The Last Monday in 2009

I spent the day with a Project Management book, managed to take notes, start the main network diagram & chart of stuff to do. the more details the better at this point.

Worked well without internet and then off to the cafe to check in with the world. That seems to be an ok way to do this travel thing. It helps that the phone can check email, it's a new world.

Continuing to upgrade the first part of the grants as well. each part I fill in makes it easier to fill in the next part.

Surfaced In Denver

And we survived the holidays. Late last week I heard from both Vern and Mark from Michigan regarding working on the project. Looks like everything goes forward with them in the New Year.

I also spoke with Pete B regarding the use of the river by rafts, canoes, and kayaks. He said that they were trying to get somehting going at Lindon House in Lynnville, which would be just upstream from us. Since we are doing things to the river and talking with ACE, it may behooove us to work together on this stretch of the river. I have several articles to read that he sent to me.

Also have a new phone with internest and email. It makes traveling quite fun. Almost instant communications, no more trying to find that hotspot and then find out you don't need it. I haven't figured out how to blog yet.

Friday FRIDAY

We had an important board meeting last night. I wish everyone could have been there. The decision was rendered to make us more formal with an LLC and a board of directors. My role has changed to Executive Director as of the new year. I will be reporting to the board about all things bridge, the progress and status of grant writing and proposals, how we are proceeding with the engineer and a Scope of Project. We all have our deadlines but, we have saved the bridge, now it is important to focus now on getting the bridge fixed.

midway thru December

Calls today to Mark Vavrock, re the road and the trees
George Drake - Dick suggested I call,
Rick - think we need a meeting before I go out of town


take the time to take everyone's measure about how we go forward from here. We are poised to start the hard work, need to find out if/or what that we are all on the same page.

Have moved the Whinnie to a friends driveway for now and then hopefully off to permanent storage. Need to really work on storing and packing it away.

More has been revealed

Trying to find yet another engineer that wants to take on this project. Snyder & Associates declined, but provided referals to Shive Hattery in Des Moines/Iowa City or Calhoun Burns in West Des Moines. I've contacted SH and Steve Bradley was putting out an email regarding our project. We'll see if we can find the right Iowa engineer.

The weather has pushed the timeline on our project back and quite frankly, decided a few issues. We are so close to having the finalized documents regarding our legal status, but in reality 2010 is most likely when that will happen. With the big snow, it's unlikely that we will be able to get the rip rap done on the banks, still hoping that the DNR will take down the trees that were undercut and leaning over the bridge, Mark V, says that the road will be grated soon, but it will be our responsibility to rock it for the heavy equipment that will be required.

After meeting with Rick on Thursday, more was made clear. we are going to put our resources towards experts, the engineer, and grantwriting in the near term. Plans are going forward for a fundraising event in March of 2010, I'm seeing something that includes food, of course, heavy h'ordeurves and cocktails, mini desserts, music, the Grinnell Community Center, and a raucous auction and a raffle. Bingo for prizes, why not. Keep people engaged and having fun, while donating to a good cause. We will need a sound system for this event, and perhaps a headliner with Shame Train opening. Just my vision, if anyone is actually reading this, perhaps you have your own vision.

This gives us the beginning of a timeline and project outline. Off and running into the new year.

Give yourselves a pat on the back, we saved the bridge from demolition. Please, think good thoughts about keeping it upright until the spring.

How can it be a week later, I'll tell you.

I guess the first thing I need to get is the ability to get on the internet without having to find wireless and power to do that. I've moved again, after spending nearly a week near my friends Jaydine and Ed, in their neighbors driveway, I'm downtown Grinnell, tucked up close to GameTime, preparing for a winter storm with inches of snow, and the likelihood that I will be snowed in for some time.

I wasn't intending to stay this long in Iowa, but the bridge has definitely intruded on my life, in many ways.

We had a fundraiser last week and now have money in our coffers to use for further fundraising possibilities. That is good. Rude Dog & Friends put on a great show at State Street Station on Saturday night, we had great chili that Larry made, and cornbread, cinnamon rolls, cakes, crackers and cocktail. The raffle was well received, always important to have prizes on hand (I learned that from the Grateful Dead Kid's Room at shows - BINGO FOR PRIZES).

Thursday we get together to go over the bids and really asses where we are at and where we are going. I'm afraid that the snow has limited our chances of getting the road to the bridge grated before the freeze sets in. This is really too bad because the trees were also not removed. Call Mark and see what the land manager says.

On the other hand I'm told that we should be seeing our agreement with Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation and with the County Attorney soon. All are working together to work out the details. Yeah.

December 1, a Tuesday

Time to move the Whinnie to town, get ready for the event on Saturday, Chili Supper and Rude Dog & Friends. Rudy assures me that it is going to be quite an event, all kinds of people who have played with him in the past are coming to town. We should raise a lot of money! yeah and that is the point. Iowa Musicians are really some of the best, it should be a lot of fun. Advertising is out, tell all of our friends.

FUND RAISING. I still have no news from nobody. Perhaps this will be the day. But once I'm in town I will grab the binder, print more stuff from emails of last week and figure out when we are going to meet regarding estimates and stuff.