I got involved with the American River Parkway Foundation through my Rotary Club. I am a member of Point West Rotary, and one of the projects undertaken by the club over the last several years has been to serve as a volunteer steward for the parkway.
Point West Rotary also acts as a financial sponsor for a mile of the American River Parkway Bicycle Trail. Through this involvement I got very enthused about the parkway and ended up being asked to serve on the foundation's board. I am an avid bicyclist and use the parkway frequently. The parkway is a great asset to the community and needs to be cherished and preserved.
On the board I help with policy decisions for the foundation. One of our major functions is to raise funds for projects in the parkway. We review those as a board and allocate funds to the various worthy projects that are proposed to us. The foundation also coordinates the efforts of hundreds of volunteers who contribute thousands of work hours each year maintaining and improving the parkway. Volunteers remove invasive plant species, collect litter, plant oaks and other trees, and generally work to increase the public's stewardship of the parkway.
The foundation board is made up of committed people who are not afraid to get their hands dirty. It's not just office work. In the past month, on one Sunday afternoon we were helping with the interpretive garden next to the foundation office in William Pond Park. We hauled several tons of river rock to help create that garden. The next weekend we helped other volunteers plant the different native seedlings required for the garden. I enjoy the work. Over the years I have been active in a lot of different charities and nonprofits. It's the way I was raised, and it makes me feel good to help.
