MRGA Invited to Discovery Center Event April 22, 5:30-7:00PM

Brad Dimock, Colorado River guide, river dory historian, dory builder, teacher, and
owner-operator of Fretwater Boatworks in Flagstaff, AZ, will be a featured
presenter at the McKenzie River Discovery Center’s Hatchery building on Saturday
evening, April 22 from 5:30 to 7:00, including a reception from 5:00 to 5:30. His
talk will tie into the evening’s theme, Spawning Grounds: It Started with this River
and will be a show-and-tell of the links between the McKenzie, Rogue and
Colorado dories, some of the histories therein, and generally enamor the
audience with tales of connections, exploits and good humor.

In addition to Dimock, Spawning Grounds will feature a donation by Bob Hirt of
the last known drift boat built by Woodie Hindman. Steve Mealey, one of the
earliest proponents of the Discovery Center, will accept the gift on behalf of
Discovery, and he will set the stage for Spawning Grounds; Dr. Gordon Grant,
research geologist and hydrologist for the USFS and courtesy OSU professor, will
speak to the landscape- hydrology and suitability of the drift boat to this
environment. The program will be capped with a progress report of Discovery by
Executive Director Shirley Braunstein and Board President, Gene Jones. According
to Roger Fletcher, evening program coordinator, seating is limited.

RSVPs are therefore requested by texting 503.559.0204.

“This program is the capstone event for the week of the boats,” according to
Fletcher. He reports that the “week includes the favored drift boat building
workshop April 17 – 21, taught by Jayson Hayes of Hayes Custom Boats, followed
on Saturday by the ever-popular Wooden Boat Festival from 10-4:00 at Eagle
Rock Lodge.” Fletcher notes that the boat building class is full, and that Randy
Dersham of the Oregon Boat Project is coordinating the boat festival.