May Ellis Park Timeline

Last Updated: 9 March 2009

24 July 1988:

Death of May Ellis, Age 94

8 Sept 1989:

Park Property deeded to Jackson County for

"public open space, wildlife preserve and recreational purposes"

6 July 2003:

Wimer Covered Bridge falls down.

November 2006:

Covered Bridge group convenes a meeting to discuss May Ellis Park.

2006-2008:

Legal conflict between Dan Hagan of Missouri and Jackson County.

26 March 2008:

May Ellis Park Trust created – Less than a year ago.

May 2008:

Wimer Covered Bridge completed & reopened

16 September 2008:

First email from Dan Hagan of Missouri.

"Nevertheless, we want you to design the park you want, keeping in mind the “nature aspect of the park” as envisioned by May Ellis. After you have completed your park plan, please forward a copy to me, so I can share with the Family."

18 September 2008:

May Ellis' daughter Jackie Totten of Gold Hill invited to join the new organization to develop and maintain the park.

24 September 2008:

Dan Roberts and Linda Hugle meet to discuss formation of community organization to develop the park. DR expresses he is unable to commit time to this project.

5 October 2008

: Email sent to chairperson of Covered Bridge organization to forward to Covered Bridge group inviting them all to the first meeting.

6 October 2008:

First meeting: discussion of process to create an organization; need to recruit additional members; boardsmanship; future tasks. Minutes posted on website on 23rd October 2008

8 October 2009:

Flyers for meeting on 20th October approved & distributes.

13 October 2008:

Second email sent to all members of Covered Bridge group summarizing first meeting, inviting to second meeting and offering agenda.

14 October 2008

Website (www.mayellispark.org) created for May Ellis Park organization. RRPress reporter notified of upcoming meeting & the newly created website for the park (containing flyer on next meeting).

20 October 2008:

Second meeting: discussion of process; boardsmanship; recruitment of new board members; 6 of 7 present agreed to become board members; officer nominations; began drafting bylaws; commitments made including contacting Rogue River Press and John Vail of Jackson County Parks. Minutes posted on website.

23 October 2008:

www.mayellispark.org website officially launched

October 2008:

Chairperson contacts John Vial to set up meeting with Jackson County Parks Director.

October 2008:

Chairperson invites Rogue River Press to walk-through on 02 November

Late October/Early November:

Chairperson speaks with vice-president of Garden Club (who became president in January 2009), Jeanette Thorn, who promises to attend next meeting with other members. Community Partners assumes the president of the Garden Club will inform other interested Garden Club members.

2 November 2008:

Walk-through of May Ellis Park to explore land and generate ideas.

10 November 2008:

Third meeting: John Vial and manager of Jackson County Parks attended to discuss process and resources available through county. Election of officers, draft bylaws review, roles of parties, agreement with county. Minutes on website.

1 December 2008:

Gentleman from Missouri expresses support for brainstormed ideas of Community Partners: "I believe most of the things you mentioned are doable, and would encourage use of the park...If you could email to me, tomorrow or Wednesday, using a copy of the small Plat I sent you, I assume on Tract C, the location and approximate size of the proposed playground, small pond and interpretive area (watershed area) I will transfer to my drawing. I thought in addition to the primary shelter overlooking the bridge on Tract B (in the area where May's trailer was located), we could also construct a small shelter (just large enough to cover a picnic table) on Tract C by the playground and open recreational area; that parents and others could use, while the children use the playground, etc. Our interests are aligned, we have the same objective."
Chairperson’s response: "Of course, until we get a more broad-based input, I hate to propose anything specific."

8 December 2008:

December meeting postponed/cancelled due to board members having other commitments.

7 January 2009:

January meeting postponed from 12th to 19th due to board members having other commitments. Articles of Incorporation distributed & posted on website.

18 January 2009:

Gentleman from Missouri (who has had copies of bylaws for 2 months) now demands Community Partners must completely restructure as a member based organization.
Chairperson explains again that

“...of course the organization must determine its own bylaws and structure. The family trust and the Community Partners must be distinct organizations and it would not be appropriate for either to mandate the structure of the other."

19 January 2009:

Fourth Meeting: Four members of the Garden Club and two members of the Ellis family in attendance. All guests invited to consider joining the Community Partners board. Revised (again) ByLaws accepted, Articles of Incorporation accepted; rough draft of ideas presentation presented - Ideas Presentation to be made & presented at next meeting to assist and encourage community input.
One hour prior to meeting, gentleman from Missouri sends hostile and demanding email to full board.

20 January 2009:

Chairperson explains to gentleman from Missouri

“...the only legitimate bylaws or Articles are those approved or amended by the board in a regularly convened meeting.”

Chair insists two organizations must have a functional productive relationship and explains that family member on Community Partners board must be empowered as an equal member and must participate in meetings rather than merely reporting back to the gentleman in Missouri.

20 January 2009:

Gentleman from Missouri tells chairperson “We think you are doing a good job heading up the park organization.”

Gentleman from Missouri blatantly offers to increase the trust endowment to $70,000 in exchange for control over the community organization.

Gentleman writes, “As *** explained, the site sketch to me, it sounds like we are in agreement. I like how you are trying to establish something on each Tract to identify all 6 acres as constituting the park.”

20 January 2009:

Chairperson speaks with other representatives of the Ellis Family and is informed the family is not united and that most have withdrawn from the park effort rather than deal with the two who are claiming to represent the family.

21 January 2009:

Gentleman from Missouri demands that the Community Partners abandon its bylaws and allow him to rewrite all founding documents of the organization. Chairperson explains once again that he cannot control the Community Partners and refers him to Oregon’s Department of Justice (http://www.doj.state.or.us/charigroup/howtolaw.shtml).

In Oregon, non-profits

MUST

be run by a Board of Directors.

Chair conveys her hope that our mutual interest in developing May Ellis Park would transcend these squabbles.

21 January 2009:

Local attorney for gentleman from Missouri apologizes for the gentleman’s behavior and continues trying to explain to him how non-profits work in Oregon. The issue is whether they are written/revised/amended in a legal meeting of the directors or whether the Missouri relative rewrites them himself. Gentleman from Missouri does not understand that his Trust cannot mandate the actions of our organization and how to set up a collaboration rather than a parent-child relationship.

23 January 2009:

Local attorney for gentleman from Missouri agrees that mediation would be beneficial as suggested by Community Partners chairperson. Community Partners agrees; gentleman from Missouri declines.

28 January 2009:

During an Evans Valley Garden Club a rival organization is established that undermines Community Partners. Apparently all founding documents quickly adopted exactly as provided by gentleman from Missouri. Group calls itself “May Ellis Park Association”. Gentleman from Missouri also acquires domain name for their website. (Controls MEPA & their website - website still no active nearly 1 month later!)

29 January 2009:

Garden Club members begin contacting many in community and making unfounded accusations against the Community Partners and its board members. Rival group MEPA decides to hold a meeting the same date and time as the already established Community Partners meeting across the street.

1 February 2009:

Jackie Totten resigned from board of Community Partners.

4 February 2009:

Chairperson telephones president of Garden Club regarding rumors being spread around community. Requests that negativity and misinformation stop and that any questions about the Community Partners be directed to the source.

5 February 2009:

Agenda for upcoming meeting posted on website. Notice of meeting in Rogue River Press and on Fire Department reader board.

7 February 2009:

Two board members meet with second reporter from RRPress at park property - Information and facts presented to this reporter never published by RRPress.

9 February 2009:

Fifth Meeting: Purpose of the meeting was to share possibilities for the new May Ellis Park in Wimer, solicit community input into Park planning and recruit new board members. Community Partners distributed an information sheet focusing on the exciting possibility of having a viable, community-designed county park in Wimer. Rival group MEPA distributes a flyer also but not about the park, rather targeted at undermining the Community Partners. When asked to generate ideas for the Park, MEPA representatives insisted on “nothing; leave it alone”. Meeting unfortunately disrupted by hecklers and the goals of the meeting were not met.

27 February 2009:

MEPA website launched.

4 March 2009:

1st public meeting scheduled for rival group MEPA – ByLaws & AOI already approved & never discussed.

8 March 2009:

Community Partners for May Ellis Memorial Park officially dissolve their organization in a letter to John V. & Mike K.