Dr. Bill Deutsch provided a few other AWW Program Updates, the centerpiece of his talk being his announcement that he is stepping down as Director of the AWW Program after about 22 years. Bill officially retired from Auburn University last June, and received Research Fellow, Emeritus status with AU. He has continued to work part-time and serve as the leader of AWW which has been ever so helpful during this year of greatchanges. Bill will continue to work with AWW and GWW, but felt it was time to pass the baton of Director.
AWW Association Updates
The Alabama Water Watch Association, the 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and extending the impact of AWW, provided an update of recent activity. The highlight of these updates included an announcement of major changes to the AWWA membership policy for 2014 by Michael Freeman, Advisory Board Member of the AWWA. In an effort to update and build the AWWA membership database, all current monitors/donors and any monitors certified in the coming months will receive a free year of AWWA membership that will expire on June 30th, 2015. In the years to come, the AWW Annual Get-Together will be the time for annual membership campaign. Memberships will continue to be based on a rolling calendar, for instance if you join in November, your membership will be valid until the following November. In 2015, new, simpler donor levels and new benefits to AWWA members will be presented during the Annual Meeting.
Although membership will be offered at no charge for the coming year, this does not mean that AWW does not need support. If you have been a member or donor to AWWA in the past, thank you and please consider donating this year. AWWA provides important services like website maintenance, support of the Trainers Program, and other special initiatives that require extra funding. In the current fiscal year, the AWWA has received approximately $4,000 in memberships and donations. Let’s see if we end the year on September 30th with more than $5,000!
2014 AWW Awards
AWW recognized the following Award Winners for 2014.
Your AWWA Involvement is More Important Than Ever
Dr. Bill Deutsch, AWWA Board of Directors
The Alabama Water Watch Association (AWWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to support the goals of the AWW Program. In the coming months we will be introducing you to our Board of Directors and helping you gain a better understanding of this organization through a series of blog articles. If you would like to know more about joining the AWWA contact one of our Board Members or visit the “Support AWW” section of our homepage.
Like a couple of others on the Alabama Water Watch Association (AWWA) Board of Directors, I’ve been with things from the beginning of our “experiment” with community-based water monitoring. As the AWW Program Director at Auburn University, I’ve given countless updates about AWW’s progress at virtually all of our Board meetings. It has been a pleasure to share the positive news of our growth and impacts…new monitoring groups formed, additional sampling sites and data records, success stories of cleaning up pollution, and new ways to provide environmental education to Alabama kids. The “experiment” was a success, and thousands of Alabamians have proved their willingness to volunteer and get active in collecting and using vital information for the protection of our streams and lakes.
- Bill at White Cliffs English Channel
Continue reading “Your AWWA Involvement is More Important Than Ever”
Meet the fine folks that keep AWW growing statewide!
by Rita Grub
I bet you’re enjoying the warmer temps and signs of spring – soft greens and colors we haven’t seen for several months. And maybe you’re like me – amazed that over 25% of 2014 is in the past. It’s been a BUSY time for AWW:
- There have been over 30 workshops and recertification sessions this year – awesome!!!
- There have been 75 new Water Chemistry and 76 new Bacteriological monitors trained in these workshops
- And almost 30 monitors have been recertifed!
Continue reading “Meet the fine folks that keep AWW growing statewide!”
What’s all the buzz about?
Auburn water researchers using bees to help Kenya with nutrition, income and river protection (source: Auburn Daily, 3/4/2014)
In Kenya, traditional cultures place a high value on honey and related products of the beehive. In the past it was part of the dowry or “bride price” for marriage, and a man needed to have at least 20 liters of choice honey to present to a prospective father-in-law when asking for his daughter’s hand. More than just a tradition, this commodity could be the key to improving many aspects of Kenyan lives. Auburn University’s Global Water Watch has joined with Kenya’s Green Belt Movement to find innovative ways of linking honey production with improved nutrition, higher incomes, community development and river protection.
The Hidden Benefits of Alabama Water Watch
by Bill Deutsch
We water monitors often think of AWW success in terms of sites monitored, water data collected and positive actions taken with that information. The “crème de la crème” might be an improvement in water quality or policy, and we’ve seen some good examples of that over the years (see our Success Story blogs on this website). But what about more subtle, even hidden, benefits of our program and work? Continue reading “The Hidden Benefits of Alabama Water Watch”
Neither Rain, nor Snow, nor Dark of Night…
by Bill Deutsch
January 29, 2014…OK, so I procrastinated in my monthly monitoring of Hodnett and Saugahatchee Creeks in Lee County (Tallapoosa River Watershed). Because the last day of the month was not an option, I was left with three choices: a) sample today with snow on the ground, b) wait until tomorrow after temperatures are forecasted to plunge to 13 F overnight, or c) the “unthinkable” …skip sampling in January. Trudging through the snow for the first time in 15 years of monthly sampling of Hodnett Creek was fun, and my old Border Collie, Jazz, accompanied me to make sure I didn’t get lost (I made sure she drank out of the creek downstream of where I monitored!). Air temperatures hovered around 1 C, but the water was a toasty 4 C at both sites (record low for my data). Continue reading “Neither Rain, nor Snow, nor Dark of Night…”
AWW Program Updates and Important Announcements Shared During the 2013 Annual Meeting
On May 10th, the 2013 AWW Annual Get-Together took place in Auburn, AL at the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve. The evening began with a lovely Social Hour during which old friends had a chance to catch up, and folks had a chance to start new water watch friendships. Jennifer Lolley, Preserve Administrator, gave a presentation and tour to introduce attendees to the beautiful Preserve.
Alabama Water Watch Association Updates by Mike Kensler, President of the AWWA Board
The AWWA Board of Directors is small, but dedicated. One high priority of the Board is to broaden, deepen, and strengthen the Board by adding expertise and capacity – for example, adding legal, accounting, and fundraising capacities of the board while retaining representation from monitors and other citizen supporters of Water Watch.