[brcs-announce] BRCS - Reprise

[Norman R. Fred]

WOW!   What a day!!

I would like to mention everyone's name for what you did for the river yesterday but suffice it to say that YOU GUYS  ROCK!


(No More Exclamation Points - I promise)

I need to tell Boone, Terry and the other leaders of the KHS-ODAC, that every section leader that worked with the ODAC kids said those kids did a great job.  Boone, the kids in the ODAC group are very special and I know you are proud of them - we are too.

A special "Thank You" goes to Steve Largent of the GTCD.  He did an amazing job of clearing all the sections of the river of downed trees and obstacles, some of which were larger than his chain saw could cut through. Without him, the cleanup would be impossible.


The BRCS was a huge success.  We took a lot of trash out of the river.  Less than last year and that's a good thing.  The river is getting cleaner ever year.  When you see the photos of the inside of the dumpster, you will see some things that I have wanted to get out of the river for some time but they were too big and too nasty for my boat.  Someone was not so timid as I and got it done.  Good for you.


I want to thank you all for taking the time and, especially, making the effort to come out on your Saturday and do an amazing job.

Nature provided us a spectacular day for the event.  We did get the one drop of rain that has become a BRCS tradition in recent years.  I have stopped looking at the weather before the BRCS.  I know it will rain at least a little.


Steve and Pat Somers, did a fantastic job doing the picnic and even recruited their own BRCS picnic crew to help. This is the 4th year they have put on the picnic and it's a huge gift to all of us.  THANK YOU TO STEVE AND PAT and to their friends.

The raffle provided over $4000.00 to three organizations for this year's funding.  Thanks to everyone who supported these organizations in that way.  The BRCS donates back to them 100% of the funds they raise. The BRCS keeps none of what the others raise.  It is a way for the BRCS to give major assistance to our stewardship partners without it costing us anything.


Special thanks goes out to Bob Warner of H Cox and Son for the Youth River Stewardship Award.  He has been a great person to work with and the award makes, at least one kid, very happy.  Those youth that work on this project will never throw trash in a river again and will be stewardship leaders in their communities in the future.


We saw a lot of new faces this year and I want to welcome those new people.  Some were paddlers and some were ground based workers.  We hope to see you again.

Paddling the Boardman is not a float down the Crystal.  It's a fast, tricky river in places and some of us, rookies and old time veterans, got a cold taste of river water yesterday.  Bringing dry clothes is always a good idea.  And most everyone who got wet, did have extra clothes.   


All the loaned out equipment is accounted for.  Our leaders did a great job of keeping track of that stuff.  Those grabbers, paddles, pfds and radios are not cheap, so thanks for taking the responsibility of getting them back to us.


Thank you also, to those who went right home and sent me the photos that they had taken.  John H., Jocelyn, Kyle, Steve S.   Please send or mail on a CD any photos that you have taken.  These are very useful to us in documenting the event and for grant writing in the future.  Sometimes one of your photos become famous as one of the 2007 ones did when it was chosen as the poster photo for all of the ACA Stewardship ads and was used for many years.

Last year the BRCS was singled out as one of only 11 or 12 river cleanups out of thousands done across the country to be featured in the ACA's Stewardship Newsletter, mostly because we had such nice photos.


I'll work on the pictures and get them posted ASAP.


To send me your photos on a CD, my address is:

Norm Fred
10422 Peninsula Dr.
Traverse City, MI 49686

or email at - nrfred at yahoo.com


I hope to see you all on other river cleanups this summer.

Thanks again.

Norm
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