[GStarkCR]

~~~/~~~/~~~
SIW NEWS BULLETIN
"STICKS IN THE WATER" PADDLERS
May 1, 2009

Quote from Florida: "It’s very exclusive," Arthur Furman, 76, said of the club he founded several years ago. "We try to limit it to those who want to join."

PADDLE FASTER! IT’S ALREADY MAY!
. Special thanks to presenters Pam Stalnaker, Keith Garrett, & Larry Gullett for a successful "Get It Together" event at Jones County Central Park. The 33 attendees (mostly SIW members) heard great presentations and had one-on-one time with the presenters and their equipment. Dave Bell won the drawing for the one-of-a-kind SIW cap provided by Pam and Kevin Stalnaker, and Tom Sabotta grilled hot dogs. A great time was had by all.
. Thanks to instructor Jeff Moses for opening his Kirkwood boat-building class to our visit. Several SIW members toured the workshop, visited with the boatbuilders, & examined the kayaks at about their midpoint in construction.
. Thanks to Gazette reporter Orlan Love for the excellent April 10 article highlighting the growth of SIW. Thanks also to Pam Stalnaker and Tom Sabotta for the quotes, and Kevin Stalnaker for the photo. Great to see SIW receive the recognition, and it has netted us over 20 new members.
. The weather is feeling much more conducive to paddling-related activities, including our SIW "Ready, Set, Paddle" event at Johnson County Kent Park on Saturday May 16. It’s intended to be a "mixer" for a variety of paddlers with a variety of boats, and maybe a few members seeking advice on buying their first boat. The following day is the May 17 planning meeting in Iowa City for the June 12-15; "Wapsi 100," paddling/camping trip, Anamosa to Princeton. On May 30 SIW will be "Exploring Odessa Water Trails," near Wapello in Louisa County, where we will paddle some of the 72 miles of sheltered wetlands trails with local paddler/blogger Julie Ohde.
. Next month (June), we’ll begin our SIW Wednesday Evening Paddle series with a June 3, 6:00 pm-dark paddle at Pleasant Creek State Park, north of Palo.
. We’re still seeking info about the rumored formation of an area "rowing club." Please email me if you have any 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" or "TBD." That indicates that we need your input, ideas, suggestions, and support. There is still plenty of room to schedule more paddling events, especially in August-September.
. While we’re noting calendar reminders, the SeaTaSea free demo paddle schedule is underway, Mothers Day is May 10, the Memorial Day Holiday will be observed May 25, and May 22 is the deadline to register a unit to be in the Freedom Festival Parade (any interest?).
. By the time you read this, Pam may be paddling and camping on the Upper Iowa, and I may be attending the Iowa River Revival Conference in Webster City. It’s a safe bet that we won’t be the only SIW member at either location. We hope to have reports on these and other events in the June SIW News Bulletin.
. To facilitate communication re ride-sharing or last-minute changes in times, locations, 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. The SIW section at http://www.paddlingiowa.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=24&sid=1ce9cee0d339a2a8dcf9a611f23b 7aee would be a great addition to your "favorites." Most of our SIW events will be assigned their own topic/discussion thread; please feel free to post your questions and comments.
. My sincere thanks to all of the SIW members who took the time to contribute to our state’s paddling future by participating in the DNR Iowa Water Trail paddler survey. We will continue to provide ongoing updates about development of water trails and the comprehensive statewide water trail plan.
. And finally, please watch for an upcoming special SIW email with several attachments to help you publicize the SIW group and our SIW events; these "attachment" emails have a nasty habit of nose-diving into spam folders.

BR
Gregg

IN THIS ISSUE:
= Sat May 16 SIW "Ready, Set, Paddle," 10am-3pm, Kent Park in Johnson County.
= Sun May 17 Organizing Meeting for SIW "Wapsi 100" Paddle/Camp trip, 2-5pm Iowa City Library.
= Sat May 30 SIW "Exploring Odessa Water Trails," 10am-3 or 4pm, Louisa County.
= Wed June 3 SIW "Wed Evening Paddle" kickoff, 6:00pm-dark, Pleasant Creek State Park near Palo.
= Anyone heard of an area rowing club?
= Power Squadron safety training for boaters and paddlers.
= Report: SIW event Sun April 19 "Get It Together" in Jones County.
= Report: SIW "Boat Builders Visit" Sat April 25 in Cedar Rapids.
= Registration is now open for the Project AWARE June 20-27 cleanup.
= 2009 Paddling Calendar, SIW Events firming up.
= Spring flowers & spring CCD newsletters emerging.
= Single link to all CCD websites.
= Buy-Sell-Trade; need a kayak kick-stand? A big canoe?
= Astronomy: Full Moon May 9; New Moon 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 "READY, SET, PADDLE" EVENT
SATURDAY MAY 16 IN JOHNSON COUNTY:
The "Sticks In The Water" paddling group and event "initiators" Dave & Janice Bell invite you to our first on-water event of the 2009 paddling season:
Saturday, May 16, 2009 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Kent Park, Hwy 6 West of Tiffin, IA (West of Iowa City)
= Dust off your boats & paddles.
= Refresh your safety & paddling skills.
= Trade test-paddles with willing boat owners.
= Make new paddling friends.
= Check out a variety of boats & equipment.
= This is a small lake, so no shuttles or flood concerns.
= Stretch your legs on some of the trails.
Lunch at Noon: We supply grilled hot dogs, buns, & condiments, you bring something to share & your beverage (no alcohol, please).
Registration: No fee, no registration required. If you have questions, please email: sticksinthewater@yahoo.com.
Driving Directions: From the intersection of I-380 and I-80, take I-80 West 1.5 miles, take Exit 237 toward Tiffin .3 miles, turn right at Ireland Ave. NW .7 miles, turn Left at Grant St. .2 miles, turn Left at W Marengo Rd/US Hwy 6, proceed 3.6 miles, turn right at the Kent Park sign, follow signs to the boat ramp.
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.

SIW "WAPSI 100 ORGANIZING MEETING"
SUNDAY MAY 17 IN IOWA CITY:
Join us from 2:00-5:00 pm in Meeting Room E, 2nd floor of the Iowa City Public Library. This is an initial organizing meeting for a planned 100 mile paddling/camping trip along the Wapsipinicon River from Anamosa to Princeton, IA on June 12--15; initiated by Mark Hartstack. Whether you are already up for this adventure or just want to ask questions, come on out, meet Mark and other interested paddlers, and learn more about this extended paddling opportunity.

SIW "EXPLORING ODESSA WATER TRAILS"
SATURDAY MAY 30 NEAR WAPELLO:
What: "Exploring Odessa Water Trails" sheltered flatwater paddling event.
Where: Odessa Water Trails, Sand Run Access, East of Wapello, IA in Louisa County.
When: Sat, May 30, 10:00 am—3 or 4 pm (takeout flexible, depending on interest & weather).
Details: We’ll plan to have boats ready for launch at 10:00 am; no vehicle shuttle will be required. Local paddler Julie Ohde, from the Naturally Louisa County website and the Red Kayak blog, will brief us on the natural features of the 72 miles of wetlands water trails, answer questions, and join us for at least part of our paddling day. Several trails can be accessed from the Sand Run Access. Depending on the number of participants and their interests, we’ll divide into appropriate groups to help ensure that no one gets lost (alone) along the windy trails. Takeout time will be flexible, but we’ll set up a system to indicate who is still out on the trails.
Food: Bring your own lunch and snacks; plan to take them along in your boat.
Equipment: Usual boats, paddles, PFDs, and paddling gear appropriate for the weather.
Safety: Usual PFD, whistle, drinking water, sunscreen, hat, basic first aid, dry clothes.
Initiator Contact: Gregg Stark, greggpeggystark@yahoo.com
Breakfast Option: Leave a little earlier and join us for a 9:00 am breakfast at the Family Restaurant in Wapello (just north of the elevator on the west side of Hwy 61).
Driving Time & Directions: 2 hours should be ample driving time from Cedar Rapids via I380/Hwy 218 South, Hwy 92 East; Hwy 61 South to Wapello. Mapquest indicates 80 miles or 1.5 hours CR to Wapello, allow another 10 minutes to Sand Run Access. Plan accordingly starting from other locations.
Driving Directions from Wapello: Take Highway 61 to County Road 99 and turn to the east (into town). Follow County Rd 99 about 6 miles, turn left on County Rd X-61, continue about 2 miles, bear to the right & follow onto the dead end road, road will turn to the right & go down to the access.
Map Quest link to Sand Run Access: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Wapello&state=IA&address=7500+78th+Street%2C+#a/maps/m::10:41.156486:-91.108782:0:::::/e
Resources: Julie recommends downloading maps from the www.NaturallyLouisaCounty.com site, and hopes to have the GPS coordinates online & available for download sometime soon. Julie and another local paddler will be joining us to paddle the trails, show us the ropes, & share their experience.

ANOTHER GREAT BOATING / PADDLING SAFETY RESOURCE:
Thanks to SIW member Bill Schoon for highlighting the efforts of local Power Squadron members who provide boating safety training through Kirkwood and other venues. The PS training course recently added a module specifically for human-powered boats. If you’re interested in scheduling or attending a training course, contact Bill at 319-350-3866. Bill also identified a pamphlet, developed by the American Canoe Association and US Coast Guard, which contains basic but important tips to help get people safely on the water:
http://www.uscgboating.org/command/media/giddens/giddens_brochure/giddens_brochure.pdf

REPORT ON SIW "GET IT TOGETHER" EVENT
SUNDAY APRIL 19 IN JONES COUNTY:
An attentive group of 33 paddlers gathered at the Jones County Central Park Nature Center on April 19 for our SIW "Getting It Together" event. Most were from Jones and Linn Counties, but Johnson and Muscatine were also represented. Pam Stalnaker provided the more traditional canoe packing perspective, while Keith Garrett offered a gearheads’ guide to packing a kayak. The combination of traditional and technical, canoe and kayak, made the presentations both informative and entertaining.
Jones County Conservation Director Larry Gullet took us on a brief but beautiful video tour of the county’s 90 miles of available paddling streams, supplemented with information about public/private partnerships currently underway to improve environmental protection, water trail accesses, and paddler safety. All in all, the afternoon was very informative and entertaining, and a tremendous bargain.

REPORT ON SIW "BOAT BUILDERS VISIT"
SATURDAY APRIL 25 IN CEDAR RAPIDS:
A half dozen SIW members gathered on a rainy Saturday to visit the Kirkwood kayak-building class currently in progress. In spite of a bit of confusion, with the instructor caught out of town and the building in the throes of major renovation, we managed to find the class and visit with the assistant instructor and several of the builder/students. The depth of the interest and questions clearly indicated that enthusiasm for boat-building is both contagious and addictive. Some of these folks are planning 2 or 3 boats ahead. Suffice to say, if you have an interest in the subject but no experience, we have SIW members and contacts who can give you advice and guidance.

PROJECT AWARE REGISTRATION 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 2009 PADDLER PLANNING CALENDAR CONTINUES TO EVOLVE:
Watch for current updates, Q&A, ridesharing, etc. regarding SIW events in the SIW section of Community on the PaddlingIowa.com website at http://www.paddlingiowa.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=24&sid=1ce9cee0d339a2a8dcf9a611f23b7aee.

(SIW-organized events in bold)
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, 10:00am-3:00pm, 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 "Wapsi 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; SIW "Exploring Odessa Water Trails," 10:00am-3:00 or 4:00pm, near Wapello in 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, Pleasant Creek State Park.
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 "Wapsi 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 15; "Des Moines River Run Garbage Grab"; free event followed by free celebration dinner & entertainment, www.riverstewards.org.
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:
We emailed Director Nate Hoogeveen’s periodic Iowa Water Trail Update to all SIW members earlier this week, but here’s a quick congratulations to those involved in the Turkey River Water Trail Project, Fayette and Clayton CCB’s, who received a grant for $21,037 toward their project. We’ll also keep you informed about the designation ceremony planned for the Wapsipinicon River Water Trail at Independence, in Buchanan County, on June 6. For more info on Iowa Water Trails, 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 May 9 & a New Moon on 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?
Accessory for Sale; New Bending Branches Kayak Kickstand, lists $50, sell for $25, see at http://www.bendingbranches.com/gear/kickstand.html , contact gallke@yahoo.com, Iowa City.
Canoe for Sale; MichiCraft aluminum, 3 man, 20’, with paddles & roof pads, $250, 319-360-0939, Newhall, IA, listed on Craigslist.
Canoe for Sale; cedar strip hull, ash yoke, cherry thwarts, mahogany gunwales & decks; $1,650. Seller in Illinois, boat in Pella, listed on Paddling.Net.
Canoe for Sale; Old Town Discovery Sport, 17’, square stern, w/5hp Yamaha outboard, $1,650, Davenport, IA, listed on Paddling.Net.
Canoe for Sale; Wenonah kevlar, 18’, 42#, wood gunwales & yoke, cane seats, $1,500 OBO, Iowa, listed on Paddling.Net by Bassbug.
Canoe for Sale; Mad River Outrage X, Mike Yee outfitted, floatation, $900 OBO, listed on PaddlingIowa.com.
Canoes for Sale (4); Dagger Impulse 13’ ABS solo $350 firm, Dagger Rival 12-13’ ABS solo asking $500, two Dagger Phantoms 11-12’, one at $600, one at $450, listed on PaddlingIowa.com by Bullwinkle.
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:
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:
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.