January 21, 1998
At the Chehalis River Council's third Annual Meeting, held January 20 in Chehalis, recognition of outstanding efforts for the watershed, reports of growth in the organization, and a glimpse of a river oN the other side of the world took center stage.
The second annual Chehalis Watershed Volunteer of the Year award was presented to R. D. Grunbaum and Linda Orgel of Aberdeen for their work with Friends of Grays Harbor (FOGH). Other volunteer awards went to Jenny Holderman of Chehalis as the Student Volunteer of the Year, Mike McGinnis, Fisheries Manager for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, as Outstanding Cooperator of the Year, and Tom White of Adna as Volunteer of the Year for contributions to the Chehalis River Council.
Membership chair Margaret Rader presented a report of activities in 1997 that shows membership and contributions increasing significantly over the last three years. Membership has increased as the Council has responded to issues of concern throughout the basin. "Concern about development in the floodplains and the estuary and our water quality in general brought a number of new members to the Council," said Rader.
Special speaker for the event was Mike Kelly of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Kelly described the Service's restoration projects in the Chehalis Basin and also shared slides of the river Niger in Mali, where he and his wife were in the peace corp.
In an annual election of trustees, Lewis Patton, Doty, was confirmed as representative of the Group for the Preservation of the Upper Chehalis to the Chehalis River Council board of trustees. Brady Engvall, Westport, was reelected to a second three-year term.
Members of Preservation of the Upper Chehalis served as hosts for the Annual Meeting, which featured a dessert potluck. Sally Cox of Doty organized the event.
The Chehalis River Council is a nonprofit volunteer organization whose mission is to "promote the conservation and restoration of the greater Chehalis Basin resources." Incorporated in 1994, the Council encourages interested individuals to contact them at their Oakville office, (360) 273-6137, or P.O. 585, Oakville, WA 98568. The organization also has a web site at http://www.crcwater.org .
Back to Who is the CRC Index Page
Back to Whats New Index Page
Back to Chehalis River Council Index Page