All boys in Pack 1524 created masterpieces of automotive design for the Pack Race held in mid-February. A big thank you goes to Joe and Kate Brennan for their event coordination at both the local and district levels.

Want to find out more about Cub Scouting for boys grades one through five in our Community? Contact Kathryn Melin at Pack1524lr@gmail.com. New Dens are now forming for Fall 2010.

To participate, please cut out box tops and drop them off in the Little Run school office, even if you don’t have students at the school. Thank you for helping our school and community! If you have questions, please call Maurie Negrin at 703-503-3548.

The annual time commitment is minimal. The Park Authority offers a highly informative training class and an additional outdoor plant identification class in the spring. You are asked to lead volunteers during two or three workdays, along with monitoring the site. The IMA volunteer submits reports on the site’s progress to the Park Authority’s IMA Volunteer Coordinator.

This is a great opportunity for Scout parents or other Rutherford area residents who want to preserve our valuable parkland and also get some useful tips on invasive removal and re-planting in our own backyards.

For additional information, please contact Kathy Frederick at the Fairfax County Park Authority, 703-324-8681, or Katherine.Frederick@fairfaxcounty.gov.

This event is totally free. The day will include morning educational workshops and afternoon hands-on experiences. Topics will include recreation, history, conservation, and community. There will be lectures and introductory lessons throughout the day with hiking, and free access to kayaking, canoeing, fishing, geocacheing, orienteering, and a bonfire in the evening. Some activities in the afternoon will happen at Mason Neck State Park, Lakeridge Marina, Fountainhead Regional Park, and Bull Run Marina. For more information or to volunteer, check out the web site at http://www.owlva.org .

Markets in the Braddock District include the Wakefield and Burke Markets, with others in Fairfax City, Vienna/Oakton and Annandale. Details on the locations, dates and times for Farmers Markets can be found at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farm-mkt.htm.

1. Discussion of the Cell Tower

• Keith went over the cell tower results that had been posted in the Newsletter
• There were questions about what happens with the lease to make sure it is actually dead
  • Keith is unsure what will happen with it; however, the pool board president stated it was dead
  • T mobile & supervisor cook knows that there is not community support
  • Keith stated that he would provide the results if it did come to discussion again
• Keith did state that all schools will likely look into getting cell towers at all of the schools – based upon what the school board has been discussing

2. Treasurer’s Report

• Fred Zamon stated that as of 12/31/09 we have a total $7,212.48 in checking (operating account)
• We have $4,104 in savings (earning interest)
• We generally get about 315 out of the community to provide funds; so far we have about 320;  plenty give more than $10 which makes up for those that do not give at all
• Fred will have a formal budget set up for the Annual Meeting

3. Yahoo Newsgroup

• Keith asked if everyone is aware of the Yahoo newsgroup (and hopefully part of it)
• Keith has posted steps in moving forward now that cell tower is over
  • There is a Code of Conduct for the message board and the website
    • Keith stated that we are trying to look out for the best of the community.  No hard and fast rules, just a code of conduct
  • Now that the message board has matured, there has been a need to make things more formalized.  Handout provided shows the code of conduct
  • There were plenty of inflammatory things that were posted on the cell tower
    • Board has looked at what was posted
    • A lot of things were said and maybe some of them were miscommunications
    • Everyone has been let back into the group
    • Everyone agreed that we need to move forward and look at the positives for next year
  • Fred and Keith have gone back to folks that have posted things to see how folks have interpreted things.
  • They have not received much feedback which suggests that folks think it is ok.
  • The one area the Board is exploring is allowing kids to post ways to make money, even though we state that ways to make money are not allowed.
  • So far people have not tried to find loopholes
  • There is a plan to put these in the bylaws, but the Board wants to see what input we receive to modify them as necessary.  Then we can vote to put a final version in the bylaws.
  • There was a question of what Fred thought of the rules.  Fred explained that he had a hand in generating these and did some of the research as to what should go into a code of conduct like this.  Fred reiterated that we really need some rules like this (including what rules Yahoo even has for message boards like this)
• The Board hopes that the website can help handle a lot of the advertisement.  For example, having different fundraising activities posted on the website (e.g., Girl Scout cookies, Woodson fundraising).

4. New Business

Nominations for New Officers

• An new slate of officers will be nominated at the April 21^st meeting (an official notice of the meeting will come out soon)
• Keith opened the floor officer nominations – Keith explained that there is more to the Board than just the Exec Board
  • Anne Prior agreed to continue doing the newsletter
  • Fred Zamon volunteered to continue as Treasurer
  • Jeannie DeVeaux said she was interested in volunteering for a position
  • Chad Rheingans will be willing to volunteer
  • Shirley Liang will be willing to volunteer & will also help with the web
• Fred stated that generating a list of individuals that are willing to help out (and mean it) would really help
• Mary Ann Beck provided a more detailed description of each of the positions and their duties
• Keith stated he would like for the yahoo group moderator and webmaster to be official board positions.  Keith will make a motion for this to be discussed & voted on for the Annual meeting.  He also discussed the level of effort associated with these positions
  • Fred explained that the goal is to better distinguish between the yahoo group & the website (e.g., allow for more advertising and posting of things for the website)
  • The Board is looking at new ways to utilize the website that allows for advertisement that will also generate funds (the Board is still determining the fees for different advertisements)

2010 Proposed Activities

• Newsletter – Anne Prior has this, but if folks want to volunteer to write articles that would help
• Annual Yard Sale – Jeannine Braun has been doing it for past 6 years and is looking for a volunteer to help her this year and then take it over
  • Rob Calderon volunteered for this position
• Spring Festival – it was agreed that it would be a tight deadline.
  • We typically coordinate with the pool, and have it as a marketing opportunity for the pool as well.
  • Erin Deer is willing to help on this again, but is looking for a committee to take this on
  • Elaine Duffner stated she is willing to help.
  • Erin stated she would at combining committee efforts to look at putting on the Spring and Fall festival.  This would be great if it works, otherwise we will look at putting on a great Fall festival.
• Cindy Kronlage mentioned about the neighborhood next to us that has hay rides around Christmas.  Something interesting to look into.
• National Night Out – Jack, Pete Moss, and Mary have coordinated this in the past.  Do need to coordinate all of the local politicians.  Mary Rizak volunteered to take this on.
• Neighborhood Directory – Patsy Lieninger is helping out putting all information into the directory
  • There was a question about putting in e-mails as well, but it will probably cost more – it was explained that not everyone may want this information posted
  • We need to update the directory with the Hobart Ct. houses
    • There needs to be a motion to put the houses on Hobart Ct into the Rutherford Community (and this will need to be reflected in the bylaws)
  • There was a question about whether the directory is currently posted online.  We would need to get everyone to agree to post this information online
• Junk in – this would be an event in Fall; you can put out things you don’t need and don’t want to sell
  • Jeannine Braun is thinking about doing this in the Fall
• Santa visits – the Board assume that Karen Cogan is continuing to organize this
• Median Strip – Able Zhang is willing to help with this. Someone else has also called and is willing to help

Olley Lane Crosswalk

• There was a brief discussion around the crosswalk on Olley Lane
• There was a question if the signs that say Stop State Law would be a possibility; could we ask the county about putting these in
  • Keith asked for a volunteer to do some research – look at ways to fix this ourselves or pay for a solution – Jennie DeVeaux volunteered to do the research
  • There was a motion to volunteer to do the research (and second). If there is a solution we can bring it up to the board to approve funding
• Keith stated that there is some relationship between the County and School district that if they put more money into the crosswalk, they might take away some of the bussing
• Also, if the school says it is an official crosswalk, then if someone gets injured they are liable
• Mary Anne pointed out that she has asked the County about this crosswalk, but has not been successful
  • It was pointed out that we have not tried this through Supervisor Cooks office yet
  • Mary Anne suggested that Jeannie try Supervisor Cook’s office, since she had only tried this with Sharon Buleva’s office
• It was pointed out that there are flashing School Zone signs now

Discussion on Bridge near Rockcrest

• Keith would like to do some more research on the bridge.  We will add it to the agenda for the April meeting as old business
• Bob Stine is going to check on finding an Eagle Scout candidate that would be interested in taking on the bridge project

The meeting adjourned at 8:32 pm