FRIENDS OF THE SPANISH RIVER 2007 YEAR IN REVIEW
It was another busy year for the volunteers of the Friends of the Spanish River. As you will read, we accomplished a lot. I would however like to digress for a moment to state that we volunteers are the big winners. I consider it an honour to be part of this dedicated group of people who have been very active in environmental work long before it became popular with the general public. I encourage everyone who reads our “Friends of the Spanish River 2007 Year in Review Report” to join us and get involved. You will be the big winner too.
Highlights:
- The Alligator Boat Restoration Project has been shelved for the time being, however, this is a challenging project for future ‘Friends' activities.
- After much research, our Directors voted 7 to 2 in favour of purchasing Directors Insurance that started July 2007. Amongst other things, this insurance effectively allows us to take passengers on board our pointer boat to let the public get the feel of this piece of Northern Ontario marine history.
- The Friends were present at the 2007 Earth Day on April 22, 2007 in Market Square, Sudbury, Ontario. For the second year in a row, it was a smash hit and everyone involved ‘felt the love'. We enjoyed great press by the Mid-North Monitor of Espanola, Ontario. Thanks for the coverage folks. We feel it is important to repeat our mandate to the general public whom we hope will join us in…“restoring, preserving and celebrating our great Spanish River”!
- The Friends were there on June 29, 2007 at the Millennium Centre in Sagamok to support the National Day of Action on Aboriginal Poverty. We tabled their comprehensive Sagamok Issues report at our September 5, 2007 Friends meeting.
- Vickie Bradley of the M.N.R. invited the Friends to participate in the Spanish River Valley Minitegozibe Signature Site Management Plan for the Upper Spanish River. More on this project in the future.
- The Friends were in the Canada Day Parade in Espanola with our bright red 32' historical replica pointer boat with lots of ‘kid crew' on board in the spirit of celebrating our great Spanish River.
- We produced 10,000 new Muskie bookmarks celebrating our recent successes with the natural reintroduction of Muskies in the Lower Spanish River. This breaking news was included in the text on the bookmarks in time to be included in our Environmental Care Package mentioned below.
- We launched one of our more energetic projects in August 2007 in partnership with the Espanola Branch of the M.N.R. “The Friends of the Spanish River Environmental Care Package” was hand delivered to most Lower Spanish River waterfront property owners. From the hold-all black shopping bag made from recycled plastic bags to the environmental information inside, it was chock full of important materials for Spanish Riverfront property owners. We even included a copy of our classic full colour 2001 Millennium Celebration art poster/calendar. A special thanks to Jan Linquist and Chris Selinger for helping put this one together.
- For the sixth year in a row, the Friends participated in the annual TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup Program. This year we made a direct appeal to Spanish River waterfront property owners to clean their own shorelines on September 15, 2007, opening day of this two week coast to coast to coast event. We got great exposure through CBC Radio North and the Mid-North Monitor. We also sent a special letter to the organizers to share with them our unique approach to cleaning up our shoreline this year. We received a positive response letter from the organizers in Vancouver, B.C.
- Bill Blight towed our pointer boat in the 2007 Massey Fall Fair Parade in the pouring rain and then went on to give us a presence at the fair featuring our impressive pointer boat to get people interested in the environmental aspects of the Spanish River, and he did it all alone. Thanks Bill.
- I am pleased to report that our 32' replica pointer boat has undergone a complete restoration. A big thank you to Jimm and Colleen Heaton for doing a great job of rebuilding our pointer boat and under budget. Because of their exceptional work, we are now ready to put our pointer boat to work on the Spanish River next spring. We want the public to enjoy crewing onboard this piece of Northern Ontario marine history. Any suggestions?
- Unfortunately, the Lower Spanish River Private Buoyage/Public Dockage System Proposal has not fired the imaginations of the necessary stakeholders and so, reluctantly, we must shelve this ambitious project for the time being. If there is any interest in pursuing this project, the entire feasibility study is posted on our website for all to read.
- As to the film project, I have not had the drive to pursue creating the ten year retrospective on the Friends work to date. I intend to work on it over the coming winter. I will try to complete it in 2008.
- Just in time for Christmas, the Friends of the Spanish River sweatshirt with our Logo in colour is still available for $35.00 each including tax. We need to order a minimum of six shirts at one time before O.J. Graphix Ltd can process our order. Let me know at 865-2828 if you would like to order some.
Finally, a Big “Thank You” to Janet Whissell for doing a super job as first Secretary, and then Secretary/Treasurer. We are going to miss you Janet! Enjoy your new travel adventures and let us know where you are on this big beautiful planet we all call ‘home'.
As many of you know, we combine our December meeting with a Christmas Dinner Party. To all you volunteer members at this event on December 5, 2007, Enjoy, you've earned it!
Well Folks, that wraps it up for 2007, I can't wait to see what we will get up to next year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all and Good Health to our beautiful Spanish River!
Your ‘Friend',
Bill McKenna
Bill McKenna
Volunteer at large