About
Volunteers Working Together
The Friends of the East Branch DuPage River Trail is an illinois not-for-profit organization.
Supporters of the East Branch DuPage River Trail (EBDRT) are community members advocating for the construction and funding of the EBDRT.
The advocacy work goes back to 2014 when one person wondered when the EBDRT would be finished, considering it had been "on the books" since the early 2000s as part of the Village of Glen Ellyn's Comprehensive Plan.
In October 2017, the Active Transportation Alliance helped connect people who wanted to work together on the project. The ATA also granted the group $250 of seed money to fund some advocacy activities and help build this website.
In 2018, a steering committee was organized by the DuPage County Department of Transportation consisting of staff from the organizations with jurisdiction in the areas where the planned trail is to be constructed and state agencies such as IDOT, and planning next steps. In December 2021, the County published notes from those steering committee meetings on its website, EBDRT.com.
Leaders : Friends of the East Branch DuPage River Trail
A few key volunteers agreed to serve as officers of the non-profit organization. These are:
Libby A'Hearne - Vice President
Steve Johnson - Vice President
Ginger Wheeler - President
Want to Join the Leaders Committee? Email or Text: 630-835-6959
Advisory Board
In January 2022 an all-volunteer advisory board was formed with plans to meet quarterly. Those willing to serve two-year terms include:
Karin Daly
Nicole DeJoris
Tim Elliott
Beth Gorz
Brian Kalbfleisch
Belinda Mahon
Ken Marz
Steve Miller
Kevin Wesling
We want to thank our past members of the Advisory Board for their dedicated service.
Sal Falbo*
Tim Whelan
Barry White*
*In memoriam
Volunteer Opportunities
As you can imagine, bringing awareness to people in a county with a population of 1 million residents without any budget is a challenge. If you'd like to help, here are things you can do:
Share on your social media: Tell your followers to visit EastBranchTrail.org
Download the flyer and a blank petition and canvas your neighbors
Offer to help with data input
Offer to start and manage a social media channel such as Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat or Pinterest on behalf of EBDRT advocacy (We already have a Facebook Group. If you're on Facebook, please join the group!)
Offer to contact and work with editors/writers of publications that might be interested in covering the story of the EBDRT.
Have other ideas? Let us know!