Freshwater Voices

The Newsletter of Freshwater Future

Freshwater Voices is the newsletter of Freshwater Future, published four times per year. Freshwater Voices is intended to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas among citizens and organizations working to protect aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes Basin.

Volume 16, Number 4 • Winter 2008-2009

Director’s Notes: Now IS the Time!

By Jill Ryan

During these uncertain financial times, many nonprofits are asking, should we wait to talk with our donors until the financial news is better? The answer is NO!

We should continue to communicate with members and donors, and also continue to let our donors know that in these times their gifts are more important than ever to ensure we can continue the important work they already support. While many states have had to cut back on budgets for environmental enforcement, local groups offer the ability to effectively and efficiently monitor activities that may be environmentally harmful and participate in the decisions regarding these activities. This low cost solution is a great option to ensure the future of our economies and way of life.

So let’s not be shy and let’s not deny that financial uncertainty exists, but instead be honest about these concerns and honest about our need to keep programs operating that truly offer good, economical solutions to some of today’s problems.

In this issue of Freshwater Voices (our new name for our newsletter), you’ll see how our work to help people protect the Great Lakes utilizes a small investment to support the hard work and passion of citizens working to protect our lakes, rivers, and wetlands in the Great Lakes region.

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”

Mohandas Gandhi

Disclaimer: The interpretations and conclusions presented in this newsletter represent the opinions of the individual authors. They in no way represent the views of the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, the C.S. Mott Foundation, subscribers, donors, or any organization mentioned in this publication.

Freshwater Future builds effective community-based citizen action to protect and restore the water quality of the Great Lakes basin. We work toward this goal by providing financial assistance, communications and networking assistance and technical assistance to citizens and grassroots watershed groups throughout the Great Lakes basin. Through these efforts we work with over 1,800 grassroots watershed groups and citizens to protect and restore the rivers, lakes and wetlands in their communities. Freshwater Future is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization.

For more information, please contact:

info@freshwaterfuture.org
P.O. Box 2479,
Petoskey, MI 49770
PH (231) 348-8200;