Friends of the Weiser River Trail Annual Meeting
On Saturday, May 11, the Friends of the Weiser River Trail, Inc. (FWRT) held their annual director elections and business meeting for their members. The meeting was held in the Midvale Veteran’s Hall and was open to the public.
FWRT is a non-profit organization founded in 1997 to preserve and protect the rail corridor from Weiser to New Meadows in the event that rail service returns to the area.
The mission of FWRT is to maintain and enhance the Weiser River Trail for the use and enjoyment of all non-motorized recreationists. All of the FWRT board of directors are volunteers who serve on the board without compensation. The organization has just one paid employee who manages the weeds, clears obstructions, and maintains the surface of the trail.
President Barb McGann opened the meeting with introductions of the current and past directors of the board. She then presented the organization’s Annual Report for 2023. The FWRT operating income comes primarily from membership, donations and grants, plus fundraising through Boise Open ticket sales, Idaho Gives, Fred Meyer and Ridley’s points programs and sales of Memorial Benches. The team also hosts several events throughout the year for people to come out and experience the unique 86 mile long trail that runs through the Upper Country communities.
The WRT incurs a great deal of expenses to maintain the trail, including repair of its over 30 trestles, trail surface structure, weed control, restroom cleaning, restoration after vandalism, and Wye Campground management expenditures, to name just a few. In 2023, expenses did exceed income. Administration fees were a very small fraction of the total expenditures.
Discussions ensued with praise for the hardworking volunteers who assist the board directors. New persons are needed to replace outgoing directors, especially in points north, such as Cambridge and Council. One new board director was elected, Leonard Messersmith, while Pam Haynes and Pam Lakey were reelected to their current seats.
Other discussions included the ongoing vandalism at the Presley Trailhead that has been plaguing the organization. The outlook for FWRT’s future was considered and the need for younger directors to carry “the torch” of the WRT mission forward.
Two upcoming events that will be hosted by FWRT on the trail are:
Wagon Train Event, May 24-27. Four days, 60 miles. More information about this authentic event may be found at weiserrivertrail.org/wagontrain.
The June 8th Bicycle Fun Ride is a fully supported, family oriented bicycle event on the trail. Distances are a 28 mile ride, and a 48 mile ride. More information and registration may be found at www.bikereg.com/june-bike-ride.
