SUSTAINING THE FLOW

A newsletter for partners of the Alabama Rivers Alliance

Welcome to the October 2023 edition of ARA's monthly partner newsletter! Our partner newsletter's purpose is to help us all sustain the flow & keep moving forward together in our respective work in Alabama. Open us up this month to read about upcoming events, partner news, job postings, funding sources, and opportunities to get involved! 

 

REGULATORY NEWS & COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Relevant environmental regulatory updates & opportunities to let agencies know how their decisions can impact your work.

 

SIGN UP FOR OPEN MEETINGS ACT NOTIFICATIONS

Because of the Open Meetings Act, Alabama's Secretary of State provides the public with meetings notices and agendas for public meetings. Sign up for email notifications or view public notices for state, county, and local agencies, boards, commissions, and other governmental bodies around the state. You can subscribe to just your local community meetings or the whole state. This is useful for governmental bodies that meet irregularly! Learn more.

 

GOOD TO KNOW: ADEM DIRECTOR'S REPORT TO EMC & RECORDING

Read a copy of ADEM Director LeFleur's most recent report to the Alabama Environmental Management Commission from August 11, 2023. The AEMC is charged with oversight of the Director, so he reports to them at each of their bi-monthly meetings. These reports give an indication of the Director's priorities and perspectives on specific areas of the agency's work that may be of interest to your organization or your community. Read the Director's Report here.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS IN ALABAMA

October 25-28 - Block Is Hot EJ Bus Tour

  • Get to know Black Voters Matter at one of the seven stops on the EJ Bus Tour!

October 28 - Kellypalooza 2023

  • Party in the woods with Coosa Riverkeeper in Ohatchee

October 28 - Halloween Bay Bites

  • Join Mobile Baykeeper at Braided River for a costume party and food truck festival

November 4 - Poetic Walk with FLFR

  • Reflect with poet Tine Mozelle Braziel at Swann Covered Bridge

November 4 - Nature Journaling Workshop

  • Join Starr Weems & Wild Alabama's Janice Barrett at Lowe Mills Arts & Entertainment

November 5 - Fall Education Fair

  • Head to Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve with North AL Land Trust

November 9 - Southern Exposure Montgomery

  • Come to the Capri to see the 2023 Southern Exposure films, Montgomery area folks!

November 9 - Cahaba Inspired Art Opening

  • Cahaba River Society & Arts Trussville host their first juried art show: Cahaba Inspired

November 11 - Horton Mill Covered Bridge Hike

  • Take a fall stroll with the Friends of the Locust Fork River 

November13 - Southern Exposure Montevallo

  • Catch the new 2023 films with the University of Montevallo Sustainability

AROUND THE ARA OFFICE

  • We had an incredible night with Senator Arthur Orr, Dr. Bill Deutsch, and 11 of our partners across the Tennessee River watershed! We heard about how the community uses its waterways and discussed the importance of connecting our elected officials with the waterways in their districts. These community conversations are supported by the US State Department's Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund.
  • ARA staff joined the UAB Rural Health Symposium in Montgomery and had many important conversations about the next steps for gaps in Alabama's water, sanitation, and health. Stay tuned for more resources from ARA for navigating the water infrastructure funding landscape in Alabama!
  • We are in the early stages of planning for Water Rally 2024. Save the date because we hope everyone can join us at Camp McDowell March 15-17! Please submit any ideas you have for keynotes, topics, presentations, or sessions here! If you have some overall thoughts or want to help with planning, reach out to Martha!
  • ARA's Director of Community Partnerships attended the "Clearing the Thicket: Alabama's Deep Underbrush of Injustice" Conference with Greater Birmingham Ministries and the Poor Peoples Campaign. Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis of the National PPC, the keynote speaker, explored what thickets need to be cleared and seeds of justice to sow in their place. Attendees were challenged to look at social, political, and economic issues that need to be "cleared" for all Alabamians to enjoy a just life. 

  • Thinking about bringing the Southern Exposure films to your community in 2024? Let Kelly know and we will make it happen, captain!

Submit events to ARA anytime here!

 

PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACROSS ALABAMA

Amplifying the voices of those working for change in Alabama by celebrating news, wins of all sizes, milestones, AND ways others could use support! Submit your news so we can celebrate you!

  • Help us plan a great Alabama Water Rally 2024 weekend! Do you have a session, keynote, workshop or presentation you would like to present or hear? Submit your ideas here!
  • Need any nonprofit bulk mailing stamps? The Friends of the Locust Fork River has 2,000 extra stamps available for $100, or half off to the right buyer! Contact Mari if you are interested.
  • Congratulations to Beth Stewart, Executive Director of Cahaba River Society, for receiving the 2nd annual Alabama Women of Conservation Award from The Nature Conservancy! Read more about Beth's contributions to conservation and the award here.
  • See the Wild Alabama art show "Conservation Through Art: Saving Alabama's Hemlocks" at Huntsville's Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment now through November 18th! See pictures from the opening reception on Facebook here.
  • Welcome to the new staff at Energy Alabama! Sharetá Collins joins as Marketing and Communications Manager, and Jason Fisher joins as Policy Manager.
  • Shake the Field's 2023 Trap Democracy Artist Showcases will be in Mobile on 11/9, Birmingham on 11/14, and Montgomery on 11/30! Come out to these free trap music festivals for local artists and small business owners with info about the importance of making all voices heard through voting and civic engagement. Reach out if you are interested in tabling or to learn more!
  • ICYMI: A federal judge has ruled that Alabama Power can face a lawsuit over its storage of coal ash by the Mobile River at Plant Barry. Read more about the progress of this lawsuit brought forth by Mobile Baykeeper and SELC here.
  • EPA announced their intentions to conduct comprehensive reviews for tackling 40 Southeast Superfund sites, which included American Brass in Dothan, AL. Read the press release here.
  • Hey coasties - have y'all seen any manatees on the move to their wintering grounds recently? Report sightings to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab at 1-866-493-5803, by email to manatee@disl.org, or on the Manatee sighting report form! 

This newsletter is created by a small team with limited resources, please use reply to this email or click below to submit newsletter items from your organization! 

 

FUNDING | LEARNING | EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

FUNDING OPPORTUNTIES

TRAINING & LEARNING

EMPLOYMENT & INTERNSHIPS

Alabama Rivers Alliance
2014 6th Avenue North, Suite 200 | Birmingham, Alabama 35203
205.322.6395 | info@alabamarivers.org

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