Soque Bulletin - December 30, 2012

SOQUE BULLETIN

December 30, 2012

Thanks for a great 2012!

For info on photos

and our annual report

click here

   

It's not too late to make an end of year donation!

When you give to SRWA

You support our projects

You enrich our community

and

You get a tax deduction!

THANK YOU

Soque Bulletin - December 11, 2012

SOQUE BULLETIN

December 11, 2012

It's Christmas Party time again! If you're receiving this e-mail you are invited to our Party.

All that's required is a potluck dish and at least two beers.

And bring a friend too. See below for all the details.

1) SRWA Christmas Party - Friday, December 14th

2) End of Year CAMPAIGN  - Goal $4,000 by December 31st

3) Help us Plant 2,000 TREES in January - Order $1 Trees & /or VOLUNTEER

4) Upcoming Events - 1st Annual North GA Winter Bluegrass Jam - Feb. 22 and 23

1) SRWA Christmas Party - Friday, December 14th

It’s Back! The SRWA Christmas Party is back this Friday December 14th and it’s another BEER TASTING POTLUCK. Sounds fun doesn’t it.  To participate just bring a craft beer (defined as a beer made by a brewer that is small, independent, and makes yummy beer) at least one large 24 oz bottle, or two 12oz bottles and a potluck dish (veggies, meats, snacks or sweets). We'll do blind taste tests of beers to see which one's you like and help you navigate the wonderful world of craft beer. Anyone who gets this post is invited (and feel free to invite good beer-loving friends). Of course we highly encourage you to consider joining the SRWA (online at https://www.donationpay.org/soqueriver/ or at the party). Encouraged but not required. It’s a great way to support your local river loving group, and have some good beers, food, and laughs.

Party is at Justin and Ching-Yu's (and Cheetos and Whiskey’s) house at 237 Wilson Street, Clarkeville, GA. That’s right across from Grace Calvary Church. In fact you’ll want to park in their parking lot. Starts at 6pm.

If you’re wondering how to get your hands on good craft beer, here’s a few suggestions. Betty's in Helen, Hillside Beverage in Gainseville, Beverage Superstore in Suwanee, 5 points bottle shop in Athens, or Smitty's in Clayton (they've got Terrapin 4 packs). Very limited selections are of course at Ingles but try and surprise us. If you like the taste of beer in a glass rather than a plastic cup, please bring your favorite mug to show off.  RSVP if you can and let us know how many and what you're bringing so we can tempt everyone  - soque@windstream.net

Don't miss the best 2012 Christmas Party in Clarkesville!

2) End of Year CAMPAIGN - Goal $4,000 by December 31st

We know that everyone (and their brother) is asking you for money during this season of giving. We also know that quite a few of you who really love the SOQUE RIVER and the dozens of projects and events that we host throughout the year are not yet members of the SRWA!

Your TIME is precious so we want to simply list 12 quick reasons we think you might be glad you BECAME A NEW MEMBER or GAVE AN EXTRA GIFT to the SRWA.

TWELVE REASONS TO SUPPORT THE SRWA before December 31st.

1. 22 farm projects have fenced close to 13 miles of streams (since 2008), resulting in the upper Soque River being removed from the state's impaired waters list for fecal coliform bacteria by EPD in November. That's a tangible difference in the quality of our drinking and recreational waters.
2. Next Month we're planting 2,000 trees, stabilizing a school, stabilizing a farm's streambanks, making trees available to the public and planting two fruit orchards (see below for details)
3. 3 Innovative Stormwater Features are being constructed at the County Courthouse that will increase stormwater infiltration, and serve as models for years to come of progressive stormwater management.
4. We THROW REALLY GOOD PARTIES and EVENTS - this year we had a Paddle Festival, a Farm Tour of 18 sustainable farms, an annual membership party at a Historic Grist Mill (with Carribean food), and now a Christmas Party.
5. Close to 500 rainbarrels have been distributed thanks to support from great partners like North Georgia Technical College, Habitat for Humanity and Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.
6. The Northeast Georgia Locally Grown farmers market has helped to sell roughly $100,000 worth of locally produced food since April 2010.
7. In addition to envisioning the Clarkesville Greenway way back in 2004, we recently helped to acquire $100,000 to expand the trail by one half mile into Mary Street Park.
8. Organized and sponsor a 28 plot - quarter acre Community Garden on the Greenway that practices organic gardening. We're planting a fruit orchard there next month.
9. Conduct Regular River Clean-Ups including our first ever paddle clean up this past September.
10. Host Sustainability Tours to educate the community on a wide range of topics including: streambank restoration, innovative stormwater, water conservation, sustainable farms and grist mills. We also host hikes and other interesting outings.
11. We recently absorbed the Keep Habersham Beautiful program meaning that waste reduction, litter education, recycling, composting, adopt a road, and a host of other conservation minded programs are now part of our regular programs. Our first success, a $1,000 grant from Keep Georgia Beautiful to plant an Edible NeighborWoods orchard.
12. Every year we educate many young people about watershed conservation, most notably with a weeklong Soque Camp that takes kids from the headwaters, to the water plant, to local farms, catching fish and on a canoe paddle trip.

We hope that at least one or more of these catch your attention as something that you are glad we have in our community. If so please help insure these programs continue.  

If you'd rather not imagine a Habersham County without

a SOQUE RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION please

JOIN

RENEW

or DONATE

TODAY

\

3) Help us Plant 2,000 TREES in January - Order $1 Trees or VOLUNTEER

Speaking of big projects to help the Soque and the beauty of our area….we couldn't be more excited about our TREE PLANTING PROJECTS in 2013. Even though we haven't focused a lot of energies on planting trees in the past, I think you'll agree, that's about to change in a big way. We have FOUR, yes FOUR different tree planting projects coming up next month in January and we need your help to make them successful.

• 1500 Trees will be planted at Fairview Elementary on Thursday, January 10th to enhance the school grounds and increase rainwater infiltration (we'll need 15 volunteers from 10am until 2pm, and possibly again after school from 3pm until 4pm). Trees will mainly be pines with about 200 persimmons and white oaks.
• <350 Trees will be planted at a Farm in the Beaverdam Creek basin on Friday, January 11th from 9am until were done by lunch or just after. We need about 8 volunteers. Trees will be river birch, red maple, persimmon, white oaks, and about 50 container trees such as sycamore and others.
• Order Bare Root Seedlings for just $1 Each - you can contribue towards our goal of planting 2,000 trees by buying as few as one or as many as 50 of four species of trees we'll have available to order now, for pickup on Friday, January 11th, from 3-6pm. But don't delay, we may sell out of the most desirable species. First read a brochure on the tree types and where and how to plant at http://www.soque.org/pdfs/TREE_PLANTING.pdf . Then order by visiting this ordering webpage http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3LRKSDG

Please help us spread the word by clicking on the above FLIER to link to a PDF file.

Print it out (in color if you can) and post it anywhere and everywhere you think folks may be interested.

Brochures are available online and at the Clarkesville and Cornelia libraries.

• Last but not least. We recently obtained a grant to plant two fruit orchards one at Clarkesville Elementary and one at the Clarkesville Greenway. We'll be planting Asian Persimmons, Figs, Paw Paws and possibly one other variety of fruit that requires no chemicals to maintain. We don't have these planting dates scheduled yet but we'll let you know when we do.

4) Upcoming Events - 1st Annual North GA Winter Bluegrass Jam - Feb. 22 and 23

Mark your calendars for a great new collaboration between the Grant Street Music Hall at Clarkesville Mill and the SRWA. We're fortunate that this local business is hosting a bluegrass festival Feb. 22 and 23 with a portion of the proceeds to benefit SRWA and the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. We'll post more details as the event approaches. However if you or your business are bluegrass fans and would like to consider being a sponsor for the event please contact  Paul Rampulla: 706.318.7530 / prampulla@yahoo.com

Justin Ellis

Executive Director

Soque River Watershed Association

www.soque.org

706-754-9382

Soque Bulletin - "5 IN 5" FUNDRAISING EVENT

SOQUE BULLETIN

October 18th, 2012

THIS WEEK IS OUR "5 in 5" FUNDRAISING EVENT !

Please help us reach our goal to raise $5,000 towards our 5 major programs in 5 days

The Soque Celebration is TOMORROW - Friday, October 19th at Sutton Mill at 6pm

It's not too late to RSVP! See Below

(photo from paddle cleanup on September 29, 2012)

If you appreciate the contributions of the SRWA towards:

Greenways, Festivals, Paddle events, Workshops, Clean Water projects,Tree planting, Local Food & Farms, gardens and lots more

then thank the people who support the SRWA

by BECOMING ONE YOURSELF

JOIN THE SRWA TODAY  and attend the SOQUE CELEBRATION tomorrow for FREE

The 5 Programs of the Soque River Watershed Association

During our "5 in 5" event we usually like to share with you a snapshot of what the SRWA is busy doing behind the scenes. This is a great way for us to reflect on each of our project areas, and also allows us to share these program details with everyone. The SRWA activities are divided into 5 programs (explained in detail in our strategic plan completed this past January and available on our website)

Here's a quick snapshot of our 5 program areas

#1 - Protection and Restoration

#2 - Sustainability Models

#3 - Watershed Awareness

#4 - Policy and Compliance

#5 - Recreation Conservation Lands

PROGRAM #2 - SUSTAINABILTY MODELS

The Sustainability Models Program  is still the SRWA's newest program area (started in 2010) and helps to broaden our base of supporters by engaging residents in tangible sustainability projects. “Sustainability” is defined as an investment in new activities, technologies and behaviors that improve the long-term conservation and stewardship of community natural resources. The goal of the program is to encourage the adoption of sustainability practices that can be implemented by watershed community members at various scales. The two focus areas of the program are “learning to grow things in the service of nature” (via rain gardens, streambank vegetation, upland stabilization, and organic food production) and water efficiency, re-use and return (via rainbarrels, cisterns, and innovative stormwater practices). A third and emerging priority is “promoting sustainable land-based businesses.” The Association strives to promote the economic value of rural landscapes engaged in the production of land-based goods. All activities will focus on development of strong and long-lasting partnersships that can help to implement multiple sustainability projects over time.

There are 5 main project areas:

<![if !supportLists]>1.      <![endif]>Stormwater Infiltration systems and Rain Gardens - designed to reduce runoff, increase infiltration, and enhance long-term groundwater supplies.

<![if !supportLists]>2.      <![endif]>Rainwater Capture and Reuse projects - that conserve water by reusing rainwater through rainbarrels, cisterns and other systems

<![if !supportLists]>3.      <![endif]>“Grow Something Green” Campaign - identify areas with barren or eroding soils and stabilizing by planting different types of permanent vegetation.

<![if !supportLists]>4.      <![endif]>NE GA Locally Grown online farmers market - our core project to promote “sustainable land based businesses” has grossed $92,000 for farmers across the region

<![if !supportLists]>5.      <![endif]>Green Way Community Garden - a quarter acre, 28 plot organic garden demonstrates organic gardening principles at the Clarkesville Greenway

Project AREA #1 - Perhaps one of the most exciting projects to come to Habersham County are the

3 innovative stormwater features currently under construction at the new county courthouse.

If you haven't yet heard what these are we have extensive photos and descriptions at

INNOVATIVE STORMWATER FEATURES PHOTOS

or

INNOVATIVE STORMWATER FEATURES ARTICLE #1 (lead in)

INNOVATIVE STORMWATER FEATURES ARTICLE #2

Project AREA #2

Our efforts to Capture and Reuse Rainwater have really taken off since partnering with North Georgia Technical College

whose truck driving school helps us pick up barrels from Coca-Cola in Athens

and especically Habitat for Humanity in both Clarkesville and now Clayton's ReSTOREs

where they help us distribute barrels and kits for just $45.

The Clarkesville ReStore also installed their own 1,000 cistern back in August and can irrigate with rainwater!

You can see the design and installation for rainbarrels by reading

Harvesting Rain Using Rain Barrels and Cisterns

Project AREA #3

“Grow Something Green” Campaign

Planting trees and other native plants is one of the best approaches to restoring the landscape.

This winter we're looking forward to starting a tree planting project with the Habersham County School System.

We'll also be making one year seedling trees widely available to other residents for very low prices.

More info coming in the next few weeks.

Project AREA #4

Northeast Georgia Locally Grown

If you haven't yet tried our online farmers market, you don’t know what you're missing.

Try it once. You'll be eating fresher more local food

and supporting local sustinable farms in the process.

http://northeastgeorgia.locallygrown.net/welcome

Project AREA #5

Green Way Community Garden

We hope you enjoy watching our progress at the garden over the last 3 years. We contually expand.

This year saw a new greenhouse, compost bins, and perrennial crops such as aspargus and raspberries, and a flower garden.

Thanks to Georgia Power (2012), Fieldale Farms (2011), and Home Depot (2010) for being corporate sponsors at the $1,000 level.

DON'T FORGET TO

ATTEND the

SOQUE CELEBRATION - "5 in 5" Fundraiser

at Sutton Mill - FRIDAY, October, 19th at 6pm

Park at North Georgia Technical College on Hwy 197 North of Clarkesville

(you can't miss the signs and tent)

ALL OTHER DETAILS HERE

today!

Last minute details:

Out of Town Guests of Members welcome for $15 donation each

Bring your Checkbook (for raffle / auction / donation)

Acoustic Music by Rob Brooksher

Oatmeal raisin cookies by Ching-Yu

Rum Mojitos

Even if you can't make the event please

 help us make our "5 in 5" goals.

goal  #1 Gain 30 new members to the SRWA	goal #2 Have 120 attend the SOQUE CELEBRATION	goal  #3 Gain 10 new MONTHLY GIVERS	goal #4 30 Member Donations	goal #5 30 Raffle and Auction Donations
status 12 NEW MEMBERS 18 TO GO	status 105 ATTENDEES 15 TO GO	status 1 MONTHLY GIVER 9 TO GO (thanks Keith Boger!!)	status 22 DONATIONS 8 TO GO	status 36 Items zero TO GO
YES! I'D LIKE TO BECOME A NEW MEMBER click to join	YES! I'D LIKE TO RSVP TO ATTEND SOQUE CELEBRATION click to RSVP	YES! I'D LIKE TO SIGN UP FOR MONTHLY GIVING click to do monthly giving	YES! I'D LIKE TO DONATE TOWARDS THE $5,000 GOAL click to donate	YES! I'D LIKE TO GIVE AN AUCTION / RAFFLE ITEM click to donate auction or raffle item

and here's our 5 in 5 raffle and auction items

5 in 5 RAFFLE ITEMS

Bucket Raffle Details

This is a bucket raffle so each ticket ($5 each) can be directed towards the exact items you would like to win.

Presence at the event is NOT REQUIRED TO WIN.

You can purchase tickets in advance and submit your ticket stub with the name of the item written on the back. We will place all stubs in a bucket for that item at the event. At the end of the event one stub will be drawn for the winner. If the winner is not present you will be called or e-mailed to collect your prize.

TICKETS can be purchased from SRWA board members, or at the SRWA office. Call 706-754-9382 or e-mail srwa@windstream.net to purchase.

#	Item and Value	Business	Owner / contact	Board  Member or staff contact
1	Pottery Wine Decanter and bottle of Local Wine from Yonah Mountain Vineyards (Value $25 and $25 = $50)	Headwaters Realty	Jean Holmes	Jean Holmes
2	Rafting Trip for 4 down Chattahoochee River - valued $100	Wildwood Outfitters	Dave and Beverly Gale	Walter Matlock
3	Cutting board or other woodwork – Value $40	Peter Bull	Peter Bull	Bob Brooksher
4	One month unlimited Yoga classes – value $108 – minimum $50 increments of $5	A Garden for Wellness	Deana Brooksher and Cooper Seay	Bob Brooksher
5	Haircut and eyebrow wax – value $25	L&Co Hair Salon	Lindsey Sutton	Jim Hudak
6	$25 gift certificate of Local Food from Northeast Georgia Locally Grown online farmers market	Generation Mortgage Company	Bob Parker	Teri Parker
7	Gourd art - Zuni red twining gourd – value $40	Jimmy Turner	Jimmy Turner	Rocket Roy
8	Free Oil Change from Clarkesville Motor Co.– value $38	Clarkesville Motor Co.	?	Jim Hudak
9	Mercier Orchards – Blue Ridge, GA $10 gift certificate – bunch with something	Rocketroy	Rocketroy	Rocketroy
10	4 Weeks Fat Blast Boot Camp! - $289 Value	Main Street Gym	David & Stephanie Provine	Justin Ellis
11	Clarkesville Lanes - $20 bowling certificate	Clarkesville Lanes	Dave and Beverly Gale	Walter Matlock
12	Pottery – Jeannie Daves	Jeannie Daves	Jeannie Daves	Bob Brooksher
13	Metal Fish - $45 value	Soque Artworks	Walter, Susan, & Rush Smith	Scarlett Fuller
14	Habersham Bicycles – $20 Gift Certificate	Habersham Bicycles	Joe Elam	Scarlett Fuller
15	John Kollock print – “Headwater” print – value $50	The Saturday Shop	John and Nancy Kollock	Justin Ellis
16	Handmade cutting board  8x12-  value $40	Randy Moser	Randy Moser	Randy Moser
17	$50 gift certificate for Premier Designs jewelry	Premier Designs	Anne Hughes	Justin Ellis
	**consider donating an item to our raffle!! **

SILENT AUCTION ITEMS

The following auction items will be bid on in a silent auction at the event.

If you are unable to attend you may place a starting bid on an item

by e-mailing your name, item and bid amount to soque@windstream.net

#	Item and Value and minimum bid	Business	Owner / contact	Board  Member or staff contact
1	2-night stay at Blue Shutter Cottage on Hiwassee Lake in the Bear Paw resort community: www.bearpawcottagerental.com Value $150 – minimum $75 –bid increment $10	Callie D. Moore	Callie D. Moore	Scarlett Fuller
2	Pottery Bowl – value $50 - minimum $10 - bid increments $5	Hickory Flats	?	Jean Holmes
3	Indian mask artwork – Coyote Warrior – value $500 - minimum $200 - bid increments $25	Jimmy Turner	Jimmy Turner	Rocket Roy
4	Indian mask artwork – Kindred Spirit - value $100 – minimum bid $50 – bid increment $5	Jimmy Turner	Jimmy Turner
5	Indian mask artwork – Lost Spirit - value $100 – minimum bid $50 – bid increment $5	Jimmy Turner	Jimmy Turner
6	Vase – Value $48 – minimum $10 bid increments $5	Mark of the Potter		Teri Parker
7	Custom Built Spinner Rod 6’ 6-10# 3/8-1/2 oz graphite by Bull Red Rods – value $120 – minimum bid $60 – bid increments $5	Bull Red Rods – Randy Crump	Randy Crump or Steven Patrick	Justin Ellis
8	Handmade cutting board  12x16-  value $70 – minimum bid $35 – bid increments $5	Randy Moser	Randy Moser	Randy Moser
9	Handmade cutting board  8x12-  value $40 – minimum bid $15 – bid increments $5	Randy Moser	Randy Moser	Randy Moser
10	Luggage – Value $150 - minimum bid $60 – bid increments $5	TeamService1	Joni and Harold Kennedy	Bob Brooksher
11	2 hr. guided horseback tour and lunch for six $400 minimum $150 -  bid increment $25	Montara Farm Trish Stump and Larry Becker	Bob Brooksher	Bob Brooksher
12	Peggy Karr Glass functional Artisan Platter and Wrought Iron Stand    Value:  $120      Min: $40	Woods Furniture	Sherry Callahan	Bob Brooksher
13	Rafting Trip for 4 valued $100 - minimum bid $50 – bid increments $5	Wildwood Outfitters	Dave and Beverly Gale	Walter Matlock
14	Genevieve’s Dancing with Trees - Introductory Tree Climbing Event - $200 value – minimum bid $75 – bid increment $10	Genevieve	Genevieve	Bob Brooksher
15	Woven Basket – Value $90 – minimum bid $30	Liesel Potthast	Liesel Potthast	Bob Brooksher
16	California Cooler Bag - T-Rex Rolling Collapsible Cooler - minimum bid - $20 - valued at $68 – bid increments $5	Alan and Anne Hall	Alan and Anne Hall	Justin Ellis
17	John Kollock print – “In God’s Country” print – value $50 – minimum bid $25 – bid increment $5	The Saturday Shop	John and Nancy Kollock	Justin Ellis
18	Jewelry - "Cool Waters" ensemble - necklace, bracelet and earrings of beautiful blue-green beads and antiqued silver - valued at $106	Premier Designs	Anne Hughes	Justin Ellis
	**consider donating an item to our auction!! **

HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE EVENT!

AND THANKS TO ALL THE SUPPORTERS OF OUR 5 IN 5!

we're just about half way there.

HELP US GET THERE BY DONATING NOW

Justin Ellis

Executive Director

Soque River Watershed Association

www.soque.org

706-754-9382