News

1. Legislative Update

2. River Jobs, Internships and Fellowships

3. Buy Green Home Products, Support GRN

4. National River Cleanup Open for Registration

Group Spotlight

5. GreenLaw and Sandersville Power Plant Fight

Workshops/Conferences/Calendar Items

6. Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival - Atlanta

7. Paddle Georgia 2008 Registration Now Open – Flint River

8. DNR Board Meetings – Atlanta

9. Canoochee River Race

10. American Rivers River Action Day – Washington, DC

11. River Network (National) River Rally – Ohio

12. Southeast Watershed Forum Conference – Charleston

13. Environmental Leadership Institute - VA

14. Alliance for Justice Online Workshops

15. Non-Profit Board Seminars – Athens

16. Environmental Flows: Save the Date/Call for Papers - Athens

17. Webinar – How to Work With Boards

18. Beetle Battle Paddle – Chestatee River

19. James Holland Photography Exhibit – Middle GA College

20. Employment Law and Nonprofits – Atlanta

21. What Insurance Do We Need? – Atlanta

22. World Water Day

23. Monitoring: Key to Understanding Our Waters – Atlantic City

24. Georgia Forest Watch Wine Tasting - Tiger

Resources

25. TMDL Knowledgebase Clearinghouse

26. Urban BMP Performance Tool

27. Fundraising Database

28. Five Fundraising Mistakes We Make with Our Boards

29. Seven Statements in a Board Meeting to Kill An Idea

30. Follow the Events Path to Major Gifts

31. IRS Rules and Thanking Donors

32. An Introduction to Ergonomics

33. What is the Role of an Attorney on the Board?

Fundraising Deadlines

34. Grants

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1. Legislative Update

A. Oppose Efforts to Block Strong Water Efficiency Measures

Tell Senators to Oppose HB 1281 and efforts to hamper the ability of local governments to do what is best for their communities and successfully reduce their water use. North Georgia’s current drought has highlighted the need for our communities to take stronger action on water conservation. Governor Perdue has mandated that the counties under Level Four drought designation must reduce their water use by 10 percent.

In order to reduce our water usage by 10 percent without endangering public health, safety or welfare, local governments should have the ability to take steps beyond what the state minimally requires during periods of drought.

For example, the drought caused the Douglasville-Douglas County Water Authority to lose 25 percent of its reservoir’s capacity in less than six weeks during Summer 2007. The authority recognized the problem and acted quickly, making it the first water utility in the state to implement a total ban on outdoor water use. If the Authority had waited until the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) implemented the Level 4 drought restrictions on September 28, 2007, the Authority could have had little or no water for any of its customers. Without the ability to quickly respond to the needs of their community, Douglas County would have experienced a severe water crisis.

Problem:

HB 1281 prohibits cities and counties from applying water restrictions that are more stringent than those required by the state without first getting approval from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division director.

Action Needed:

We need your help to urge members of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee to Vote NO on HB 1281. This legislation will be considered by the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs committee meeting at 8:00 AM, Wednesday, March 19. The easiest way to act is to go to http://protectgeorgia.net/showalert.asp?aaid=3145 and send a message through the Georgia Environmental Action Network (GEAN). It’s easy to sign up and you can send a message to all of the committee members with a click of the mouse. You can also view the members of the committee and see a sample letter.

Deadline for responding: Please take action by Wednesday morning, March 19.

B. Legislative Update

The Georgia Water Coalition (GWC) continues to work with legislators to fix the most glaring shortcomings of the State Water Plan passed earlier in the session.

The key needed fixes are: real, enforceable prohibitions against interbasin transfers, regional planning areas based on watersheds with locally appointed councils, and real requirements for conservation and efficiency.

The following are a list of bills related to our water resources and of interest to GWC partners. The legislative session is 40 legislative days long and is currently scheduled through Day 35 on March 27.

Please stay tuned for GWC Alerts asking you and your members to take action on these bills during the final days of the legislative session.

HB1226 –Speaker Glenn Richardson’s Reservoir Bill, Sponsored by Rep. Mike Coan of Gwinnett County

· This bill has been amended to require the EPD Director to consider more than 20 criteria listed in the Statewide Water Plan before approving a new interbasin transfer. Thanks to Rep. Debbie Buckner for the amendment, which will fix one of the KEY FLAWS listed above.

· Creates a new division headed by a new director and a deputy director, housed in GEFA that has the sole responsibility for administering reservoir funding and permitting.

· Requirements are still needed for a “needs analysis”, with teeth and specific economic and environmental criteria, a cost-benefit analysis and specific conservation requirements before new reservoir projects are permitted.

· The bill is currently assigned to the Senate Natural Resources Committee for consideration.

SB 342- The Lt. Governor’s Reservoir Bill, Sponsored by Senator Chip Pearson

· This bill is currently awaiting action in the House Rules Committee.

HB1281

· Will require cities and counties to adopt the state's relaxed outdoor watering restrictions or get permission to impose rules tougher than the state's.

· The bill passed the House on Tuesday, March 4, 124 to 38. It is now being considered by the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

· Urge Members of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee to Vote NO on HB 1281 because it will hamper the ability of local governments to do what is best for their communities and successfully reduce their water use.

Water Conservation bills:

· Many water conservation bills were introduced in the house calling for low flow retro-fits, low flow requirements, “graywater” plumbing requirements, low flow tax credits and tax free holidays.

· We need the Senate to take the best House bills and craft a set of solid conservation incentives: a) sales tax holiday, b) tax credits for water conserving fixtures, c) funding for water utilities to redesign their rates to promote conservation while protecting revenue levels.

Water Plan- Regional Planning Based on River Basins and Locally Appointed Region Councils

· Legislation to require regional planning based on river basin boundaries rather than political boundaries and to require regional council appointments by local officials rather than state officials still needs to be passed.

HB 1322, by Rep. Calvin Hill

· Would prohibit homeowner associations from prohibiting xeriscape landscaping in their neighborhoods.

· This bill failed to pass out of the house by crossover day, and now the GWC will work to find another bill to amend HB 1322 requirements on to.

2. River Jobs, Internships and Fellowships
Visit our website at http://www.garivers.org/resources/jobs.html for additional links and details.
Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper-Development Director http://www.ucriverkeeper.org/aboutus8.htm

3. Buy Green Home Products, Support GRN
Visit LetsGoGreen.Biz to shop for green products for your home. They have light bulbs, water conservation devices, paper towels and toilet paper etc. You can even send someone a sampler package as a gift. Georgia River Network receives 25% of each dollar you spend. Just select Georgia River Network as the beneficiary when you check out. Visit http://www.letsgogreen.biz.

4. National River Cleanup™ 2008 Open for Registration
Every year millions of tons of trash end up in our nation’s rivers and streams. These cleanups have removed more than 1,000 tons of litter and debris from America's rivers and streams. This year’s event officially kicks-off May 31st June 8th. Sign up now to join a cleanup or organize one of your own! Visit http://www.americanrivers.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AR7_NationalRiverCleanup&autologin=true.

5. Group Spotlight – GreenLaw and Sandersville Power Plant Fight

On February 22, 2008, GreenLaw attorneys, acting on behalf of over a dozen citizen groups raised serious questions about a newly proposed 854-megawatt coal-fired power plant to be built in Sandersville, 60 miles east of Macon. GreenLaw’s comments on the application from Power4Georgians, LLC for permission to pollute the air are being submitted to the state Environmental Protection Division (EPD). “The Power4Georgians permit application for Plant Washington is incomplete and seriously flawed,” stated GreenLaw Executive Director Justine Thompson. “The applicant did not even consider numerous technologies that would improve air quality and protect the health of both citizens and agricultural crops,” she continued. Power4Georgians is a consortium group composed of ten members of the Electric Management Corporation (EMC). Georgia already has 10 coal-fired power plants. The air pollution permit for an eleventh, the Longleaf Plant proposed by Dynegy for Early County, is being contested in Fulton County Superior Court by Friends of the Chattahoochee and the Sierra Club of Georgia, represented by GreenLaw. GreenLaw concludes that the state EPD should reject this application due to the inadequate analysis of the public health risks that the plant poses.

This latest application for a coal-fired power plant in Georgia comes on the heels of an announcement earlier in the month that three of Wall Street’s biggest investment banks are imposing new environmental standards that will make it harder for companies to get financing to build coal-fired power plants. Citigroup, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley will require that utilities seeking financing for plants prove that the plants will be economically viable even under potential stringent federal caps on carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas that they expect the U.S. government to regulate. For the first time, banks will be asking utility companies to report on their environmental compliance in areas such as energy efficiency options, prospective greenhouse gas allowances anticipated from the federal government, and renewable energy options.

The organizations on whose behalf the comments were submitted are: Altamaha Riverkeeper, Center for a Sustainable Coast, Environment Georgia, The Georgia Conservancy, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, Georgia River Network, Micah’s Mission, Mothers and Others for Clean Air, Ogeechee-Canoochee Riverkeeper, Physicians for Social Responsibility/Atlanta, Satilla Riverkeeper, Sierra Club, Turner Environmental Law Clinic at the Emory University School of Law, and Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

6. Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival - Atlanta
Patagonia presents the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival hosted by Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Georgia River Network and Georgia ForestWatch. April 2 and 3, 2008 from 7-9pm at the Regal Tara Cinemas-Atlanta, 2345 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E., Atlanta. Doors open at 6:30 and films begin promptly at 7pm.

We encourage you to attend both nights as the films are different each night. With a growing public awareness for the environment, the festival aims to motivate people to go out and make a difference in their community and around the world through inspiring and educational films. The films themselves touch on Alternative Energy and Building, Community Activism, Agriculture/Food, and Adventure. Tickets are $10 per person, per night. Tickets will be sold at the door based on availability. Due to limited seating we strongly suggest purchasing in advance to ensure admission. All advance purchased tickets will be entered into a special prize drawing. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=PADD16E. For festival details, visit http://www.garivers.org/events/filmfestival.html.

Thanks to our Atlanta Wild and Scenic Film Festival SPONSORS: Patagonia, Whole Foods Market, SweetWater Brewing Company, Williams Realty Advisors, LLC, REI, Cadmus Construction - Building a Better Environment, Remax Around Atlanta - Sandy Springs, Weatherford Place - A Solar Community of Net-Zero Energy EcoCraft(tm) Homes, Stormwater Systems, Inc., and Utana Bluffs.

7. Paddle Georgia 2008 Registration Now Open – Flint River
Paddle Georgia 2008 - A Project of Georgia River Network

Flint River: Thomaston to Montezuma

June 21 -27, 2008

95 Miles, 7 Days, 1 Great Time!

Discover all the once in a lifetime fun and adventure in store for you on Paddle Georgia 2008 on the Flint River at http://www.garivers.org/paddle_georgia/pghome.html.

Register now online at: http://www.garivers.org/paddle_georgia/pgregister.html or by calling 706-549-4508 to request a printed registration form.

· Participation limited to first 300 thru-paddlers

· Paddle Georgia Lite (June 21-22 only) registrations taken after April 15 if spaces remain available

This summer, join fellow paddling enthusiasts for Paddle Georgia and experience Georgia as you never have before.

· Daily paddle trips averaging 13 miles

· Nightly camping with meals, games, entertainment and educational programs

· Tours of industrial facilities, historic sites and more

· Scientific research including chemical and biological water monitoring

· Companionship and camaraderie with dozens of fellow paddlers

· Fundraiser for Georgia River Network with proceeds supporting the creation of a Flint River protection group

For questions about the trip, contact Joe Cook at 706-235-1170. For questions about registration, contact Dana Skelton at 706-549-4508.

8. DNR Board Meetings – DNR Board Room, Atlanta

Next committee meetings are scheduled for March 25 and the Board meeting for March 26 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://www.gadnr.org/pdf/bdsched.pdf.

9. Canoochee River Race
April 5th. Registration is $35/person before March 15, 2008, $45/person after deadline. The Canoochee River Race is an 11-mile obstacle course through the beautiful meandering blackwater of Evans and Bryan Counties. The Rocks, or the bridge at Highway 301 in Evans County just north of Claxton, serves as the starting point for the Canoochee River Race. Participants paddle downstream to a beautiful county-maintained boat ramp called Groveland Park at the Highway 280 bridge in Bryan County. Register Online at: www.active.com or by contacting Melanie Hendrix at mhendrix@ocrk.org or 866-942-6222 ext. 2.

10. American Rivers Rivers Action Day – Washington, DC

Registration is now open for River Action Day in Washington, DC to be held on June 17-18. This is a great opportunity to meet face-to-face with your Members of Congress and encourage them to support your local Wild and Scenic river. This year is the 40th Anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. For more information and to register, click the following link: http://www.americanrivers.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AR7_RiverActionDay.

11. River Rally – Ohio
River Network’s River Rally will be held in Huron, Ohio, May 2-5. Join River Network and over 500 friends at Sawmill Creek Resort for multiple days of education, inspiration and celebration. Visit www.rivernetwork.org.

12. Southeast Watershed Forum Conference – Charleston, SC
Building Sustainable Communities for the 21st Century, August 12-14

Visit http://www.southeastwaterforum.org/roundtables/default.asp.

13. Environmental Leadership Institute - VA
League of Conservation Voters Education Fund will offer its Environmental Leadership Institute ® May 11th - May 16th in Sterling, VA. The ELI® is a rigorous program for strengthening individual campaign skills. An intensive program, the ELI® engages participants through a combination of workshops and a challenging simulation exercise. Each evening, participants apply the lessons of the day's workshops during their group simulation work allowing them to internalize the information for greater retention. Participants work in teams throughout the week, producing comprehensive campaign plans based on fictional political scenarios. Participants acquire hands-on experience with the following professional skills: Strategic planning, message creation, meeting
facilitation, fundraising, budgeting, negotiating, earned media, audience targeting, the use of polling data, message discipline, decision-making, and group dynamics. The specific qualities of leadership that are developed and improved are: Thinking and executing plans strategically, Ability to identify, recruit, and mobilize people and resources to win, Developing a compelling message and communicating persuasively, Understanding the relationship between products and process, Identifying your individual strengths and weaknesses as a leader. There are four fictional scenarios used to facilitate learning at the ELI®. Participants will be assigned to a simulation "Team" on the first day of the training based upon their campaign, political, and organizing experience level. The four simulations are each designed to teach fundamental campaign skills but each apply them in slightly different contexts. Contact Carrie at 202-785-8683 or carrie_maas@lcvef.org for an application. April and Dana from Georgia River Network have attended this training and highly recommend it. Contact us if you have questions.

14. Alliance for Justice Online Workshops
Strategies for Coalitions & Affiliated Organizations Web Workshop (3/27). This session examines the different roles of the 501(c)(3)s, (4)s, and political organizations, and explores the federal tax rules on how these organizations can work together. It explores the legal separations necessary between affiliated organizations, such as funding and fundraising constraints and permissible electoral activities.

Lobbying Rules for Nonprofits Web Workshop (3/31)

Want to know how your organization can lobby for the public interest? This session will explain the federal tax laws governing 501(c)(3) lobbying, including how to calculate your lobbying limits under the insubstantial part test and the 501(h) expenditure test, definitions of direct and grassroots lobbying, exemptions to the definition of lobbying and the application of these rules to ballot measure activities.

Workshops last one-hour. You can register online or by calling Jeff Prior at (202) 822-6070. Workshop Registration is $25. Visit http://www.afj.org/.

15. Non-Profit Board Seminars at UGA – Athens
The Nonprofit Program of the Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, will conduct its Spring 2008 Non-Profit Board Seminars on Wednesday: March 19 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 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.

16. Environmental Flows: Save the Date / Call for Papers - Athens

A conference promoted by the Southeastern Environmental Flows Partnership

October 27-29, 2008 at The Classic Center in Athens, GA. Increasing demands for offstream water use and recent droughts have emphasized the need for establishing sustainable water use policies within the southeastern U.S. In 2006, a working group of hydrologists, ecologists, engineers, and water policy and management experts formed the Southeastern Environmental Flows Partnership (SEEFP). The focus of the partnership is to gain needed perspectives regarding the sustainability of water supplies, restoring and protecting water quality and aquatic habitat, and providing information to planners and policy-makers. SEEFP is organizing an environmental flows conference with the theme of ‘developing a dialog for balancing human and environmental needs for water in a rapidly changing region’. The conference will have keynote sessions discussing: ‘Global Perspectives on Water Issues’, ‘Demographic Forces Affecting the Southeast’, ‘The Science of Environmental Flows’, and ‘Policy Issues Related to Environmental Flows’. Contributed sessions include: policy and economics of environmental flows, environmental flows and stream health, data and modeling needs, public and stakeholder involvement, and growth management and environmental flows. To submit an abstract or learn more about this conference please contact Steve Golladay, J.W. Jones Ecological Research Center, sgollada@jonesctr.org. Visit http://ga.water.usgs.gov/seflows.

17. Webinar - How to Work with Boards
April 11th - The most common complaint in all nonprofits is "Our board doesn't do fundraising." Each organization thinks that if they only did something differently, or recruited different people, the board would start doing fundraising. After 25 years of hearing this complaint over and over, Kim Klein thinks that the way boards are designed and structured is the source of this problem. However, there are a few ways to get the board on board. In this webinar, Kim will briefly discuss the problems inherent in the structure of boards, then offer several ideas for making your board do more fundraising and be more effective. These are not "Ten easy solutions." Getting a board on board takes work, but it is worth it. All are welcome to this webinar, but it is designed particularly for development staff. Cost: $150 per site/per webinar. More than one person can view the webinar at a single location; with a data projector your entire staff and board can participate! For more information and to register visit www.grassrootsfundraising.org.

18. Beetle Battle Paddle – Chestatee River

A benefit to help save the hemlock trees - Appalachian Outfitters and the Lumpkin Coalition will be hosting the Beetle Battle Paddle on March 29th from 9:00 -2:00. The average float/paddle time for this section is 2.5 hours with plenty of flexibility. Bring a picnic and enjoy it in our outpost picnic area or half way down river on a river beach. To find out more details or make reservations, visit www.canoegeorgia.com or call 706-864-7117.

19. James Holland (Altamaha Riverkeeper) Photography Exhibit
March 3-28 at Middle Georgia College, Peacock Gallery - Russell Hall
For more information about the exhibit or the Peacock Gallery, please contact Charlie Agnew at 478-934-3043.

20. Employment Law and Nonprofits - Atlanta
Want to learn about employment laws and how they affect nonprofits? Attend Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta's free Employment Law for Nonprofits workshop. Participants will learn about federal discrimination and harassment laws, discover strategies and tips for documentation and interviewing, and explore wage and hour compliance issues for nonprofit organizations. Thursday, April 17, 2008 from 10:00am - 11:30am at The Foundation Center (50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 150). This program is offered free of charge. Space is limited. Please arrive on time or your seat may be given away to others who are waiting to attend. To register, visit http://foundationcenter.org/atlanta/employat.html.

21. What Insurance Do We Need?
What insurance does your nonprofit need -- general liability, D & O, fiduciary, worker's comp, and automobile? Please join Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta for a workshop that will discuss the need for coverage, the amounts of coverage, the best structure (self-insured, SIR, deductibles) for the coverage and how to obtain the most competitive pricing. Wednesday, March 26, 2008 from 10:00am - 11:30am at King & Spalding (1180 Peachtree St, NE). To register email gwen.sparling@pbpatl.org by March 21, 2008.

22. World Water Day
March 22 – Visit http://www.worldwaterday.org/.

23. NWQMC Presents Monitoring: Key to Understanding Our Waters – Atlantic City
May 18 - 22, 2008 / Exhibition: May 19 - 21, 2008
If you have questions about the conference or would like to be placed on a mailing list, contact the 2008 National Monitoring Conference Manager at Monitoring2008@wef.org. For more information on the NWQMC and previous conferences, visit http://acwi.gov/monitoring/.

24. Georgia Forest Watch Wine Tasting – Tiger

Georgia Forest Watch Wild & Woolly Wine Tasting & Author-Fiddler Festival - Save the date, mark your calendar now! This year, the wine tasting and festival replaces the native plant sale usually held every spring. Celebrate with fine wine, music, and the written word. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this affordable fundraiser. Saturday, April 26, 2008, 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. at the award-winning farm winery, Tiger Mountain Vineyards, Tiger, Georgia. Tiger Mountain wines will be available for sale and tasting. Music will be provided by talented fiddlers Kelly Smith of Salem, S.C., and Scottish fiddler Marie Dunkle. Authors who will appear in person include Jeff Biggers (The United States of Appalachia;) Thomas Rain Crowe, (Zoro’s Field. My Life in the Appalachian Woods;) Brent Martin, (Poems from Snow Hill Road;) and Charles Seabrook, (Cumberland Island: Strong Women, Wild Horses.) $20 per person. For more information about this affordable benefit, contact Kathy Herrygers at info@gafw.org, or call 706-635-8733.

25. TMDL Knowledgebase Clearinghouse

Virginia Tech's Center for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Watershed Studies has developed an on-line database to house selected TMDL-related information and documents in one central location. The searchable clearinghouse contains three types of resources: TMDL guidance documents, reviews and summaries of TMDL-related technical and trade literature, and state-by-state summaries of TMDL programs across the nation. State summaries are updated regularly for all 50 states and include the approach and methodology used to develop TMDLs in that state. In total, about 500 documents are available within this database, which was funded, in part, by an EPA grant. The TMDL Knowledgebase Clearinghouse can be accessed via the Center's Web site at: http://www.tmdl.bse.vt.edu/site/knowledgebase/.

26. Urban BMP Performance Tool

EPA has created a new web-based tool to provide stormwater professionals with easy access to approximately 220 studies which assess the performance of over 275 stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs). The tool provides access to studies covering a variety of traditional and low impact BMP types, including retention and detention ponds, biofilters, grassed filter strips, porous pavement, wetlands, and others. Users will also find a series of essays aimed at improving understanding of BMP performance and the importance of volume reduction/infiltration in these assessments. EPA plans to add more studies over the coming year, focusing on expanding the collection of studies of low impact development or green infrastructure BMPs. The Urban BMP Performance Tool can be accessed at http://www.epa.gov/npdes/urbanbmptool.

27. Fundraising Databases
Making Order Out of Chaos: How a Good Fundraising Database Can Help You Raise More Money by Maria Petulla. Organizing your donor records in a usable database is like straightening out your closet: finally, you can find what you need! Maria Petulla explains how using a database can help you be more strategic in your fundraising efforts — and target the right people to ask for the right amount at the right time. The March April 2008 issue of the Grassroots Fundraising Journal is out, and this feature article is posted free online at http://www.grassrootsfundraising.org/.

28. Five Fundraising Mistakes We Make with Our Boards
Having trouble getting your board members to pitch in with fundraising? See if you're committing one or more of these errors. Read more at http://www.guidestar.org/news/features/board_fundraising.jsp.

29. Seven Statements in a Board Meeting That Kill An Idea

With some organizations, if you want to kill an idea, get the board to discuss it. To read seven deadly statements that can kill an idea, visit http://www.guidestar.org/news/features/deadly_offenses.jsp.

30. Follow the Events Path to Major Gifts

Events are a common fundraising tactic among nonprofits. Dinners, galas, runs, walks, and auctions are all variations of the ever-promising, always-delivering event fundraiser. Events encourage constituents to act in favor of the organization and provide a means for nonprofits to cultivate the relationship. But events have much more to offer. They can be a mechanism to discover major gift donors. Events often create a donor's first impression of an organization. They can be the beginning of a long-term relationship, or they can be the end. Read more at http://www.guidestar.org/news/features/events.jsp.

31. IRS Rules and Thanking Donors
It's always important to thank your donors for their contributions, but did you know that the IRS has specific rules about when you must provide acknowledgments and what those acknowledgments should say? Rules differ depending on whether the donor is giving you money or goods, and whether the donor receives something of value (like an event ticket) in exchange for their donation. To find out more, take the online tutorial at http://www.stayexempt.org/course5red/index.html. Another good resource is IRS Publication 1771.

32. An Introduction to Ergonomics

Learn the basics to working comfortably at your computer. Visit http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/page5258.cfm?cg=nyres&sg=.

33. What is the Role of an Attorney on the Board?
Read this article from Board Café at http://www.compasspoint.org/boardcafe/details.php?id=108.

34. 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.

AGL Resources support environmental stewardship projects such as clean air, conservation, & green space. Unsolicited grants are welcome but are rarely approved. Deadline: Quarterly. Visit http://www.aglresources.com/community/guidelines.aspx.

Alcoa Foundation - A significant percentage of our grants originate in Alcoa communities (in Georgia offices are located in Eastman and Norcross). The Foundation's focus for funding is around four distinct Areas of Excellence: Conservation and Sustainability, Safe and Healthy Children and Families, Global Education and Workplace Skills, and Business and Community Partnerships. Organizations interested in applying for a grant should contact the Alcoa facility nearest them. Local Alcoa contacts in our communities will then make recommendations to Alcoa Foundation for funding. For all grant inquiries, it is recommended that a concept paper be submitted via e-mail to the local Alcoa grant contact or to Alcoa Foundation before a formal grant proposal is prepared. The concept paper will be reviewed by the Alcoa location contact or by an Alcoa Foundation staff member, and they will contact the organization. Visit http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/community/info_page/foundation.asp.

Ben and Jerry's Foundation provides grants ranging from $1,000 - $15,000 for grassroots organizing that leads to environmental change and addresses the root causes of environmental problems. Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time and are reviewed three times a year. Click here for more information: http://www.benjerry.com/foundation/.

Butler Foundation - The Foundation provides grants for land conservation and wildlife protection. The Foundation has a strong interest in grassroots river activist organizations. Grants to local groups in the past range from $100 - $1000. Call 212-980-0606 for information. No deadlines.

Captain Planet Foundation provides grants to organizations that promote an understanding of the environment and involve youth ages 6-18. Grants range from $250 - $2,500. Deadlines for submitting grant applications are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. Visit http://www.captainplanetfdn.org/.

Community Foundation for Central Savannah River Area Grant applications are accepted from January 1st thru July 31st. Following an evaluation process, The Community Foundation awards grants based on identified community issues and the relative merit of the proposals received. The Community Foundation considers grant applications from organizations that are determined as charitable under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, public entities or other charitable, educational or cultural organizations. The organization must provide programs and services to the Greater Augusta area, including one or more of the following six counties : Richmond, Columbia, McDuffie, Burke, Aiken and Edgefield. The Community Foundation does not set a minimum amount for grant awards. The Community Foundation requires that application requests do not exceed $15,000.00. It is preferred that funds granted by The Community Foundation are to be matched by funding from other sources. Organizations are to submit only one grant application to The Community Foundation per calendar year. The Community Foundation considers and funds applications in seven major program areas including Environment/Health/Human Services. Visit http://www.cfcsra.org/common/content.asp?PAGE=137&CONTENT=717.

Corcoran Education Grant In 2008, the North American Native Fishes Association (NANFA) is again offering up to $1000 to sponsor a project or projects to educate the general public about native North American fishes and their environment. The Gerald C. Corcoran Education Grant will fund such educational projects as: producing and distributing educational materials (books, brochures, posters, displays, video, Internet resources, etc.),stream surveys with public education as a primary goal, public lectures,nature center displays, school materials and displays, and teacher training workshops. The award was established in memory of past NANFA President Gerald C. Corcoran, who stressed public education regarding the continent's native fishes. NANFA is an organization made up of home and professional aquarists, university and other professional researchers, conservationists, anglers and naturalists. As its name implies, the group is dedicated to the study and conservation of North America's native fishes. Grant proposals are due March 31, 2008. Proposals will be evaluated and ranked by a review committee, and funding awarded on June 1, 2008. Qualifying applicants must be members of NANFA but non-members may submit their annual dues with their proposals. For additional information, contact: Robert Denkhaus at Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge at (817) 237-1111, email Robert.Denkhaus@fortworthgov.org or visit http://www.nanfa.org/corcoran.shtml.

The mission of the Educational Foundation of America is to improve individual lives and their surroundings through education and awareness, in hopes of bettering humanity and the world we inhabit. The Foundation’s areas of interest include the environment, reproductive freedom, theatre, drug policy reform, democracy, peace and national security issues, education, medicine, and human services. Letters of inquiry may be submitted by email at any time. Visit http://www.efaw.org.

The Fund for Wild Nature provides grants to grassroots projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for campaigns to save and restore native species and wild ecosystems, including actions to defend wilderness and biological diversity. The Fund seeks proposals with visionary as well as realistic goals to create tangible change. Special attention is given to ecological issues not currently receiving sufficient public attention and funding. The Fund supports advocacy, litigation, public policy work, development of citizen science, and similar endeavors. The remaining application deadlines for 2007 are April 27 and November 2. Visit http://www.fundwildnature.org/.

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.

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation 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.

Acres for America, a partnership between Wal-Mart Stores and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, was established to provide funding for projects that conserve important habitat for fish, wildlife, and plants through acquisition of interest in real property. The goal of the program is to offset the footprint of Wal-Mart’s domestic facilities on at least an acre by acre basis through conservation of critical habitats. Preference will be given to acquisitions that are part of published conservation plans (North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Partners in Flight, etc.), State Wildlife Action Plans, or Endangered Species Act Recovery Plans. The annual pre-proposal deadline is April 1. Visit http://www.nfwf.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Browse_All_Programs.

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 June 6, 2008 is for pre-proposals. Visit http://natlforests.org/consp_01_grant.html.

Norcross Wildlife Foundation provides funding for equipment and publications. Grants range from $1,000 - $5,000. Visit http://www.norcrossws.org/.

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 http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/contribution/patagonia.go?assetid=2927.

The Stonyfield Farm's Profits for the Planet Program donates 10% of the company's profits annually to nonprofit organizations in order to enhance efforts that help protect or restore the environment. Projects that generate measurable results, for example, natural resources saved, people educated, etc., are given priority. Applications for support are accepted from organizations throughout the U.S., with some emphasis on organizations located in the Northeast with projects often reflecting Stonyfield's support of organic farming methods and efforts to combat global warming. Requests for funding may be submitted at any time. Visit http://www.stonyfield.com/AboutUs/ProfitsForThePlanetProgram.cfm.

Techsoup - Discounted Computer Software
Click on this website to purchase computer software at great prices. Must be 501c3. www.techsoup.org.

The Waste Management Charitable Giving Program is committed to making company communities safer, cleaner, and better places to live and work. (Information on company locations is available on the Waste Management website.) One of the primary focus areas of the Charitable Giving Program is the environment. The company is committed to helping provide renewable resources to reduce our nation’s dependence on fossil fuels, and to conserving and maintaining wetlands, wildlife habitats and green spaces for people's enjoyment. Support is also provided to environmental education programs, including environmental and science related projects targeted to middle and high school students. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Visit http://www.wm.com/WM/community/Giving.asp.

Watchable Wildlife Grants - The Georgia Department of Natural Resources-Wildlife Resources Division is accepting proposals for nongame educational and watchable wildlife projects. Funding for these projects is available through the Nongame Wildlife Fund from the sale of the nongame wildlife license plates. Applicants may include local governments and non-profit organizations. Educational projects can be programs, facilities, exhibits, publications or other activities whose goal is to educate students, teachers, or the public about nongame wildlife conservation. Due to limited funding and a large number of applications, outdoor classroom projects will not be funded through this program. Watchable wildlife projects can include facilities improvements or other activities that will develop or improve opportunities to observe nongame wildlife on lands accessible to the public, such as county or local parks. Separate proposals are requested for educational and/or watchable wildlife projects. Three copies of each proposal should be submitted to the Nongame Conservation Section of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, c/o Watchable Wildlife-Education Funding Program, 2070 U.S. Highway 278 SE, Social Circle, GA 30025. The deadline for receipt of proposals is April 28, 2008. The funding request for each proposal should be limited to $5,000 or less. The contact person for projects selected for funding will be notified by May 27, 2008. Visit http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=483. For questions or additional information, call (770) 761-3035 or (770) 918-6787.

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Georgia River Network 10th Anniversary - 2008
A Decade of Working Together for Healthy Rivers