One week from tonight- what will you be doing?  I hope you answered, “Celebrating the amazing accomplishments of Lee Russell at the 2008 Bill Russell River Hero Award.” 

No, that wasn’t your response? 

Well, that can easily be changed.  Seriously, it is going to be a great night for a great woman.  The award ceremony is set for next Thursday, October 2, at the Foundry at World’s Fair Park, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  Tickets are $50 per person and there will be heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.  Best of all, we get to spend the evening honoring an incredible conservationist that embodies the spirit of the River Hero Award.  Tickets are available online and by calling 522-7007 ext. 102.

About Liane:
For more than 40 years, Dr. Liane Russell has been working to preserve and protect Tennessee’s rivers and parks.  Lee and her husband Bill (for whom the River Hero Award is named) organized Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning and were instrumental in protecting the Obed River and the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River.  Lee played a lead role in the drafting and passage of the State Scenic Rivers Act, which is the first such act in the United States.

Through her work more than 150,000 acres of land and more than 120 miles of river are permanently protected from adverse development in the Cumberlands.  Because of her efforts against strip-mining, many of Tennessee’s rivers are spared siltation and acid mine drainage.  Throughout Tennessee and in her hometown, her work has helped protect lands and water to make them available for generations to come.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Hi. This is Kristina Shands. I am the new director of development and communications. I have known two previous directors that held this position and I am humbled and honored to follow in their footsteps.

Today is my one-month anniversary. It’s hard to believe that I have been here a month. On one hand, I have learned so much that it is sometimes a challenge to keep it all in my brain; on the other hand, there is so much I need to know just to keep with the other folks in the office.

Here are a few of the things I have learned over the past 30 days:

• The level of dedication, not just from the TCWN staff and board but also our members, consultants and partners, is beyond anything I have seen before. This isn’t just a job- it is a passion.
• Clean water is about more than conservation and river cleanups. I always thought of water issues in terms of energy issues- the amount of water it takes to run power plants (coal and nuclear) and pollution from industrial processes- but I never imagined the impact agriculture, irresponsible development and storm drainage has on our drinking water, streams and rivers.
• The TCWN staff is extremely professional, knowledgeable and committed. Renée, Dana, Greg and Morgan are the best at what they do. They inspire me to work hard and be my best. I enjoy the challenge.
• Legislation, permits and enforcement are tough to understand. I am glad to have Dana and Renée here to explain things.
• TCWN is 100% accountable to its members and the community. We truly care about the health of our cities and state. We are active citizens who strive to make the world a better place.
• We can’t do it alone. And we don’t. I have met some very interesting people over the past month. People who are fighting along side TCWN to ensure we have clean water not just for drinking, but also for playing.

It has been a very busy first month, and I look forward to many, many busy months ahead. I invite every one of you to drop me a line and let me know what you think about TCWN- the organization, membership, website, water issues, whatever. You can reach me at 865-522-7007 ext. 102 or [email protected]. I hope to hear from you soon!