Advocates to gather at river conference

Published 10:55 am Friday, February 15, 2008

Who: Georgia River Advocates

What: Georgia River Network Annual Conference: “Working Together for Clean Water”

When: Fri. Feb. 22, Sat. Feb. 23, 2008

Where: Fri.: Berry College Alumni Center; Fri. Night Party and Awards: Heritage Hall at Georgia Highlands College, Sat.: Berry College Science Building – Rome, GA



River advocates from across the state of Georgia will gather in Rome for the Georgia River Network Annual Conference. At the conference, advocates will gain information, skills, and tools for use in protecting and restoring rivers across the state.

Highlights of the conference will include:

Keynote Speakers – Biodiversity in the Coosa Basin—Anna George, Director of the Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute; An Update on Georgia’s Statewide Water Plan and Current State Legislative and Policy Issues, presented by Neill Herring, Sierra Club and Jill Johnson of Georgia Conservation Voters; Georgia Watershed Groups – Making a Difference and Turner Minigrant Program – Judy Adler, Turner Foundation and Steve Fleischli, President of the Waterkeeper Alliance;

A Decade of Working Together for Healthy Rivers – Sally Bethea, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper



Three informative tracks on Saturday:

* Statewide Water Plan – Ensuring Enough Clean Water – Featuring presentations on interbasin transfers, water conservation strategies, instream flow policies and more!

* Working in Your Watershed – Featuring presentations on volunteer recruitment, managing your data, and more! Track chaired by Georgia Adopt-A-Stream.

* Shared Lessons for Georgia’s Watersheds – Featuring presentations on watershed protection projects going on all over the state, watershed messaging, and model ordinances that will protect your watershed.



•Friday Workshops

* Big Money for Small Organizations, presented by Andy Robinson, Courtesy of ICL. Learn the keys to successful fund raising from an experienced, engaging trainer.

* Get the Dirt Out training for trainers. Become a trainer and teach citizens to Get the Dirt out in your watershed!



Full Moon Paddle sponsored by Coosa River Basin Initiative on Feb. 21st from 6:30-8:30pm. Join CRBI Riverkeeper Joe Cook for a six mile paddle on the beautiful Etowah River. Bring your own boat, or rental canoes available for $30 each. For registration details contact Joe Cook at CRBI: 706.232.2724

• Networking

• Exhibits

• A Friday night party featuring a live and silent auction, River Celebration Awards, and River Jam held in Heritage Hall at Georgia Highlands College. Celebrate Georgia River Network’s 10th Anniversary.



For more information or to register, visit http://www.garivers.org/.



Georgia River Network is working to ensure a clean water legacy by engaging and empowering Georgians to protect and restore our rivers from the mountains to the sea.