Meet Shirley Amitrano

Transcription

1 November 2008 TENNESSEE SCENIC RIVERS ASSOCIATION Meet Shirley Amitrano Shirley is our new staff person, and we are very excited to have her on board. Please make her feel welcome. What will you be doing for TSRA? As Opera'ons Manager, I ll be suppor'ng all of the Board Members and CommiLee Members with their efforts to make TSRA the premier voice for water conserva'on in Tennessee. This will involve anything from upda'ng and maintaining our database of memberships, renewals and dona'ons to assis'ng with recruitment of volunteers and administra'on of paddling schools and special events. What mo(vated you to take this posi(on? I m thrilled to be a part of TSRA. This posi'on is such a privilege in that everyone that I ll be working with is such an enthusias'c conserva'onist. In fact, I was most alracted to this posi'on when I read that one of TSRA s missions was to encourage the youth of today to consider the importance and future impact they ll have on Tennessee s waterways. I couldn t apply for the job fast enough! If I could make a difference for the environment and for kids well, I knew it would never get any beler than that! What are some your personal interests? I love to travel and to learn the history and lille known facts about new places and the people who once lived there. Where s the best place to go to learn something strange or extraordinary about a city or town? Go to the most historical graveyard you can find and read the CALENDAR (Look inside for details) November 1 Backpacking Trip (easy) November 1 Beaman to Bell s Bend Park2Park Celebra'on November 19 TSRA Author Reads from New Book December 13 TSRA Holiday Party January 24 Winter Hike headstones! The engravings, epitaphs, and cluster of family names throughout spans of decades are always great star'ng points for picking up on clues to that city s forgolen past. Try it some'me! My husband and son think I m nuts but they humor me about stopping at graveyards if I start to look bored on long car rides. Another favorite interest of mine is wri'ng. I ve published various ar'cles for children and adults on a wide range of topics. I was excited that part of my job as Opera'ons Manager will involve wri'ng ar'cles for different media sources to spread the word and accomplishments of TSRA. I also love wri'ng fic'on especially for children. Who knows, maybe I ll become inspired by the paddling schools and write an adventure story for kids about paddling... on the Ocoee River.... and how rushing rapids whisk them away from their guides... and they have to survive on their own... and thank goodness for those TSRA classes they took... and, well, I could go on and on. Do you paddle? Not since high school. And we won t go into how long ago that was. Actually, I rowed on our school s first girls crew team. Rowing isn t exactly paddling, but I m thinking I d love to be a part of the Dragon Boat Races! Has Tennessee always been your home? No. My husband and I are originally from New York. We ve been married 22 years and his job has kept us on the move. We ve lived in Virginia, Alabama, Arizona and Tennessee. My 12 year old son was born in Memphis, so we have a special place in our hearts for Tennessee. We ve lived in Middle Tennessee for eight years now and I don t think I ve known a more beau'ful place. How can we reach you at TSRA? Drop me a line any'me at Ops@paddletsra.org. Happy Paddling! More trips and ac'vi'es will be posted soon. We re working feverishly on coming up with a full range of great trips and events for For latest info check the Calendar and Trips pages at paddletsra.org. If you want to lead a trip, write Jack Lyle at jlyle@hvud.com Submissions to The Watershed are due at least 30 days before the issue date. Send Word documents, plain text and high resolu'on pictures to: newsle&er@paddletsra.

2 TSRA s Country Holiday Party December 13, 2008 Note the date change! On December 13, the TSRA Country Holiday party will be at Clyde and Mary Troutman s home in Leiper s Fork from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Bring something to drink, a dish to pass, and your paddling or conserva'on stories. Setups, plates, cups, and holiday spirit to be provided. Another change this year: This holiday party will benefit Community Shares (which fundraises for TSRA, so it will come back to us). According to Clyde, I m asking for a $5 BarneL Williams dona'on to Community Shares for each couple who alends. We get over $10,000 of funding from our Community Shares par'cipa'on and we must earn points to receive the money. So I ll hold the Holiday Party as a Community Shares House Party and request a small dona'on from par'cipants. Direc&ons: Once you re in Leiper s Fork, go 1.7 miles from Bailey Rd to 3443 Sweeney Hollow Rd on the right. Our house is the driveway just before the barn that sits right next to the road. We are near the end of Sweeney Hollow. Park at the bolom of the hill anywhere off the driveway just below where the concrete starts. Grab a TSRA s COUNTRY HOLIDAY PARTY deep breath of O2 for the short hike up the driveway. (Note that Mapquest and Google Maps show our house in the middle of Sweeney Hollow Rd. This is not correct; we are near the end.) How do you find Leiper s Fork? Let us count the ways If you get lost, call Clyde Troutman: From Nashville/Brentwood: Drive south on Hillsboro Rd. south to Old Hillsboro (in Grassland) and turn right Stay on Old Hillsboro Rd. through the flashing red stop at Hwy 96 (note that Hwy 96 does not stop). Go through Leipers Fork to Bailey Rd on the lep. This is at the intersec'on where Green s Grocery is on the lep (no sign on the building but it is green) and the Shell sta'on is on the right. Turn lep on Bailey and go about half a mile. Turn Right on Sweeney Hollow JUST over the bridge for Leipers Creek. From the South: Take Carters Creek Rd. north to Bear Creek and turn lep. Go about one mile to the first road on the right, Bailey Rd. Turn lep on Bailey at the three way stop. Take this to the first lep at Sweeney Hollow. From Franklin & East: Take West Main (Carters Creek) to Southall Rd. on the right. Drive on Southall westbound un'l it ends at Old Hillsboro and turn lep. Drive through Leipers Fork to Bailey Rd on the lep at Greens Grocery. Drive half a mile to Sweeney Hollow on the right just over the Leipers Creek bridge. From the West: Take Hwy 96 to Old Hillsboro Rd on the right. Go through Leipers Fork and follow direc'ons from Green s Grocery above. Or take Pinewood Rd from Fairview un'l it ends at Old Hillsboro/Leipers Creek Rd. Turn lep and go un'l just past the Shell sta'on, then right on Bailey. Go one half mile just over the Leipers Creek bridge to Sweeney Hollow on the right. Alternate route: Take Natchez Trace Parkway to Hwy 46 (Pinewood Rd.) at the Leipers Fork exit. Turn right on Pinewood and go about a mile to Old Hillsboro/Leipers Creek Rd. Turn lep and just past the Shell sta'on, turn right on Bailey. Go on half mile just over the Leipers Creek bridge to Sweeney Hollow on the right. EASY Backpacking Trip November 1, 2008 Want to get your backpacking gear out but don t want a death march? Join Bob and Jean for an easy backpacking trip of about six miles in and out (total) at the Tennessee Small Wilds area near Foster Falls. The trip is an easy rim hike that includes waterfalls, small creeks, and bluffs with prely views. Gear should include: a good high top hiking boot, extra clothes, some form of water purifica'on, first aid kit, and foul weather gear in addi'on to your regular supplies, food and water. The minimum age to par'cipate is fourteen. We will cancel if extreme weather is in the forecast. The campsite can only hold 10 backpacking tents, so please pre register as soon as possible. This trip should fill up fast. Deadline for registra'on is October 29. Call Bob Pierce to pre register at TSRA Author Reads from New Book November 19, 2008 / 6:30 p.m. Many of you know Mary Buckner as a former president of TSRA and as a long 'me paddling instructor who has taught at more schools than we could ever count. But did you know that MM Buckner is also an award winning science fic'on writer? On November 19, at 6:30 p.m., join Mary at Davis Kidd in the Green Hills Mall as she reads from her new book, Watermind. This new book, her fourth, is about water pollu'on run amok in the Mississippi River. This thriller will make you see toxic waste in a new light. Mary s previous book, Warsurf, won the Philip K. Dick award in 2006, one of the top awards in the science fic'on field. In addi'on, Mary has wrilen two other books, Neurolink (2004) and Hyperthought (2003). Come out and join Mary and other TSRA friends to celebrate the release of this new book. And check out the website:

3 Winter Hike January 24, 2009 Join your TSRA friends for a winter hike, led by Jack Lyle and Mary Buckner. The loca'on is undetermined so far but wherever we go, there will be great winter scenery and good company. Call Jack or Mary at to say you re coming. The River Inside Exhibit November 2008 Tennessee Photographer John Guider s exhibit, The River Inside, con'nues at the State Museum through November. Guider stepped into his 16 foot canoe on Spencer Creek in Williamson County five years ago and began his incredible journey. He canoed down the Harpeth, Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio rivers, paddling the mighty Mississippi, and arriving at his final des'na'on of New Orleans. The River Inside, which opened in October and con'nues through this month at the Tennessee State Museum, tells the story of Guider s solo journey through the camera s eye. Guider completed the upper por'ons of the Mississippi in three subsequent solo canoe trips taken from 2005 to 2007 and captured more than 10,000 scenes of America s waterways on film during his trips. He open paddled 8 to 10 hours a day and was some'mes alone for 5 to 6 days at a 'me. Then he selected and processed 75 pla'num prints representa've of the people and places he encountered along the way. The images offer a revealing perspec've on the natural and controlled inland waterways that bisect the na'on. On Sunday November 9, Guider will give a presenta'on at the History and Culture Book Fair at 3:00 p.m. A short documentary film, dis'lling the essence of Guider s trips, produced by BriLany Hailes and Coke Sams TRIPS, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS of Nashville s Ruckus Film, complements the exhibi'on. Admission to the exhibit is free. A book authored by Guider, which shares the same 'tle The River Inside is being released in conjunc'on with the exhibi'on. Published by Tennessee s FRP Books, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwestern/Great American, Inc. and designed by McNeely, PigoL & Fox Public Rela'ons, Guider s book is a story of his life changing journey, as well as a work of art with high impact photographs and graphics. With a cast of colorful characters, a series of near deadly mishaps, a respect for the Mississippi as a wonder of nature and of commerce, The River Inside is a one of a kind tale with an important message: The seas are around us, but the river is in us. During the 40 years Guider has spent in Nashville, he has played a significant role as part of the city s crea've community. A celebrated commercial photographer, he has been engaged by many of Music City s adver'sing agencies and ar'sts. During his extensive career he has earned numerous accolades and awards; his work has been honored in Graphis s pres'gious Poster Annual and he has received mul'ple American Adver'sing Federa'on Addy Awards. The River Inside is presented in part by Ingram Barge Company of Nashville. Located at Fiph and Deaderick Streets in downtown Nashville, the museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday and is free to the public. For more informa'on, contact Community and Media Rela'ons officer (and TSRA member) Mary Skinner at Mary.Skinner@state.tn.us; or visit the website:

4 PLANNING FOR TSRA S FUTURE D uring a good part of this past year, TSRA s Board of Directors has diligently worked on plans to move our organiza'on forward and advance our missions of protec'ng Tennessee s flowing waters and increasing paddling skills and safety. This plan builds on our 40 year history of protec'ng Tennessee s rivers and the contribu'ons of TSRA s founders and volunteer leadership. This is an overview of that planning work. Mission or Purpose TSRA exists to promote the conserva'on and protec'on of Tennessee s flowing waters and to teach current and future genera'ons to enjoy and protect our waters. Vision TSRA is the recognized leader in water related conserva'on and the premier source for paddling instruc'on in the Southeast. Enduring Values Those who learn to enjoy our flowing waters will work to conserve them. We are a member led organiza'on. TSRA provides generous support to other conserva'on organiza'ons. Strategic Goals and Key Ac&vi&es We are the leading voice for flowing water conserva(on in Tennessee. We will: Ask for advice and counsel from other water conserva'on groups. Provide significant funding for conserva'on efforts throughout the state. Ask members to ac'vely par'cipate in advocacy at state and local level. Found and establish of new watershed groups and associa'ons. Promote membership growth with emphasis on East and West Tennessee levels. Give our voice and support for exis'ng watershed associa'ons across Tennessee. Improve river access points across the state. Have addi'onal member driven, hands on conserva'on projects implemented each year. Our Paddling Schools educate 400 paddlers and 20 instructors per year. We will: Double the number of TSRA instructors. Increase the number of schools to eight each year by Develop a year round schedule. Double the number of official trips on both whitewater and flatwater. Provide other organiza'ons with instructor training. Increase family par'cipa'on through appropriate programming. To double our number of ac(ve annual members, we will: Increase Rendezvous alendance 20% each year. Grow membership in West and East Tennessee through programming and outreach. Improve communica'on with our membership. Add value to TSRA membership. Our public rela(ons and community awareness efforts support our rapid growth in membership and our influence conserving Tennessee waters. We will: Secure media coverage in an increasing number of stories per year, growing from 6 to 15 yearly. Obtain na'onal level media coverage twice yearly. Add new links on TSRA s website to other paddling and conserva'on groups. Introduce TSRA informa'on at all spor'ng goods retailers, conserva'on, and outdoors events across Tennessee and the region. We have a dynamic board and staff to fully support our work and play. Opera'ons Manager contract posi'on is filled. Volunteer Coordinator posi'ons are staffed with volunteer TSRA members. Our database of members and volunteers will be maintained and made more readily available. Board rota'on plan has been developed and amended to bylaws. Execu've Director posi'on will be developed by These are the broad highlights of the TSRA Strategic Plan. To accomplish these worthy goals and to grow TSRA, we need to get in harness and pull together. If you are interested in helping out and having your voice heard, please volunteer to work on one of the Task Groups that have been formed. Those groups meet monthly prior to our full Board mee'ngs at Radnor Lake Visitor Center in Nashville. Just come to the next mee'ng to get involved. The remaining Board mee'ngs for 2008 are November 21 and December 4, beginning at 6:00 p.m. If you have further ques'ons or want to get involved, please contact Henry Ambrose at info@paddletsra.org or call during business hours.

5 Beaman to Bell s Bend Park2Park Celebration November 1, 2008 CONSERVATION A day of ac'vi'es is planned for the Park2Park celebra'on, beginning with a 7:45 a.m. plein air Paint Out and ending with a sunset concert by Nanci Griffith. This will be an adventure packed event to be enjoyed with the whole family children s ac'vi'es will occur throughout the day. TSRA will be there, too. TSRA will have a booth, and a float trip led by Daniel Boone. Bring your picnic, a blanket, and be ready to have fun. The Park2Park Celebra'on will include: Bells Bend Paint Out: Led by Chestnut Group and Plein Air Nashville, mee'ng at ScoLsboro Community Club. Cumberland Float: Bring your canoe or kayak and meet Daniel Boone at Cleece s Ferry. Photography Workshop & Hayride: Led by Paul Schatzkin, star'ng at Bells Bend Outdoor Center. Beaman Park Hike: Led by Nancy Dorman, 4 miles star'ng at Creekside Trailhead. Ea'ng Wild Workshop: Led by naturalist Sharon Bracey at ScoLsboro Community Club. Yard & Crap Sale: All day at ScoLsboro Church of Christ on Ashland City Highway. Booths: The conserva'on community, including TSRA, will have booths at the ScoLsboro Community Club (baked goods will be available). Highland Rim Trail Hike: Led by Barry Sulkin, star'ng at ScoLsboro Community Club. Archeology of Bells Bend Workshop: Led by Aaron Deter Wolf, TN Dept. of Archeology, who will discuss original na'ves of the area. Hayride in the Old Farming Fields: Led by local farmers. Whooping Cranes of Bells Bend Workshop: Led by naturalist Rebecca McLusky at ScoLsboro Community Club. Bells Bend Park Hike: Led by park staff, star'ng at Outdoor Center. Ask a Farmer Workshop: Local organic and conven'onal farmers share their secrets. Music by Metro Jam Band, the neighborhood band. Sunset concert on the Cumberland by Nanci Griffith. Aper the concert walks, campfire, and cooking s mores. Price: It s all FREE! Come and check out Nashville s Backyard and learn about this beau'ful area. Want to help out? Contact Sherry Beard (tnpinkkayaker@msn.com) or Daniel Boone (dboone@lithographicsinc.com) CALENDAR OF EVENTS Ground Rules for Trips Contact Trip Leaders before par'cipa'ng in a trip. Dates may change at the discre'on of trip leaders due to weather, river levels, or other condi'ons. Dates for major events are NOT likely to change. Avoid par'cipa'ng in trips beyond your skill level. If in doubt, discuss trip difficulty and your abili'es with the trip leader. Be prepared to assist trip leaders if requested; for example, helping with shulles. HAVE FUN! NOVEMBER 1 EASY Backpacking Trip Bob & Jean Pierce (615) DECEMBER 13 TSRA Holiday Party Clyde Troutman clydetroutman@bellsouth.net

6 CONSERVATION Summit for a Sustainable Tennessee November 13-15, 2008 The Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) and Tennessee Conserva'on Voters (TCV) will host the annual Summit for a Sustainable Tennessee at David Lipscomb University in Nashville on November At this Summit, ci'zens, conserva'on groups, environmental policy experts, elected officials, and businesspeople from across the state will come to forge partnerships and create innova've solu'ons for energy and environmental issues. According to TEC execu've director (and head of TSRA s Duck River Opportuni'es Project) John McFadden, The Summit for a Sustainable TN is all about collabora'on to move the sustainability agenda forward in Tennessee. Sustainability is about a beler quality of life, healthy communi'es, a green economy and green jobs. The Summit will build upon the work begun at the first annual Summit in 2007 to crap, priori'ze, and advance a statewide sustainability agenda and ac'on plan. This Sustainability Agenda will establish the connec'on between the natural landscape, a healthy environment, and a vibrant economy. TEC staffers and TCV s Chris Ford will act as facilitators of this structured collabora've process. Issues will be iden'fied and priori'zed and strategies developed for working together on them. Local organiza'ons (such as TSRA, for example) can share exper'se, successes, and pool resources coopera'vely. Tennessee s popula'on and economy are growing and along with the benefits, there are costs to our public health, our heritage, and environment. Tennessee loses more than 80,000 acres of natural landscape per year. Sprawl development hurts the environment, and costs us in gas prices, car maintenance, pollu'on, wasted 'me, and health costs. We have increased water and air pollu'on causing respiratory and other health problems. But we can move toward healthier choices. The Summit will place posi've emphasis on the environmental, economic, and community benefits of preserving natural resources and promo'ng more sustainable prac'ces in homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Speakers will include: Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, Dodd Galbreath (Lipscomb University Ins'tute for Sustainable Prac'ce), Jonathan Gilligan (Vanderbilt University) and Robert GoLlieb (Occidental College). Summit ac'vi'es will be held at Ezell Hall at Lipscomb. For informa'on on alending, you can call TEC at or visit the website:

7 FIRST ANNUAL TSRA PHOTO CONTEST The TSRA Photo Contest is happening now! Send us your favorites! The TSRA Photo Contest will be held from November 1 un'l December 31, Send us your favorite paddling, party, people, or scenic photos. You can your submissions, snail mail them or bring your photos (digital or prints) to the Holiday Party on December 13, 2008 at Clyde Troutman s house. Set free your inner Ansel Adams or the paparazzi, if that s more your style. Categories will include: Best paddling Best scenery Funniest Scariest Conserva'on Addi'onal category sugges'ons are welcome. You can also make up your own category! (Just be sure to let us know what that is.) There will be prizes! Also, the photos will be featured in the TSRA newsleler and on the website throughout the year. Judges will be Henry Ambrose, ScoL Strausbaugh, and Shirley Amitrano. Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association, Inc. Membership Application New Member Renewal Change of address or informa'on Do not list in directory Primary Member (will be listed in directory under this name) Street: City: State: Zip: Home phone: Work phone: Cell phone: Addi&onal Members in same household (no addi&onal charge, each person must be listed on this form to be included). Phone: Phone: Phone: Phone: Please send your payment of $25 for one year membership and this completed applica'on to: TSRA, Inc., P.O. Box , Nashville, TN

8 TSRA Tennessee Scenic Rivers Associa&on Tennessee Scenic Rivers Associa'on, Inc. P.O. Box Nashville, TN Return Service Requested First Class Mail Presorted First Class U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 2249 NASHVILLE, TN