Friends of Shimek Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner

Thirty-five Friends of Shimek (FOS) Volunteers and friends gathered at Little Mexico in Mt. Pleasant on Jan. 10, 2015, to celebrate the accomplishments of the volunteers toward improvement of the campground facilities and equestrian trails at Shimek State Forest during 2014.

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. Rep. Hanson has been following the work of FOS and works toward better protection of our natural resources. 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. Of the 44, 28 people contributed 8 hours or more - each of these individuals received an iron-on Volunteer patch suitable for their FOS vests or other vest or jacket.

DNR Representatives included Tom Basten, Southeast Area Parks Supervisor; Shimek Forester, John Byrd; and DNR Technician, Cody Brothersen. FOS Volunteers and Forester John Byrd were recognized in the November Issue of TrailBlazer Magazine as ?Trail Savers? with an article about their work and a photo of some of the volunteers. Byrd was presented copies of this article and letters of appreciation sent by the FOS to the DNR director and members of the Iowa House of Representatives that serve Shimek State Forest. Basten, Southeast Area Parks supervisor, spoke to the group about the improvements in the campgrounds. Basten oversees the campgrounds at Shimek and supported Byrd and FOS this year with the funds needed for the DNR crew to build Horse Shelter 2. He has also funded the addition of DNR Technician Cody Brothersen to work at Lacey-Keosauqua and at Shimek State Forest.

Honorees included Denise Schieffer, who was nominated for the Iowa Horse Council Meritorious Service Award by Friends of Shimek. She was notified by the Iowa Horse Council that she has been awarded their Meritorious Service Award for 2014.

Schieffer 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 its 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. Schieffer has been an active member and often in a leadership position in the Iowa Trail Riders Association since 1988. She is currently both the President and newsletter editor. In this role she advocates for horse trails around the state and for their development and protection.

Dennis Hunter was selected for the Bennett FOS Volunteer of the Year Award for 2014. John and Ann Bennett presented the award to Hunter. His award included a hand-turned spalted elm bowl made and donated by Bob Achenbach and a framed certificate from the Board of FOS as well as dinner for he and his family. Hunter 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. Hunter also made and donated two black iron campfire cook sets for fund-raising for FOS raffles. Although he lives over two hours away, he also came to help build stalls for horse shelter 3. In addition Hunter presented a member of the FOS Board, selected by a drawing, with a campfire set. Neal Hartman took home the campfire set for his future camping trips.

More photos of the evening and a slide show movie about the years activities can be found on the FOS Blog at http://friendsofshimek.blogspot.com.