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FORCE - Friends of the Rivers Coalition eNewsletter |
April 2007 ~ P.O Box 2627, Stuart, FL 34995 ~ 772-225-6849 www.RiversCoalition.org
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| Next Public Meeting April 27, 2007 |
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The next meeting of the Rivers Coalition will be held this Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the Blake Library, 2351 SE Monterey Road, Stuart, FL (nearest Ocean Blvd.) This is our regular monthly meeting and we welcome public participation and support.
Agenda:
Business Matters
Chairman Comments Leon Abood
Policy/Organizational Document Leon Abood
Legal Update Karl Wickstrom
Special Event Jamie Burns
Run For The Rivers Mike Melton
Coalition Committee Reports
Water Quality Mark Perry
Local issues Mark Perry / Ed Fielding
State / Federal Issues Kevin Henderson / Paul Gray
IRL / CERP Kevin Henderson / Paul Gray
WRAC
Progress Reports
South Florida Water Mgmt
DEP / Issues Team
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Next month's meeting will be June 8th, (May/June Meeting) also at the Blake Library.
View the entire year's meeting schedule on our website!
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Click Here To See 2007 Meeting Schedule |
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WRDA Update |
WRDA is back in the game after a Senate committee passed a bill last month that includes the Indian River Lagoon project, the Democrats passed their version of WDRA this month and would authorize 682 projects nationwide at a cost of $13.1 billion.
The Bush administration, however, issued a statement saying that it "strongly opposes" the House bill as too expensive but expressed support for the Indian River Lagoon and a $375 million Picayune Strand restoration project in Collier County. The Administration also opposed a $144 million authorization to construct a project that would enhance the sheet flow of water into Everglades National Park.
The House bill would authorize 15 projects in Florida at a federal cost of about $2.4 billion.
Here are the players; Senate
"We are insistent on addressing the needs of the Everglades," said Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
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Click here to visit Legal Update on our website |
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| Events and Fund Raisers |
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The Rivers Coalition Boat Raffle is still in full swing and the boat itself is making a grand tour of variety of events.
On March 2nd the Coastal Conservation Association held their annual banquet and fundraiser at Indian Riverside Park and invited us to attend with our boat and sell raffle tickets. Thanks for the help from Danielle Adams and Ron Burns
Florida Oceanographic Society held their annual Swashbuckler fundraiser on March 15th and generously offered us a spot at the 'boarding ladder' to sell our raffle tickets and display the boat. Thanks to our own costumed crew for all the help, Laurie and Ed Lorch, Ron Burns, Bonnie MacDonald, Helen Harralson and Danielle and Bill Adams.
The Stuart Rod & Reel Club (RC members) were at Sandsprit Park on March 17th, and so were we! Ron & Jamie Burns took the early shift and Bill & Danielle Adams stayed till the end.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Call 772-225-6849 to Volunteer!
Running For The Rivers On April 13th, Mike Melton, President of Stuart Striders, will participate in the unbelievable new marathon, the First Annual Sunrise to Sunset Relay. Unlike several clubs and teams that are forming to run in a relay fashion across the state, Mike will run the entire 165 mile race solo. It sounds like a crazy thing to do but he is well prepared. "I will be running most of the way along the path of the Okeechobee waterway to the lake and west. I start out at Indian Riverside Park in Jensen Beach and finish in Fort Myers" Mike said. Mike intends to use this unique opportunity to promote the Rivers Coalition and our lawsuit along with the effects the discharges from Lake Okeechobee have had the east coast as well as the west coast by Running For The Rivers from Jensen Beach to Fort Myers.
Earth Day, April 21st at Memorial Park, downtown Stuart. Join us to celebrate Earth Day 2007!
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Click Here to Purchase Raffle Tickets Online |
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Have You Heard? |
We've outgrown our grassroots newsletter and have moved to an online solution. Sure hope you're getting the full benefit of the pictures we can now include. If you can't see them, chances are you need to adjust some stupid setting or another on your browser or virus program. Yes, we know it's a pain but pictures are such fun! Oh, and past issues are posted on our website!
The City of Stuart has pledged $25,000 to the Rivers Coalition!
WRDA is back! The Water Resources Development Act is making it's way back to Congress - AGAIN!
Annie Mac Millan, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, has made a commitment to assist in our fund raising efforts and will concentrate on individual and organizational donations.
Congratulations to Elyse Levy, a Rivers Coalition volunteer, a member of the junior class of Martin County High School and recently crowned Miss Martin County 2007!
Have You Read?
Bud Jordan, Rivers Coalition member and President of the Saint Lucie River Initiative, wrote an outstanding Eight Part Series Report "The Decline of the Saint Lucie River". If you missed it in newspaper, you can read it in it's entirety on our website.
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Click Here to read "The Decline of the Saint Lucie River" |
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| Rivers Coalition Board Members Outstanding Leaders |
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It may have been St. Paddy's Day but there was no blarney at all in the presentations made by Kevin Stinnett, Indian Riverkeeper for the annual awards by the Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County on March 17th.
Leon Abood and Karl Wickstrom, were both the well deserved recipients of Outstanding Leadership Awards from the Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County at their annual banquet.
Leon Abood, Chairman of the Rivers Coalition, received their award for Outstanding Leadership as Conservationist of The Year.
Karl Wickstrom, Board member and Rivers Coalition Legal Defense Coordinator, was presented the Outstanding Leadership Award for Conservation Journalism,.
Congratulations to both!
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Pass This Newsletter On! |
If you would like to represent your organization as a member of the Rivers Coalition, eMail us at info@RiversCoalition.org
Application is free and you need only represent an organization of 25 or more members.
Visit our website at RiversCoalition.org or call us at 772-225-6849
PASS IT ON!
Check it out! Use the buttons at the bottom of the newsletter to pass on this newsletter to a friend, to subscribe or (heaven forbid) unsubscribe!
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Editor: Jamie Burns |
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