Dave Palmer
7475 State Route 12
Oakville, WA 98568

May 17, 2001

Board of Trustees
Chehalis River Council

In 1993 I was part of a group of people who stayed together in order to continue their earlier efforts for the original Chehalis River Council. We were volunteers. My volunteer role changed into 'chairman' and that title has stayed with me.

We believed that people working together could lead implementation of the Chehalis River Basin Action Plan. That belief led to the continuation of the CRC and the establishment of the nonprofit corporation, the resource library, increased community involvement and education, an expanded Drops of Water, and the web site.

During the early days I learned the importance of easily accessible watershed wide information, the need to attract and retain members, the value of monthly seminars, and the need for monthly newsletters.

Today it is a fact that under my leadership the CRC has difficulty continuing to attract and raise funds, maintain a public resource library, maintain board commitment and enthusiasm, find and keep members as well as maintain a viable public relationship. As other groups have come and gone the CRC has had difficulty maintaining members and focus.

Being Chairman of the CRC is not an ego trip for me. I find I am tired of fighting the support and funding issues and unable to provide the dynamic leadership required to sustain the vision of the Chehalis River Council or meet the needs described earlier.

After due consideration I submit my immediate resignation effective at the end of this May 21 Board of Trustees meeting. The new chairperson (as called for by the by-laws ) will be Margaret Rader.

The CRC has been a major part of my life during these recent years. I am indebted to the Board of Trustees and general membership. You supported me as your chairman especially when I needed to recover from flooding, and deal with a family cancer diagnosis, treatment and death.

Allowing me to be involved in our watershed and communities was a great honor and provided me a forum and stature that escapes many. I am honored by, and indebted to, the general membership and the Board of Trustees for all the trust given me to represent them over all of these years.

The Board of Trustees has a unique watershed organization to manage. I am positive the CRC will resume the watershed leadership position it so richly deserves. Our water is truly a precious resource.

Respectfully,

Recommended Board Actions

I recommend that the Board of Trustees immediately restrict me from having unescorted access to the office or conducting any business on the behalf of the Chehalis River Council corporation. This action includes the approval or submission of grants, bank deposits or withdrawals and any implied authority to sign documents or in any way represent the Chehalis River Council verbally, in hardcopy or via the internet.

Approved operating procedures and methods for CRC financial and membership reporting exist. The Board of Trustees has two choices when it comes to business reporting: Appoint an individual to receive training and continue to use the approved reporting procedures or officially reject the prior operating procedures and define new ones and new responsibilities.

If the Board of Trustees wishes I will work (only as a volunteer) to prepare the reports for the June Board of Trustees meeting, and the Fiscal Year 2000 IRS filing and the Fiscal Year 2000 summaries which match all previous accounting reports. These reports will be prepared for the consideration and approval of the board. If so a board member must be identified to work with me to make payments and deposits as needed until June 30 and then be available to retrieve mail and bank statements in July.

All normal daily internet, membership and financial reporting tasks for FY 2001 (July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2002) will revert to the Board of Trustees on July 1, 2001.

The Corporations Division Wa. Secretary of State office, Sterling Bank, Post Office, FOGH, BRM Family Trust, Qwest, OlyWaNet, Grays Harbor Public Utility District each need to be notified of the change in management.