2024 Annual Report
The Friends of Eastern Neck had a very active and productive year. Our programs have included several educational field trips for Rock Hall Elementary School children, as well as a summer “Kids Gone Fishing” event where kids were introduced to marine science at Bogles Wharf. We continued to maintain and improve the popular Butterfly Garden by adding more plant species and removing unwanted volunteer plants. Several of the Butterfly Garden plots were taken over by new volunteers, who are doing a fantastic job along with our existing volunteers. New signage directs visitors to the exhibits and Nature Store in the historic hunting lodge. This has nearly doubled our Nature Store sales (the profits of which are used to support US Fish and Wildlife Service).
Many of our efforts in 2024 focused on stabilizing and restoring the hunting lodge that houses the Visitor Contact Station. We recently funded repair of the slate roof, which was leaking into the main gallery. The big news is that we applied for and were awarded a $25,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation through the Bartus Trew Preservation Fund. The Bartus Trew fund focuses on preserving historic buildings on the Delmarva Peninsula south of the C&D Canal. The Friends have funds to match the grant (a requirement) and, working with FWS, have selected a specialized contractor to repair or replace the rotting windows, doors and frames. Allen Restoration Inc. has credentials to work on historic buildings and will start the project in spring 2025. The total cost of the repairs will be $55,000.
Another big improvement has been the creation of Friends of Eastern Neck Facebook and Instagram pages. This addition has significantly improved our communication and outreach to the public. The websites are managed by our board member Rudy Dieperink, who has been posting timely updates on our activities, announcing scheduled bird walks, and calling for volunteers.
After the lodge is stabilized, there will be fewer infrastructure projects so our plan is to focus more on supporting FWS conservation programs on the island.
Other 2024 highlights for Friends of Eastern Neck include:
– Purchasing and installing new picnic equipment at Tubby Cove and new brochure holders there and at the Butterfly Garden.
– Committing $6,800 for two conservation projects, tree planting and the replacement of a water control structure, identified by U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
– Continuing our popular series of free winter bird walks led by expert guides, which enable groups to go into areas not normally accessible to the public.
– Holding community outreach events at Chestertown’s Earth Day Festival and Rock Hall’s Fall Fest, and a highly successful pop-up Nature Store on Main Street in Rock Hall over Thanksgiving weekend.
– Partnering with Shore Rivers for a trash clean-up day on the public roads and trails.
– Partnering with the Kent County Public Library’s summer reading program.
— Continuing to maintain and improve the Butterfly Garden and the “Bunkhouse” that is used as quarters for visiting staff.
— Adding 20 more fishing rod holders to the bridge for use by recreational fishermen and women.
— Assisting with the installation of a new boardwalk extension at Tubby Cove to connect the observation platform to the main boardwalk.
FOEN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
With the resignation of Simon Kenyon and the election of Secethia Boardley-Davis, we currently have nine board members. We are actively looking for two additional board members.
The composition of the board as of January 2025 is:
Officers
- President, William Burton
- Vice president, Bonnie Ford
- Treasurer, Sue Conaghan
- Secretary, Cece Trainor
Board Members
- Rudy Dieperink
- Jennifer Glenn
- David Holyoke
- Carol Sutera
- Secethia Boardley-Davis
Jan Plotczyk continues as Membership Coordinator. Carol Sutera continues as Gift Shop manager. Ellen Chamberlin is our Visitor Contact Station/Gift Shop Volunteer Coordinator. Bob Ford edits the quarterly Rookery newsletter. The USWFS Refuge Managers are Marcia Pradines, Brian Boutin, Ray Paterra, Michele Whitbeck and Nicole Hengst.
FINANCIAL POSITION (as of Jan 1 2025)
ASSETS
Current Assets
Checking/Savings
Bookstore $17,620.41
Checking $22,486.32
Total Checking/Savings $40,106.73
Other Current Assets
DESIGNATED FUNDS $61,800.00
(Lodge Windows, conservation projects)
Inventory Asset $14,782.27
prepaid expense $215.00
Undeposited Funds $13.62
Total Other Current Assets $76,810.89
Total Current Assets $116,917.62