Cleanup Saturday

From Tammy Becker:

The event will be held at the St. Louis Riverfront, on the cobblestone, just below the Arch.  Anheuser-Busch typically sets up a large white registration tent in the center of the riverfront, up near the street...you can't miss it.  At the tent is where the all volunteers will register, get their t-shirt, sunscreen, etc.  Volunteers are told to come at 8:30a, and will depart in boats at 9am.  They will all be out on the river, collecting garbage and placing it in piles along the shoreline till about noon.  After that, everyone will head back to the riverfront where A-B will have lunch catered (and free beer:)).  Everyone's usually gone by 1p...

They have about 200 volunteers from A-B.  They can handle many more than that, so ANYONE with River Kids may join in the fun.  Just show up downtown in the morning.

Kids as young as 6 could come, but parents will have to supervise closely. There are boat rides involved if you choose to travel out to a cleaning location with LL&W.

Please remember to wear rubber boots if possible (or old shoes that don't matter to you at all) and bring work gloves if you have them.  You may also want to wear a hat...and perhaps any River Kids gear you might want to show off.  I'll have some extra t-shirts there for folks who don't yet have one.

LL&W will provide the rest.

Ben

RK Update - Benefit is here!!

The benefit is THIS WEEKEND! Yippeeeeee!

Please remember to share important information from emails with your River Kid if they don't get the email directly. The kids (and plenty of adults) will undoubtedly be excited to know what to expect this weekend. And there's not a whole lot of fluff in this email...there's just a TON going on worthy of mention and sometimes requiring a response.

Before I go any further, let me congratulate Riley Kniptash and Susan Pastoret for successfully establishing their own new branch of River Kids at Ladue Middle. What a huge step! It sounds like they will be heading out to the river soon with a bunch of students! Rock on, Riley and Susan!

Volunteer Opp - Help is needed at the sales table this week. Let me know if there's a day that works for your family.

Thanks a million to all the folks who attended the dinner meeting on Friday...there were more people than I expected. We were able to go over the details of the event and many people signed up to work a shift in one of the areas. At this point, it seems we are fairly well-staffed, but if you're interested in helping, let me know and I'll get you an assignment ahead of time so we don't have to worry about who's doing what the day of the event. You may also speak with Jamie Ryan directly. She has been coordinating volunteers and will know exactly where you will be needed most.

Whether or not you are working, all event tickets will allow the holder into the City Museum from open (11am) to close (5pm). And in fact...River Kids have been given special permission to hang out a while after the museum officially closes...our own extended River Kids party! Yahoooo! We'll just eat leftovers for dinner. :)

On the Mike Clark Trip...The bidding began quickly and stands at $180. Email me a higher bid if you're interested and I'll put you on the list of people who will receive updates the bidding rises. I won't be sending constant updates to everyone, but the current high bid will be posted in the hall. And you may ask me at any time via email for an update. Bidding will close on Friday at 4:30pm. Remember... while this trip is valued at $1200, it's a priceless opportunity to see the river the way only Mike Clark knows it.

Kayak raffle tickets will also be on sale in the hallway. It's a $540 package that includes a 230cm Werner Paddle and the Aluminum Frame Inflatable Kayak. Tickets are $5 each or 4 for $20. Raffle tickets will be on sale until the end of the concert at the benefit.

If you have not bought tickets to the event, ordering online is easy at: www.newcityschool.org/RiverKidsBenefit_950.aspx

And please send the link (and the attached flyer) to whomever you think might be interested. If you're at another school, consider hanging the flyer or making an announcement if there's a venue for that. We're hoping ticket sales will really come through this week. We want the biggest crowd possible in order to make the event a total success!

I've been talking with Tammy Becker from LL&W - They are pulling into town on the barge today or tomorrow. I will be taking a trip down to visit them Tuesday evening to pick up some of the "decorations" and discuss details. If there's a kid or two who'd be interested in joining me, please let me know and I'll confirm the timing.

At the dinner meeting, several people wanted to know details about participating in the cleanup on Saturday. I emailed Tammy earlier today, but I haven't heard back yet about details. I'll send out an invitation email with details as soon as I have them and you can decide whether or not you'd like to participate.

Even if you are not into cleaning on Saturday, we will need some volunteers to work a table at the cleanup. We'll sell tickets to the event at half price to the cleanup volunteers. The sculpture will be created during the cleanup, so those who are around will get to see the artist in action.

Looking forward to an action packed River Kids week!

Ben

List of RK Dates to Remember

Important Benefit Info

Those of you who are attending the dinner Friday will hear more details, but there are some ways some of you may want to participate before and during the event.  I thought I'd give you all a heads up:

1. Mike Clark donated a $1200 all-inclusive custom designed two-day overnight river trip for up to 6 people to our cause.  We are taking silent bids for this trip leading up to the event and will continually post the current highest bid.  There is no minimum bid.  If you're interested in bidding on this trip, you may do so in person at the River Kids table in the hall at NCS, or via email.  If you use email, I will update you if someone outbids you.  Bidding will be open until Friday, Sept 18 at 4:30pm.  At that point I'll post the current bid for one last entry by any involved parties. The virtual silent auction begins now.
2. We are accepting pledges for donations.  There are forms at the RK table in the hall.  ANY amount will make a difference.  You may donate a one time amount or donate an amount per ton of trash cleaned at the September 19 cleanup.  You may also make a pledge via email.  Final payment will be due on pledges in November.
3. Kayak Raffle - People have been asking if we'll be raffling another kayak or canoe this year.  No canoe, but the inflatable kayak will be back. We will be selling an unlimited number of tickets at $5 a piece or 5 tickets for $20.  Raffle tickets will be on sale in the hall at NCS next week.

I should note that Big Shark Bicycle Shop has donated a bike as well.  As a little added incentive to come party with us on September 20, the bike will be an attendance prize given away to start the event.

I hope to see many of you at the event.  However, if you cannot attend the event, you'll consider participating in one of these other ways.

Thank you thank you!  And please email me if you have any questions.

Ben

RK Update - Volunteers Needed

Reminder - Family Dinner Meeting this Friday. 5:30-7pm in the dining hall. Pizza, pasta and drinks provided.  We will discuss the details of the event and provide a signup sheet so you may choose a team on which to work for the event if you are able.

We also need more kids (and adults if you're able) to sell tickets and merchandise at the table each morning and afternoon.  Please let me know if your child is willing and able to cover the table for any or all of the 7:45-8:15 or 3:30-6:00pm range.

There are Open Houses on Wednesday and Thursday.  If there's anyone who would like to operate the table from 6-6:30 those nights, there will be a lot of people in the building.  Please let me know.

In order for this event to be a success, we will need lots of help from RK families, but the most pressing needs are related to ticket sales.  We are selling tickets online as well as in our hallway at NCS.

The online sales page is: http://www.newcityschool.org/RiverKidsBenefit_950.aspx

If you or anyone else you know would like to buy tickets and they prefer credit card transactions, direct them to this page.

I should note that we are accepting donations online as well at: www.newcityschool.org/MakeAContribution_82.aspx  Anyone wishing to contribute without purchasing tickets may do so by using the drop down menu to designate a gift to River Kids.

As a third way to donate, we are accepting pledges at the ticket table (or via email) for any amount of money per ton of trash we clean out of the Mississippi on September 19 with Living Lands and Waters.

I've attached the flyer again in case you would like to print it and hang it, or send it along to someone you know.  I also have flyers at NCS in my room already printed that you may have.  I'll bring some to the family dinner on Friday.  Please do your part to promote the event.  Word of mouth is everything!

Thanks for all you do!  Go River Kids!

Ben

Fwd: RK Benefit Detail Dinner

As we are closing in on the benefit date, it is becoming more important that all River Kids families start thinking about how they might be able to help seal the deal.  Behind the scenes, there have been several wonderful planning sessions, a walkthrough, catering talk, decoration planning, email coordination of all the entertainment, graphics work, and donation requests...It's been a busy past few weeks indeed.

All of the planning is really done.  It's time to make this thing actually happen. So, I'm inviting all of you to join me for dinner on

Friday, September 11 - 5:30pm IN THE DINING HALL at NCS.

We'll have food and drink and lots of good information regarding the benefit, including details like when do the kids need to be there and more...


Ben

River Kids on Youtube

After several hours of videoing and a bunch of editing, we were able to create a video to send off to the National Mississippi River Museum.  They have accepted our submission informally and plan to post it on a video kiosk at the museum.  The kiosk will focus on activism along the Mississippi. We'll be amongst the giants, like Living Lands and Waters, who will also have videos posted...VERY COOL!

I'm included the Youtube link above if you'd like to see the video...

A big thanks to Theresa Biggs for making this video come together...And definitely thanks to the kids (even the ones who aren't in the final video) for donating their time, and more importantly their thoughts about River Kids.  It's not always easy to keep River Kids rolling, but as I listened to each of the kids speaking to the camera, it was incredibly clear that River Kids is something very special and worth every minute spent.

See you all soon!

Ben

Hallway Sales

We need volunteers to manage the River Kids sales table...Thankfully Genevieve Nickerson has been willing and able to shoulder the load this first week, but I'm hoping some others will step up and help her out next week.

Please let me know if there are any days next week that would fit your schedule.

We need coverage anywhere in the 7:45-8:15 range and 3:30-6:30 range (You do not need to come for all of the afternoon time...any or all would do.)

Thanks!

Ben

New Date for Mike Clark Canoe Trip

Because of the 6th grade camping trip on September 23-25, I decided to see if we could get another date for the canoe trip with Mike Clark.

We were able to switch the date to Wednesday, September 16.

We will leave NCS right after school at 3:30 and meet Mike to paddle from 4-7pm.  We'll be back to NCS by 8pm.

If you emailed me before about the other date, please still email me again that this date will work for you.  There is nothing on the school calendar, but that doesn't mean there isn't something else on a Wed that may keep you on shore.

All River Kids (old and new) are welcome to attend this trip.  I've heard from a few parents as well and hope that some will feel like joining in the fun and have the time to do so.

Ben