FOC Newsletter, Chairman’s Letter, Fall 2009

I’ll start with good news. Finally, the $50,000 grant sponsored by Assemblywoman Ginny Fields has been approved and will be presented to the Friends shortly. This will be used toward the Grist Mill. She has also submitted for approval another $250,000 grant, to be used for the hatchery. Another $100,000 grant for the Mill restoration sponsored by Senator Brian Foley is also being considered for approval.

The Friends have been busy preparing the Mill’s Case Statement, a necessary document that will allow our organization to apply for institutional grants to increment everyone’s contributions so we can continue with the next phase of the Mill restoration. Applying for grants takes a tremendous amount of effort and time.

Nevertheless, our work is already producing results and I am happy to announce the receipt of a GET READY grant from the New York State Council on the Arts. This is one of a series of grants offered to help museums, historical societies, and organizations such as ours strengthen and develop management procedures and it will enable the Friends to work with consultant Jaccqueline Day, President and CEO of the Long Island Museum of American Art, History, and Carriages in Stony Brook, New York. She will meet with the board to provide an overview of the planning process that will help us develop a strategic plan to reach our long-range goals.

As for the hatchery, there has been no progress by either the State or the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to move toward solving the infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) issue. Petitions were circulated to ask for immediate allocation of funds and action to be taken to begin studying and resolving the problem. Hundreds of signatures have been received. They will be forwarded to the Governor and DEC shortly. Please continue to write letters and send emails to both parties to try to get them to listen to our plight.

Sunday, October 4 was a beautiful day and over one hundred people showed up at the Preserve to enjoy our 12th annual Gala and the excellent food and festivities. The Friends displayed historic documents and photos from the early days of the Southside Sportsmen’s Club. We raised a grand total of over $11,800. Thank you to all who attended and to those who worked so hard to make the day a success.

Please take the time to visit the Preserve in the next couple of weeks to enjoy the beauty of the season.

Sincerely,
Bob Labuski

Current Chairman's Letter

Past Chairman's Letters:
Summer 2011
Spring 2011
Winter 2010-11
Fall 2010
Summer 2010
Spring 2010
Winter 2009-10
Fall 2009
Summer 2009
Spring 2009
Winter 2008-09
Fall 2008
Summer 2008
Spring 2008
Winter 2007-08
Fall 2007
Summer 2007
Spring 2007