A Busy Weekend - a few events of Interest

Friends of Iowa State Parks Summit on April 9 

The Iowa Parks Foundation and IDNR's State Parks Bureau invite you to attend the first Friends of Iowa State Parks Summit

April 9, 2011
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Izaak Walton League
4343 George Flagg Parkway
Des Moines, Iowa 50321

The purpose of this meeting is to provide a forum for Friends of Iowa State Parks groups to come together and share their plans, projects, challenges and celebrate successes. This exchange will help to inspire all the Parks Friends Groups to find new methods to achieve our common goals. By working in a more collaborative manner we will be able to accomplish more for our great parks.

Display tables will be provided for groups to ‘show-off’ plans, projects and progress they have realized in your park.


Prairie Chicken Festival at Kellerton on April 9


There will be a Prairie Chicken Festival at Kellerton prairie chicken viewing site from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 9.


The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has been actively managing the southern Iowa grassland landscape for this charismatic species for many years. The improvements are benefitting other species like northern harriers, short eared owls, pheasants, upland sandpipers, eastern and western meadowlarks and others. Breeding bird surveys indicate that grassland habitat is sorely lacking for many grassland nesting birds.


There will be a prairie chicken feature on Outdoor Iowa on IPTV on Thursday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Peregrine Falcon Event at McGregor on April 9


Peregrine falcon enthusiasts are invited to see and hear a nesting pair at Bunge Elevator in McGregor, on Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This pair is one of the 16 nesting pairs that have established territories around the state.


It is particularly enjoyable to hear the falcon's courtship calls this time of year as this species recovers from the brink of extinction, said Pat Schlarbaum, wildlife diversity technician with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.


Experts will be on hand with information and spotting scopes during the event. Parking is available west of the elevator and a trail provides access to a public overlook of the Mississippi River where falcons can be viewed.


A web camera will be trained on these falcons when birds initiate nesting in the near future.

Iowa Parks - First 'Friends of State Parks' Summit

“If we are going to keep pace with our civilization, we must give the public an outlet in the great outdoors.” Louis Pammel 1862 – 1931

The Iowa Parks Foundation and IDNR's State Parks Bureau invite you to attend the first Friends of Iowa State Parks Summit

April 9, 2011

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Izaak Walton League

4343 George Flagg Parkway

Des Moines, Iowa 50321

 

The purpose of this meeting is to provide a forum for Friends of Iowa State Parks groups to come together and share their plans, projects, challenges and celebrate successes. This exchange will help to inspire all the Parks Friends Groups to find new methods to achieve our common goals. By working in a more collaborative manner we will be able to accomplish more for our great parks.

Display tables will be provided for groups to ‘show-off’ plans, projects and progress they have realized in your park.

Tentative Agenda

1. Welcome and Introductions—

2. State of Iowa State Parks - Kevin Szcodronski

3. Highlights from each Friends Group (go around the room and give each group an opportunity to explain their major projects)

4. How do you keep your group alive?
5. What about legal issues?

LUNCH (Provided) 1 hour to allow for informal individual discussions

6. Iowa Parks Foundation – Kent Sovern
introduce, vision, status, proposed role with Friends Groups
7. Value of—and—ways to communicate with local legislators for the betterment of state parks
8. Group discussion on benefits and interest in setting up communication channels among Friends Group – e-mail, website, future meetings, etc.
9. The day will finish with an evaluation to know what people would like to have included in another possible meeting.
10. Closing comments and thanks to all who attend

If you are interested in attending the Summit or want more information send an e-mail to Kent at iaparks@mchsi.com



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Iowa Rivers Revival Congress - Saturday Jan 8th

Iowa Rivers Revival Congress  
Saturday, January 8, 2011
1-5PM
Izaak Walton League - 4343 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines

RSVP: rlehman@iowarivers.org; 515-202-7720

(name, address, phone, e-mail, and river(s) of interest)

FREE & open to anyone interested in attending

Agenda

12:30 p.m. Registration and social time

1:00 p.m. Welcome

1:15p.m. Introduction to Iowa Rivers Revival River Congress Goals

RR Legislative Agenda

1:45 p.m. Break

2:00 p.m. Economic Value of Rivers
3:00 p.m. Break-Networking

3:20 p.m. Building a Statewide RIVER Coalition

4:15 p.m. River Bill of Rights

4:45 p.m. Closing

5:00 p.m. Adjourn

Each River Congress continues to build and broaden the base of Iowa’s river community and strengthen river policy influence. The most important aspect of the Congress is to develop a statewide river network-a force of river supporters who communicate with policy leaders about the importance of water quality and river conservation. We continue to hear from Iowa legislators and Iowans alike that there is no voice for Iowa’s rivers – with your help, we can to change that!

IRR is fortunate to have retained lobbyist representation for the 2011 session to provide representation for Iowa’s rivers on the hill, and an opportunity to better inform you about river policy issues during the legislative session.

Congress participants will learn about the 2011 legislative landscape and river priorities, and how we can work together to achieve those goals. The program will also highlight and discuss the economic value of rivers, and the need, importance and opportunities to expand a statewide river coalition. In 2008 River Congress participants helped draft a vision for the River Bill of Rights, we would like to revisit those principles each year to be sure they continue to be the goals and objectives for Iowa’s river advocates.

River Congress Sponsors: Des Moines Izaak Walton League and the Raccoon River Watershed Association


Please share this invitation – the outcomes from the River Congress should reflect a range of river perspectives and experiences from across the state: River Advocates • Conservationists & Environmentalists • Watershed Groups • Farmers • Anglers • Community Leaders • Hunters • Recreationists • Outdoor Outfitters • Students • Teachers • Wildlife Observers • Concerned Citizens-anyone interested in water quality and river stewardship.


Please RSVP. We will be providing district-watershed specific information for each participant. It will be very helpful to have participants RSVP in advance to help prepare this information. We will enter each participant that RSVPs in a drawing for a door prize.

IRR Facebook Link


Rosalyn Lehman
Executive Director
Iowa Rivers Revival
PO Box 72, Des Moines, IA 50301
515-202-7720
www.iowarivers.org