Gately Awarded ADEQ’S “Volunteer of the Year”

ABLE Board of Director’s President Jim Gately was named “The Clean Water-Stronger Communities Award” winner for 2012.   The annual award is sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and is presented to “an individual (volunteer) who has made exceptional progress in getting his or her community engaged in environmental awareness.”  Gately received the honor at ADEQ’s annual Watershed Conference, which took place on October 10-12 in Ft. Smith.

Gately and board member Grimsley Graham attended both the preconference and conference sessions.  Sessions covered grant writing, pollution reduction strategies, development and water quality, ADEQ’s inspection process, and stormwater runoff best management practices.   The speakers represented a broad array of conservation agencies, such as Central Arkansas Water, the Fayetteville Natural Heritage Commission, the NWA Land Trust, ADEQ, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the UofA Cooperative Extension Office, the Arkansas Canoe Club, and Beaver Water District.

Nationally-known conservation journalist Cynthia Barnett delivered the keynote address.  Her latest book is entitled, Blue Revolution: Unmaking America’s Water Crisis.

ABLE's 2012 Annual Meeting will be held Tuesday, May 15th at 6:00pm at the Rogers Public Library.

The election of members of the Board of Directors will take place, and a vote will be taken on a change to the By-Laws.

The current number of board members is nine, the proposed change would be for seven members.

Following the meeting at 6:30 will be a public program featuring Susan Young of the Shiloh Museum

presenting "Life on the White River Before Beaver Dam."   

Also, there will be a musical presentation by the group Still On the Hill.

Volunteers are needed for ABLE's first Stream Team on Tuesday, Nov. 23.

ABLE members will be dipping into Clear Creek and recording over 20 items on water quality.

ABLE President Jim Gately will be leading the group.  Hope to see you there!