any modifications should be made to the San Bernard River mouth based on existing studies. Documents posted to ^{www.sanbernardriver.com on Monday, Oct. 2, 2006.}

September 30 River Mouth Committee Chairman, Roy Edwards, and Jan Edwards set up a River Mouth display at Benevolent Order of Elks. Photos of this display for education / public outreach were attached to the grant CIAP application, to be sent to Austin.

F.O.R. Meetings in September

September 6  The Nominating Committee met at 2J's restaurant to discuss procedures for the election of the new board of directors. Sealed envelopes from nominees were opened and names were listed on the ballot in the order that they were drawn. Plans were made for photos and bios of nominees to be posted on the website.

September 9 The last meeting of the OC/Interim Board of Directors was held at the home of John and Jane Wallace. Discussions were on the following items: Annual Membership Meeting, upcoming fundraiser, F.O.R. promotional items and an update from the Nominating Committee members. A dinner followed the meeting.

September 21 The newly elected Board Of Directors met at Dido's for an orientation meeting. The new board was welcomed by members of the former OC/Interim Board, and several issues were reviewed. Each Board Member received a binder containing: Articles of Incorporation, By Laws, Notice of Waiver, Banking Resolution, Conflict of Interest, and Activity reports. It was agreed that the former Interim Officers will continue in their former positions, for this transitional period. Marie Breakiron was appointed Interim Secretary. Jan Edwards will remain the official public press spokes person for the organization. The 2nd Saturday in September was established as the beginning of the Board member’s term of office. Each year there will be an election of new officers and the election will take place at the first board meeting in October. A date was set to elect new officers for this years term and a regular monthly Board of Directors meeting date of 2nd Thursday of each month was agreed upon. Nancy Kanter gave a brief Treasurer's report and update on the upcoming fund raiser. The next Board Meeting will be held at Brazoria City Hall at 7p.m. on Oct. 12. Board Officers will be elected at that time by written ballots.

Accounting:

F.O.R. San Bernard currently has $2477.44 deposited at Lone Star Bank, Brazoria.

River Raiser:

Upcoming Fundraiser Oct 21 -Volunteers needed. Raffle and Dinner Tickets available -see River Raiser2006 ^{www.sanbernardriver.com}

A new web page "Flags, Hats,Tshirts & More" has been created by Webmaster Darrell Powell and F.O.R. member Connie Webb, showing color photos of all items, including a new online order form. New items now available are: F.O.R.Logo Polo Shirts and F.O.R. San Bernard Sauces and Seasonings.(great gift item) - Two new (undisclosed) Friends Of the River items are expected to arrive anyday! Please visit our new page at: www.sanbernardriver.com and remember, you can also find these items at Quality Power in Brazoria.

Website:Visits in: March 8,427, April 8,427, May 11,942, June 10,569, July 9,418, August 12,114 September 12,260

A total of 12,260 distinct visits were made to the site!

Distinct web pages were viewed a total of 21,309 times

Downloadable files were requested 218 times.

New web pages this month:Board of Directors-Flags Tshirts & More -River Raiser Fundraiser

News:

During the month of September, 10 articles (not counting mentions in What's Going On ? - the Community section of The Facts) about the San Bernard and/or F.O.R. San Bernard Activities were published in: The Facts, The Brazoria County News and The Angleton Advocate. In addition, 3 paid Board Of Director Election notices were placed in The Facts and The Brazoria County News.

Sep 30: ^{Letters needed in support of coastal projects Sep 22: Brazoria County briefs for Sept. 22, 2006 Sep 21: FOR Names First Board Sep 19: River group's boat parade a success Sep 14: F.O.R. Directors to be elected Sep 14: Labor Day Parade a success Sept 11:Friends Of the River Board of Directors Election Sep 11: Group announces board of directors elections Sep 04: Acclaim and a Shame for Sept. 4, 2006 Sep 01: Assistant Army Secretary visits county}

Front Page posts in the month of September:

Sep 30: ^{Letters needed in support of coastal projects Sep 22: Brazoria County briefs for Sept. 22, 2006 Sep 21: FOR Names First Board Sep 19: River group's boat parade a success Sep 11: Group announces board of directors elections Sep 04: Acclaim and a Shame for Sept. 4, 2006 Sep 01: Assistant Army Secretary visits county}

2006 Board of Directors of F.O.R. San Bernard:

Perry Stroud ^{perry@sanbernardriver.com Janice Edwards jan@sanbernardriver.com}

^{Artie Burnett artie@sanbernardriver.com Ken Corley suzanne@sanbernardriver.com}

 ^{Linda Wright linda@sanbernardriver.com Tom Valliere bill@sanbernardriver.com}

^{Bob Bailey bob@sanbernardriver.com Nancy Kanter nancy@sanbernardriver.com}

^{Mike Demland wayne@sanbernardriver.com; al@sanbernardriver.com Chaney Moore marilyn@sanbernardriver.com;}

Pat Webb pat@sanbernardriver.com  Bruce Barner bruce@sanbernardriver.com

Lisa Nesbitt lisa@sanbernardriver.com