Re-Discovering the Rock River Conference - April 28th

ROCK RIVER TRAIL INITIATIVE - INVITATION AND AGENDA 

Second Annual Meet the Neighbors Conference Re-Discovering the Rock River: An explanation, inventory, assessment, and declaration of the Rock River Trail

Thursday, April 28, 2011, 9 AM to 5 PM, Clock Tower Resort and Conference Center and CoCo Key Water Resort 7801 E. State St., Rockford, IL - RSVP to admin@rockrivertrail.com or 815-964-9767.


AGENDA
9:00 AM Welcome by Rock River Trail Founder Frank Schier

9:05 AM Native American Awareness Committee Ceremony by Terry "Standing Buffalo" Reynolds and Dennis "White Bear" Dillard

9:10 AM Morning Session Opening Remarks by Burpee Natural History Museum's Executive Director Dr. Alan Brown

9:25 AM Meeting the Neighbors: "A Round of Self Introductions"

9:45 AM Frank Schier "The Rock River Trail Initiative's Achievements"

10:00 AM Presentation by United Sportsmen's Youth Foundation's Rock Hollow Chapter Committeeman Todd Jones

10:15 AM Lake Sinissippi Commissioner Greg Farnham: "The Horicon Marsh and Lake Sinissippi"

11:00 AM University of Wisconsin Extension's Rock River Basin Educator Suzanne Wade: "The Rock River Coalition, Making Positive Change Through Partnerships"

12:00 LUNCH

1:15 PM Afternoon Session Opening Remarks by Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen

1:30 PM Winnebago County Highway Department Engineer Joe Vanderwerff: "Meeting on Illinois House of Representatives Bill HJR 27" for Rock River Trail Signage and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)

1:45 PM Frank Schier: "Elements of Creating New Campsites and Dam Portages: Real Material and Prices for RFPs"

2:00 PM Rockford Park District's Natural Areas Maintenance Coordinator, Kishwaukee River Ecosystem Partnership, Nathan Hill: "Belvidere Dam Fish Passage Project: Lessons Learned"

2:30 PM City of Rockford Storm Water Program Manager Brian Eber: "Riverwalk from the Whitman to 15th Avenue Bridge, and Water Quality Issues"

3:00 PM Friends of the Rock Founders and Directors Drs. Bob and Sonia Vogl: "Riverside Buffer Zones and Ponds Addressing Water Quality Issues"

3:45 PM Frank Schier "An Inventory of Native American Effigy Mounds on the Rock River"

4:00 PM Office of Lt. Governor Sheila Simon's Senior Policy Adviser on the Environment Olivia Dorothy, "The Mississippi River Coordinating Council"

4:50 PM Native American Awareness Committee Ceremony by Mac "Spotted Horse" MacVenn


FEDERAL SUPPORTING CONSULTANTS: U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-16), U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling (R-17), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy for Programs and Project Management Gary R. Meden, P.E., PMP., National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program Outdoor Recreation Planner Diane E. Banta—Consultant by Grant Award

STATE SUPPORTING CONSULTANTS: Ill. Rep. Chuck Jefferson (D-67), Ill. Rep. Dave Winters (R-68), Ill. Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-69), Ill. Rep. Bob Pritchard (R-96), Ill. Sen. Dave Syverson (R-34), IDOT Systems Planning & Services Engr. Dan Long, P.E., Wisconsin Dept. of Tourism Brand Manager Sarah Klavas

CONTACT INFORMATION: Frank Schier, Founder, the Rock River Trail, Editor & Publisher, The Rock River Times 128 N. Church St., Rockford, IL 61101
Cell: 815-670-6440, Phone: 815-964-9767, Fax: 815-964-9825 RRTrail e-mail: admin@rockrivertrail.com, Business e-mail:f rank.schier@rockrivertimes.com, Personal e-mail: frankschier@hotmail.com