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



I apologize that this report is so late in coming. It was a very busy month !!! csw

Summary of News, Accomplishments & Events in August 2006

      Dock Hop: August 1 was designated as National Night Out, the night people across the nation left their TVs and arm chairs and stepped outside to meet and greet their neighbors. Some land locked neighborhoods planned barbecues, block parties and dances. But, living on the river, this was handled a little differently. Friends Of the River members up and down the San Bernard joined in a "Dock Hop" in observance of National Night Out. Dock lights were turned on and F.O.R. Flags were flying in support of F.O.R. San Bernard and National Night Out. The lights and the flags were the invitation for people traveling up or down the river in boats to stop and "hop on the dock", to meet, visit and have refreshments. The F.O.R. Merchant Ship "JUG BUG" (pontoon boat) traveled up and down the river that evening carrying a load of F.O.R. San Bernard branded merchandise.

      Wednesday, August 2 – the I.R.S. 1023 form was officially mailed. The 1023 is the application process required to become a 501(c)3 corporation. Hopefully, within six weeks we should receive our approval letter.

      Thursday, August 3 - Increasing concerns about navigational safety prompted the Corp of Engineers to post signs and restrict fishing or anchoring within 300 yards of the east or west flood gates on the Intracoastal Water Way. Confirmation was published in the Facts that tow boat logs showed an increase in commercial traffic through the gates "in recent years from about 250 a month to between 1,000 to 1,200" – COE recognition of dangerous currents at the Brazos flood gates.

      Thursday, August 3 – Interim F.O.R. Board of Directors began earnestly seeking nominations for permanent Board of Director candidates by publishing a notice in the Brazoria County News. Nominations were submitted on the website and the deadline for nominations was set for Sept.1.

      Friday, August 4 – F.O.R. Board members were notified which projects got CIAP grant applications – the San Bernard sand source study was among them.

      Tuesday, August 8 – F.O.R. Members attended the Brazoria County Commissioner’s Court meeting in Angleton. Commissioner’s Court approved an interlocal agreement with other counties concerning a grant to pay for a watershed study of the San Bernard River begun in Wharton County.

      Tuesday, August 8 – Members of F.O.R. Took Wes Birdwell, the engineering representative for Haff and Associates, who is working on a San Bernard River flood plain study for Wharton County, to the mouth of the San Bernard River and gave him a packet of information about the river. Wharton County/Haff and Associates were not aware that the mouth of the river was completely closed. Haff and Associates attempts to efficiently and rapidly eliminate flood waters from Wharton County will not be effective unless the mouth of the San Bernard River is re-opened. They now are aware of the problems.

      Wednesday, August 9 –F.O.R. Members made a strong showing at the Brazoria County Shoreline Restoration Task Force meeting where projects receiving grant applications for CIAP monies were discussed. Grant writing for winning projects (including the sand source study for the San Bernard River) began.

      Friday, August 11 – F.O.R.'S Chairman of River Mouth Project Roy Edwards, placed a display in the lobby of the Brazoria County Court House. One poster-sized photo was an aerial shot of the closed mouth of the San Bernard River. The other picture was a poster sized series of 6 pictures (with text) showing a barge submerging at the west gates of the Brazos River. Feed back, as a result of the display, indicated that these pictures created awareness of these issues for many people who were unaware of what was happening on the San Bernard River.

      Sunday, August 13 – Roy and Jan Edwards attended a Republican Fund Raiser at the Lake Jackson Civic Center – made contacts and shared information packages concerning the closed river mouth.

      Monday August 14– Fort Bend Herald published a story about the San Bernard River. This marks the first time (that we know of) that the San Bernard River’s story was covered in Fort Bend County. PR Contacts have since been made by Jan, F.O.R.'S P.R. Representative, to assure continued coverage on behalf of F.O.R.

      Saturday, August 19 – Roy and Jan Edwards attended a Democratic Fund Raiser – made contacts and shared information packages concerning the closed river mouth.

      Sunday, August 20 – Roy and Jan attended Ron Paul’s Birthday Bash and were introduced to Texas Land Commissioner, Jerry Patterson. He knew about the San Bernard River (in the CIAP process) and said that the project had merit. They gave Commissioner Patterson a F.O.R. koozie to remember the San Bernard River by, and to share the website. As a result, contact was made with a Galveston Daily News reporter, a package of information was forwarded to that publication which should result in coverage of events on the San Bernard River by the Galveston Daily News.

      Tuesday, August 22 – Info was obtained, showing that The Texas Monthly magazine is considering a feature story about the San Bernard River.

      Wednesday August 23– F.O.R. Interim Board Members Fred Kanter, Jane and John Wallace and Vanessa and Nelson Taylor were given a tour of the Conoco-Phillips Clemens Terminal. Other Friends Of the River members attending were: Bruce Barner, Larry Vacek, Kenneth Pierce, Lisa Neasbitt, and Richard Pierce. The tour consisted of a Unit and Safety Presentation, held in the terminal's Control Room, then a driving tour, through the terminal, where plant processes, hydrocarbon salt dome cavern storage, and pipeline shipments were explained, in detail. The drive - through also consisted of explanations of the brine water pond, and levy surrounding it. A new pond is being constructed at this time. Conoco-Phillips Clemens Terminal Representatives were Don Sheffield, Dennis Tupperwine, Joy Bersinger, Elena Lancione.

      Thursday, August 31 – Members of Friends Of the River San Bernard took Assistant Secretary to the Army, John Paul Woodley, Jr. (who is in charge of Civil Works for the ACOE) on a coastal tour from the Port of Freeport through the Intracoastal Canal to the San Bernard River mouth, showing him various coastal projects including the west gates of the Brazos and the closed mouth of the San Bernard River. ASA Woodley left us with the comment that the mouth project alone, the navigation problems alone, the environmental determents alone, or the flooding issues alone would not be enough for the COE to get involved in finding solutions to the problems. But, by combining all the issues together in one project, that it would justify the COE’s involvement. See the complete story and photos on www.sanbernardriver.com "Previous Updates", beginning September 4.

F.O.R. Meetings :

August 12 -

      F.O.R. Nominating Committee: Members present: John Wallace, Vanessa Taylor, Neil Graham, Roy Edwards, Jane Wallace, Fred Kanter, Connie Webb (phone)

      Agenda /Action items: Ballots, Questionnaire and Review, Procedures, Legalities, Bylaws, Public Notice, Photos /Bios, Web Postings

August 27-

      F.O.R. Board Meeting: Members present: Nancy Kanter, Fred Kanter, Jan Edwards, Roy Edwards, Connie Webb, Pat Webb, Teresa Schulmpberger. Those absent: Nelson Taylor, Vanessa Taylor, Jane Wallace, John Wallace, Neal Graham. Also attending: Darrell (webmaster)and Gloria Powell (filling in for Jane Wallace)

      Fundraiser: Agenda Items / Action Items : Name the Event, Determine Location, Time, Raffle Items, Auction, Food, Dinner Tickets, Raffle Tickets, Public Relations, Volunteers, Merchandise

      Public Election: Agenda / Action Items : Sound and Lighting, Music, Film, Volunteers, Merchandise, Speakers, State of the River Address, Mtg Agenda, Flyers, Press Release, Web posting

      Update by Nominating Committee Member: Fred Kanter; relayed the procedures outlined by the Nominating Committee that would be followed to put together the ballot of candidates. Public notice published in the paper will be the responsibility of the Nominating Committee. Questionnaires received from Nominees will remain sealed and will be opened by Nominating Committee Chairman, John Wallace, at the Sept 6th Nominating Committee meeting.

      Update on mouth issues by Mouth of River Project Chairman: Roy Edwards : Discussed the Revised Itinerary for Mr. Woodley ‘s Visit, planned for Thursday, August 31, 2006..

      Labor Day Boat parade: Pat Webb gave a quick update on the activities of the Labor Day Boat parade, filling in for Parade Chair, Vanessa Taylor. Parade shirts will be included in F.O.R. inventory and accounting. Teresa Schlumpberger showed the new Parade shirt and she and Connie Webb gave an update on new F.O.R. merchandise that has been ordered.

Accounting:

F.O.R. San Bernard currently has $1,122.59 deposited at Lone Star Bank, Brazoria.

Flags and Banners
Link to Order Form for flags and banners.

F.O.R. Merchandise

Available by emailing any OC member or webmaster

Labor Day Parade shirts available at Dido's, 2J's and Quality Power

News: F.O.R. San Bernard had 8 newspaper articles, on various subjects published this month

F.O.R. San Bernard in the News

Aug 29: FOR San Bernard end-of-summer boat parade paying tribute to area volunteer fire departments

Aug 26: Boat parade planned to honor firefighters

Aug 24: Labor day parade set to honor firefighters

Aug 24: FOR to pay tribute to firefighters

Aug 23: Press Release for the Labor Day Boat Parade

Aug 14: San Bernard flow has ripple effect on Fort Bend, surrounding Counties

Aug 06: Coastal projects in race for funds

Aug 03: Friends of River seeks board candidate

Website:

Visits in: March 8,427 April 8,658 May 11,942 June 10,569 July 9,418 August 12,114

Web Stats for August -A RECORD MONTH

A total of 12,114 distinct visits were made to the site!!!

Distinct web pages were viewed a total of 17,198 times.

Downloadable files were requested 337 times.

F.O.R. San Bernard Forum

Our users have posted a total of 1378 articles We have 77 registered users

Front page posts in the month of August

Aug 29: FOR San Bernard end-of-summer boat parade paying tribute to area volunteer fire departments

Aug 26: Boat parade planned to honor firefighters

Aug 24: Labor day parade set to honor firefighters

Aug 24: FOR to pay tribute to firefighters

Aug 23: Press Release for the Labor Day Boat Parade

Aug 14: San Bernard flow has ripple effect on Fort Bend, surrounding Counties

Aug 06: Coastal projects in race for funds

Aug 03: Friends of River seeks board candidate

 

 This update was prepared and sent by Connie Webb, OC/ Interium Board Member/Nominating Committee Member, with approval by the Interim Board of Directors.

Visit our website:
http://www.SanBernardRiver.Com
or
http://www.FORSanBernard

Mailing address:

F.O.R. San Bernard P.O.Box 93 Brazoria,Texas 77422

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