Started by a meetingabout four months ago the Friends of Shenandoah River State Park are already making exciting things happen in the park.The dynamic group is led by President, Dan McDermott, VP Rikki Ferrence, Sec. Jinny Fox and Treasurer Dick Fox. While the group may be new they are off to a great start.
Virginia State Parks Friends groups are established to help support the park management team in accomplishing park goals.Most long term goals are alreadydetermined within the community developed Master Plan for the park. However, park managers also have projects and activities within the park that need the help of organized volunteers likeFriends groups toachieve.
Often times the group’s first tasks are focused on administrative duties that are required for getting themselves organized as a formal group. For the Friends of Shenandoah River Park this wascertainly the case. Bylawswere adopted, meetings set up and they even created a Yahoo group to post information for the rest of the group.
One of Park Manager Tony Widmer’s first requestswas fora fishing line recycling program. Thenew Friends were more than up to the challenge and at July’s meeting presented park management with thehardware for the program.
The Friendsgroup also just performedtheir first ambassador duties for the park last week-end hosting the Youth Conservation Corps and their families for a graduation cook-out.
Upcoming things the Friends are already working on include filing their paperwork to become a 501(c)3organization. Friend’s member, Brian Bennett isleading the chargeon this project. other projects include: producing an On the River event in August, a river clean-up in September and possible kayaking trips. Theyare also looking atways to support the park’sHauntedHike inOct and organizing volunteers to work on some of the nicest hiking trails in Virginia.
Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 PM inthe park’s new Visitor Center and all are welcome. If you live by the park please come and make new friends while being a friend to the park.
As a member ofany of our state parks in Virginia Friends group you can also earn volunteerbenefits, including a state parks pass!