Arizona Rivers has been active in the conservation community for several months, advocating for native fish restoration, protection of riparian habitat and instream flows, and the designation of an Upper Verde Wild and Scenic River. We are participating in the governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustainability as a Conservation subgroup member, keeping our Facebook fans fed with the daily news related to Arizona’s rivers and water supply, and planning the organization’s future. What we haven’t done – until now – is make a big push for members.
Members are what will give Arizona Rivers a future. Members will be our strength – “strength in numbers!” When writing comment letters to federal and state agencies about project proposals or speaking to a city council, it is very important to be able to say that the organization is speaking on behalf of XX number of members, and the bigger the number, the better. Our members will also give us physical strength by participating in on-the-ground restoration activities on a volunteer basis. We will make a difference for Arizona’s rivers.
So, our goal for 2010 – our first full year of operation – is 2,010 members! Ambitious? Absolutely! But we also have an ambitious work plan that we won’t be able to move forward if we don’t have the funds to do so. Yes, we’re filling out grant applications and talking to foundations, but the real stability of an organization lies with its membership. And that’s where you come in.
Starting Friday, we will offer a new fact each day as a reason to become a member of Arizona Rivers. We will also offer incentives for referring new members – if someone joins and lets us know that YOU convinced them to join, YOU will get a second year’s membership for free. And remember, every annual membership fee and donation is tax-deductible.
And you don’t have to wait until Friday to join. Go to our Membership and Donations page to give any time.
Thanks! And stop back by every day this week for new reasons and new incentives to join. We sincerely hope that you will become one of us.