FoOTnotes - February 2010

FoOT Supporters,
   
FoOTnotes  has been a little too occasional lately (or is that not occasional enough).  Your editor apologizes.  We will try to do better.   Friends of the Ouachita Trail is off to another great start with the trail in good shape and volunteer hours piling up at a record pace.  For those who haven't been out lately, this is the best time of year for trail maintenance.  The cool weather is good for hard work, and the lack of summer growth lets us see what needs to be done.

Trail Status
   
Condition Report: 
The trail condition report, always available on the FoOT website (www.friendsOT.org), shows less than five miles of trail in a "Red" reporting condition.  This is an amazing tribute to our members and all trail workers over  the last five years.  Those who remember the trail in 2002 or 2003, when it was slowly disappearing back into nature, can take great pride in what FoOT has accomplished.  We not only reclaimed the trail, we have kept it from backsliding again.  Thank you all.
   
Project Status: 
West End:  The West End Extravaganza (WEE) in November of last year was a huge success, with 49 workers cleaning up the Oklahoma districts over a long weekend -- and having a lot of fun at the same time.

East End:  The east end bridge project will get under way later this spring.  This project, jointly funded by Arkansas State Parks, Central Arkansas Water, and FoOT, will replace several badly deteriorated bridges in sections 9 & 10, and add a bridge over the infamous Reece's Creek crossing at mile 208.  This work will be led by Pinnacle Mountain State Park, with volunteer labor by FoOT members.

The USFS tells us that the reroutes funded two years ago (with a grant written by FoOT) will get underway this spring.  This is a forest service project, but FoOT has committed volunteer labor to assist.

FoOT Leadership

    At the annual FoOT Membership Meeting in November, Seth Buys, Loretta Melancon, and Jim Gifford were re-elected to the FoOT Board of Directors.  AT the Board meeting on January 12, Jim Gifford was re-elected President; Kris McMillen was re-elected Vice President, Maintenance; Loretta Melancon was re-elected Vice President, Recruitment; and Glenn Wortham was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer of the corporation.  The Vice President, Resources position was left unfilled at this time.  The nine directors and the officers of FoOT are more than just  leaders of trail activity.  FoOT is a non-profit corporation, with a growing bank account, and these members give their time to assure that we do not run afoul of the many legal requirements of being a non-profit corporation.  Anyone willing to join this group is encouraged to let your interest be known. 

    In addition to the board members and officers, it takes a lot of other people to keep FoOT running.  Our seven district captains are key to planning and tracking trail work and in our interface with the Forest Service District Ranger offices.  We have a Tool Master (inventory and maintenance of FoOT owned tools), a Paint Master (blazing supplies); record keeper (logging work reports and volunteer hours); Web Master; Publicity Chair; and probably a few I forgot.  We greatly appreciate all the volunteers who fill these administrative jobs and are always looking for fresh folks to take over these duties.

    Feel free to contact Jim Gifford at jrgiffhotmail [dot] com if you would be willing to serve on the board or one of the other leadership / administrative positions.

Upcoming Events

    Ouachita Challenge
The Ouachita Challenge has grown into one of the premier mountain bike events in Arkansas.  Our partnership with Ouachita Cycling Club to  man the aid stations and provide trail marshals for this two day event has also made it our most important fund-raising activity for the past three years.  This year's event is March 27-28. Mark your calendars now and plan to get involved.  Volunteer to work the race, have a great weekend, and help FoOT raise money for trail work.

     Arkansas Trails Day
The third annual Arkansas Trails Day, sponsored by the Arkansas Trails Council, will be held Saturday, Jun 12, at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.  This all day event celebrates Arkansas Trails Day and provides a forum for trail users and trail organizations to get together for a day of sharing and fun.  FoOT will have a booth at the event, where we will share our story and recruit new members.  Other activities will include hikes, water trail floats, equestrians, and annual Trail Awards.

FoOT Vice President assumes leadership of Arkansas Trails Council

    Loretta Melancon, Vice President, Recruitment for Friends of the Ouachita Trail, has been elected chairman of the Arkansas Trails Council.  The Council, a state wide group of trail users, trail professionals, and trail advocates, elected Melancon at their quarterly meeting on Jan 10.  The contacts made in the Trails Council were instrumental in achieving the partnership between hikers and mountain bikers that made FoOT a reality.  FoOT, and the agencies we work with, have been strongly represented in the Council since our founding.  Congratulations, Loretta.

New Web Page

    Hopefully, many of you check our FoOT web site from time to time.  In the last edition of this newsletter, we announced the assignment of John Carroll as web master.  John has done a tremendous job in updating the web page, providing both a new look and new functionality.  We have received several compliments from folks outside the organization on the professionalism of our web page.  Thanks to John for a job well done.

See You on the Trail.