Committees

The Wissahickon needs your help. The Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) works very hard to preserve and protect the Park, and it has always been and will continue to be an organization that depends on volunteers.

To keep things organized and help cover all the issues that affect the Wissahickon Valley, the FOW’s Board of Directors has established committees and subcommittees for everything from fundraising to tree planting to educational programs. Most of these committees need volunteers. You don’t have to be a Board member to volunteer on any of these committees, although you do need to be an FOW member. A description of each committee and subcommittee appears below.

• Executive Committee
• Advocacy Committee
• Conservation Committee
• Valley Green Inn Oversight Committee
• Outreach Committee
• Development Committee
• Governance Committee
• Easements Committee
• Collections Committee
• Major Program Oversight Committees

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

• Current Chair: Cindy Affleck, FOW President
• Responsible for: Management and administration of the FOW, including handling personnel issues; budget decisions; recommending projects, programs and priorities for adoption by the full Board of Directors; and making decisions either of an emergency nature or those authorized by the Board between bi-monthly meetings.
• Reports to: Board of Directors
• Meetings: second Wednesday of even months.
• Subcommittee: None

Projects, Programs and Policies Group

ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

• Chair: Eugene Caffrey
• Responsible for: Developing policies, including identifying and researching policy issues such as appropriate use of the Wissahickon; recommending FOW policy positions; setting advocacy priorities and producing an advocacy agenda.
• Reports to: Executive Committee
• Meetings: subject to the call of the chair.
• Subcommittees: None

CONSERVATION COMMITTEE

• Chair: Susan Wilmerding
• Responsible for: Project-based conservation of all natural and man-made resources in the Wissahickon and coordinating those projects with Fairmount Park Commission (FPC) staff. Oversight of invasive control measures in the park with FPC staff; responsible for investigating and forming recommendations on conservation issues; partial oversight of conservation intern.
• Reports to: Executive Committee; Works closely with: Advocacy , Communications and Education Committees.
• Meetings: subject to the call of the chair.
• Subcommittees: Deer; Wildlife; Structures and Trails Maintenance; Forestry and Plantings; Water Issues; Trails
• Deer Subcommittee:
  • Co-chairs: Bob Wallis and Toni Seymour
  • Responsible for: Working closely with FPC, Friends of Pennypack Park, and other allies in the city, region, and state to manage and raise funds for activities related to deer population management
  • Meetings: subject to the call of the chairs.
• Wildlife Subcommittee:
  • Co-chairs: Steve Lawrence, Dave Bower, Rich Berman and Debbie Carr.
  • Responsible for: Monitoring wildlife in the Wissahickon (except deer) and developing and implementing wildlife-related education and conservation projects.
  • Meetings: subject to the call of the chairs.
• Structures and Trails Maintenance Subcommittee:
  • Co-Chairs: Ed Stainton and Rich Berman
  • Responsible for: Developing and implementing repair and maintenance projects on structures and trails in the Wissahickon.
  • Meetings: subject to the call of the chairs.
  Forestry and Plantings Subcommittee
  • Chair: Ken LeRroy
  Water Issues Subcommittee
  • Chair: Jeff Clark
• Trails Subcommittee
  • Chair: David Dannenberg

VALLEY GREEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

• Chair: Shirley Gracie
• Responsible for: Monitoring and working with the FPC, Fairmount Park Historic Trust (FPHT), and Valley Green Inn management to protect the Inn building and connected structures. Coordinates FOW's supervision of Valley Green Inn management and the management team's compliance with the terms of the lease and any other agreements between the team, FOW, and FPHT.
• Subcommittee: None
• Reports to: Executive Committee
• Meetings: subject to the call of the chair.

OUTREACH COMMITTEE

• Chair: Claudia Phillips
• Responsible for: Advise editor on topics for the newsletter, annual report, and all other FOW publications, including the website; advise on press releases and other communications with the media; managing the lecture series and speakers bureau, and developing educational and other types of programs and outreach efforts (i.e. event-related outreach). Supporting and building partnering activities with other organizations, particularly the FPC, WEC, and SCEE. Making sure that all outreach work is closely connected to FOW program initiatives and membership targeting goals.
• Reports to: Executive Committee
• Meetings: subject to the call of the chair and newsletter editor, at least quarterly.
• Subcommittees: Maps; Speakers Bureau
• Maps Subcommittee: 
  • Chair: John Fuller
  • Responsible for: Revising, producing and distributing the Wissahickon Trails map and other future maps; Meetings: Subject to the call of the chair.
• Speakers Bureau Subcommittee:
  • Chair: Dena Sher
  • Responsible for: arranging speakers on the Wissahickon and related topics.

Finance and Organizational Development Group

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

• Chair: William Whetzel
  This committee is responsible for all development activities, including oversight ans support of the Society of Generous Friends, planned giving and memorial gift programs, event planning, foundation support and government support. Oversees the development-related work of staff and consultants.
• Subcommittee: Membership
• Reports to: Executive Committee
• Meetings: Subject to the call of the chair, usually once per month.
• Membership Subcommittee:
  • Chair: Daphne Fifield
  • Responsible for: Monitoring membership growth and annual giving appeal, developing materials to attract and keep members and increase their annual giving, overseeing the business membership program. Also manages new member check-in program and coordinates events to attract and keep members.

FINANCE, BUDGET, AND AUDIT COMMITTEE

• Chair: David Pope
  This committee is responsible for preparing the annual budget, package for auditors, and the annual financial statements (with auditors and staff); monitoring the financial health of the organization, reviewing for fiscal soundness all project and program proposals, and vigorously enforcing sound financial management principals.
• Subcommittees: None
• Reports to: Executive Committee
• Meetings: Subject to the call of the chair; at least quarterly..

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

• Co-Chairs: Bob Vance
  This committee is responsible for identifying and screening potential candidates for the Board of Directors and officer positions, developing and recommending human resources and other operational procedures and policies, evaluating and updating the by-laws as needed, and considering ways to evaluate and enhance Board and staff performance.
• Subcommittees: None
• Reports to: Executive Committee
• Meetings: subject to the call of the chair.

LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE

• Co-Chairs: John Fuller and John Rollins
  This committee is responsible for charting future program emphasis, resource development and stewardship goals for the organization and creating a five-year plan that allows the organization to measure success by pre-determined benchmarks.

• Subcommittees: None
• Reports to: Executive Committee
• Meetings: meets quarterly, with planning sessions held for directors and stakeholders throughout the year.

Joint Committees with the Chestnut Hill Historical Society

EASEMENTS COMMITTEE

• Co-Chairs: Shirley Gracie and Margaret Sager
  This committee is responsible for overseeing and coordinating FOW and CHHS work on conservation and preservation easements; overseeing the work of the Easements Planner; and setting easement policy for the two organizations.
• Subcommittees: None
• Reports to: Executive Committees of both organizations.
• Meetings: Subject to the call of the chairs.

COLLECTIONS COMMITTEE

• FOW Members: Ed Stainton and Dena Sher
  This committee is responsible or planning and protecting the archives and collections of the Friends of the Wissahickon and the Chestnut Hill Historical Society.
• Subcommittees: None
• Reports to: Executive Committees of both organizations.
• Meetings: Subject to the call of the chair.

Major Program Oversight Committees

Protect Our Watershed (POW) Oversight

• Chair: John Rollins
  Responsible for: oversight of activities, fundraising and expenditures related to the POW program. POW is a public education initiative aimed at reducing stormwater runoff in the Wissahickon Watershed through public education of landowners about landscaping techniques and the marketing of conservation easements.
• Subcommittees: None
• Reports to: Executive Committee
• Meetings: subject to the call of the chair; minimum of three times per year.
• For more information: Click here.

Sustainable Trails Initiative Oversight

• Chair: David Dannenberg
  Responsible for: oversight of the Sustainable Trails Initiative (STI), a comprehensive plan to restore and rebuild all 57 miles of natural surface trails in the Wissahickon. Working closely with Fairmount Park leadership to phase out implementation and program scope; coordinating with consultants and trail designers; overseeing volunteer training and recruitment for trail work and Trail Ambassador Program; reviewing signage, way-finding, and public outreach opportunities associated with the project; working on safety and access issues in the park.
• Subcommittees: STI Steering Committee (not yet formed); Emergency Services Committee.
• Reports to: Executive Committee
• Meetings: subject to the call of the chair.
• For more information: Click here.

Valley Green Environmental Restoration (VGER) Oversight

• Chair: Larry Moy
  Responsible for: implementing the plan for landscape alterations around Valley Green Inn, resulting in better public access, improved lighting and safety, and greater resilience to the inevitable flood conditions experienced by that area.
• Subcommittees: None
• Reports to: Executive Committee
• Meetings: subject to the call of the chair.
• For more information: Click here.