By: Sydney Zinner
We were excited to host the 2024 AWW Annual Meeting at the beautiful Kreher Preserve and Nature Center in Auburn, AL! We gathered with Monitors, Trainers, Board Members, program partners, and new friends to celebrate the accomplishments of our AWWesome Volunteers throughout the last year. Read on for a recap of the day!
PROGRAM UPDATES
We kicked off the event with program updates from Alabama Water Watch and our sister programs within the Auburn University Water Resources Center.
Dr. Eve Brantley, Director of the Auburn University Water Resources Center (AUWRC), Mona Dominguez, Director of Alabama Water Watch, Sergio RuizCordova, Director of Global Water Watch, Bree Minton, Program Coordinator of the Alabama DroughtReach Program (ALDR), and Jessie Curl, Program Coordinator for the Alabama Private Well Program (PWP), gave updates on programming.
Check out the 2023-2024 Alabama Water Watch Year in Review video:
Educational Animal Program from Kreher Preserve and Nature Center
The Kreher Preserve and Nature Center is well known for their educational animal programming, so we were thrilled to have their staff show us some of Alabama’s native turtles, gators, and snakes!
BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose
Throughout 2023 and 2024, AWW collaborated with BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose (BCPP) to make water resources education and outreach accessible to all interested watershed stewards.
One of BraveHeart’s four program goals is to “utilize photo voice as an outreach tool to encourage disability awareness and acceptance. BCPP Photo Voice Project culminates in photo exhibits at 1-2 venues each year.” Community Inclusion Ambassadors with BraveHeart have taken photos during weekly walks and WRC events, including the spring stream cleanup on Auburn’s main campus. Their photos were on display during our lunchtime presentation, which you can view here!
We were excited to have several Community Inclusion Ambassadors as our Event Photographers for the Annual Meeting – be on the lookout for an upcoming post featuring their photos!
PhotoVoice is a participatory approach where individuals, often from marginalized communities, use photography and personal storytelling to share their experiences and perspectives. This approach empowers participants, raises awareness, and advocates for social change by capturing and discussing images that reflect their lives and concerns. The photos and accompanying narratives are shared through exhibitions and presentations to engage the broader community and influence policy and societal change.
ART STATION
AWW Association Board Member Anne Mathews came up with the idea to set up an Art Station where meeting participants could create paintings inspired by Alabama biodiversity. James Pilman and Anne facilitated the Art Station during the meeting, and Jera drew a beautiful sign for it!
Several participants took advantage of the station, and brought materials to their tables to create nature-inspired drawings.
SUMMER SWAG FUNDRAISER
AWW debuted some new swag as part of a fundraiser for the Alabama Water Watch (AWW) Association, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization that works to support the work of the AWW Program and its volunteers. Hats, tanks, shirts, stickers, posters, and prints were available.
If you attend a workshop in 2024-2025 you may be able to grab some if you missed the pre-order!
AWW CADDY AWARDS PROGRAM
The meeting ended with the Annual AWW “Caddy” Awards Program, which allowed AWW Staff to recognize and celebrate many wonderful people. Award winners received beautiful prints that display Alabama’s biodiversity handcrafted by Brian and Laura Cooley from RabbitFish Studio.
Read more about our AWWesome Award Winners.
Mullen-Debes Award for Monitor of the Year – Gabrielle “Gabby” Dunham
Trainer of the Year – Mimi Fearn
Stonefly Steward Award – Jennie Powers
Marty Schulman Biodiversity Guardian Award – James “JJ” Fortune
Eric Reutebuch Water Spirit Award – Dog River Clearwater Revival
Lifetime Achievement Award – Jeff and Linde Lynn
Be on the lookout for the 2025 Call for Nominations in early 2025!
THANK YOU!
Special thanks to everyone who made this day possible:
Kreher Preserve and Nature Center
BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose
Hydro Engineering Solutions, LLC
AWW Annual Meeting Planning Committee: Anne Mathews, Stephen Morros, Dana Herren, and Tom McCauley
SAVE THE DATE!
Plan to join us next year in Foley!
