News

1. GRN Watershed Group Directory – Please Update Your Information

2. Town Hall Meetings on Water Quality Mgt.

3. Alabama River Alliance Seeks Applicants for Executive Director

Workshops/Conferences/Calendar Items

4. Register: Georgia River Network Conference – Milledgeville

5. Fundraising Workshop – Atlanta

6. DNR Board Meetings - Atlanta

7. Save the Date: GWC Legislative Meeting - Atlanta

8. GCV Legislative Reception - Atlanta

9. Nonprofit Board Seminar at UGA – Athens

10. Grant Writing Workshop – Athens

11. Grant Writing / Board Development Workshops –Atlanta

12. Alliance for Justice Election Rules for Non-Profits - Online

13. Green Infrastructure Workshop – Jekyll Island

14. Save the Date: National River Rally – Washington State

15. Sustainable Water Infrastructure Conference – Atlanta

16. Save the Date: Paddle Georgia on the Ocmulgee

17. Introduction to Urban Watersheds – Online Course

18. Robert Kennedy Jr. Speaks at Country Day School – Savannah

Resources

19. State Energy Plan

20. Free Fundraising Guide

Fundraising Deadlines

21. Fundraising and Grants

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1. GRN Watershed Group Directory – Please Update Your Information
We are now updating our watershed group directory for the 2007 printing. Please review your group entry and send us any new information by January 30, 2007. Visit http://www.garivers.org/resources/directory.html.

2. Water Council Town Hall Meetings
The following are the dates and locations for the next round of town hall meetings on water quality management. The purpose of these Town Hall Meetings is to get feedback from citizens on the Statewide Water Management Plan that is currently being created, and how we want our water to be managed in the future. Specifically, this round of meetings will be focused on the subject of “meeting instream and offstream needs and protecting water quality”. The Georgia Water Council is charged with creating a Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan for Georgia. This plan is being developed right now, and will have a very significant impact on Georgia’s citizens and communities. For background on the Georgia Water Council and the Statewide Water Management Plan visit http://www.gadnr.org/gswp/. At the meeting, the Water Council will present draft policy recommendations on water quality, and then take comments on policy options for the four management objectives to be addressed by the 2008 Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan. The first half hour of each meeting will be an open house to view displays of Water Council agencies and materials related to the water planning process. Visit http://www.gadnr.org/gswp/Documents/town_hall.html for details.

Thurs., Jan. 18: Albany, 5:30-8:00

Sat., Jan. 20: Gainesville, 9:30-noon

Sat., Jan. 20: Cumming, 2:30-5:00

Mon., Jan. 22: Rome, 5:30-8:00

Tues., Jan. 23: Columbus, 5:30-8:00

Wed., Jan. 24: Athens, 5:30-8:00
Thurs., Jan. 25: Brunswick, 5:30-8:00

3. Alabama Rivers Alliance Seeks Applicants for Executive Director
Visit www.alabamarivers.org for details.

4. Register for Georgia River Network Annual Conference
Georgia River Network’s 7th Annual Conference: Ensuring A Clean Water Legacy

Fri. and Sat., February 16-17, 2007 at Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville

· Keynote Speakers

*An Update on Georgia’s Statewide Water Plan - Speaker TBA

*Climate Change and Rivers, presented by Don Elder, President, River Network

*Current State Legislative and Policy Issues, presented by Neill Herring, Sierra Club, and Jason Rooks, Georgia Conservation Voters

· Three informative tracks on Saturday:

*Ensuring Enough Clean Water for Georgia -Featuring presentationson strategies for water conservation, toxics in our waters and dredge

and fill permits.

*Moving Beyond the Basics: Tools for Your Watershed - Featuring presentations on fundraising, health issues, innovative outreach,

and the Clean Water Act.

Track chaired by Georgia Adopt-A-Stream.

*Reducing the Impacts of New Construction-Featuring presentations on erosion and sedimentation problems and solutions, enforcement of

buffers, and case studies of Georgian’s who are cleaning up their watersheds through local government protections.

· A Friday Workshop on “Strategies for Protecting Your Watershed at the Local Level”, featuring training on effective campaign planning, tools to protect your watershed at the local level, and case studies from citizens and groups who have fought for and won local protections for their watersheds

· A Friday Night Party and Auction featuring Awards, River Jam, food and drinks

· Third Annual River Celebration Awards honoring Georgia’s watershed groups, volunteers and river conservationists

· Demonstration flights by Southwings. Visit http://www.garivers.org/events/conferences/2007/southwings.html.

· Networking opportunities and Exhibits

Conference Sponsors
Stack & Associates

Georgia College and State University - Department of Biological Sciences, School of Education and Office of Academic Outreach

GCSU Environmental Science Club

Party and Awards Sponsor
Stormwater Systems

Cost: GRN Member Rate - $80 before February 1, 2007, $90 after February 1, 2007

GRN Non-Member Rate - $95 before February 1, 2007, $105 after February 1, 2007

For a discounted rate, please call 706-549-4508 or email info@garivers.org

To register or for more information: Go to http://www.garivers.org/events/grn_conference.html.

Contact: Dana Skelton, Georgia River Network, 706/549-4508.

5. Fundraising Workshop – Atlanta
Georgia Center For Non-Profits will hold this workshop on 1/24/07 in Atlanta. You will learn two last-minute, lowest-cost efforts and 10 fund-raising methods that you can put to use in your organization. We'll also cover ways to attract and organize volunteers that will really raise money for you. Visit http://www.gcn.org/Services/Training/TrainingClasses/FundRaisingRightNow1.aspx.

6. DNR Board Meetings – Atlanta

Committee meetings are scheduled for January 23 and the Board meeting for January 24 in the DNR Boardroom 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.

7. Save the Date: GWC Legislative Meeting

Plan to attend the Georgia Water Coalition’s annual legislative partner meeting on Wednesday, February 7. The meeting will run from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm in the Carl E. Sanders Fireplace room at the Capitol Education Center.

8. GCV Legislative Reception
Georgia Conservation Voters’ legislative reception will take place on Tuesday, February 6 from 5:30-8:30pm at the College of Management Building at Georgia Tech in Midtown Atlanta. Cost: $20 includes two drink tickets. This is the event that was traditionally hosted by the Georgia Environmental Council, and it is a great opportunity to mingle with legislators and partner environmental organizations. Georgia Conservation Voters is partnering with GEC to host the event this year.

9. Non-Profit Board Seminars at UGA – Athens
The Nonprofit Program of the Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, will conduct its Winter/Spring 2007 Non-Profit Board Seminars on the following Wednesdays: January 24, February 21, and March 21. These seminars run from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and cover the topics of Strategic Planning, Working with Volunteers, Roles & Responsibilities of the Board, and Fund Raising. There is no charge for these seminars and lunch is provided. Because of space limitations, each organization is limited to four attendees at a given seminar, and you must have a written, confirmed reservation to attend. Contact nonprofit@terry.uga.edu or 706.542.3750 to register or if you have any questions.

10. Special Grant Writing Workshop - Athens
A special Grant Writing Workshop will be held on Friday, February 2 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the Reception Hall of the Tate Student Center on the UGA campus. Registration is limited to those who intend to stay for the complete program. A maximum of four attendees from each organization may attend. The Workshop leader will be Ilene Roggensack, President of Third Sector Innovations, a nonprofit consulting firm. There is no charge for the workshop, but registration is limited to board members or representatives of nonprofit organizations. One hour will be allowed for participants to have lunch at the Tate Center. The Nonprofit Program will not be able to provide lunch for this special workshop, but several options are available in the Bulldog Cafe in the Tate Center building. Visit http://www.terry.uga.edu/management/non_profit/.

11. Grant Writing / Board Development Workshops –Atlanta
Georgia Center for Non-Profits offers:
Basic Grant Writing (Jan. 25)
Turn organizational needs into fundable ideas, and present them in competitive proposals to foundations and corporations. Participants will learn to craft competitive grant proposals to foundations, government agencies and corporations. Visit http://www.gcn.org/Services/Training/TrainingClasses/BasicGrantWritingJan07.aspx

Building an Effective Board (Jan. 30)
Learn how you can best utilize the expertise of your board to produce positive outcomes for your agency. Visit http://www.gcn.org/Services/Training/TrainingClasses/BuildinganEffectiveBoard.aspx

12. Alliance for Justice Election Rules for Non-Profits on January 24 - Online

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. Workshop lasts one-hour and will begin at 2:00 PM EST. You can register online or by calling Kyle Murphy at (202) 822-6070. Workshop Registration is $30. Visit http://ga1.org/afj/events/web_012407/details.tcl.

13. Georgia Green Infrastructure Workshop – Jekyll Island

Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at the Jekyll Island Convention Center

What is Green Infrastructure? Background Information from www.greeninfrastructure.net.

The Green Infrastructure Workshop will provide participants with an introduction to a strategic approach for prioritizing conservation opportunities and a planning framework for conservation and development - integrating the green and the grey. Pre-registration is required on-line or via mail. The registration fee of $25 includes a continental breakfast, lunch, a copy of Mark A. Benedict and Edward T. McMahon's Green Infrastructure: Linking Landscapes and Communities and workshop materials. On-line registration and additional workshop information: www.sapeloislandnerr-ctp.org.

Deadline for Registration: Monday, February 5, 2007

Continuing Education Credits/PDHs are available.

14. Save the Date: National River Rally – Washington State
River Network's 2007 National River Rally will take place May 18-22 in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. Join over 500 river and watershed protection advocates at Skamania Lodge (www.skamania.com) for four days of education, inspiration and celebration. Over 100 workshops will provide you with unsurpassed professional and personal development. Nonprofit staff and volunteers, tribal, agency and corporate representatives working on freshwater issues are invited and encouraged to attend! If you want to protect and restore rivers and watersheds - this is one national confluence you don't want to miss. Visit http://www.rivernetwork.org.

15. Sustainable Water Infrastructure Conference - Atlanta
Paying for Sustainable Water Infrastructure: Innovations for the 21st Century - EPA and the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority will bring together stakeholders from all levels of government and the private sector to explore creative methods to pay for sustainable water infrastructure. This conference, scheduled for March 21-23, 2007 in Atlanta, GA, will be the first national conference to address the challenge of integrating the diverse tools and strategies to pay for sustainable water infrastructure. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss these issues with leaders and peers in four tracks: 1)Sustainable Water Infrastructure; 2) SRFs and Federal Assistance Programs: A Fresh Perspective; 3) State and Local Innovations; and 4) International Innovations in Finance, Technologies, and Management. More information about the conference is available at http://www.payingforwater.com.

16. Save the Date: Paddle Georgia on the Ocmulgee
Paddle Georgia 2007 is scheduled for June 23-29, 2007 on the Ocmulgee River. The trip will cover almost 120 miles of Ocmulgee River from Lloyd Shoals Dam between Jackson and Monticello to Hawkinsville. The first 42 miles of the journey wind through the Piedmont, around the John Birch Dam at Juliette, over shoals and rapids to Macon. From Macon, the journey descends into the Coastal Plain for 71 twisting, turning miles beneath Spanish moss-draped trees to the final take out at Hawkinsville. Highlights of the trip include Oconee National Forest and mill ruins at Forty Acre Island, historic Juliette and John Birch Dam, downtown Macon, Ocmulgee National Monument, Georgia Power's Plant Scherer, the Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area and downtown Hawkinsville. The canoe trip is suitable for beginners with a handful of exciting Class I-II shoals. A special paddling workshop will be held on June 22.

PG 2007 Itinerary
Day 1: Piedmont Polka Lloyd Shoals Dam to Ga. 83 (14 miles)
Day 2: Juliette Jitterbug Ga. 83 to Popes Ferry (14 miles)
Day 3: Mambo to Macon Popes Ferry to Spring Street (14 miles)
Day 4: Echeconnee Cancan Spring Street to Echeconnee Creek (20 miles)
Day 5: Oxbow Bolero Echeconnee Creek to Hwy 96 (20 miles)
Day 6: Coastal Plain Conga Hwy 96 to James Dykes Park (17 miles)
Day 7: Hawkinsville Hustle James Dykes Park to Hawkinsville (14
miles)

Registration will begin in February. Visit http://www.garivers.org/events/pg07.html.

17. Introduction to Urban Watersheds – Online Course
For the first time, the Center for Watershed Protection is bringing its instruction right to your computer through the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) online education program. Introduction to Urban Watersheds (Environmental Managment 360) is a 15-week, 3-credit undergraduate university course conducted entirely online! The course introduces you to the basics of watersheds and why their management is important. It will emphasize human impacts and effects on watersheds and will cover: an introduction to watersheds, understanding the science of watersheds, how the land development process impacts watersheds, and an introduction to managing urban watersheds. Instructor: Karen Cappiella, Director of Research, Center for Watershed Protection
Class begins January 24th. Visit https://www.umuc.edu/myumuc/prospective.shtml

18. Robert Kennedy Jr. Speaks at Country Day School – Savannah

In the second season of its Creative Minds lecture series, the Savannah Country Day School will host three experts in sustainability for a major symposium titled “Creating a Sustainable Future: Recognizing, Repairing and Restoring a Fractured World” on Saturday, February 10, 2007. Environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., sustainable architecture guru Bob Berkebile, and Mendocino Wine Company founder Paul Dolan will participate in the groundbreaking event. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s tireless efforts to protect New York’s water supply have made him one of Time magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet.” He currently serves as Chief Prosecuting Attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper and President of the Waterkeeper Alliance. Prior to the symposium, Country Day will sponsor a viewing of “An Inconvenient Truth,” Davis Guggenheim’s film portraying former Vice President Al Gore’s campaign to make the reality of global warming understandable to the public. The film will be shown Friday, February 9th at 6:30 p.m. at Jelks Auditorium on the Savannah Country Day School campus. The symposium will be held Saturday, February 10, 2007, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Trustees Theatre on Broughton Street in Savannah. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased through the Trustees Theatre. Please call (912) 525-5050. For more information visit www.savcds.org.

19. State Energy Plan

The first comprehensive State Energy Strategy for Georgia is available at www.georgiaenergyplan.org.

20. Free Fundraising Guide
Lewis B. Cullman, one of this nation’s most generous philanthropists, has written a guide addressing the "Do's" and "Don'ts" of fundraising. How to Succeed in Fundraising by Really Trying is a free 18-page guide that offers practical advice to anyone asking for money for a worthy cause. Based on Cullman’s years of experience raising money as well as being asked for it, the booklet is a handy and plainspoken guide for anyone soliciting money for a charitable cause. Visit http://www.lewiscullman.com/pages/cullman_how_to.html to download a free copy of the guide.

21. 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.

BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is seeking nonprofit groups to help educate mariners about good environmental habits with grants of up to $4,000 for clean boating projects. Clean Water grants are designed to educate boaters on issues such as petroleum pollution prevention, pumpout education, and litter prevention. They are looking for projects that encourage boaters to learn to love their waterways - education projects that help boaters understand and appreciate their local boating habitat, as well as learn hands-on boating strategies that will keep the water and local habitat healthy and accessible for future boaters. To view previous grant projects, learn more about aquatic nuisance species, or download an application, please visit http://www.BoatUS.com/Cleanwater/grants. Applications must be e-mailed or postmarked by midnight February 1, 2007.

The Community Foundation funds projects in the 23 county Metro Atlanta area. The foundation's deadline for competitive grant proposals is January 26, 2007. Visit www.atlcf.org.

The FishAmerica Foundation announces the availability of up to $800,000 for projects to restore marine, estuarine and riparian habitats important to marine and anadromous fish species. Visit FishAmerica's web site at http://www.fishamerica.org for the complete announcement, funding guidelines and application, and helpful contact information. Emphasis is on using a hands-on, grassroots approach to restore fisheries habitat across coastal America and the Great Lakes. Projects must result in on-the-ground habitat restoration of marine, estuarine and riparian habitats clearly significant to fisheries resources, particularly sportfish, and must involve community participation through an educational or volunteer component tied to the restoration activities. Applications and required documentation must be received in FishAmerica’s office no later than February 5, 2007 by 5:00 PM. This is not a postmark deadline. Electronic and faxed applications will NOT be accepted. All submissions must be sent to:

FAF/NOAA RFP - Grant Applications, FishAmerica Foundation

225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 420, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.

Funding will be announced in June 2007. Anticipated awards are contingent on notification of federal funding to the FishAmerica Foundation.

The Five-Star Restoration Matching Grants Program, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, provides grants on a competitive basis to support community-based wetland, riparian, and coastal habitat restoration projects. Supported projects should build diverse partnerships and foster local natural resource stewardship through education, outreach and training activities. The stars in "Five-Star" are the partners, funders, and participants necessary to complete the project. Projects should involve diverse partnerships of ideally five organizations, including schools, universities, businesses, community groups, local governments, nonprofit organizations, foundations, etc. Applications must be postmarked by March 9, 2007. Visit http://www.nfwf.org/programs/5star-rfp.cfm.

The Georgia Water Wise Council is pleased to announce its first annual grant program to provide funding to organizations and individuals that showcase water conservation education and principles. It is intended to raise awareness in the state for the need to reduce the amount of water we use and the amount of water we waste. A maximum amount of $2,000 per grant - the Georgia Water Wise Council has $10,000 available for this grant period. The following are eligible: educational, commercial businesses, institutions, state and local governments, agricultural entities, nonprofits and individuals. Projects considered may be educational, pilot and demonstration, research, and implementation. Note: each project must have an educational component. Partnerships are preferred. Deadline: January 31, 2007. For more information, guidelines and application, please visit http://www.gawponline.org/board/showthread.php?t=296.

Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation - Babcock Foundation funds the development of skills for local leaders to engage in state policy, formal and informal coalitions in inclusive communities to solve community problems, and projects to address poverty and racism. Deadlines: February 1 or July 1. Visit http://www.mrbf.org/apply/.

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/.

Project AWARE Foundation is committed to the conservation and preservation of the aquatic environment and its resources throughout the world. The Foundation will consider funding projects that focus on its priorities: coral reef conservation, shark protection, aquatic ecotourism, aquatic education (particularly for youth), and direct conservation activities in both marine and freshwater for up to $10,000. Projects which incorporate public education, grassroots involvement, and research that leads to conservation are examples of the types of projects the Foundation supports. The application deadlines are March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15, annually. Visit http://www.projectaware.org.

Town Creek Foundation - The Foundation supports programs that engage citizens in challenging the unsustainable use of natural resources and in protecting biological diversity. Strategies supported are grassroots activism, monitoring the enforcement of environmental laws, public policy advocacy, collaborative opportunities, media outreach, and model or demonstration projects fostering sustainable policies and practices. Deadline: March 16, 2007. Visit www.towncreekfdn.org.

The Toyota Tapestry grant program, sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and administered by the National Science Teachers Association, will award 50 grants of up to $10,000 each and a minimum of 20 "mini-grants" of $2,500 each are available to K-12 teachers of science residing in the United States or U.S. territories. The deadline for submitting proposals is January 18, 2007. Visit http://www.nsta.org/programs/tapestry/.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking proposals for conservation projects to benefit imperiled species on private lands through its Private Stewardship Grants Program. This program provides federal grants on a competitive basis to individuals and groups engaged in voluntary conservation efforts on private lands that help federally listed endangered or threatened species as well as proposed, candidate and other at-risk species. The Private Stewardship Grant program is just one of a variety of tools available under the Endangered Species Act that help landowners plan and implement projects to conserve species. These grants and cooperative agreements provide incentives to foster citizen participation in the stewardship of our nation's natural resources. Landowners and their partners must submit their proposals to the appropriate Regional Offices of the Service by February 14, 2007. For additional information regarding this grant opportunity and how and where to submit proposals, please visit the Service's Private Stewardship Grants Website at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/grants/private%5Fstewardship/. You may also contact: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Branch of State Grants, Endangered Species Program, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 420, Arlington, VA 22203 or call (703) 358-2061.

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Georgia River Network
126 S Milledge Avenue
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706/549-7791 fax
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