News
1. Georgia River Network Has a New Logo
2. Flint Riverquarium Scheduled to Open
in September - Albany
3. American Rivers Seeks Input for River Budget
Group Spotlight
4. Upper Etowah River Alliance
Workshops/Conferences/Calendar Items
5. SE Watershed Roundtable - TN
6. Watershed Leadership Train the Trainer Academy – Callaway
Gardens
7. EPA Research Seminar - Atlanta
8. DNR Board Meetings - Atlanta
9. Rivers Alive Workshops on How To Conduct a Cleanup – Macon
10. Georgia Water Coalition Meeting - Covington
11. Save the Date: Georgia Urban
Forest Council Conference - Atlanta
12. Evaluation Component of Grant Proposals
Workshop - Augusta
13. Cobb County Erosion Field Day - Marietta
14. ICL Executive Leadership Program Postponed Until October - Dahlonega
Policy
15. Two New Members Appointed to the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee
and Shore Protection Committee
16. DNR Board Votes to Initiate Process to Eliminate
the Stay Rule Relating to the Georgia Clean Air Act
Resources
17. NEW GRN ARTICLE-Successful Advocacy: Tips for Public Comment
18. GRN Services
Spotlight: Fundraising Resources
19. Reporting Threats to Georgia Streams
20. Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manuals
21. New Resource - Watermap.org
Fundraising
22. Fundraising Deadlines
Join Georgia River Network!
**********************************************************************
1. Georgia River Network Has a New Logo
Georgia River Network is updating its
image. As a part of the update, you will begin to see our new logo that represents
the network of citizens working
to protect Georgia's waterways.
2. Flint Riverquarium Scheduled to Open in September – Albany (News
from EEinGeoriga.org newsletter)
The Flint Riverquarium is scheduled to open in Albany on September 3, 2004!
The Riverquarium will promote conservation through aquatic exhibits and educational,
entertaining experiences that engage diverse audiences by interpreting the
unique ecosystems of the Flint River watershed. Exhibits will feature fish
such as catfish, bass, bream and other aquatic animals from the Flint River
and waterways downstream, including Apalachicola Bay, Lake Seminole and the
Gulf of Mexico. These interactive and entertaining exhibits will educate visitors
about environmental issues that impact the entire southeastern United States.
A World of Water exhibit will also feature river systems from around the world.
Being built across the plaza from the Riverquarium will be an Adventure Center,
which will feature the area's only large screen IWERKS theater, a 3,000-square
foot changing exhibit hall, and educational wet labs for visiting students.
Visit www.flintriverquarium.com to learn more!
3. American Rivers Seeks Input for River Budget (Forwarded from American Rivers)
Each year since 1997, American Rivers and hundreds of local, regional and national
conservation groups have collaborated to produce the River Budget: National
Priorities for Local River Conservation, a report that identifies key federal
funding priorities for river conservation and restoration in the coming fiscal
year. These priorities are provided to key decision-makers each year during
the federal appropriations process. In order to ensure that we include the
most important funding priorities we are again asking for your input. Please
tell us which federal programs you want included in the River Budget for
FY'06 and if any changes should be made to funding levels for programs listed
in the FY'05 report. You can view the FY'05 report online at: http://www.amrivers.org
and click on river conservation . In each recommendation please include the:
(1) program name; (2) agency responsible for administering the program; (3)
funding level you think the program needs to succeed; and (4) agency contact
if one is available. You can submit your recommendation by email to jmierau@americanrivers.org,
or by calling (202) 347-7550 x3003. The deadline for submitting your recommendation
is July 23, 2004. The River Budget is also being delivered to decision-makers
as part of the first-ever Citizens' Agenda for Rivers, a proactive policy
plan for river conservation created by and for the nationwide river movement.
The Citizens' Agenda for Rivers was rolled out to Congress just a few weeks
ago when 81 river activists from across the country came to Washington, D.C.
to participate in River Lobby Day. We encourage you to support the Citizens'
Agenda for Rivers by adding your organizational or individual endorsement
today. Visit www.healthyrivers.org to read and endorse the Agenda, and to
learn more about River Lobby Day.
4. Spotlight on Upper Etowah River Alliance (GRN Organizational Member Group)
Formed in 1997, the Upper Etowah River Alliance's main mission is education about nonpoint source pollution. They try to provide regional leadership to promote watershed protection strategies across the five Upper Etowah counties (Cherokee, Forsyth, Pickens, Dawson and Lumpkin). Their membership is made up of a diverse group of stakeholders.
Using a variety of outlets, the Alliance educates a wide range of people who live, work and play in the Etowah River basin. From local decision makers to children to business people, they believe everyone can make a difference in water quality. The Alliance recently completed a Xeriscape Landscape at the Community Thrift Store in Pickens County and now is working on a stream restoration on Long Swamp Creek. Recently they held a tour of some of BMPs they did, including three raingardens, a tree revetment and a stackhouse. To learn more about the alliance, visit www.etowahriver.org. (News thanks to Robin Dake of Upper Etowah River Alliance)
5. Hold the Date for 2004 Southeast Watershed Roundtable
To be held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel - Nashville, TN on October 27-29,
2004. Approximately 20 sessions devoted to:
· Growing Greener Cities & Southeast Developers Symposium
·
Farmland Protection & Rural Community Growth
·
Saving Aquatic Habitat & Open Space
·
Natural Context for Highway Construction
Workshops on Floodplain Management, Low Impact Development for Elected Officials, Conflict Resolution and more. Special Hotel rate of $82/night. Keep posted on www.southeastwaterforum.org for more details or email SEForum@bellsouth.net.
6. 2004 Watershed Leadership Train-the-Trainer Academy
This workshop is rescheduled for September 28-30, 2004 at Callaway Gardens
Resort Preserve - Pine Mountain, Georgia. Join this unique workshop designed
to train individuals to work more effectively on land-use planning and protection
initiatives. Designed to enhance your leadership role in the area of watershed
management, and assist you in working with communities on land use planning,
TMDL implementation, and Phase II Stormwater requirements. The training fee
for nonprofit organizations is $350 and for all others, $450. Callaway Gardens
is offering a special rate of $96/night. See www.southeastwaterforum.org
or call 886-902-7300 for more information.
7. EPA Region 4 Environmental Research Seminar
September 28 – 29, 2004 in Atlanta. Visit the GRN calendar at www.garivers.org
to download the seminar brochure and registration.
8. DNR Board Meeting - (DNR calendar thanks to Georgia Environmental Organization)
The next DNR Board meetings will occur August 24, 1 p.m., and August 25, 10
a.m., in the DNR Boardroom, Suite 1252, East Tower, 2 Martin Luther King
Jr. Drive, Atlanta (Sloppy Floyd Building). NO JULY MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED.
9. Rivers Alive “How To Conduct A Cleanup” Workshop
Rivers Alive will
be conducting two workshops for new cleanup organizers that want to learn how
to conduct a river cleanup or veteran organizers that want
tips on how to improve their cleanup.
Saturday, August 28, 2004 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m
Nashville Station at the Briar Rose Building
1015 Riverside Drive, Macon, GA
Hosted by: Rivers Alive, Georgia River Network, Ocmulgee River Initiative
Contact Dana Skelton at 706-549-4508 or info@garivers.org to sign up.
There is no charge for this workshop.
Second date and location TBA soon.
10. Georgia Water Coalition Meeting
The next meeting of the Georgia Water Coalition will be July 22 at the Alcovy
Conservation Center in Covington. For more information on the Coalition,
visit www.georgiawater.org.
11. Save the Date: Georgia Urban Forest Council Conference - Atlanta
Healthy Trees, Healthy Cities, Healthy People
November 17 – 19 at the Emory Conference Center Hotel in Atlanta
Visit www.gufc.org for information.
12. Evaluation Component of Grant Proposals Workshop - Augusta
This workshop is in Augusta on Thursday, July 15, 2004 from 9:00 to 4:00.
Nonprofit organizations are under increasing pressure to demonstrate outcomes from their efforts. Foundations and other granting sources want to know what difference their dollars are making in the lives and communities being served. While many organizations are interested in examining the results of their activities, they are often unsure of where to begin or how to proceed. This workshop will focus on the basics of evaluation and is directed to building an organization's internal capacity to plan and conduct evaluations.
Fee: Georgia Center for Nonprofits Member $80; Nonmember $95
Location: Walton Rehabilitation Hospital Outpatient Classroom, 1355 Independence Drive, Augusta, GA 30901 (Bring brown bag or lunch on your own)
Visit www.gcn.org to register.
13. Cobb County Erosion Field Day - Marietta
Thursday, July 22nd, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway
Road, Marietta. This is a field-day program to offer you a closer look at the
latest technology in erosion and sediment control technology. It is designed
for landscape architects, design professionals, foresters, developers, builders,
government officials, contractors, environmentalists, homeowners and any interested
person. An opportunity to view exhibits and learn about innovations in the
erosion and sediment control industry. Speak to manufacturers and suppliers.
Admission and lunch are FREE. Pre-registration is required. Visit http://www.cobbcounty.org/ec2004/registration.htm
to register.
14. ICL Executive Director Leadership Program Postponed
ICL's upcoming Executive Director Leadership Program for the Southeast region
has been postponed, and now will be held October 3-8, 2004 at the Center
for New Beginnings in Dahlonega, GA. It begins at 4pm on Sunday, October
3 and concludes at noon on Friday, October 8. They have updated the recruitment
and application materials and are continuing to receive applications between
now and August 18. Applications will be received on a rolling basis between
now and then, and acceptance will be given on a rolling basis as well. So
it's to your advantage to apply now! You can view and download the brochure
and application form on the website at: http://www.icl.org. For more information,
visit www.icl.org or call 301-270-2900.
15. Two new members appointed to the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee
and Shore Protection Committee
Visit http://www.garivers.org/dnr6-04.htm for
full details the GEC DNR Board Meeting Highlights
16. DNR Board votes to initiate process to eliminate the stay rule relating
to the Georgia Clean Air Act
Visit http://www.garivers.org/dnr6-04.htm for full
details the GEC DNR Board Meeting Highlights
17. NEW GRN ARTICLE - Successful Advocacy: Tips for Public Comment
To read
the article visit this link on the GRN website: http://www.garivers.org/PDF%20Files/Successful%20Advocacy3.pdf.
18. GRN Services Spotlight: Fundraising Resources
One of the most important,
yet daunting, necessities of organizational development is raising the money
needed to keep the doors open and get the work done. Georgia
River Network offers several resources to member groups to assist with fundraising
efforts.
Website—An entire section of our website at www.garivers.org is dedicated to listing grants for watershed groups.
News Stream—New grant resources and upcoming deadlines are listed in our email newsletter, “News Stream” each month.
Direct Assistance and Workshops—GRN offers customized workshops for your staff, board and or volunteers to assist in fundraising planning and efforts. The focus of training will vary depending on the needs of the group, but may include information on grant writing, fundraising and the board, writing a fundraising plan, special events, and more. Contact GRN to discuss how we can help your group!
19. Reporting Threats to Georgia Streams
Georgia River Network has compiled a brochure on how to report threats to Georgia’s
waterways. Visit our website at www.garivers.org and click on Advocacy Resources
to download this publication.
20. USEPA Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manuals Available
Under a cooperative agreement from EPA's Office of Wastewater Management and
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, the Center for Watershed Protection
has just published three manuals of what will be a series of 11 manuals,
which CWP has dubbed "Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manual Series".
CWP states that the series is designed to provide a stronger foundation to
assist local and state managers in crafting urban watershed restoration plans.
The manuals were written to "organize the enormous amount of information
needed to restore small urban watersheds into a format that can be easily
accessed by watershed groups, municipal staff, environmental consultants
and other users." Each of these is approximately 100 pages long, and
some also include a CD with software to enable data collection and storage.
The first three have been published in March 2004 and can be downloaded for
free from www.cwp.org for the next six months. Five additional manuals are
scheduled for release later this summer and early fall, and the remaining
three some time after that.
21. New Resource – Watermap.org
Watermap.org (at www.watermap.org) is ready for you to use! Are you working
to protect your local water source from pollution, inappropriate development
or corporate control? Are you involved in a community water struggle? Do
you believe that our water is our common responsibility and common asset
to manage for the benefit of all, not just for the economic benefit of a
few? Do you want more people to learn about your work? Do you want to learn
more about other local and North American groups and campaigns? Join Watermap.org
at http://watermap.org/user_create1.asp now to get more attention for your
campaigns, enter information about your organization or campaign, download
documents into the Tools Section, and look for other organizations working
on your issues.
22. Fundraising Deadlines
The following foundations are either new to our list of grants or have upcoming
deadlines to submit proposals. To view grantmakers that give throughout the
year, visit our website at www.garivers.org and click on Grants.
The Community Foundation funds projects in the 23 county Metro Atlanta area. Visit www.atlcf.org. Deadline is July 16, 2004.
Patagonia funds projects that are action oriented, build public support and involvement, are strategic and accomplish specific goals and objectives. Patagonia supports small, grassroots activist organizations with provocative direct-action agendas. They look for innovative groups that produce measurable results, and like to support efforts to force the government to abide by its own - our own - laws. Patagonia helps local groups working to protect local habitat. Most grants are in the range of $3,000 to $8,000. Proposals must be postmarked no later than April 30 and August 31 each year. For more information, visit www.patagonia.com/enviro/enviro_grants.shtml.
Join Georgia River Network
If you find news stream and other information and services provided by Georgia
River Network useful, we would appreciate your financial support! Visit www.garivers.org
and join today!
Dana Skelton
Director of Administration and Outreach
Georgia River Network
1090 S. Milledge Avenue
Athens, GA 30605
Voice: 706-549-4508
Fax: 706-549-7791
www.garivers.org