Staff
Boots on the Ground
Kathryn Arnold
Education Orin and Charlette Gelderloos Environmental Leadership Intern
KArnold@therouge.org
Bio
Rosina Newton
(She/Her)
Education Restoration Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator
(734) 927-4912
RNewton@therouge.org
Bio
Board of Directors
Current Officers
President
Jessica Eiland Anders, Ballmer Group
Vice President
Samra’a W. Luqman, Concerned Residents of South Dearborn
Secretary
Gerry VanAcker, Detroit Zoological Society
Treasurer
Carol Snodgrass, CPA
Member-At-Large
Mike McNulty, ITC Holdings
Current Directors
Alice Bailey, Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc.
Paul Draus, Ph.D., University of Michigan-Dearborn
Erma Leaphart, Sierra Club
Madelin Maher, Bank of America
Dave Norwood, Canton Township
Brandy Siedlaczek, City of Southfield
Jeremiah Steen, National Audubon Society
Myra M. Tetteh, Ph.D., Wayne County Department of Health, Human & Veterans Services
Susan Thompson, Wayne County Department of Public Service
Committees
Advocacy Committee
Chaired by an internally appointed individual FOTR board member, this committee provides oversight and direction for the advocacy priorities of Friend of the Rouge. Typical task areas include setting decision making criteria, researching and recommending/drafting advocacy responses. This committee meets as needed.
Board Development Committee
Chaired by the Member-at-large, this committee meets periodically and actively engages in board member candidate identification and recruitment efforts.
Executive Committee
Chaired by the President, this committee consists of the Board Officers. They meet as necessary for the review, research, and preparation of complex or sensitive issues to be brought before the board.
Finance Committee
Chaired by the Treasurer, the finance committee provides financial oversight for the organization. Typical task areas include budgeting and financial planning, financial reporting, and the creation and monitoring of internal controls and accountability policies. This committee meets at least quarterly.
Fund Development
Chaired by the Vice-President, this committee investigates and implements fundraising strategies to support the goals of the organization. This committee oversees fundraising events and takes a takes a leadership role in advancing the organization’s fundraising strategies. This committee meets bi-monthly.
Fundraiser Sub-committee
This event-specific subcommittee meets periodically and/or in conjunction with fund development meetings to plan and coordinate annual fundraising event(s). This committee meets as needed.
Lower Rouge River Water Trail Leadership Committee
Chaired by Water Trail Program Manager, the committee serves to oversee the execution of the Rouge River Water Trail Strategic Plan and Safety Plan. This committee meets at least bi-monthly.
Membership Committee
Chaired by the Secretary, this committee develops programs for attracting new members and maintaining current membership. This committee meets at least quarterly.
Monitoring Committee
Chaired by the Monitoring Program Manager, the committee serves to provide feedback and guidance for the various monitoring activities. This committee meets three to four times per year.
Education Committee
Educational programming is guided and supported by a committee that meets six times throughout the school year to discuss the status of projects, suggest improvements, and consider new initiatives.