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Rice Creek Associates

History, Mission, and Goals
Rice Creek Associates (RCA) is a support group that was formed in 1986 for the purpose of furthering the goals of Rice Creek Field Station. It is the intent of RCA to expand the scientific, educational, and recreational opportunities at the station through community involvement. Over the years RCA has continued to increase its membership making it possible to fund improvement projects which benefit the station and the community at large.

 Membership:
Membership in Rice Creek Associates is granted to all who make monetary donations to the Field Station. Memberships are renewed annually (except for life memberships). The current membership levels are:

Student
 --
$ 5.00
Individual
 --
$10.00
Couple/Family
 --
$15.00
Contributing
 --
$25.00
Sustaining
 --
$50.00
Lifetime
 --
$250.00
Corporate
 --
$500.00


Membership donations and other unspecified contributions go into the Rice Creek Associates account without restrictions as to the time and purpose of their use. These funds support the normal operation of the association providing for duplication and mailing of the newsletter, mailing of membership correspondence, purchase of stationary and other incidentals. They form the basis for the initiation of new programs such as the small grants in support of research at Rice Creek. They help defray the cost of special projects such as refurbishing and updating displays at the Field Station. With support from this source, Field Station personnel may travel to other field stations or RCA may bring specialists to Rice Creek for consultation on matters of program, funding, and development. When necessary, RCA funds may be used to supplement the funds supplied by the College for purchase of supplies and equipment. Use of these funds is at the discretion of the Field Station Director subject to approval by the RCA Board of Directors.

Contributions designated for support of special purposes and projects are also welcome, as are contributions to the Rice Creek Endowment. The recently established endowment fund will be allowed to accumulate until income from the fund is sufficient to support the addition of new staff to the Field Station.

The general membership meets annually at the fall banquet, an occasion for reports of activities at the Field Station over the previous year.  Meetings of the Board of Directors are open to the membership.

Board of Directors
 
The operational policies of Rice Creek Associates are managed by its Board of Directors. Directors are elected from the general membership and serve three-year terms. Members of the current Board are:
  • Linda Costell, Secretary
  • Kathryn (Holly) Eden
  • Lucina Hernandez, (Ex Officio)
  • Michael Holy, President
  • Patricia O'Neil
  • Peter Rosenbaum, Vice President
  • Patricia Springer
  • Amy Tressider

Board meetings are scheduled for 4:00PM on every third Tuesday of the month (excluding August).  Members are welcome to attend.  Members planning to attend can call the field station at (315) 312-6677 the week of a meeting to confirm scheduling.

RCA Projects

Ruth Sachidanandan Herb Garden at Rice Creek Field Station was the inspiration of RCA member Ruth Sachidanandan, who chaired the original herb garden committee. Other members of the original group included Norman Gillette, Muriel Harrison, and Joyce Rice. The garden was planned by the RCA committee and construction was begun in 1987 by members of the Oswego County Conservation Corps. After Ruth Sachidanandan's untimely passing in 1990, Rice Creek Associates decided to honor her by naming the garden the Ruth Sachidanandan Herb Garden.  A guide to the herb garden was published as Rice Creek Field Station Special Publication No. 6, edited by Ruth Sachidanandan, in 1990.  The current edition, revised by Andrew Nelson, was issued in June 2007.

Rice Creek Associates Newsletter  is distributed to the membership twice a year. It contains news of events at Rice Creek and articles of interest to the membership. Contributors include Field Station staff, RCA members, and others as appropriate. Your input is welcome, and can be addressed to Mike Holy.

Grants in Support of Research at Rice Creek Field Station  were established in 1996, Rice Creek Associates, awarding several small grants each year.  For details about this program, see the lastest Call for Proposals.   Submission deadline is scheduled for February 15, 2013.   Awards will be announced on or about March 15, 2013. 

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