We would like to extend a huge “Thank You!” to everyone who attended the 2018 Alabama Water Watch Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 23! It was a great time for fellowship and to reconnect with everyone.
Nearly 100 people attended this year’s meeting!
If you weren’t there, here’s a quick recap of what you missed…
The AWW Annual Meeting was kicked off by a welcome from Dr. Paul Brown, the Associate Director of Alabama Cooperative Extension System. We are grateful that he could be in attendance!
Several volunteer monitor groups and individuals were represented at the meeting, including Logan Martin Lake Protection Association, Friends of Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, 4-H AWW Auburn Unitarian Universalist Church (AUUF), 4-H Limestone County, and Global Water Watch Mississippi and Seattle. Below is a brief introduction to our speakers and award recipients.
Linda Ruethemann (pictured here) and Isabella Trussell from Logan Martin Lake Protection Association spoke about their experience as AWW Volunteer Trainers, how they stay organized as a group, and more.Isabella Trussell with Logan Martin Lake Protection Association.Anne Mathews, a Volunteer Monitor with Friends of the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, presents on her monitoring experience and receiving monitoring supplies through the AWW Tiger Giving Mini-Grant Program.
Starr Weems and Chloe Wilson with 4-H AWW Limestone County talk about the impact Alabama Water Watch has had on the youth they work with.Julie Meadows and Shawn Jacobsen, leaders with Religious Exploration and youth from 4-H Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) discussed how AWW plays a role in their youth programs.Mona was officially crowned as AWW Director!
Lunch from Byron’s Smokehouse was a hit!The keynote of the meeting consisted of messages from water monitoring leaders from other states in the US who have been motivated by the work of AWW. Eric Adman video message highlighted the work of Sno-King Water Watchers in Seattle, WA following the example of AWW. Abby Braman, with Global Water Watch Mississippi, delivered part of the keynote about why her organization, Pearl Riverkeeper, joined GWW to emulate the AWW model of community-based watershed stewardship.Michael Freeman, Alabama Water Watch Association Vice-President, gave an update on the AWW Association.Dr. Puneet Srivastava, AU Water Resources Center Director, detailed the current research projects and initiatives of the center.
During the awards ceremony, several groups and individuals were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the AWW mission over the last year. Click on each award to learn more about the recipients and their AWW Stories!
This year we decided to initiate a new AWW Award, the Water Spirit Award. The award is intended to recognize and honor someone who exemplifies a spirit of involvement, enthusiasm, and concern for water resources in Alabama and beyond.
A few award recipients were not able to attend the Annual Meeting, but have since been presented with their awards during local events.
This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding service and accomplishment related to the protection and restoration of watersheds through water monitoring.
Dr. Deutsch wrapped up the Annual Meeting by premiering his new book, Alabama Rivers, A Celebration And Challenge.
We hope to see everyone again at next year’s Annual Meeting at the Historic Blakeley Park in Spanish Fort, AL!
The Annual Meeting was truly inspirational to me, and, I believe to everyone present. It was an AWWsome meeting – Mona and the AWW staff did a wonderful job of showcasing AWW and GWW volunteer monitoring efforts throughout the state and beyond! Seeing so many new faces, as well as many committed ‘old-timers’ (or, more appropriately, ‘mature-timers’) gave me renewed hope in AWW and ongoing/future efforts to preserve and protect our aquatic treasures throughout the state – JOB WELL DONE!!
And, words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for the special honor you all presented me! I was/am deeply moved. As I tried to express at the meeting, it has been the joy and privilege of my life to have had the opportunity to be a part of the AWW family and work alongside such a talented and dedicated staff and volunteers throughout the state! As you know all too well, our efforts are needed now more than ever before.
Kudos to you all – AWW/GWW just keeps getting better and better!
The Annual Meeting was truly inspirational to me, and, I believe to everyone present. It was an AWWsome meeting – Mona and the AWW staff did a wonderful job of showcasing AWW and GWW volunteer monitoring efforts throughout the state and beyond! Seeing so many new faces, as well as many committed ‘old-timers’ (or, more appropriately, ‘mature-timers’) gave me renewed hope in AWW and ongoing/future efforts to preserve and protect our aquatic treasures throughout the state – JOB WELL DONE!!
And, words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for the special honor you all presented me! I was/am deeply moved. As I tried to express at the meeting, it has been the joy and privilege of my life to have had the opportunity to be a part of the AWW family and work alongside such a talented and dedicated staff and volunteers throughout the state! As you know all too well, our efforts are needed now more than ever before.
Kudos to you all – AWW/GWW just keeps getting better and better!