[GStarkCR]

SIW “Get It Together”
Sunday, April 19!
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The “Sticks In The Water” paddling group invites you to an afternoon of presentations, entertainment, & socializing:

Sunday, April 19, 2009 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Jones County Nature Center
Jones County Central Park, Center Junction, IA (NE of Anamosa; see “Driving Directions,” below)

o 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 & longer trips to the BWCA. Pam and Kevin will also give their perspective of water safety & how it affects what they pack on their canoe trips.

o 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, Keith will provide his perspective on safety & packing for kayakers.

o Larry Gullett is the Jones County Conservation Director, responsible for managing more than 2,000 acres of natural & 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 & highlight some efforts currently underway. He will also include a summary of discussions with landowners along the North Fork Maquoketa.

o Refreshments & socializing, Tom’s grilled hot dogs, shared snacks, bring your own beverage (no alcohol, please).

Registration: No fee, no registration required.
Email questions to sticksinthewater@yahoo.com.

Driving Directions: (all paved roads!): From the intersection of Hwy 151 & Hwy 64 in Anamosa, proceed East on Hwy 64 for 6.4 miles, turn Left (North) on Amber Rd/CR-X44 for 2.3 miles, Right on CR-E29 for 1.6 miles, Left on Central Park Rd for 0.7 miles.

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, & 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.

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.

[GStarkCR]

The SIW "Get It Together" event went very well last Sunday, with 33 people on hand, great presentations, a little food, and even a couple of boats on the lake afterward.

Special thanks to Pam Stalnaker, Keith Garrett, and Larry Gullett for outstanding presentations. Excellent information, well-received, plenty of positive comments were heard during the social hour. Thanks also to Tom, Sherri and the others who brought the hotdogs and other snacks.

Next Event: SIW "Ready, Set, Paddle" at Kent Park in Johnson County on May 16. See you there!