Helping Out A Friend

I know you all are familiar with Chad Pregracke's organization, Living
Lands
and Waters, but I don't know if you have met Tammy Becker, their
Education
Program Director. She's amazing. She wrote me to tell me of a friend
of
hers who's moving to the STL area and is seeking a position as a
Director or
Project Coordinator for a non-profit. I don't know her myself (or
even her
last name at this point), but here's a quote from Tammy's email, and
Tammy
speaking highly of someone really means something in my book:

Tammy: "Erin¹s a really spectacular personSshe graduated in 99 with a
Sociology/Women¹s Studies degree, went on to do Peace Corps for 3
years (and
also got Volunteer of the Year award!), after PC was accepted into the
Shriver Peace Worker program in Baltimore, MD, where last year she got
her
Master¹s in Public Policy with an emphasis on non-profit management.
Not to
mention she¹s the FUNNIEST chick with the biggest heart and more passion
than anyone I¹ve ever met! Anyone who meets her, LOVES HER!!!"

Erin is moving to town after October and is actively seeking a
position. I
know that some of you have connections with various organizations and
might
have some leads. If you are aware of an open position or if there's a
person to whom she should send her resume, any contact information
would be
greatly appreciated. She's searching from Baltimore right now and has
hit
many dead ends.

You may send info to me and I'll pass it along.

Thanks for helping out Tammy in helping her friend...Tammy really
appreciates it!

Ben

A-B River Cleanup Details

Here are the details for the September 20 cleanup with Living Lands and
Waters:

8:00a Registration Opens
8:45a Comments by St. Louis Mayor, A-B rep, and LL&W founder, Chad
Pregracke/Safety Talk
9:00a Everyone departs for cleanup site
12:00p Everyone returns from cleanup to enjoy free lunch &
refreshments,
including free A-B products
Approximately 1:00p Depart for the day!

Where to Meet:
The cleanup will launch from the St. Louis Riverfront, just below the
Arch
grounds (on the cobblestone). Parking will be available there and the
Eads
Bridge/Laclede's Landing stop on the MetroLink will also put you just
north
of the Riverfront but in easy walking distance-there is no provided
transportation. A-B will have a LARGE white tent set up on the
cobblestone
for registration.you can't miss it.

What to Bring/Wear:
Long pants (no shorts as there may be poison ivy or stinging nettles)
T-shirt
Old tennis shoes/boots/rubber boots recommended. They will likely get
dirty
and/or muddy. Don't wear anything nice!
Hats-optional
Sunglasses-optional but highly recommended
Jacket/Rain coat-depending on the weather
Clean clothes/shoes-optional.but just in case you get really dirty and
you
want to change before driving to your next destination
ABSOLUTELY NO SKIRTS OR SANDELS OR OPEN-TOED SHOES!!!!!!!!

What Will be Provided:
Lunch
Refreshments
Bottled Water
Life Jackets
Sunscreen
Bug Spray
Garbage Bags
Gloves
Shovels
Free t-shirts
Free beer for adults after the event

What to Expect:
Volunteers will board large aluminum work boats to a predetermined
site. At
the site, volunteers will get out of boat and walk along shorelines to
collect garbage. All metals and tires will be kept separate.
Everything
else will be put into bags (unless its really big) and all debris will
be
put into piles along the shoreline to later be picked up by Living
Lands &
Waters crew. Volunteers will continue to do this, likely reboarding the
boat to go to a different location after initial site is cleaned, until
11:45a when they will head back to the Riverfront. Most debris will
likely
consist of Styrofoam, scrap metals, plastic bottles, a few tires, and
a lot
of miscellaneous items that got washed in from this summer's flood.

I am planning to attend, so if any RK need a ride, let me know.

Also, remember to wear your RK t-shirts if you go...adults can get one
from
me if they'd like one. Just contact me and I'll arrange to send one
home
with your child.

Thanks!

Ben

Ben

RK Update - Important Info Regarding This Year

RK Families,

Thanks for all your notes welcoming Bella into the world...she has been
nothing but a wonder so far. We're thrilled!

RK info - After meeting with the Board last week, there are a number of
changes that will be occurring to the organization and how it operates
in
order to improve the River Kids experience. Here's a brief list of
some of
the changes in play:

1) Meetings will be held in the library from 4-5pm. Bigger space in
which
to operate.
2) Snack will be offered as part of membership through Extended Day,
as with
other Talents Classes. This should help minimize distractions. River
Kids
will get snack at 3:30 under Tobie's supervision and then come to the
library after eating. (4th-6th Grades normally eat at 4pm...RK will be
allowed to go early.)
3) Large Group Meetings will be focused on educational activities
regarding
rivers. (Small Groups will still be formed for special projects and
will
meet separate from the large group during the week.)
4) The benefit will be planned differently this year. This is a major
topic
of discussion at the next Board Meeting. The central sentiment of the
Board
was that we like giving to others and some flashiness is good to attract
attention to the cause, but we need to have a less extravagant affair
that
is more centered around the cause rather than just hype. We are
considering
a variety of alternative formats, including a benefit concert, a
clean-a-thon or walk-a-thon, and others...
5) The benefit is NOT the place to focus on celebrating the year for
River
Kids...that needs to be a separate event for RK Families alone where
speeches are really heard and appreciated. No direct plans are in
place for
this event, but it will be in development this year.
6) The RK Board will continue to meet monthly to make guiding
decisions and
discuss issues further. The Board will be a necessary venue for
problem-solving that did not exist last year.

Additional Plans/Thoughts:

- RK will not be taking on any new projects this year. We will be
focusing
on bringing closure to old projects and educating ourselves more about
rivers.
- RK will be involved in more cleanups this year. Hands-on
involvement is
part of being a River Kid.
- This year we will host a River Kids Open House on September 26, 4-5pm.
The goal will be to present potential members with the most up-to-date
and
accurate information regarding the organization and expectations for
members. Our primary goal is to steer away any kids that are only
superficially interested, or interested only in the benefit dinner
because
of its flashiness. We also hope that returning members might be able
to get
their heads wrapped around the year by being there. So ALL RK
families are
invited as well. The Board members are expected to be there if
possible to
give a presentation.
- Field trips and Guest Speakers should be considered as part of
meetings.

Projects currently in play:

1) Rain Harvesting - Installation being completed this fall.
Unveiling/Recognition ceremony in development.
2) Herbie Project - Herbie is still waiting on a home. City Museum has
assured me that we will be able to discuss possibilities very soon. The
completion of the new roof complex has occupied them since we first
brought
this idea to them.
3) Mural Project - No new info. We were officially denied permission to
paint at the end of last year. However, we are considering working with
Trailnet to seek out a new location that will be okay with all.
4) River Kids Urban Exchange (Mentoring Project) - This group will
need to
begin meetings early to decide how this project evolves.
5) Benefit - This group will be starting from scratch this year to
discuss
how this event can be dramatically improved.

I hope this update gives all of you an idea of how much consideration
has
been given to improving this organization. The Board Meeting was a
testament to the passion that River Kids have and should have for being
people who truly affect positive change. I've never been prouder to
be a
part of River Kids.

Rock on, River Kids!

Ben

P.S. For those looking for river-friendly events:

Here's the address for the Confluence Greenway website. If you're not
familiar with them, take a closer look...they are tied to many amazing
active living projects and river-related events. Their event calendar
is
filled with wonderful opportunities!

http://www.confluencegreenway.org/

RK Events - Don't Miss Out!

The Board Meeting was fantastic the other day...Thanks to this
dedicated,
enthusiastic group for spending the extra time. I am working with
Tobie to
schedule the next Board meeting and the new member meeting we discussed.
I'll keep you posted.

If all goes the way this Board Meeting did, this year will be
unbelievably
better than any previous year.

For now, I'd like you all to know about three specific River Kid-
friendly
events. They are optional, but more than ever, I think it's important
for
River Kids and their families to make a strong showing whenever
possible.
Those of you who have attended cleanups together know just how
powerful the
hands-on experience can be. It opens eyes, poses questions, and
validates
our cause...It's the most tangible way to feel like you're making a
difference. So here are the events to consider:

1) This weekend - Friday, if you're off school or want to take off,
there is
a HUGE river festival up a the Columbia Bottoms Conservation area. RK
toyed
with the idea of running a booth, but our group skipping out on school
seemed a bit unreasonable...and it's not a fitting field trip for the
whole
4th-6th...

RK did sponsor a booth though...the H2Orchestra (water-based musical
instruments) will be there thanks to us. I'll be going up there for a
short
while just to represent River Kids a bit...Anyone else would be
welcome to
join me.

2) MO River Relief Cleanup - this Saturday. Following the festival is a
huge cleanup...MO River Relief has been doing this for a long time and
they
know how to make these events a TON of fun...Worth going if you can
make it!
You might see Chad Pregracke or Jeff Barrow (co-authors of From the
Bottom
Up) there as well. You can get details and register for the event at
www.riverrelief.org

3) Tammy Becker, of Living Lands and Waters, emailed us to invite
River Kids
families to attend their upcoming re-scheduled Anheuser-Busch Cleanup
downtown on Saturday, September 20. If you're interested in attending
that
one, let me know and I'll get you details about where to meet and
such...no
registration for that one. You would undoubtedly see Chad and the
rest of
the crew there...And if you've never seen them in action, you're really
missing out! They are a hoot!

4) Watershed-Wide Water Monitoring Day with the River des Peres
Watershed
Coalition in Forest Park...October 4. No training necessary. Join
experienced STREAM Team members at 9am at the Forest Park Visitor's
Center
and head out into the field to assigned sites. Lunch is provided at
the end
of the monitoring around noon. This would be a GREAT chance for some
of our
kids and family members to get acquainted with water monitoring. We
need to
let them know if you are joining, so if you are interested in this one,
please tell me soon.

So I know this is pre-season for RK, technically, but for all you die-
hard
river-lovers, these are some GREAT opportunities.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Ben

The latest Griffiths-Hill addition...

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to the world the latest Griffiths-Hill addition...Hayden
Isabella
finally made her way into the world Saturday morning, September 6 at
4:26am.

She was 7 lbs. 1 oz and 19.75 inches. Both mom and baby are doing
wonderfully, and her big brothers couldn't be prouder!

We'll come visit soon!

Ben