Call for Nominations: 2009 River Steward Award

Jan Holder (left), PRN’s First River Steward Award Winner

Do you know a volunteer who is working hard to protect the state’s rivers and streams? Help celebrate and elevate their important work by nominating them for our 5th annual River Steward Award. Deadline is October 15, 2009.

It is time once again to celebrate and elevate the important work of an individual whose work to protect the state’s rivers and streams inspires us. There are many dedicated citizen volunteers around our state that spend countless hours working to protect Illinois’ rivers. They educate us; they do the legwork; they speak the unpopular truths; they go above and beyond.

Too often, their outstanding efforts and successes are not known outside of their local community. The River Steward Award recognizes and celebrates the most exemplary nomination, and it will collect stories of work that we all need to hear. Prairie Rivers Network wants to recognize and celebrate the people who make these achievements possible, sharing their victories and inspiring other river advocates around the state.

The fifth annual River Steward Award will be announced November 6, 2009 at Prairie Rivers Network’s Annual Dinner. The honoree and a guest, as well as the nominator, will be invited to attend the dinner for the awards ceremony. The award recipient will also be announced to the river conservation community around the state, announced to the media in a press release, and posted on our website.

Nomination Procedure

If you know a citizen volunteer you would like to nominate as the next River Steward, please e-mail the following information to Cecily Smith at csmith@prairierivers.org or call her at 217/344-2371 for more information:

1. Nominee’s contact information
2. Your contact information
3. Nominee qualifications (500 words):

• Summary of their river conservation efforts
• General background information concerning the river/watershed of interest
• The specific work for which the nominee deserves recognition

Deadline: Nominations must be received by October 15, 2009.