[GStarkCR]

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SIW NEWS BULLETIN
"STICKS IN THE WATER" PADDLERS
April 1, 2009

HAVE A LITTLE RESPECT FOR MOTHER NATURE:
. As I prepare this edition of our monthly SIW News Bulletin, adding more opportunities for paddling and camping along Iowa’s waterways to our 2009 SIW Paddling Calendar, Mother Nature is delivering several inches of crystalized water just outside the window. It’s a clear message, sent to inform me of who is really in charge of outdoor recreation planning.
. Mother Nature will soon be singing her siren song of sunny days, warmer air temps, and flowing water, potentially luring paddlers into conditions for which they are not prepared. It’s time for paddlers to be thinking about 110 degree rules, PFDs, buddy systems, float plans, proper training/gear/clothing, & "Smart Start for Safe Paddling" http://www.iowadnr.gov/watertrails/files/smart_start.pdf
. If you have the proper gear and preparation, KJ & Central Iowa Paddlers will be hitting WW Creek & North Fork Maquoketa this weekend. Email me if you need the info.
. My wife and I enjoyed visiting with Bill Thomas, Bill Schoon, & Joe Trumm at Canoecopia. I suspect that more were there, but it’s a big and busy place. We also enjoyed Mark Schoon’s presentation on paddling the coast of Maine.
. SIW members Joe Trumm, Lisa Nagle, Kent Kinion, Jan Ailes and I were among the 60+ folks who enjoyed the Whitewater Canyon archaeology briefing and open house at the newly remodeled Jones County Nature Center. Thanks and congratulations to hosts (& SIW members) Larry Gullett & Michele Olson.
. We’re looking forward to seeing many of you at our April 19 SIW "Get It Together" event at Jones County Central Park, at our May 16 SIW "Ready, Set, Paddle" event at Kent Park, and at our May 17 "SIW Paddle 100" organizational meeting in Iowa City. Please mark these events on your calendars.
. For those of you with an interest in boat-building, please email me to register and receive more info on the April 25 "SIW Boat Builders Visit." It’s a small venue, and we didn’t want to risk turning this into a public event. greggpeggystark@yahoo.com
. We’re hearing rumors & receiving questions about the formation of an area "rowing club." Please email me if you have info about such a group or have interest in forming one.
. Please note some of the revisions and additions to our SIW 2009 Paddling Calendar, especially any item marked "tentative." That indicates that we need your input, ideas, suggestions, and support.
. To facilitate communication re last-minute changes in location, weather cancellations, etc. during the upcoming season, we’ll be making increased use of our SIW Topic section in the Community Forum area on PaddlingIowa.com. If you’re not already a registered member (no fee) with access to post on PaddlingIowa.com, you might want to check it out and register now. General info at http://www.paddlingiowa.com/ or the SIW section at http://www.paddlingiowa.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=24&sid=1ce9cee0d339a2a8dcf9a611f23b 7aee.

Best wishes for a safe & enjoyable paddling season,
Gregg

IN THIS ISSUE:
= Next SIW event Sun April 19 "Get It Together" in Jones County.
= SIW "Boat Builders Visit" Sat April 25 in Cedar Rapids.
= Canoe Pam’s Upper Iowa camping/paddling weekend May 1-3.
= Iowa Rivers Revival Conference in Webster City May 2-3.
= Project AWARE signup now open.
= 2009 Paddling Calendar, SIW Events firming up.
= Spring flowers & spring CCD newsletters emerging.
= Single link to all CCD websites.
= Limited amount of paddling Buy-Sell-Trade.
= Astronomy: Full Moon Apr 9, May 9; New Moon Apr 24, May 24.
= Links to websites, newsletters, cleanups, other great "paddling stuff."
= Pam’s guide to joining the Sticksinthewater Yahoo! Group.

INTERESTED IN A MORE INTERACTIVE SIW EXPERIENCE?
. Then please consider joining the Sticksinthewater Yahoo! Group, which facilitates the exchange of info, paddling invitations, last minute plans, etc. between participating members. To join in the fun, just follow the steps in Canoe Pam’s guide to joining the group, always included at the end of each SIW News Bulletin.

SIW "GET IT TOGETHER" EVENT
SUNDAY APRIL 19 IN JONES COUNTY:
. Join us Sunday, April 19, 2009 from 2:00--5:00 pm at the Jones County Central Park Nature Center for our next SIW event: "Getting It Together." Whether you're going paddling for an afternoon or for a week, you need to know how to pack the appropriate gear & supplies to ensure a safe & enjoyable adventure. We'll have presentations about canoe packing and kayak packing, an overview of water trails and paddling routes in Jones County, plus time for socializing. The afternoon will include an informal exchange of snacks, bring your own beverage (no alcohol, please).
. Presenters will be Pam & Kevin Stalnaker, canoe packing; Keith Garrett, kayak packing; and Larry Gullet, paddling in Jones County.
. Pam Stalnaker (aka CanoePam) is one of the original SIW founders and an ACA-certified canoeing instructor with experience teaching youth and youth leaders. With assistance from her husband Kevin, Pam will be sharing how she packs her canoe for short trips on a local river and long trips such as the ones she takes to the BWCA. Pam and Kevin will also give their perspective of water safety and how it affects what they pack on their canoe trips.
. Keith Garrett is a dedicated paddler from Muscatine, owner of a variety of watercraft, & visitor to most of the routes in the Iowa hymnal. Most recently, Keith has been focused on kayaking "bigger water," such as the Apostle Islands & other parts of Lake Superior, Red Rock, Voyagers National Park, & Kentucky Lake. Fresh from a trip to Bull Shoals Lake in Arkansas, he will provide a perspective on safety and packing for kayakers.
. Larry Gullett is the Jones County Conservation Director, responsible for managing more than 2,000 acres of natural and recreational areas, including access points to more than 90 miles of river. Larry will review the Jones County Conservation Board’s approach to water trails in the county and highlight some efforts currently underway. He will also include a summary of discussions with landowners along the North Fork.

SIW "BOAT BUILDERS VISIT"
SATURDAY APRIL 25 IN CEDAR RAPIDS:
. This is an opportunity for a limited number of interested SIW members to visit a boat-building class currently in progress, with 6 boats under construction. We’re planning observation and Q&A for 10:00am-Noon, Saturday, April 25 in Cedar Rapids. Please contact Gregg Stark for more info greggpeggystark@yahoo.com. Caution: It is widely believed that the enthusiasm for boat-building is contagious.

CANOE PAM’S ANNUAL CAMPING/PADDLING WEEKEND MAY 1-3:
. Join Pam Stalnaker and friends, at Hruska’s Campground on the Upper Iowa River, for a weekend of outdoor cooking, paddling with shuttle coordination, fun & fellowship, and did we mention the outdoor cooking? Preregistration is requested, please email: canoepam@yahoo.com.

IOWA RIVERS REVIVAL 4th ANNUAL CONFERENCE MAY 2-3:
(Info from Roz Lehman)
. The 4th Annual IRR Conference: "Embracing Our Rivers" will be held Saturday, May 2 in Webster City, with optional walking, biking, or paddling Boone River Tours on Sunday, May 3.
. Saturday’s conference will offer two morning plenary presentations: an inspirational interpretation on the multiple values of rivers by Jon Stravers, followed by an in-depth overview of the Boone River watershed project, by The Nature Conservancy, The Iowa Soybean Association, and Prairie Rivers RC&D.
. Afternoon break-out sessions offer a broad range of river-focused topics including recreation, activism and river events, political influence from the local to state level, and economic development interests from the local to state level; additional programs are being developed.
. Saturday evening’s Annual Banquet will include the conference keynote speaker David Faldet, an Iowa author who has earned the distinguished recognition of Jones Professor of English at Luther College.. David recently published "Oneota Flow: The Upper Iowa River and Its People" which is a reflection of the ways people depend on the river, the environment, and the resources of the region. http://www..uiowapress.org/books/2009-spring/faldet.htm David will share excerpts from this recent work and his experiences from his time exploring the Upper Iowa River.
. Saturday evening will also include the presentation of the River Town of the Year Award and a live auction in support of IRR’s operational and program initiatives. Auction items collected so far: a hand-painted and crafted wooden paddle by Nancy Crowfoot • a Boone River fishing tour facilitated by Brian Stroner • locally-raised grass-fed beef – a combination of ground beef, steaks, and roasts from Jerry Peckumn • hand-crafted piece of furniture by Luke Wright • construction labor from Luke Wright • a Paddle tour/trip facilitated by Nate Hoogeveen • several more items to be added!
. Sunday features a Boone River tour – either by foot, bike or boat (canoe or kayak). The tour includes highlights along the scenic Boone River trail and will end at Briggs Woods Park for lunch and various demonstrations. Depending on river conditions, the Iowa Whitewater Coalition may be able do a whitewater demonstration on the beautiful Baptismal Falls.
. The annual IRR conference is a great way to meet new friends or visit old, and unite to celebrate, improve and preserve Iowa’s rivers so we can benefit and use them for years to come. Registration information: www.iowarivers.org or
http://www.iowarivers.org/AnnualConference/Registration/tabid/67/Default.aspx or email: rlehman@iowarivers.org.

PROJECT AWARE SIGNUP INFO AVAILABLE:
(DNR news release)
. The seventh annual Project AWARE (A Watershed Awareness River Expedition) river cleanup event, scheduled for June 20-27, is expected to bring hundreds of volunteers to the Cedar River to clean it up from Center Point to Muscatine, a distance of nearly 86 miles. Volunteers participate by floating the river in a canoe or kayak and cleaning up river trash along the way. Opportunities for land based volunteers are also available. While the expedition lasts an entire week, volunteers may stay and help for as little or as long as they like.
. Project AWARE combines river cleanup, recreation and education into a meaningful and rewarding experience for volunteers. Past participants have said that AWARE is one of the greatest ways for someone to connect with nature and make a difference in protecting it.
In the six-year history of Project AWARE, the expedition has sported an impressive track record, enlisting 1,231 participants who have cleaned up more than 480 river miles and removed over 1,500 cubic yards of trash, of which 81 percent has been recycled. Volunteers have also restored native prairie, renovated trails and enhanced recreational areas.
. While the work can be tough and dirty, the expedition is really one of a kind.
"Project AWARE is my RAGBRAI ... my vacation," says Cindy Watson, a four-year Project AWARE veteran. "It's a chance to come together with a bunch of other Iowans who want to make a difference and clean up our Iowa waters.."
Project AWARE is an initiative of the DNR’s IOWATER and Iowa Water Trails Programs.
For more information on this event and to download the registration materials, please visit www.iowaprojectaware.com or contact Brian Soenen at Brian.Soenen@dnr.iowa.gov or (515) 205-8587.
. Member Dan Ceynar is our SIW liaison person on the 2009 Project AWARE Planning Committee. We’ll include more detailed info on the daily schedule of cleanups and educational sessions as we get closer to the event.

SIW PADDLER PLANNING CALENDAR FOR 2009 IS DEVELOPING:
(SIW-organized events in bold)
January 25; SIW Planning Meeting, discuss SIW sponsored events, area paddling events, joint ventures with Central Iowa Paddlers (completed).
February 13-15; Iowa Paddling Expo at CanoeSport Outfitters Indianola, IA, exhibits, presentations; http://www.canoesportoutfitters.com/index.htm (completed).
February 27-28; SIW co-sponsorship of the Indian Creek Nature Center "Paddle Fest" with Michael Furtman, Orlan Love, Seatasea Watersports. www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org/. (completed).
March 13-15; Canoecopia at Madison, WI, world’s largest paddling show; http://www.rutabaga.com/canoecopia/page.asp?pgid=1001.
April 18; CanoeSport Outfitters Spring Demo, Lake Ahquabi, Indianola, IA; http://www.canoesportoutfitters.com/index.htm
April 19; SIW "Getting It Together," event, 2:00-5:00 pm, Jones County Central Park Nature Center. For a day or for a week, what and how to pack for canoes & for kayaks, plus a look at water trail development & paddling routes in Jones County, & social time with other members.
Apr 20; Seatasea Watersports Free Demo Paddle, 4:30–7pm, Robins Lake, CR; http://www.seatasea.com/
April 24; Earth Day.
April 25; SIW "Boatbuilders Visit," 10:00am-Noon, Cedar Rapids; email Gregg Stark to register and receive more info greggpeggystark@yahoo.com.
May 1-3; Canoe Pam’s Annual Camping/Paddling Weekend, Upper Iowa River, Hruska’s Campground, shuttle coordination, outdoor cooking, organized by Pam Stalnaker. Preregistration requested. canoepam@yahoo.com.
May 2-3; Iowa Rivers Revival, Webster City; http://www.iowarivers.org/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx.
May 9; Seatasea Watersports Free Demo Paddle, 10am–2pm, Pleasant Creek, Palo; http://www.seatasea.com/
May 10; Mother’s Day.
May 16; SIW "Ready, Set, Paddle" event, Johnson County Kent Park. Spring exercise for boats and paddlers, informal test paddle swaps for the willing, potluck lunch; initiated by Dave and Janice Bell.
May 17; "SIW Paddle 100" Organizational Meeting, 2:00-5:00 pm in Meeting Room E, 2nd floor of the Iowa City Public Library; initiated by Mark Hartstack. (See June 12-15 event.)
May 18; Seatasea Watersports Free Demo Paddle, 4:30-7pm, Robins Lake, CR; http://www.seatasea.com/
May 25; Monday, Observe Memorial Day.
May 30 (tentative); SIW "Explore the Odessa Water Trail," Louisa County; paddle some of the 72 miles of trails through the sheltered wetlands of the Misissippi River backwaters; initiated by Gregg Stark. http://www.naturallylouisacounty.com/trails/odessa_water_trail.html
May 31-June 6; Tacitus Hussey Memorial Trip, weeklong paddle/camp, Turkey River, organized by Alan Donaldson; alandonaldson@sprintmail.com.
June 3; SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle, 6:00 pm-dark, location TBD.
June 8; Seatasea Watersports Free Demo Paddle, 4:30-7pm, Lake McBride; http://www.seatasea.com/
June 10; SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle, 6:00 pm-dark, location TBD.
June 12-15; "SIW Paddle 100," 100 mile paddling/camping trip, Anamosa to Princeton, IA on the Wapsipinicon River, initiated by Mark Hartstack.... (See May 17 Org Meeting, Mtg Rm E, 2nd floor Iowa City Public Library.)
June 14; Flag Day.
June 13-17; 22nd Annual Disorganized Cedar River Canoe Float, Otranto, MN to Janesville, IA, coordination of vehicle transport, campsite fees and meals by individuals, some SIW members participate annually.... Jlhughes@myclearwave.net.
June 17; SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle, 6:00 pm-dark, location TBD.
June 20-27; DNR Project AWARE, annual week-long cleanup, Cedar River, North Cedar Natural Area (NW Linn County) to Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area (Muscatine County); SIW liaison to Project AWARE Planning Committee is Dan Ceynar. www.iowaprojectaware.com.
June 21; Father’s Day, 1st Day Summer, Summer Solstice.
June 22; Seatasea Watersports Free Demo Paddle, 4:30-7pm, Robins Lake, CR; http://www.seatasea.com/
June 24; SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle, 6:00 pm-dark, location TBD.
June 27 (tentative); SIW "Paddle Around Mays Island," downtown Cedar Rapids; exploring member interest and options for an urban paddle during or following the downtown Freedom Festival Parade; email Gregg Stark at greggpeggystark@yahoo.com
June 27; ACA Course "Intro to Kayaking." http://www.seatasea.com/
July 1; SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle, 6:00 pm-dark, location TBD.
July 4th (Canceled); SIW "Evening Fireworks Paddle" on the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids; initated by Joe DeLory. Canceled due to fireworks being moved to Kirkwood Community College.
July 6; Seatasea Watersports Free Demo Paddle, 4:30-7pm, Pleasant Creek, Palo; http://www.seatasea.com/
July 8; SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle, 6:00 pm-dark, location TBD.
July 11-12; Annual Canoe Van Buren, weekend float/camp from Selma to Farmington on the Des Moines River; http://villagesofvanburen.com/canoe-vb.htm.
July 15; SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle, 6:00 pm-dark, location TBD.
July 18 (tentative); SIW "Turkey River Float," Elkader to Garber, with a tour of Motor Mill along the way; options for 6 or 12 miles; pages 136-137 in "Paddling Iowa" book; initiated by Clara Swan, assist by Larry Stone.
July 18-19; Paddle & Portage Race, Madison, WI. http://www..badgerstategames.org/node/329.
July 20; Seatasea Watersports Free Demo Paddle, 4:30-7pm, Lake McBride; http://www.seatasea.com/
July 22; SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle, 6:00 pm-dark, location TBD.
July 25-Aug 1; Great River Rumble, LaCrosse, WI to Dubuque, IA, weeklong paddle/camp on the Mississippi River, coordinated meals, campsites, transportation of gear, some SIW members already registered; http://www.riverrumble.org/.
July 25; ACA Course "Intro to Kayaking." http://www.seatasea.com/
July 29; SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle, 6:00 pm-dark, location TBD.
August 5; SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle, 6:00 pm-dark, location TBD..
August 10; Seatasea Watersports Free Demo Paddle, 4:30-7pm, Robins Lake, CR; http://www..seatasea.com/
August 12; SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle, 6:00 pm-dark, location TBD.
August 19; SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle, 6:00 pm-dark, location TBD.
August 21-23; 4th Annual Lower Wapsi Cleanup; details soon.
August 22; ACA Course "Intro to Kayaking." http://www.seatasea.com/
August 24; Seatasea Watersports Free Demo Paddle, 4:30-7pm, Pleasant Creek, Palo; http://www.seatasea.com/
August 26; SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle, 6:00 pm-dark, location TBD.
September 14; Seatasea Watersports Free Demo Paddle, 4:30-7pm, Robins Lake, CR; http://www.seatasea.com/
SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle Sessions, 6:00 pm till dark, Gregg Stark will initiate a schedule of weeknight paddling at local places like Pleasant Creek, Mohawk Park, Ellis Park, Cedar Lake, Prairie Creek (Linn County). These will be strictly "show-&-go," no-shuttle events to steal some after-work paddling time and enjoy a few summer sunsets. We’re seeking someone to initiate similar paddles in Johnson and Jones Counties.
ADDITIONAL SIW EVENTS UNDER CONSIDERATION:
Date TBD; Joint Event(s) with Central Iowa Paddlers, possibly other Iowa paddling clubs, currently under discussion as the groups develop their schedules.
Date TBD; Johnson County Iowa River Water Trail, need Initiator, will coordinate with Johnson County Naturalist Brad Friedhoff.
Dates TBD; Workday Paddle Floats, likely initiated by our retired members.
Dates TBD; Full Moon Paddles, 2009 full moon dates May 9, Jun 7, Jul 7, Aug 5, Sep 4, Oct 4.
Jun 27; Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival Parade.
Sep 5; Marion Swamp Fox Parade.

IOWA WATER TRAIL UPDATE:
. IWT Grant Applications were scored on March 3. The department received 18 applications requesting $255,604, but only $50,000 was budgeted for the program. The 4 highest scoring projects were the Grand River Water Trail, Lizard Creek Water Trail, Turkey River Water Trail, and Raccoon River Water Trail. We hope to have final results for our next SIW News Bulletin.
. If you may be interested in volunteering to assist with access point construction or other volunteer efforts for water trails, send an email to Luke.Wright@dnr.iow.gov. Luke will add you to an email list for notification about future projects.
. We’re also expecting an announcement in the near future about an online user survey project in which we will be encouraging all SIW members to participate. Meanwhile, check out all of the new water trail and river maps, paddling info and safety tips: http://www.iowadnr.gov/watertrails/trails.html

ASTRONOMY FOR PADDLERS:
. Websites tell us to expect a Full Moon on Apr 9 & May 9, New Moon on Apr 24 & May 24.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BUY, SELL, OR TRADE PADDLING GEAR:
. Maybe the approach of warmer weather will encourage sales of used canoes, kayaks, and paddling gear. Is there anything in your garage for which you’d like to find a new home?
Canoe for Sale; Bell Drifter, 15.5’, with gear, like new, $400, 319-895-6085, listed in Cedar Rapids Gazette.
Kayak for Sale; Eddyline Nighthawk 16, Red, $1750 OBO, lightly used 2 seasons, call to see or test paddle, James Keyes, Omaha, NE, 402-680-6369. http://www.paddlingiowa.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=2269
. If you’re looking to buy, sell, or trade, here are some websites to check:
http://cedarrapids.craigslist..org/
http://www.paddlingiowa..com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=5
http://www.paddling.net/Classifieds/forSale.html
http://www.seatasea.com/ClearanceBoats.htm
http://www.canoesportoutfitters.com/Deals.htm

SPROUTING SPRING FLOWERS & CCD SPRING NEWSLETTERS:
. County CCD newsletters are gold mines of outdoor activities for all ages. Even CCDs without a newsletter often provide a calendar of events. Here are some noteworthy electronic publications from around our area:
Link to Jones County Spring Newsletter:
http://jonescountyiowa.org/Documents/Spring%20Summer%202009%20Final.pdf
Link to Linn County Spring Newsletter:
http://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Linn/Park/News/92/CURRENT-NEWSLETTER-AVAILABLE.aspx
Link to Clinton County Spring Newsletter (to be posted later this week):
http://www.clintoncountyiowa.com/conservation/eehome.htm
Link to Dubuque County Spring Newsletter:
http://www.dubuquecounty.org/Portals/0/Conservation/Spring2009.pdf
Link to Jackson County Spring Newsletter:
http://www.jacksonccb.com/files/Spring_2009_JCCB_Newsletter.pdf
Link to Johnson County Kent Park Info
http://www.johnson-county.com/conservation/kentpark.shtml
Link to Louisa County Spring Newsletter (available soon):
http://www.naturallylouisacounty.com/

AREA COUNTY CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT INFO:
. Eastern Iowa County Conservation Departments are gearing up to present their spring event schedules and newsletters. We will try to highlight their paddle events, but we encourage you to watch for all of their outdoor events and activities via their websites, calendars, and newsletters. Special thanks to SIW member Jim Peters, who cued us in to a new centralized website from which you can access conservation department information & websites for all 99 Iowa counties: www.mycountyparks.com. Very convenient!

LOTS OF LINKS TO GREAT IOWA PADDLING INFO:
US Naval Observatory; sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, moon phases, etc. http://aa.usno.navy.mil/.
Star Date Online; solar system, planets, comets, meteor showers, etc. http://stardate.org/..
"Paddling.Net" national paddlers website providing access to boat data, test reports, classified ads, and advice about paddling and paddling activities from around the country: http://www.paddling.net/.
"PaddlingIowa" mother of all Iowa paddling info, including paddling opportunities, trip reports, classified ads: http://www...paddlingiowa.com/.
"Sticks In the Water" email site at sticksinthewater@yahoo.
"Sticks In the Water" group site at http://groups.yahoo.com.
"Sticks In the Water" discussion topic section on paddlingiowa.com under Community/Forums at at http://www.paddlingiowa.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=24&sid=1ce9cee0d339a2a8dcf9a611f23b 7aee.
Central Iowa Paddlers, based in Central Iowa, broad participation http://www.paddleiowa.org/..
Saukenuk Paddlers Canoe and Kayak Club, Quad Cities http://www.rivers-end.org/saukenuk/.
Iowa Whitewater Coalition, based in Central Iowa http://www.iowawhitewater.org/.
Iowa Rivers Revival www.iowarivers.org.
Iowa DNR home page: http://www.iowadnr.gov/index..html
Iowa DNR publications: http://www.iowadnr..com/pub..html
Iowa DNR, Iowa Water Trails: http://www.iowadnr..gov/watertrails/user.html
Iowa DNR/ACA "Smart Start for Safe Paddling" brochure http://www.iowadnr.gov/watertrails/files/smart_start.pdf.
Iowa DNR, Fishing Reports: http://www..iowadnr.com/news/currentfish.html
Iowa DNR guidelines for display of registration decals and numbers, other legal requirements: http://www.boat-ed.com/ia/ia_specific_images/pdfs/IA_handbook_its_the_law.pdf
IOWATER-sponsored cleanup events across the state: http://www..iowater.net/StreamCleanupEvents.htm.

SIW SEEKING "INITIATORS" FOR PADDLING EVENTS:
. The SIW Steering Committee is looking for a few paddling event "Initiators" to help share the load of getting SIW associates out on the water more often. Per the Common Adventure philosophy, "Initiators" of these paddling events are not serving as outfitters, instructors, or paddling experts. Their role is to schedule and coordinate an event, including dates, times, put-ins, take-outs, shuttles, basic route information, and provide common sense reminders re planning & equipment (see the SIW events above for examples). If you have an interest, please contact the editor.
EDITOR’S NOTES:
. Thanks for the words of encouragement, calendar items, and story ideas; please keep them coming! We apologize in advance for any errors or omissions.
. Email your SIW News Bulletin corrections, news items, and story ideas to "SIW Editor" at greggpeggystark@yahoo.com.
. If you do not wish to receive future copies of this SIW News Bulletin, please send an email to sticksinthewater@yahoo.com with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line.
. All other email address changes, subscription adds, or inquiries about "Sticks In the Water" paddlers should be emailed to sticksinthewater@yahoo.com.
BECOME A SIW MEMBER:
. "Sticks In the Water" is a canoe and kayak paddling network, centered around Johnson, Jones, and Linn counties in Eastern Iowa, working to provide area paddlers with expanded opportunities to enjoy more time on the water, in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. We respect your privacy and will not share your email address with any other organization or company. To become a member of SIW, email your regular name (first & last) and your email address to sticksinthewater@yahoo.com.
SAFE PADDLING:
. The Sticks In the Water paddling group embraces the "Common Adventure" philosophy, under which individual paddlers recognize that paddlesports & other outdoor activities inherently include some risk of injury or death, and assume responsibility for the safety of themselves & the members of their party. The "initiators" of SIW events are not necessarily outfitters, instructors, or paddling experts. That said, we strongly encourage all paddlers to wear PFD’s, avoid on-water alcohol, & utilize proper equipment, training, & procedures in pursuit of a safe & enjoyable paddling experience.
~~~/~~~/~~~
How to Sign Up For The Sticksinthewater Yahoo! Group
By our resident "Groups Guru" CanoePam
. If you already have a Yahoo! email address, sign in to your Yahoo! mail and go to Step B below.
. If you do not have a Yahoo! email address, follow the following steps. You don’t need to use this email address for the group, but you need one at least temporarily.
. Step A: Go to http://yahoo..com. You will see a "Sign up" item near the bottom on the right. Select it and follow the instructions to generate a Yahoo! id and email address. When you have finished filling it out, select the "Create My Account". You will get a "success" screen. Make sure you go to "Edit your marketing preference" and opt-out of the items you have no interest in (probably all of them!).. When you have edited your preferences, select the "Experience Yahoo" button. Don’t want to get email at this Yahoo! address? Don’t worry, you can change it soon... Now go to Step B below.
. Step B: Go to http://groups.yahoo.com. In the center of the page you’ll see a Search box to "Find a Yahoo! Group". Enter "sticksinthewater" in the search box and press "Return". Select the sticksinthewater group. You should see a "Join this Group" message on the right side of the page... Click on that button. Fill in the form. If you want to use another email address to receive messages from the group, you add it here. Now is the time to decide what your message preferences are, so read the options carefully.. You can change them later if you like too. Make sure you tell us why you’re joining! After you finish filling in the form, select the "Join" button at the bottom.. This will generate an email to the Yahoo! group moderators to approve your application to join. We require these steps so we don’t get lots of spammers. Make sure you set your email spam filters to allow messages from the group; this is particularly important if you have an email account from Microsoft (hotmail or msn) because these domains frequently don’t allow Yahoo! messages without specific action from you.
. In a day or so you should get a message in your email letting you know you’ve been approved. Follow the instructions to finalize your membership. If a couple of days go by and you don’t see anything, check your spam folder in case your mail server routed our message to that location.
. Once you are a group member you can send messages to all the other members by sending mail to sticksinthewater@yahoogroups.com. All we ask is that you treat others as you would like to be treated; insults, personal attacks, obscene or foul language, or spamming will get your Sticksinthewater Yahoo! group membership cancelled without any second chances.
. If you have any questions, send an email to canoepam@yahoo.com.. I will reply in a day or so, usually less. Like the rest of the sticksinthewater crew, I’m a volunteer with a "day job" that sometimes gets in the way. Be patient; I will get back to you.