FODC Governing Structure

The Friends of the Delaware Canal operate within the structure of a legal 501c(3) non-profit organization. We are governed by an appointed board of directors, who are guided by an appointed advisory board that elects an executive director responsible for the everyday operation of the group.

Board of Directors
The Board is responsible for making all structural and administrative decisions for the organization, as well as setting the activity agenda and making sure operations are governed according to the official bylaws of our 501 c3 non-profit status.

Tom Williams, President
Tom, a resident of historic Uhlerstown, wrote in his letter of application that “the Canal is a big part of my life, and I am not a novice to all of its needs.” Tom has been involved with the Canal for years, and few members have come to the Board with as much related experience. Tom and his wife, Shirley, live along the Canal on the property that was owned by the founder of the village, Michael Uhler. For fifteen years, they have been restoring their distinctive Victorian home and the old Uhlerstown Post Office and General Store.

For many years, Tom has been the Canal Clean-up Day coordinator for the Uhlerstown section. He is also the current vice chair of the Delaware Canal State Park Advisory Committee. Active in his community, Tom is a trustee for Stover’s Mill in Tinicum Township, and is a familiar face at the annual Tinicum Arts Festival. He joined the board in July 2006 and currently serves as Vice President.

Marianne Flueher, Vice-President
Marianne’s love and concern for the canal stem from a half-century of canal-side vacations. Marianne and her husband currently reside in Wyndmoor, Montgomery County. In 2000, they bought the family home in Smithtown, intent on creating more memorable times. Marianne works in the real estate and mortgage industries, and is an active volunteer for a variety of organizations. She has helped out on Canal Clean-Up Days and is a valuable member of the Friends of the Delaware Canal Board.

Peter Sperry, Treasurer
Peter Sperry is retired Senior Research Fellow with the Rohm and Haas Company. A member of the Doylestown Township Telecommunications Advisory Board, Pete previously held a number of District and Council level positions with the Bucks County Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is also a volunteer for the US Geological Survey National Map Corps. A past President, Pete currently serves as the Friends’ Treasurer and is the point person for our Milestone installation project. Pete and wife Barbara have resided in Doylestown Township since 1968.

Kim Madarasz, Secretary
Kim is abundantly familiar with the Delaware Canal as a resident of New Hope and a business owner in Lambertville, New Jersey. Prior to owning her own business, Kim spent a number of years in the fields of Human Resources and Organizational Development. Many may know her as a “Friends” volunteer and a coordinator for the Canal Clean-up projects in 2005 and 2006. Kim joined the board in March, 2007 and currently serves as Secretary.

David Child
David Child is a retired professional engineer. He and his wife, Vicky, own two franchised businesses and a global fine art shipping service. They live on the canal in Solebury Township.

Willis Rivinus
Photo to come. Willis M. Rivinus is an author and publisher of books about Bucks County. To date, he has produced Guide to the Delaware Canal, William Penn and the Lenape Indians, Old Stonework in Bucks County, for histories of Delaware River villages, and the Complete Guide to the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. In addition to serving on the FODC Board of Directors, Will regularly leads tours of the Canal, and received the 2006 Achievement Award from the Solebury Township Historical Society. He maintains his office in a restored historic barn in Solebury Township.

George Schweickhardt
Jurgen (George) Schweickhardt owned and operated the New Hope Mule Barge Company from 1977 to 1997. A founding member of the Friends of the Delaware Canal, he has been a board member ever since. He was a member of the committee that worked to have the Delaware Canal declared a National Historic Landmark.George helped the State Park repair and maintain the Delaware Canal from New Hope (Lock 11) north to Virginia Forrest State Park. For about 18 years, he pumped water at his own expenses into the canal to maintain its water level. George proposed and first sponsored the annual barge parties benefiting the Friends of the Delaware Canal.

Vernon Wiegand
Photo to come. Vernon Wiegand has been a member of the Friends since 1982, and is serving his second term as a member of the Board of Directors. Vernon has also chaired the former Services Committee and organized the Canal Clean-up Day each spring. He has also chaired the Organization and Development Committee, and served as Treasurer. Vernon has served on the faculties of the Buck County Commun ity College in Newtown, Mercer County Community college in Trenton, New Jersey, The American College of Switzerland in Leysin, Switzerland, and the University of Kentucky’s Prestonsburg Community College. He taught courses in accounting, business administration and economics. He is also a member of the Pennsbury Society, the Friends of Lake Afton in Yardley, the Bucks County Audubon Society, the Canal Society of New Jersey, the Pennsylvania Canal Society, the Newtown Camera Club, and the National Association of Purchasing Management. Vernon holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Kentucky, and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Cincinnati. He holds Lifetime Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) and Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (APP) designations from the National Association of Purchasing Managers.

Marc Zaharchuk
Marc M. Zaharchuk lives in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. A Licensed Professional Engineer in the aerospace industry, Marc has been active with the Friends since the last century, as a Board member and Friend (member). He is pleased to own Murial, a hand-decorated piece of sculpture in the shape of a mule from the Miles of Mules fundraising project. Marc has been an officer in the Crossing Legacy Foundation, the Washington Crossing Preservation Foundation, and the Philadelphia Area Repeater Association (amateur radio). He is active with the Franklin Institute, the Philadelphia Flower Show, the Azalea Garden at the Art Museum. Marc also sits on the Bucks County and Upper Makefield Cable advisory boards.

Executive Director: Susan Taylor

Advisory Board

James Amon	James Greenwood
Randy Apgar	Judge David Heckler
Allen Black, Esq.	Betty Orlemann (founder)
William Farkas	Jim Revie
William Getchell	Judge David Strawbridge
Judge Mitchell Goldberg