Georgia River Network
News Stream Extras
July 30, 2004

1) Coosa River Basin Initiative Seeks Executive Director
2) Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Seeks Policy Director
3) Alliance for Justice Election Activity Training
4) Rivers Alive Registration Deadline to Receive T-Shirts July 31
5) Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Names Interim Director

1. CRBI Seeks Executive Director
The Coosa River Basin Initiative, a growing grassroots watershed organization based in Rome, Georgia and dedicated to protecting the Upper Coosa Basin of northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama, is seeking a highly motivated, creative, outgoing, organized individual to be its Executive Director and Riverkeeper. The Director will be responsible for overseeing all operations of CRBI and will serve as the Coosa Riverkeeper. The Director will manage the operations of the board of directors, oversee staff and volunteer activities, maintain finances, raise funds, act as primary spokesperson, develop and carry out CRBI policies and strategic plan and more. A qualified candidate should have a BA or BS degree as well as several years of experience working for a non-profit environmental organization and should be knowledgeable about basic computer programs. Strong knowledge of water issues, particularly as they affect northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama is desirable. Please submit resumes with cover letter and 3 references to Joe Cook, 303 East 5th Avenue, Rome, GA 30161 or joe@joecook.net. Applications will be reviewed as received until the position is filled. For more information, visit www.coosa.org.

2. Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Seeks Policy Director
The Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is seeking to replace Skelly Holmbeck-Pelham as Policy Director. Job requirements include: a strong commitment to river conservation, proven communication skills (writing and public speaking), the ability to thoroughly understand and communicate technical and scientific issues to the general public, and the ability to work well with minimal supervision. Must be able to think fast, make decisions, and function independently, when necessary, while working in close cooperation with partner organizations at other times. Must be able to coordinate a variety of tasks simultaneously and follow-through to achieve measurable results. Some travel may be required. To apply, mail, fax, or email a cover letter, resume, and references to Birgit Bolton at 404.352.9828 ext. 24; fax 404.352.8676; or bbolton@ucriverkeeper.org.

3. Back by Popular Demand: Alliance for Justice Election Activity Web Training
Due to overwhelming demand Alliance for Justice offers a 4th Election Activity Training on the Web for Nonprofits. Want to know what your 501(c)(3) organizations can do in an election year but don't have time to attend a training outside of the office? Sit at your desktop in your office or home and join the Alliance for Justice for a virtual election law training. This one-hour web-based training will cover the rules for 501(c)(3) election-related activity including candidate elections, voter guides, voting records, and candidate debates and forums.

WHEN: Monday, August 16 at 2 p.m. EDT
WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO PARTICIPATE:
You will need a computer with internet access and working computer speakers in order to participate. Questions will be taken through an online chat mechanism, but not through voice, so you do not need a microphone. Once you've registered, we'll email instructions on how to log in to the training.

To register online, click on or paste in the following link:
http://www.afj.org/nonprofit/workshops_events

If paying by check or AMEX, register directly with Ann Allegra at aallegra@afj.org or 202/822-6070. After August 6th, contact Liz Towne at ltowne@afj.org.

4. Deadline: Register Your Rivers Alive Cleanup by July 31st for Free T-shirts
Visit www.riversalive.org.

5. Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Names Interim Director
Return of the Riverkeeper
Organization names interim director

BY BRYAN BRASHER

Staff Writer

After spending 25 years working around the country and around the world, Columbus High School graduate Sherry Spurlin never dreamed she could return home and find a job that directly involved her beloved Chattahoochee River.

But for the moment, at least, she's got one -- and she hopes it will turn into a long-term deal.

At the suggestion of retiring Riverkeeper Jim Phillips, the board of directors for the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper organization has hired Spurlin as its interim director. Spurlin has already assumed many of the job's daily chores and hopes to be named permanent Riverkeeper by year's end.

The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper organization was established in 1992 by concerned citizens eager to protect the resource. A private, nonprofit organization, the Riverkeeper has helped to mandate sewage system operating improvements and established effective stream monitoring groups along the entire Chattahoochee. The organization also leads the state in river cleanups and helps raise community awareness through youth and adult education programs.

"Right now, there is so much going on that the organization is looking at how they might want to change or reorganize the Riverkeeper position," Spurlin said. "That's great. This is the perfect opportunity to see where we are or where we want to go. But I certainly have an interest in doing the job permanently."

Spurlin's resume certainly reads like that of a person born for the job.

She has worked on rivers in north Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina for more than 25 years, serving as a whitewater guide, canoeing instructor and river operations manager of the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Spurlin has also worked on three Olympic whitewater events, including Atlanta's 1996 games and the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia.

"Sherry was the first one to contact us with an interest in this position," said Bill Green, board president for the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. "I talked to her just after that and told her that we wanted to choose the right person, not just the first person we heard from. But sometimes the first person turns out to be the right person."

Green said Phillips will stay on until the end of the year to share miscellaneous duties with Spurlin. But Spurlin has already mapped out a three-fold approach to the job.

"I want to take the role of a watchdog," she said. "I want to monitor issues like the Tri-State Water Wars and work closely with groups like the Georgia Water Coalition. I also want to explore the technical aspects of the job, sampling water and actually working on the river, the resource itself. Then I want to handle the education duties, whether that means outreach, fund-raising or whatever's necessary."

Spurlin said she realizes this will be a challenging time to assume the Riverkeeper's duties. But she sees it as an exciting time as well.

"My homework these days is the Clean Water Act of 1972," Spurlin said. "I have a 200-page manual filled with technical information that I have to familiarize myself with. It's tough, but it's exciting -- and I love it."