2008 SCEA News July, 2008 

Hello and a happy Summer from the Skagit Conservation Education Alliance.

The 6^th annual Bivalve Bash was a great success on a beautiful July 19.  Nearly 1800 people were there to enjoy the events and food and help celebrate clean waters.  A portion of the proceeds helps benefit SCEA programs and activities.  A big thanks to all the people who volunteered their time to help on the day of the Bash as well as during set-up and takedown!

The Silent Auction at the Bash had nearly 50 generous donors.  You can view their names at www.scea.homestead.com/silentauctiondonors.html    Hopefully you will take every opportunity you can to do business with them, their generosity helps continue our programs.  We also thank the people who placed bids, including the lucky winners!

The 2008 Skagit Watershed Letterbox Trail has started on July 26!  We have several partner organizations and each is hosting a “Letterbox” somewhere in the watershed area.  Besides having fun on their “Quest”, people who find the boxes will learn a great deal about the beautiful Skagit Watershed and their roles in keeping it clean and nice!  This adventure will conclude in October with a celebration and awards party for participants and partners.

Our Skagit Businesses for Clean Waters Program is moving along.  Two workshops about Low Impact Development have been held for many building-related businesses, citizens, and government officials.  A workshop dealing with Storm Water Management is being planned, tentatively September 12.  That announcement will be out soon.  Participating businesses are sharing ideas and accomplishments in a network newsletter and will be recognized in the media and at a celebration banquet towards the end of 2008. 

We are encouraging benefiting businesses to donate to a Clean Waters Fund that will be matched up to $5,000 by an existing grant!  That fund will be used to award Conservation Stewardship Grants, in turn, to organizations who propose worthy community conservation projects and need some financial help, with emphasis on youth oriented groups and projects.

Harry Ota recently resigned his position on the SCEA Board of Directors.  Harry was one of the founding members of SCEA and has contributed much over the years.  We will miss Harry and wish him well in new pursuits.

SCEA continues to participate in the Puget Sound Partnership, the mandate from Gov. Gregoire to come up with a new Puget Sound clean-up plan that succeeds by 2020.  This initial year is when the big plans and strategies are being formed and our input is most valuable.  Bill Dewey (from Taylor Shellfish and a member of our Board of Directors), Steve Sakuma of Sakuma Farms, and Gary Rowe, the County Administrator, are all part of the official team and so we are especially excited and motivated.  The Puget Sound Partnership helps sponsor our Skagit Businesses for Clean Waters program.

We host a weekly Blog called “NaturalSkagit” at the www.goskagit.com on-line newspaper, aimed at helping county residents get a better idea of the opportunities they have to maintain and enhance the natural beauty and health of our area.  Give it a look and see what you think.  We’ll appreciate your feedback.

Your ongoing membership and volunteer support Is essential for us to continue our work, and expand it where needed.  The Board of Directors recently held a planning session where strategic objectives were reaffirmed and enhanced.  Some of those are currently unmet and depend on our ability to increase both our funding level and our volunteer base.  With your help, we can do this.

The “Join Us” link on our website has details about membership donation levels and also volunteer needs and opportunities.  We request your consideration and support, as much as you are willing and able. 

Thank You 

SCEA Board of Directors
Steve Olsen (Skagit County) (President), Tonya Bieche (citizen) (Vice-president),  Britta Eschete (People For Puget Sound) (Secretary), Kristi Carpenter (Skagit Conservation District) (Treasurer),  Bill Dewey (Taylor Shellfish Co.), Rick Haley (Skagit County), Greg Peterka (Skagit PUD #1), Randy Brower (Skagit PUD #1 alternate)  Denise Dodge (citizen), Cindy Bjorklund (National Park Service), Chris Barker (citizen)

SCEA Program Manager
Pete Haase