September 2022: Staff Transition + River Tour
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Announcement: BBF staff transition
This fall, BBF is preparing to say goodbye to Executive Assistant & Communications Coordinator, Michelle Stephenson. Michelle has been an integral part of our team for the past four years, serving as the initial point of contact for grantees and community members contacting the foundation.
Michelle will be relocating to the Chicago area with her husband, Matt, later this year.
Michelle has been working through an extensive transition process to help us prepare to successfully on-board her successor. While Michelle’s successor will generally have the same responsibilities that she has performed, this individual will take on additional duties related to event planning and coordination. BBF has significantly expanded the number of internal and external meetings hosted by the foundation in recent years, and our new “Executive Assistant & Convenings Coordinator” will assist with these functions in the years ahead.
Ball Brothers Foundation is accepting applications through October 10 for this position. In the meantime, Michelle will remain the main point of contact for individuals contacting the foundation.
Our team will greatly miss Michelle, and we are grateful for all that she has done for Ball Brothers Foundation and the Muncie community.
Tales from our White River rafting tour
A few weeks ago, BBF staff teamed up with The Nature Conservancy to host a rafting trip on the White River through the heart of Muncie. We were joined by Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour as well as several other members of Next Muncie, along with friends from Red-tail Land Conservancy, the Bureau of Water Quality, and Muncie Community Schools.
Our team views the White River as one of Muncie’s greatest assets, and we recognize that the White River has nearly unlimited potential for recreation, tourism, and more.
We started with a bus tour of key sites on Muncie’s eastside, including dam modifications at Indiana American Water Company which are allowing for improved fish passage and which allow for safer canoeing/kayaking. We then visited the Kitselman Trailhead where decades of planning have connected two bike trails and have transformed a contaminated brownfield into a dramatic vista overlooking the river. We learned about the revitalization of a bridge that is underway near McCulloch Park which will improve the flow of the White River, and then jumped in the river to raft from Tuhey Park to Westside Park.
Our rafting trip provided an opportunity to talk about 4 new canoe/kayak launches that will be installed within the next year, to see mussels (which are a strong indicator of water quality), to learn about critical infrastructure improvements underway to address combined sewage separation, and to enjoy the sights and sounds of the river.
Thinking of applying for funding?
Our final round of General Grants has closed, but we are still accepting Rapid Grants (funding up to $5,000). Applicants are encouraged to reach out to a Ball Brothers Foundation staff member prior to submission.
Please reach out to Michelle Stephenson if you'd like to talk with a BBF staff member.