Friends of the Fox River has announced the new board members and 2005 Officers.

 Dr. David Horn has been elected to his third term as FOFR’s President. A board member since 2001 Dr. Horn is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Aurora University. David received his B.A. in Biology from Hiram College, a M.S. in Biological Science from the University of Mississippi, and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Iowa State University.  He teaches a wide variety of courses including environmental science, ecology, and conservation biology.  His research interests include how habitat loss and fragmentation have impacted wetland and grassland bird species, and the population ecology of urban birds.
 
Chuck Roberts, FOFR’s Vice President, is a citizen scientist in the Illinois RiverWatch network. He is a member of the Yorkville School District #115 Technology Committee and the Conservation Chairman of Trout Unlimited Oak Brook Chapter since 1999.  In 1997 he was 3rd place winner in the "Illinois Sportsman of the Year" competition.  Roberts is an avid canoeist, kayaker, and flyfisher along with being a system analyst at Nicor Gas for 15 years.

Kyla Jacobsen has been elected as FOFR’s Treasurer. She has been on the Friends of the Fox board since 1997 and is Chief Chemist for the City of Elgin Water Department, which uses the Fox River as its drinking water source.  She graduated Southern Illinois University with a BS in Chemistry, Northern Illinois University with an MS in Biochemistry and Illinois Institute of Technology with a MS in Environmental Engineering.  In addition, Kyla is a board member for the Illinois Section of the American Water Works Association and holds office on the Executive Committee as part of her monitoring Fox River water quality for 16 years.

FOFR’S new Membership Secretary is Gary Swick. Swick teaches environmental science and coordinates a state and national award-winning recycling program at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville, IL.  He was the 1997 Kane-DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District's Teacher of the Year, 1998 Kane County Teacher of the Year, 1999 recipient of the Illinois State Board of Education's highest honor, Those Who Excel Award. Swick received a Christa McAuliffe Fellowship to manage the Fox River Monitoring Network, and received the Milken National Educator Award in 1999. He is a Citizen Scientist with the Illinois River Watch Network. Gary has been on the Friends of the Fox board since 1991 and serves as River Monitoring Coordinator.

 New FOFR board members are Pam Otto, Tom Schrader and Jennifer Howard. Pam Otto works as a naturalist at the Fox Valley Park District's Red Oak Nature Center in North Aurora. She frequently can be found along the Fox River's scenic banks, encouraging groups of school kids and scouts to embrace the Fox and the life it sustains. She also can be seen in the river itself, communing with its benthic biodiversity as well as conducting training sessions for FOFR's Fox River Watershed Monitoring Network. Her education includes a B.S. in Foods in Business from the University of Illinois, an M.S. in Education from Northern Illinois University and a lifetime of learning in the great school of the outdoors. Tom Schrader is a Research & Planning Analyst for the College of DuPage.  He earned his B.A. in Accounting and Political Science from Aurora College and an M.S. Ed. in Educational Psychology from Northern Illinois University.  An avid river fisherman and outdoor enthusiast, Tom has also served the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as an Instructor in the Urban Fishing Program and has also worked with IDNR biologists from the Region II Streams Office on various basin surveys assisting in both fish collection and lab work.  Tom joined the Friends of the Fox River board in December 2004 and resides in Aurora. Jennifer Howard has been a FOFR member since 2002 and is the Media Relations Coordinator. She is a Producer/Director for Northern Illinois University’s Media Services Department and has been in video production for almost 20 years. A life long resident of Aurora, she gained her love of nature from her father and The Fox. Jennifer is also a monitor on Blackberry Creek and enjoys fishing, biking, and hiking.

The rest of the FOFR board is comprised of Rita Hickman, Pat Kirmse and Rob Linke.  Rita Hickman is the Manager of Natural Resources and Interpretive Services for the Crystal Lake Park District. The park district is landowner to a number of wetlands in the Fox River Watershed including Sterne's Fen. Rita's position includes managing these wetlands and other natural areas and running the Crystal Lake Park District Nature center.  She has degrees in elementary education, recreation administration and a background in environmental education.

 Pat Kirmse is a biologist earning his degree from NIU in 1982. He has most recently worked as an Environmental Scientist for the Environmental Planning Team in Lake Forest. There he conducted wetland mitigations, bird plant and tree surveys.  Pat is a member of The Citizens Action Team against the Bolz Rd. bridge. He is presently studying the age and size distribution of the smallmouth bass in the Carpentersville pool of the Fox River. Pat is now working for his two daughters as an at home dad.

 Rob Linke, P.E. is a civil engineer and president of Watershed Resource Consultants, Inc. in St. Charles.  WRC is a small consulting firm specializing in environmental planning and engineering for riparian corridors in the Midwest.  Rob is an active member in the Water Quality Committee of  the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership.   Rob’s passion for fishing and paddling encourage both his personal and professional interests in watershed management and river restoration as means of improving the qualities of these recreational experiences.

 Friends of the Fox River is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a watershed of caretakers in the Fox River Valley. FOFR members are concerned citizens taking action to protect and maintain the quality of the Fox River and it’s tributaries. For more information on Friends of the Fox River call 815.356.6605 or visit www.friendsofthefoxriver.org.

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