My fellow Float Fishermen,

    Labor Day on the New River is up next. FFV, spearheaded by the Roanoke Chapter, is working with local government and a multitude of other conservation, paddling and river organizations to secure a piece of river property near Ripplemeade, Va. A local land owner Mr. France Whitt is interested in passing this prime piece of river bottom to posterity.

    The site would be developed as a public access park managed by the town of Pearisburg, Va., and a management committee with representation from environmental and paddling groups, among others. Initial plans call for a boat launch and primitive camping sites. FFV camped and floated there last Labor Day until Hurricane Floyd surfed FFV. Making the potential "Whitt-Riverbend Park" become a reality would be truly significant for all paddlers for generations to come. It is important that FFV continues to support this effort. Please come see it!

    When I was asked to take the Presidents Paddle Labor Day of 1998, my first response was, "Well, er, uh, I guess so." I was both scared and flattered. I was not sure 

what I had gotten myself into. Later I began to reflect. Barb and I have been FFV members for about 17 years. I thought about the relationships we have developed. I thought about the nights around the camp fires. I thought about all the fun we have had on the rivers with this group. I thought about how much this club has given to Barb and me. I began to realize that FFV had been an important part of our lives. I wanted to give something back to FFV. Doing the work of the club, is the best way to give something back.

   The last two years have been exciting and a lot of work. The support and efforts of a lot of FFVers made it happen. This Labor Day, the Presidents Paddle will pass to Larry Born of the Steve Keller Chapter. From my communication with Larry, he will enter his term with the same reservations that I had. Your support for Larry is important to the life of FFV.

   I have enjoyed the honor of being your president.

      See ya on the river,

   Your Prez
   ROC (R. O. Cooper)

    FFV returns to the New River for the Labor Day float, same place as last year. Camping will be available starting Thursday afternoon on August 31 through Monday September 4.

    The Roanoke Chapter will secure port-0-pots and camp site. The Scotts Creek Chapter will cook. State business meeting at 9:00 a.m. sharp on Sunday morning.

DIRECTIONS: Take I-81 south past Roanoke to Christiansburg and take exit 118 onto US 460 west. Stay on 460 west past Blacksburg through Pembroke. A few miles past Pembroke you will cross the New River for the first time on a double set of bridges. At the top of the hill take the Ripple-mead exit and go right on Rt. 636. Stay on Rt. 636 it will turn to gravel and you go across the RR tracks and under the bridges you just drove over.

Stay straight, can't miss it,

ROC