Tuesday, January 13, 2015

A Full House!! Volunteers and Friends seated before dinner at the Little Mexico Restaurant to honor 2014 FOS Volunteers

Shimek Forester John Byrd speaks to the group.

 

Dennis Hunter, Recipient of the Bennett FOS Volunteer of the Year Award admires the beautiful hand turned bowl made by Bob Achenbach, who is shown with  John and Ann Bennett presenting the award.


Dennis Hunter draws a name to win the campfire set he donated for
 a FOS Board Member.  Neal Hartman won the campfire set.


After dinner conversation: Brenda and Ringo Covert, Doris Parks (the sculptor of the Ding Darling bust at Lake Darling) and John Bennett
 
 
Chelsea Rohrs and DNR Technician Cody Brothersen with their son Owen.
 



 


 
 


FOS 2014 Volunteer Appreciation and Planning for 2015 Dinner

Thirty-five FOS Volunteers and friends met for dinner at Little Mexico in Mt. Pleasant on Jan 10, 2015.

Among the guests were Rep. Curt Hanson, Member of the House of Representatives in Iowa, District 82 and ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee.  DNR Representatives included Tom Basten, Southeast Area Parks Supervisor( which includes the campgrounds in Shimek), Shimek Forester John Byrd, and DNR Technician Cody Brothersen. 

Honorees included Denise Schieffer who was nominated for the Iowa Horse Council Meritorious Service Award by Friends of Shimek.  Denise is the President of the Iowa Trail Riders Association.  She has been a contributor to the equine community for many years, and has helped get out the word about FOS since our inception.  She publishes all news releases about FOS and the annual FOS calendar in the ITRA newsletter and on facebook.  In addition, ITRA donated money this past year to help with the building of the new horse shelter. Denise is an advocate of trail riding that is safe for the horses and riders and does no harm to the natural resources of the forest. 

Dennis Hunter was selected for the Bennett Volunteer of the Year Award  for 2014.  Dennis welded, painted and constructed 16 signs with posts to display the "You are Here" maps on the equestrian trails at Shimek.  After many years of stories of people lost for two, four or more hours on the trails, this should mean no more lost riders.  Dennis also made and donated two black iron campfire cook sets for fund-raising for FOS raffles.  As if that were not enough, although he lives over two hours away, he came to help build stalls for horse shelter 3---so Dennis truly deserves the honor.  His award included a lovely hand-turned spalted elm bowl made by Bob Achenbach and a framed certificate from the Board of FOS as well as dinner for he and his family.  

This past year FOS had 44 volunteers who donated a total of 961 hours of work. A Thank You  photo card was presented to each volunteer.  In addition, 28 people contributed 8 hours or more---each of these individuals received an iron-on Voluteer patch suitable for their FOS vests or other vest or jacket. 

FOS Volunteers and Forester John Byrd were also recognized in the November Issue of TrailBlazer Magazine (page 86).  Copies were provided to everyone attending.

Ringo Covert set up a slide show of FOS activities in 2014 for people to watch as they visited.  The photos were made by Lora Conrad, Bonnie Moothart, and a few contributed by others, including John Byrd.  To play the movie version set up by Lora, go to
https://plus.google.com/photos/109715468761500706650/albums/6099998381664850433/6100031312642464722?banner=pwa&authkey=COXszMnI8MPD-QE&pid=6100031312642464722&oid=109715468761500706650


Photos of the evening are in a separate blog entry.

Denise Schieffer Chosen for Iowa Horse Council Meritorius Service Award

Denise Schieffer Honored by Friends of Shimek and Iowa Horse Council


In an e-mail to Ann Bennett, who submitted the Friends of Shimek
nomination of Denise Schieffer for the Iowa Horse Council (IHC)
Meritorious Service award for 2014,
Barb Zukowski, IHC Awards Chair,  wrote:


The judging is over and I am happy to say Denise is going
to be awarded the IHC Meritorious Service Award.

The award will be presented to Denise at the IHC Annual
meeting which is on January 24, 2015. The meeting begins
at 10AM. Do not know the exact time the presentation will
take place. The location for the meeting is on the Iowa
State University campus Kildee Hall Rm 1204.

Denise as an award winner, will receive a complimentary
lunch as will  one guest of her choice. The luncheon will
begin at 11:30 Am.

Congratulations to Denise!

Gary Schieffer, Denise Schieffer, and Ann Bennett at the Friends of Shimek
Volunteer Recognition Dinner Jan. 10, 2014

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Benefit for Heart For Hooves Rescue-Follow-Up


 The Heart for Hooves Fundraiser on 2/7/2015 was a great success---over $9,000 was raised to support the animal rescue efforts there.  Thanks many times over to Bonnie Moothart for organizing it all and to the many people who donated items, food, services, the facilities and all the many hours of work.


Beth Miner shown standing right is the owner/operator of Heart for Hooves.
 She is shown with friends who have helped with the work and fund-raising.

Bonnie Moothart, standing, is shown with friends
 Pat Pollpeter and Becky Hassman before the auction..

Lala O'Hara and friends look over the many items that were auctioned.