21 Sep 2013 ... Inside this issue: Craig Thompson, Five Rivers En- vironmental Education
Center's. Director retired on June 14th. After 35 years of dedication to.
Summer 2013
Friends of Five Rivers Newsletter ~ www.FriendsofFiveRivers.org
Craig Thompson Retires Craig Thompson, Five Rivers Environmental Education Center’s Director retired on June 14th. After 35 years of dedication to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 18 years as Five Rivers Center Director, Craig said it was time to retire and enjoy his gardens and golf.
Watch the Friends of Five Rivers Video Thanks to Paul Miller, husband of board member Maureen Cunningham, we have a beautiful new video about the Friends of Five Rivers and the work of the Guided School Program. http://www.youtube.com
Inside this issue: President’s Message
2
Golf Tournament A Success
3
2013 Fall Festival
3
Birdseed Sale
4
“Like” us on Facebook “Friends of Five Rivers”
dedication. The project is scheduled to begin this fall. This site will allow those with limited mobility to enjoy the Vlomanskill Stream near Fordham’s Crossings.
On June 6th, over 125 friends and admirers joined DEC luminaries in wishing Craig a retirement full of all the good things he deserves. Through the many programs and initiatives he fostered at Five Rivers, Craig has truly made a contribution to environmental education and stewardship in the region. In recent years, Craig’s vision has focused on increasing access to trails and ponds for people with disabilities. To show our appreciation, the Friends and DEC have partnered to build an ADA stream site in honor of Craig’s
Thank you Craig!
Craig is presented with model of the project.
PAGE 2
FR IENDS O F FIV E R IV E R S NEWSLET T ER ~ WWW. FR IENDSOFF I V ER IV ER S. O R G
President’s Message Rich Bader, Esq.
“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.”
challenged- just to name a few-are all provided by the Friends, not the State.
I will finish the tenure of my service on the board of the Friends of Five Rivers in November, and of all the messages I have tried to convey in the past 11 years as a director on the board and past 4 years as President perhaps none is so important as this: we cannot continue to make social change for the environment and our community without enough strength, membership strength.
And then there are those who know about the Friends, and the great work we do but don’t consider joining because they tell themselves “oh, someone else will do it.” “He who stands for nothing, will fall for anything.” People need to stand for environmental education and for protecting the precious natural resources and open spaces in their community. With the challenge of increasingly strained school and municipal budgets and the recent retirement of Center Director Craig Thompson, the strength of our organization is needed now more than ever.
Too many people in the community don’t even consider joining the Friends because they think that the programs provided by the Friends of Five Rivers are provided by the State. The Guided School Program, the Summer Family Program, school bus scholarships, a BCHS student scholarship, internships, funding and maintenance for the Accessible Trail for the mobility-
Being involved in the Friends has brought my life great meaning. I am thankful to my friend Dave Munro for getting me involved with the Friends’ Board, the many committed directors
and tireless Friends staff I’ve worked with over the years, as well as the many dedicated DEC staff. Most of all, I want to thank you, the members of the Friends of Five Rivers who are some of the most thoughtful, generous, and inspiration people it has been my pleasure to know. But I need to ask one more favor. Each member of the Friends needs to take this newsletter and go to three of their friends, and get them to join the Friends of Five Rivers. People in the community need to understand what the Friends do and why it is important to stand with us, not just in spirit but united in membership and the endeavor to protect and improve our community by supporting Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and inspiring the next generation to carry on. Thanks!
JOIN ~ GIVE ~ VOLUNTEER
Supporting Environmental Education For more information on becoming a member of the Friends of Five Rivers, visit our website www.FriendsofFiveRivers.org or call us at 475-0295.
FR IENDS OF FIV E R IV E R S NEWSLET T ER ~ WWW. FR IENDSOFF I V ER IV ER S. OR G
PAGE 3
Golf Tournament A Success The Friends of Five Rivers held our first golf tournament on June 17th at the Sycamore Country Club in Ravena, NY. A wonderful time was had by all who attended whether playing golf or just enjoying the beautiful surroundings at the country club. The event was sponsored by Quinn Wealth Management Group, The Murray Group Insurance Services, CARMA Systems, the Audubon Society of the Capital Region and Capital Cities Imported Cars. Our Chinese Auction was sponsored by over 20 local businesses. Thank you everyone for supporting the Friends and the Guided School Program.
2013 Fall Festival—Save the Date
Five Rivers’ Annual Fall Festival September 21, 2013 Noon—4 p.m. Activities: Meet Smokey Bear and his friend the Five Rivers’ Otter, games, guided walks, music, exhibits, book and bake sales and live animals.
Come meet Otter at the Fall Festival Five Rivers Environmental Education Center 56 Game Farm Road Delmar, NY
FRIENDS OF FIVE RIVE RS 56 Game Farm Road Delmar, NY 12054
2013 Bird Seed Sale
Phone: 518-475-0295 Fax: 518-475-0293 E-mail:
[email protected] Friends of Five Rivers/Five Rivers Limited, Inc. (FFR/FRL) is a not-for-profit corporation formed in 1972. It is tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code and is registered as a charitable corporation under New York State law. FFR/FRL is a private corporation, separate from the State of New York and is governed by its own board of directors and its members.
Visit the Friends of Five Rivers at: www.FriendsofFiveRivers.org or call us at (518) 475-0295. Providing your email address to the Friends will save postage and paper helping us direct more funds to environmental education and preserve the environment. Friends will never share your email with anyone. Email us today at
[email protected] to be placed on our list.
Friends of Five Rivers 56 Game Farm Road Delmar, NY 12054
Watch your mail in August for the annual bird seed sale flier and order form. Order deadline: October 9, 2193 Pick-up date: October 19, 2013 More information will be available soon! Watch the mail and our website:
www.FriendsofFiveRivers.org
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID DELMAR, NY PERMIT NO. 40
