Dear River Citizens,
At some point during this winter season we will find ourselves staring into space, day dreaming about that special moment, the last time we felt the peace and majesty of nature, the stillness of living in the moment, the splendor of the Mississippi River. We begin to think about next year and the next time we can feel that way again. During the winter months our love for the River doesn’t get to express itself as much. It lies there, latent, under the surface, popping into our thoughts and warming us from the inside out and it only takes one of those experiences to make it through the dark days of winter.
At the close of the year, the staff and interns of the 1 Mississippi campaign look forward to plan for next year. But before we can move ahead, we first need to take some time to reflect on our recent work. As we consider the growing community of River Citizens from 49 of the 50 states, we’ve realized we are on to something.
Nearly 6,700 people like you acted on their commitment to the River in 2012 by attending river clean ups, planting wetlands, riding bikes, traveling by canoe or writing their Representatives when the River’s fate was at stake.
Thank you all for the commitment and time you have given to 1 Mississippi. Embracing our appreciation for last year propels us forward and provides the fuel to plan for the year awaiting us.
So what about next year? Not all New Year’s resolutions need to revolve around bad habits or things we want to change. Maybe we need to have more fun on the River, reignite the fire that compels us to protect it. There is so much history, music, wildlife and adventuring to be had on the River, but one needs to plan these trips of exploration. We can resolve to plan a trip, create a placeholder in our calendar to ensure we have a moment to remember next winter. We can resolve to have patience, knowing the Mississippi is a big long complex river and will take a big long complex solution. We can resolve to press on. We can resolve to not let our passion waiver. We can resolve to do a bit more than we did last year. Maybe we take the next step and use the resources provided by 1Mississippi to contact local decision makers when they are discussing River related issues. Maybe we just ask a friend to become a River Citizen.
The upcoming year will be a big one for River Citizens and the 1Mississippi campaign: we will reach our goal of 10,000 River Citizens. Growing this movement will take all of us, working as a team to make it happen.
Top ten lists are all the rage at the end of the year, so of course we give you:
*Top Ten Ways to Connect with the River
10. Read a good book. Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain, Rising Tide by Jonathan Berry and Wicked River by Lee Sandlin are all recommended!
9. Visit a museum, historical site, civil war battlefield, aquarium or learning center.
8. Attend an event on the River. Go out and see the bald eagles, have fun and make a difference at a river clean up or find a great concert on the River.
7. Support sustainable agriculture. Farmers markets, local organic farms, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA’s) and growing food in your own back yard are great ways to support agriculture and dump less fertilizer pollution into our River.
6. Keep up to date on important issues and contact your Representatives.
5. Volunteer your time with an organization in your area working on the River. Our Event calendar is a great place to start looking.
4. Go on vacation to another location on the River. Your tourist dollars will support the local economy for cities as big as New Orleans or as small as Hannibal.
3. Forward the newsletter to a friend and encourage them to become a River Citizen. Appreciate each other in a new way!
2. Get on the water. There are canoe trips to take, Riverboats to experience, paddleboards to maneuver and fishing boats to rent. Being on the water grants you a different way to look at the River, from the middle!
1. Put your hands/feet into the River. This simple act reminds us that the River from upstream is flowing by connecting north to south, east to west.
*The links above are examples of sources to foster a connection with the River. Since the River touches 10 states, there are many more resources close to you if you look around!
Yours in respect and service,
Annette
1 Mississippi Outreach Coordinator