June 2007

Summary of News, Accomplishments and Events:

June 1  F.O.R. Members attended the Perfect Storm Seminar at the Alvin Community College in Alvin

June 2 Breakfast on the Bernard, held at Dido's. Erma Vacek's home made "Mr.Kolache and Ms.Cinnamon Roll" were the featured Couple of the Month.

June 2 Boy Scouts Adventure on the Bernard.

June 9 - June 10 Brazoria No Name Festival -F.O.R. Members manned a booth, generating awareness of F.O.R.  Gloria and Darrell Powell entered their award winning boat in the parade.  Gloria Powell and F.O.R. President Pat Webb, rode in the boat, handing out F.O.R. Brochures, koozies and candy along the parade route.

June 13  Brazoria County Shoreline Restoration Task Force Meeting. C.E.P.R.A. Grant requests for the county were discussed and the grant application was proof read.

June 14 Monthly F.O.R. Board of Directors meeting. In addition to regular board business, Wes Birdwell of Halff and Associates presented his company’s San Bernard River Flood Study. At the present time, only the portion of Brazoria County down to F.M. 1301 is included in the study. Commissioners Dude Payne and Mary Ruth Rhodenbaugh were present for the presentation. Commissioner Payne commented briefly about Brazoria County areas that might need to be considered in any flood/drainage study and gave a brief statement on his recent meeting with TXDOT.

June 14 F.O.R. Officially Adopts A Highway. A two mile stretch of F.M. 2918 has been adopted by F.O.R.for regular clean up. The county will erect signs, and a volunteer program will be set up in the near future -contact pat@sanbernardriver.com for more information.

^{June 26 F.O.R. Members attended the Halff Associates workshop on the San Bernard River Flood Study at Commissioner’s Court. During the comment period, several members addressed the court on their feelings about the study. The general consensus of the F.O.R.  Discussion was that the flood study (originating in Wharton County to eliminate flooding in same) was important and should go forward – if possible – but not at the expense of the work on opening the river mouth.}

^{June 26 Wes Birdwell and other members of Halff Associates and Wharton County Commisioner Mickey Reynolds were given a San Bernard River Tour by Pat Webb, aboard the Terrapin.  For several members in the group, it was the first time they had seen 'this part of the San Bernard'.}

Accounting: Nancy Kanter Director /Treasurer

June-F.O.R. San Bernard currently has $18,791.67 deposited in Lone Star Bank.

F.O.R. San Bernard Committees

Any organization is only as strong as the resolve of it's members and supporters.
If you'd like to join us in helping the San Bernard River, there are many options available to individuals and companies. Whether it's time, expertise or something else you can offer, we need your contribution.

If you are interested in chairing a committee, or would like to volunteer on a committee, please contact any Board Member, or Committee Chairman.

*Work continues on the Pan American Road Dumping Issue. Brazoria County Health Department Environment Officer Rodney Garret is working on the legal paper work and legal notification to all of the Estate Owners.

Email cleanteam@sanbernardriver.com for more information.

Environmental: Fred Kanter

Environmental Team Mission Statement: Ensure a safe clean river for recreational use – safe both for human and animal life.

Committee members include: Chairman Fred Kanter, Suzie Alford, Bruce Barner, Barbara Fritilla, Brian Meaghar, Elizabeth Moore, Vanessa Taylor, Al Rocca, and Colleen Robertson.

Environmental members Al Rocca and Colleen Robertson held a "environmental classroom" at the mouth of the river, for the Boy Scouts, who were camped there.

Recent items up for committee discussion- watershed, land trust, drainage, estuaries, disaster response.

Email environmental@sanbernardriver.com for more information.

All F.O.R. Logo© merchandise is on display at these locations- 2J's, Dido's, Quality Power -as well as on the website. Order forms and photos can be found on the website.

 Ideas and suggestions always appreciated. And Volunteers welcomed with enthusiasm!

http://www.sanbernardriver.com/merchandise/index.htm

Email connie@sanbernardrivercom

Friends of the River appreciates your support!

River Mouth: Roy Edwards

Members took a display to The Perfect Storm Seminar at the Alvin Community College in Alvin. They distributed FOR brochures as well as the HGAC San Bernard River and Bastrop Bayou water shed brochures.

 Chairman, Roy Edwards attended the Swift Water Rescue class conducted by the Old Ocean Volunteer Fire Department , held in San Bernard River's Hansen County Park.

Members Roy and Jan Edwards, Pat Webb and Mark Hazelrigg took a local Boy Scout troop to the river mouth for a Saturday – Sunday camping - learning experience at the mouth of the San Bernard.

*Roy Edwards gave a  presentation to  Sargent Chamber of Commerce per their request to gain more knowledge of the river mouth closure, and the sand source study.

Committee members represented F.O.R. at the  Brazoria County Shoreline Restoration Task Force Meeting.

Email mouth@sanbernardriver.com for more information.

Nomination: Keith Hardwicke

This committee will be ongoing, working to present a qualified slate of nominees, for future F.O.R. Board of Directors. If you would like to submit a name please email nominate@sanbernardriver.com .

June 22 meeting consisted of revisions of nominee forms, and discussing procedures for upcoming election.  

Time is growing short to submit your nominees for new Board Members... Deadline will be in August .

Public Election will be held September 8, 2007.

Parade: Vanessa Taylor

A "Design the Parade Shirt " contest was held at Sweeny Jr High and the winners were: 1st Cori Higgins: 2nd Katherine Kemp: 3rd Jordan Stone. Tshirts of the 1st place winning design will be created by Xpressions Tshirts and More.

Regular weekly committee and public meetings were held in anticipation of July 4th Boat Parade.

 2 J's Restaurant and Cafe will be the location of the awards dinner, immediately following parade. River's End Volunteer Fire Department will have a fireworks display at dusk, following dinner.

*Vanessa Taylor gave a presentation to Sargent Chamber of Commerce per their request to gain more knowledge of F.O.R. San Bernard boat parades.

Email parade@sanbernardriver.com for more information.

Adopt A Highway

F.M.2918

Contact pat@sanbernardriver.com for more information

Website /Historian: Darrell Powell

For June we set a new record for website visits!! 15,618

Visits in 2006-106,985

Visits in 2007- January 9,891; February 8,551; March 10,441; April 10,824; May 13,827 -June 15,618 YTD -69,152

5 new members/see all weekly web stats http://www.sanbernardriver.com

Website advertising is available, please contact:webmaster@sanbernardriver.com or nancy@sanbernardriver.com for more information.

Proceeds from web advertising help to support our website !

Website Front Page Articles in May

Jun 30: Mooch's Common Sense Guide to Good Boating

Jun 25: What’s the Word on the Mouth?

Jun 22: Friends Of the River San Bernard Present 2nd Annual July 4th Boat Parade

Jun 20: Black Water

Jun 18: Eurasian Collared Dove

Jun 15: A Sign of the Times

Jun 13: Friends of the River San Bernard hold Second Annual 4th of July Boat Parade

Jun 11: San Bernard Turtle Watch

Jun 08: Mystery - Part ll -The rest of the story

Jun 06: The Mystery of Mystery

Jun 04: Let There Be Light!!

Jun 01: Memorial Day Parade – San Bernard River Style

F.O.R. San Bernard Discussion Forum: Tim and Rita Ellerd

The forum is a discussion site enjoyed by all. The forum is a great way to stay abreast of the latest happenings on the river, and with each other!

If you have not registered, please do so, and join in the fun!

During the month of June, 11 stories were published about the river or F.O.R. In The Facts, Brazoria County News, Angleton Times Community. In addition, F.O.R.'s booth at the Coastal Expo was printed in all ads, programs and the 450 signs which were distributed for the event. On June29th, Jan Edwards (aka the Singing River) posted a synopsis of the San Bernard River's mouth closure on the Smithsonian website (www.Smithsonian.com) under Reader Sound Off (their discussion page) in the Science section and also e-mailed a letter to the editor requesting that they write a story about the San Bernard River Mouth.