News
1. Statewide Water Plan Draft Online
2. DNR Board Passes Water Supply Buffer Rules
3. Registration Open for Rivers Alive Clean-Ups
4. DNR Board Meetings – Atlanta
5. River Jobs
6. Groups Seek Protection for the Conasauga

Group Spotlight
7. Central Georgia Rivers Partnership

Workshops/Conferences/Calendar Items
8. Georgia Conservancy Common Ground Conference - Atlanta
9. Southeast Watershed Roundtable – Braselton
10. Healthy Waters, Healthy People and AAS Facilitator Workshop – Red Top Mtn.
11. American Rivers River Action Day – Washington DC
12. Save the Date: River Rally 08 - Huron Ohio
13. Alliance For Justice Online Workshops

Resources
14. Better Site Design Handbook – Free Download
15. Discounted Software – Techsoup
16. Five Fast Ways to Recruit New Board Members
17. Which DNR Board Member is My Representative?

Fundraising Deadlines
18. Fundraising and Grants

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1. Statewide Water Plan Draft Online
The full plan is available at www.georgiawatercouncil.org.

2. DNR Board Passes Water Supply Buffer Rules
The Board of Natural Resources passed the water supply watershed rules with only one dissenting vote from Jim Tysinger who shared Georgia Water Coalition's concerns over the unlimited grandfathering provision. EPD will now begin drafting the various ordinances and guidelines required under the rules.

3. Registration Open for Rivers Alive Clean-Ups
Register your cleanup event by July 31st to receive free T-shirts or patches for your volunteers (first come first serve basis), a radio PSA (Public Service Announcement), educational posters, and promotional posters to help you advertise your cleanup event. Visit http://riversalive.org to register. If you have any questions, please call Anne at 404.362.6536 or email anne_prusak@dnr.state.ga.us.

4. DNR Board Meetings – DNR Board Room, Atlanta
No meetings are scheduled in July. Next committee meetings are scheduled for August 28 and the Board meeting for August 29 in Atlanta. For details on DNR Board Meetings, visit http://www.gadnr.org/ (bottom left corner of home page). To view the schedule, visit http://gadnr.org/documents/sched-agenda.html.

5. River Jobs
Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper - Watershed Protection Specialist
American Rivers - Director of Water Efficiency Initiative
Visit http://www.garivers.org/resources/jobs.html.

6. Groups Seek Protection for the Conasauga
Environment Georgia Research & Policy Center and the Southern Environmental Law Center have nominated a segment of the Conasauga River for Outstanding National Resource Water (ONRW) protections. The section of the Conasauga River nominated for designation contains the headwaters of the river within the Cohutta Wilderness Area and runs to the Alaculsy Valley. The drainage area will encompass Fannin, Murray and Gilmer Counties. The watershed or drainage area is entirely owned and managed by the US National Forest Service and therefore eligible for public nomination as an ONRW. Rivers, or portions thereof, are eligible for designation and protection under Georgia ONRW regulations provided that the “segments have outstanding value as an aquatic resource, which may derive from the presence of exceptional ecological or recreational attributes or from the presence of unique or sensitive ecosystems.” Segments of the Conasauga River, including the stretch nominated for ONRW designation, have been designated by the Environmental Protection Division as a state “Wild and Scenic” river. The proposed segment is also classified by the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division as a primary trout stream. Water quality in the segment of the Conasauga River nominated for ONRW designation is high. The headwaters of the Conasauga River feed one of the most biodiverse river ecosystems in the country. In addition to being a draw to Georgia’s trout fisherman and aquatic scientists, the segment nominated for designation is a highlight of the surrounding Cohutta Wilderness Area. The proposed ONRW also feeds a well know snorkeling hole located on the Conasauga just beyond the Georgia-Tennessee border. A variety of stakeholders have already voiced support for an ONRW designation along the headwaters of the Conasauga. Local landowners and governments are also eager to find ways to safeguard the natural character of their communities.

7. Group Spotlight – Central Georgia Rivers Partnership
The Central Georgia Rivers Partnership (CGRP) is an effort to bring together the people who are interested in seeing a conservation strategy put into place in the Ocmulgee, Oconee, and/or Altamaha river corridors. From the headwaters to where they join to form the Altamaha, the Ocmulgee and Oconee river corridors possess natural, historic and prehistoric treasures and have many citizens, agency personnel, and businesses interested in conserving land throughout the area. A variety of management plans/areas already exist, and many people believe a whole system approach should be looked at to make sure there is the level of interconnectedness needed to conserve this special place. The CGRP’s Purpose is to protect priority resource areas within and around the corridors of the Ocmulgee, Oconee, and Altamaha Rivers. CGRP partners undertook this project because they recognize that rural and natural areas are important to our quality of life, our cultural and historic heritage and community economic wellbeing. The CGRP is doing its work through protection and restoration tools, and by pursuing projects with broad stakeholder support, including, but not limited to, private landowners, local communities and their governments, hunters, fishermen, and other conservation partners. The CGRP partners have identified the boundaries of an initial focus area comprised of the Ocmulgee River corridor from Lloyd Shoals Dam to Hawkinsville.

8. Georgia Conservancy Common Ground Conference
AT&T Conference Facility - Midtown Atlanta on September 6 from 5 – 9 p.m.
Energy 101: Everything You Wanted to Know About Energy
September 7 from 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. - Advancing Clean Energy Solutions for Georgia. Common Ground 07 focuses on the environmental impacts of energy production and use, climate change, energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy in Georgia and ways you can reduce energy use where you are. For more information or to register, visit http://www.georgiaconservancy.org/Events/Event.asp?id=313&yy=2007&mm=9&dd=6.

9. The 10th Annual Southeast Watershed Roundtable: Sustaining Our Water Infrastructure Through Watershed-Based Approaches
August 1-3 at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort in Braselton, GA

Visit http://www.southeastwaterforum.org.

10. Healthy Water, Healthy People Facilitator and Adopt-A-Stream Workshop
Sept. 28-29 at Red Top Mt. State Park - Participants in this two-day, hands-on workshop will receive the Healthy Water, Healthy People Educators Guide, the HWHP Testing Kit Manual, a HWHP Facilitator Handbook, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Train the Trainer Handbook and all Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Publications. All participants will be qualified to lead their own Healthy Water, Healthy People and Adopt-A-Stream workshops in their own watershed. This is a great opportunity to get training in both of these programs in a two-day workshop. Please contact Monica Kilpatrick at monica_kilpatrick@dnr.state.ga.us or 404.362.6536 to register.

11. American Rivers - River Action Day – Washington DC
4th Annual Capitol Confluence: River Action Day (formerly River Lobby Day) will be held on September 24-25, 2007. Join fellow river advocates from across the country to speak out for rivers on Capitol Hill. This is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with your Members of Congress and encourage them to support policies that will ensure healthy rivers for all communities. Make your voice heard in the halls of Congress! Never lobbied before? Not a problem. American Rivers will host an advocacy training workshop on Monday, September 24, and schedule your meetings with Members of Congress for the following day. There is no charge to participate in River Action Day. American Rivers is providing a limited number of stipends to help offset the cost of travel and accommodations in Washington, D.C. Register Online Today at http://www.americanrivers.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AR7_RiverActionDay.

12. Save the Date: River Rally 08 – Huron Ohio
May 2-5, 2008. Visit www.rivernetwork.org.

13. Alliance for Justice Online Workshops
Workshops last one-hour and will begin at 2:00 PM. You can register online or by calling Kyle Murphy at (202) 822-6070. Workshop Registration is $25

Election Rules for Foundations Web Workshop (07/19) - This workshop will discuss the rules governing foundation support for election-related activities and will also explain the types of activities in which foundations may be involved, such as voter guides, voting records, and candidate debates and forums. The workshop will also examine the special rules for private foundations and voter registration drives.

Election Rules for Nonprofits Web Workshop (07/25) - Want to know the role your organization can play during an election year? This session explains the federal tax rules regarding permissible electioneering activities for 501(c)(3)s, particularly voter registration drives, candidate questionnaires, candidate forums and legislative scorecards.

Visit http://www.afj.org/.

14. Resource: Better Site Design Handbook – Free Download
Better Site Design: A Handbook for Changing Development Rules in Your Community joins all Center Better Site Design guidance materials as a free download from the Center website in an effort to ensure that every community is equipped with the tools it needs to facilitate environmentally-friendly growth. The Better Site Design Handbook outlines 22 guidelines for more environmentally-friendly development: changes to subdivision and land development and zoning regulations that will better manage stormwater, preserve and enhance existing natural areas, and reduce pollution in local streams. It provides detailed rationale for each principle, everything from basic engineering principles to actual vs. perceived barriers to implementing Better Site Design; examines practices in local communities; details the economic and environmental benefits of Better Site Design; and presents case studies from across the country. Download all of the free resources on Better Site Design by clicking this link: http://www.cwp.org/PublicationStore/bsd.htm. The Better Site Design Handbook is still available for purchase in hard copy for $35 by visiting the Center e-store.

15. Discounted Software – Techsoup
Need software? Visit http://www.techsoup.org/stock/.

16. Five Fast Ways to Recruit New Board Members
This article can be found on the Georgia Center for Nonprofits website at http://www.gcn.org/InFocusJuly8.aspx.

17. Which DNR Board Member is my representative?
List of DNR Board Members - http://www.gadnr.org/pdf/bdlist.pdf

Look up your district at http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/pdf/gacongress2006color.pdf or

http://www.sos.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/locator.asp.

18. Fundraising Deadlines
The following foundations are either new to our list of grants or have upcoming deadlines to submit proposals. To view grant makers that give throughout the year, visit our website at http://www.garivers.org/resources/tools/grants.html.

AEC Trust Technical Grants are made to charitable organizations seeking technical assistance. Visit https://online.foundationsource.com/public/home/aec.

Deadlines: April 1 and September 1.

The Case Foundation has just launched an exciting new grant program called Make It Your Own. It is designed to help grassroots leaders involve their fellow citizens in dialogue, deliberation, and action on community problems. This is one of those rare instances where a national foundation will make grants directly to local and neighborhood-level projects; it is even more unusual in that the decision-making process on who gets the grants will be made, in part, by citizens themselves (see "Foundation Lets Public Help Award Money" in the New York Times at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/26/us/26charity.html). This is a citizen-centered funding effort that will produce citizen-centered projects. Please check out the details at http://www.casefoundation.org/make-it-your-own. Grant Amounts: $10,000 - $35,000 Applications will be accepted online June 26-August 8.

ConAgra Foods Foundation works to improve the quality of life in communities where ConAgra employees work and live. The Foundation focuses its resources in the areas of arts and culture; civic and community betterment; education; health and human services; and hunger, nutrition and food safety. Nonprofit organizations in communities with company facilities throughout the United States are eligible to apply. Consult your local phone directory or contact your Chamber of Commerce to find out if ConAgra Foods operates in your community. Applications are due the last working day of January, April, July and October. Visit http://www.conagrafoods.com/. Click "Corporate Responsibility". Click "Community".

The Georgia-Pacific Foundation supports a wide range of organizations that improve the quality of life in communities where Georgia-Pacific operates, and where company employees live and work. (A map of the Georgia-Pacific facilities and locations is available online at: www.gp.com/facilitydirectory/index.asp.) The Foundation’s areas of interest include: education, community enrichment, and the environment. Grant applications are accepted between January 1 and October 31, annually. Visit http://www.gp.com/center/community/index.html.

The American Honda Foundation supports projects in the areas of youth and scientific education. The Foundation defines "youth" as prenatal through 21 years of age. "Scientific education" encompasses the physical and life sciences, mathematics, and the environmental sciences. The Foundation provides grants for K-12 education, higher education, and other nonprofit organizations that focus on youth and/or scientific education. Only projects that are national in scope will be considered for funding by the Foundation. Application deadlines are February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1 of each year. Visit http://corporate.honda.com/america/philanthropy.aspx?id=ahf.

Ittleson Foundation supports innovative pilot, model and demonstration projects that will help move individuals, communities, and organizations from environmental awareness to environmental activism by changing attitudes and behaviors. Initial letters of inquiry due by April 1st or September 1st. Visit http://www.ittlesonfoundation.org/enviro.html.

Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation funds grant requests to support fair and balanced environmental education in Georgia. It is anticipated that the average grant awarded will be $2,000. Apply by September 28, 2007. Visit http://www.kgbf.org/.

Merck Family Fund - The goals of the Merck Family Fund are to protect the natural environment and ensure a healthy planet for generations to come, and to strengthen the social fabric and the physical landscape of the urban community. Through the Protecting the Natural Environment program area, the Fund supports the protection of vital ecosystems in the eastern U.S., and on a national basis, supports the shift towards environmentally sustainable economic systems, incentives, and behaviors. Through the Strengthening the Urban Community program area, the Fund provides grants to grassroots programs in New York City; Providence, RI; and Boston, MA that work to create green and open space, and that support youth as agents of social change. Letters of inquiry can be submitted at any time. Invited proposals are due March 1 and August 1, annually. For more information, visit http://www.merckff.org/.

The mission of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is to support efforts that promote a just, equitable, and sustainable society. The Foundation's grant programs focus on the following areas: poverty, civil society, the environment, and Flint, MI. Organizations seeking grants should begin the application process at least four months before the start of the proposed grant period. Foundation staff must finalize grant recommendations for any given calendar year by August 31 of that year. Proposals received between September 1 and December 31 will be considered in the following calendar year. Visit http://www.mott.org for more information.

The National Forest Foundation supports projects that address community-based forest stewardship, watershed health and restoration, wildlife habitat improvement, and recreation issues in proactive ways. Projects should complete innovative on-the-ground conservation work in partnership with other community groups. The Foundation’s matching awards program focuses on “action-oriented” projects that serve to demonstrate measurable outcomes. The program provides challenge cost-share grants, on a competitive basis, to community-based organizations to engage in on-the-ground conservation initiatives benefiting National Forests and Grasslands. The Program provides matching federal funds to private, non-federal dollars. The deadline of July 27, 2007 is for pre-proposals. Visit http://natlforests.org/consp_01_grant.html.

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 the Patagonia website. You can also apply for grants from the Atlanta Patagonia store which gives grants in the amount of $1,000 - $4000 with applications due each May. Contact Leigh Bost at 404.266.8182 or leigh_bost@patagonia.com for more information.

The Wildlife Conservation Society Wildlife Action Opportunity Fund - Made possible through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund will distribute $2 million over the next two years to support 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations working to implement State Wildlife Action Plans in any of the 50 states or six U.S. territories. State Wildlife Action Plans were created when Congress charged each state and territory with developing a comprehensive wildlife plan as a condition of receiving federal funding. Also known as Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies, these proactive plans will help conserve wildlife and vital natural habitats before they become too rare and costly to protect. For more detailed information, links to State Wildlife Action Plans and progress on implementation in your state visit the Teaming with Wildlife website: http://www.teaming.com/. Awards through the Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund will be made in the range of $20,000 to $200,000. These grants will support projects that advance the implementation of State Wildlife Action Plans. Funding priority will be placed on projects that are feasible and practical in 1-2 year time periods, are closely aligned with goals of State Wildlife Action Plans, involve multiple organizations, and may serve as models for conservation that can be replicated elsewhere. Please note that these funds cannot be used to support land acquisition or conservation easements, political lobbying and advocacy, or capacity building of organizations. A full outline of the RFP process and the grant making priorities of the Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund is available at the program's web site at http://www.wcs.org/wildlifeopportunity. The deadline for pre-proposals is August 2, 2007 at 5:00 PM Mountain Standard Time. All questions regarding this program or the RFP process should be directed to Wildlife Conservation Society Grants Program Officer Darren Long at dlong@wcs.org or at 406-522-9333 x103.