2013 Series, Issue Three

In thIs Issue: IntheChicagoArea?

CometoBingoNightatHamburgerMary’s–AFundraiserforFreshwaterFuture

On-lineWorkshop:DigitalStorytellingforYourGroup

InsightServices:YellowDogWatershedPreserve’sExperience

FaithCommunitiesPlayKeyRoleinProtectingWater

ProposedFrackingWellsAConcern?HaveYourWaterTested!

Freshwater FutureP.O. Box 2479

Petoskey, MI 49770Phone: (231) 348-8200

www.freshwaterfuture.org

ChrISTIna CarSOn ~ PICTured rOCkS

EnsuringtheHealthyFutureofOurWaters

Could you imagine if a business was allowed to inject

a toxic mixture contain-ing known carcinogens into the ground, threat-ening to contaminate the water you and your fami-ly drink, possibly leading to serious illness? Surely not in the year 2013!

After all, we have the Safe Drinking Water Act to pro-tect us, right? Not when it comes to fracking. During the early 2000’s our federal decision-makers decided to exempt the injection of polluting chemicals used in the fracking industry from the Safe Drinking Water Act in addition to parts of the Clean Water Act. In other words, chemicals that are a “contaminant” according to the Safe Drinking Water Act are now not defined as a “contaminant” if used by the fracking industry. I know—we could rant end-lessly about how pollution is pollution no matter who does it. However, I think thatwould just be “preaching tothe choir” here. What I want to tell you about is a real op-portunity to try and change that.

Congress introduced legis-lation twice that would re-move fracking’s exemption under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Each time the legislation was defeated. However, the Environmen-

tal Protection Agency (EPA) is currently investi-gating the impacts of fracking on drinking water, which the agency says is necessary to address pub-lic concerns. They will have a final report on this in 2014. Right now, they have released a progress report and are asking for input. This is one of the biggest opportunities we have had in a long time to influence federal protections related to fracking. And to be effective, EPA needs to hear from you!

Specifically, the EPA is asking for the public to sub-mit data and scientific literature to inform their re-search on the potential impacts of hydraulic fractur-ing on drinking water resources. If you can or have documented experiences related to fracking and possible pollution to a community’s waters, let the EPA know! Do you know of a good study or story about fracking impacts to water resources? Let them know! Now is our time to provide examples that could lead to stronger protections for our waters from the impacts of fracking.

OpportunitytoStrengthenFederalProtectionsonFracking by Cheryl Kallio

Cheryl Kallio

Follow Freshwater Future on Facebook and Twitter!

STeven huySer-hOnIg

printed on recycled paper

A Pennsylvania fracking well and the Susquehanna River.

dOnald gIllIland/harrISBurg PaTrIOT-newS

Continuted on page 2

CONCERNEDABOuTPOTENTIAlCONTAMINATIONFROMPROPOSEDFRACKINGWEllS?

HaveYourWaterTested!

Freshwater Future invites you to participate in our new homeowner water testing program. The program includes drinking water testing for residents in Great Lakes fracking areas prior to fracking activity, with follow-up testing after these activities

start. If you live near proposed fracking wells, we encourage you to learn more and participate in this program.

Freshwater Future’s water testing program will be carried out by a certified lab and Central Michigan University. Participating home owners will be provided with follow-up sampling of well water, giving peace of mind and helping to create a picture of impacts as they happen in our area.

For more information, including pricing, go to our website at www.freshwaterfuture.org or contact Emily Whittaker at Emily@freshwaterfuture.org or (231) 373-3670.

Freshwater Voices is published quarterly and distributed by Freshwater Future, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. Fund-ing for the publication is provided by our members.

staffAnn BAughmAn Associate Director for Development ann@freshwaterfuture.orgBonnie DAnni Fiscal Specialist bonnie@freshwaterfuture.orgCheRyl KAllio Associate Director for Policy cheryl@freshwaterfuture.orgliSA mAttS office manager lisa@freshwaterfuture.orgJill RyAn executive Director jill@freshwaterfuture.orggARy StReet engineering Consultant Volunteer gary@freshwaterfuture.orgBeCCA tuRneR Program Associate becca@freshwaterfuture.orgmelAnie nAPoleon WelCh Associate Director of Program melanie@freshwaterfuture.orgAnDReA DuBe-goSS Program innovator, Canada andrea@freshwaterfuture.orgemily WhittAKeR Policy Specialist emily@freshwaterfuture.org

mAin oFFiCe: (231) 348-8200

Board of directorsgARy BelAn American Riversglen DAle

great lakes CitizenDeBoRAh DoRSey

West grand Boulevard Collaborative

KRiSty meyeR the ohio environmental Counciltim moRRiS great lakes CitizenmiChelle PARKeR

John g. Shedd AquariumteRRy SWieR michigan Citizens for

Water ConservationlinDSAy telFeR

Canadian Freshwater Alliance

DiSClAimeR: Freshwater Voices is intended to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas among citizens and organizations working to protect aquatic habitats in the great lakes Basin. the interpretations and conclusions presented in this newsletter represent the opinions of the individual authors. they in no way represent the views of Freshwater Future, funders, members, donors, or any organization mentioned in this publication.

September 2013 F r e S h waT e r F u T u r e M e M B e r n e w S 7

Thank You to All of Our Donors from June 2013 through August 2013JOhn dykSTra ~ MIner BeaCh FallS

FOuNDATIONSANDGRANTSC. S. mott Foundation,

environment Programnew Prospect FoundationFrey FoundationJ.A. Woollam Foundation

CORPORATEGIFTSBee natural, inc.lake is goodted glasoe Fine Art

Photography

FuNDERSCIRClE($1000andabove)ted and Brenda Freyherman miller FoundationJack and tucker harrismurray and Jeanie Kilgour

SuSTAINER’SCIRClE($1000orgreaterthroughmonthlygiving)Bonnie Danni

MONTHlYGIvINGAnn BaughmanCheryl KallioJill RyanBecca turnermelanie Welchemily Whittaker

ORGANIzATIONSBuffalo niagra RiverkeeperCayuga lake Watershed

networkCentre for Sustainable

WatershedsClean Water Action CouncilConcerned Citizens

of Big BayCuyahoga River Community

Planning organizationDetroiters Working for

environmental JusticeDoan Brock Watershed

Partnershipeden gardens Block Clubelk-Skegemog lakes

Association

Finger lakes Zero Waste Coalition, inc.

Flint River Watershed Coalition

For our grandchildrenFriends of the Boundary

Waters WildernessFriends of the Crooked RiverFriends of the Detroit RiverFriends of the St Joe River

Associationgreat lakes Commons mapKalamazoo nature CenterKalamazoo River Cleanup

Coalitionlake michigan league of

Women Voterslake Superior Watershed

Conservancyles Cheneaux Watershed

Councilmiddle grand River

organizations of Wetlandsminnesota land trustmullett lake Area

Preservation Societymunuscong River Watershed

Associationnature Aboundsnew image lifeskills

Academy, inc.Rideau Valley Conservation

AuthorityRiver Raisin instituteSaugatuck Dunes Coastal

AllianceSave our Sky Blue WatersSierra Club ontario ChapterSisters of St. Francis of AssisiSweet Water-Southeastern

Wi Watersheds trusttC 350two Rivers CoalitionWaterlegacyWisconsin land and Water

Conservation Association

SPONSOR($250-$499)tom and Bette irwinJulie A. napoleon

SuPPORTER($100-$249)Amanda and Paul Brinktimothy Crooksmargaret DeacyDean DabsonKristin hagberglinda hardienancy Ann hellmanRyan hilbertDr. John huttograce KayeWilliam lavigneAl and Joan maerzgail mcCarthyhenrietta SaundersSusie Schreibermarilynn SmithCheryl Weeks-RostenBetty yonkers

MEMBER($50-$99)Anonymous (3)Johanna BalzerSandra BroganBrian CampbellRuth ClausenJill and William CraftonCarole and Clifford Dahlelliott DudnikDiane hofnerDebra KerrKim KihnkeBethia KingSteven and Sherry lessensRay letherennancy malvickelizabeth and terry mcCloskeyKristy meyerJane and William millarDr. Kirby and Kathryn miltonDonald munskiJohn P. oliverthomas V. PottsCarol and Paul Rosenancy and gig Stewarted and Diane StrzelinskiJim Sweeneyelsa and Walter VerderberDavid WebbJan and Brad WilkinsKathy Wright

CONTRIBuTOR($1-$49)Anonymous (2)Sandra BoeghRoger BowenPaul BurroughsRobert and Anne ButcherKenneth CromerJudith DavidsonAnonymousJudith DushaneDiane FontaineDonald geigerDon gunningJean hamiltonRosemary hartzerJudith hodelledwin hodgsonholly hoffemarv and Bert howellJackie and Carol KangasKevin KerstnerBruce KlosnerVictor KrausPaul KreckeAdam Johnhilary lambertmary leachJoanne h. lindermichael millerJulie misegadesBrad mosherlouis mule’Carl SandersCharlie Slackmarilyn and Bob SmithAlison StankrauffWilliam StraubCharles and Susan thomasAndrea and Jerry VigueKen VinciquerraKenneth and Kay Walcott

IN-KINDDONATIONSgary and mary Street

2 F r e S h waT e r F u T u r e S Ta F F v I e w S Freshwater Future

D I R E C TO R ’S N OT ElearntoShare,SharetolearnJill Ryan, Executive Director

As the leaves begin to turn, it means the tem-peratures will begin to fall, which also means students are returning to classrooms. As they

embark on a new school year of learning, and I read through this current issue of Freshwater Voices, it is evident learning doesn’t end in the classroom. Learn-ing is facilitated through sharing information. And this issue highlights an abundance of that happening in the Freshwater Future community.

Examples in this issue include: inviting you to reach out to the EPA with information you know about frack-ing activities, faith communities educating themselves then offering that information on to others, exchang-ing of knowledge between organizations through our Insight Services, learning to share your story through media, and even sharing funds to help organizations complete projects.

I challenge you to recognize the expertise you have, and pass it along. Share with others. While you share, recognize you are providing opportunities for others to learn. Look out for what others have to share with you, and keep on learning. If you have something to share consider contacting us to see if we can include an article in a future Freshwater Voices.

You have until November 15, 2013 to comment. Here’s how:

• Email: Send information to: ord.docket@epa.gov, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0674.

• Fax: Fax information to: (202) 566-9744, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0674.

• Mail:Send information to: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Mail code: 28221T, 1200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC, 20460, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0674.

More information can be found on our website at www.freshwaterfuture.org. We’ll be submitting comments too and would love to note your experience. If you think there has been or will likely be pollution to waters in your area from fracking, please let us know! You can email Cheryl@freshwaterfuture.org with your comments.

Also, check out our water testing program on the back page.

Opportunity to Strengthen Federal Protections on Fracking continued from page 1

Come out to a Bingo Night like no other! On Monday, October 28 at 8pm, meet at Hamburger Mary’s (5400 N. Clark Street, Chicago) for Charity Bingo Night, benefitting Freshwater Future. Bring your friends

and neighbors, the more the merrier, but leave the kids at home for this adults-only night of fun, food and prizes.

There will be $10 Bingo cards and a cash bar, with 90% going back to Fresh-water Future. We’ll play 8-10 games with prizes going to each winner. Helping the Great Lakes has never been this fun! The full restaurant menu will also be available.

BINGO!DIVAS!FUN!hamburgermarys.com/chicago/

in the chicago area?Don’t Miss Out on this Fun, Irreverent Fundraiser for Freshwater Future on October 28!

September 2013 F r e S h waT e r F u T u r e I n S I g h T O P P O r T u n I T I e S 3 6 F r e S h waT e r F u T u r e u P d aT e S Freshwater Future

Did you miss our Spring Project or Climate Grant deadlines? Do you have a project that needs funding? Don’t miss out on our upcoming grant deadlines!

FallProjectGrants:September30,2013Freshwater Future’s Project Grant programs provide funding ranging from $500 to $3500 (USD) to be used for specific project expenses. Grassroots organizations engaging in advocacy activities and proj-ects to protect local lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and other aquatic habitats will be considered.

FallClimateGrants:November15,2013Freshwater Future’s Climate Grant program provides awards ranging from $500 to $5000 (USD) for projects that engage communities, par-ticularly in urban areas, in preparing for, and responding to, climate change impacts. Attendance at a Climate Symposium is strongly encour-aged for climate grant applications to develop a competitive proposal. (See page 5 to find a climate symposium near you!)

Don’t forget we have other grant programs with Rolling Deadlines! You can apply at any time for:

SpecialOpportunityGrants– also known as “emergency grants” allow for quick funding opportunities for projects under $500 (USD).

InsightGrants– funds to provide staff time for professional assistance to your project or organization. Areas of assistance include customized training such as board development, membership expansion, commu-nications, fundraising, and strategic planning.

HOWGrants–Healing Our Waters (HOW) are awards up to $15,000 (USD) for financial support to develop and implement Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and other federal proposals of projects.

To learn more about all of our grant programs, visitfreshwaterfuture.org/grant-programs. We strongly encourage you to discuss your proposal ideas with Freshwater Future staff before applying.

erIC andre ~ aPOSTle ISlandS SunSeT

N E E D M O N E Y F O R YO u R W O R K ?FreshwaterFutureGrantDeadlines

InTO The COve © rOBerT de JOnge

A N O N - l I N E W O R K S H O PP R O v I D E D BY F R E S H WAT E R F u T u R EDigitalStorytellingforYourGroup

Your organization has great stories to tell. This 3-part on-line workshop will intro-duce you to an exciting way to tell them.

Digital storytelling combines visuals and sound to communicate about the work you do, result-ing in a short video all about your organization.

This workshop meets three times on-line, with support between sessions to help you learn the

tools and create your first story. With support from Freshwater Future staff, you will create a 2-4 minute digital story to use for fundraising, to motivate volunteers, public outreach and more.

Wednesday,October16 11:30amESTSESSion onE: Introduction to Digital Storytelling

We will look at the elements of digital storytelling for organizations and discuss examples of effective digital stories. Then we will talk about the story you want to work on and plan for developing a script.

Wednesday,October23 11:30amESTSESSion Two: From Script to Production, Including Storyboarding and Editing

We will discuss how to move your story from a scripted idea to a reality using storyboarding to connect images and sound with your words. Then we will look at several digital editing tools for you to use in creating your story.

Wednesday,November13 11:30amESTSESSion ThrEE: Planning to Finish and Share Your Story

We will look more closely at editing techniques, opportunities and challenges, arrange for supporting you to finish your story, address problems you might be having, and plan for how you will share your story with others.

workshop provided by David Syring, Melanie welch, and Becca TurnerDavid is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He has been working with community groups and students to create digital media for the past two years.

Don’t delay! Be a part of this exclusive programfor a discounted, introductory rate for organizational members of

$75 per group (an $800 value!). Email melanie@freshwaterfuture.org to reserve your spot.

registerNoW!

HandCarvedandBotanicalBeeswaxCandlesBenefitFreshwaterFuture

Beautiful, unique, hand-signed beeswax products are handcrafted by BeeNatural artists in Athens, Georgia. Their Hon-

eypot® luminaries add a warm glow and real honey aroma to any home or garden decor.

BeeNatural will donate 25% of your purchase total to Freshwater Future when you use this link: bit.ly/FwFhoney and when you remember to include “Freshwater Future” in the com-ments section of the order form.

We’re excited that these all-natural products will help support Freshwa-ter Future’s work.

Gary Street is our new science and engineering consultant vol-unteer. As retired chemical en-gineer from Dow Chemical and a lifelong Great Lakes citizen, Gary’s passion for the Lakes and their health led him to Freshwa-ter Future; first as a board mem-ber, now as an involved citizen and volunteer. His background and keen knowledge on Great Lakes issues has proven to be a valuable contribution.

Bonnie Danni, fiscal special-ist, brings a blend of corporate America and non-profit experi-ence to our team. She previous-ly served on Freshwater Future’s Board of Directors as President and with EarthShare New York as Treasurer. She has had a love for the Great Lakes since child-hood, and they’ve been the driv-ing force behind her desire to be involved in the environmental movement.

N E W T E A M M E M B E R SFreshwaterFutureWelcomesTwoMemberstoOurTeam

More details about all our staff can be found at freshwaterfuture.org/about/board-staff.html.

F R E S H WAT E RF u T u R E’SN E W E S TCO N S u lT I N GS E R v I C E:AccountingandBookkeeping

Freshwater Future is pleased to announce we now offer professional accounting services. Through our Insight Services we

can assist you with:

• Training your staff or volunteers in record keeping, reporting, and comprehending fi-nancial statements

• Setting up accounting systems• Maintaining your financial records, proving

reports and information for your programs and donors

To learn more about this program and un-derstand the key benefits, visit our website or email Brenda at brenda@freshwaterfuture.org.

Mindy Otto is the new Executive Director of Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, which was established in 1995 by a group of local citizens concerned about unchecked logging and property division activities. Their work includes public advocacy, ed-

ucation, land acquisition, resource management and water quality protection. Since 2003 the organization has dedicated years of time and resources to protecting the watershed from the multilayered threat of sulfide mining. The Yellow Dog River Watershed lies in eastern Baraga and western Marquette Counties in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The area is known as the Huron Peninsula and is one of the last wild areas in the state.

Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve recently took advantage of Freshwater Future’s Insight Services—low-cost or no cost trainings, events, and coaching services to build the skills and success of organizations. Here is what Mindy had to say about the program:

4 F r e S h waT e r F u T u r e I n S I g h T O P P O r T u n I T I e S Freshwater Future September 2013 g r a S S r O OT S I n aC T I O n 5

Brenda JOneS ~ glOwIng rOCkS, lake SuPerIOr

STeven huySer-hOnIg ~ TahquaMenOn rIver SunrISe

INSIGHTSERvICES:GE T TINGHElPTOIMPROvEYOuRORGANIz ATIONYellowDogWatershedPreserve’sExperience

FaithCommunitiesPlayKeyRoleinProtectingWaterBy Rev. Dr. Clare Butterfield, Director, Faith in Place and the Illinois Interfaith Power & Light Campaign

When Faith in Place staff first looked at a map of Illinois that showed where the coal and shale deposits are located in our state, we were struck by just how widely spread they

are. Almost all of Illinois has a shale shelf under it, and the coal deposits stretch almost as far. If all of that shale were to be explored for natural gas extraction it would have a profound impact on the agricultural activity and the water supply of our state.

It struck us that a good time to figure out how to manage the is-sue of fracking in Illinois would be before it started. And so we first set to educating ourselves, about the process, about the problems,

about how other states were starting to address it. Then we started educating others. For the last three years, but particularly this year, we held workshops across Illinois, from Carbondale to Chicago, to help people of faith understand the issue and its implications. Once a bill emerged, we also worked to help our constituents in the faith community understand the nuances of the issues and the pros and cons of the different legislative proposals.

This year the Illinois General Assembly did pass a piece of legislation that contains a number of important restrictions on how fracking is conducted in Illinois. With the Governor’s signature, that bill has now

become law. We helped members of our partner congrega-tions to understand that the process was about to begin here, and how we might respond to that as people of faith and as careful stewards of the water resources of Illinois.

We’re not thrilled that fracking has come to Illinois, but we are relieved that we have the strongest set of restrictions on the books of any state. Clearly, we have more work to do to get our economy to a place that no longer relies on fossil fu-els. We believe that is what will ultimately liberate us from this kind of dilemma.

mindy otto

Freshwater Future (FF): How did the Insight program help your group transition smoothly from the former Executive Director to you, the new Executive Director?

MindyOtto(MO): The transition is still ongoing, and so I still regu-larly talk with Freshwater Future staff. They help by giving feedback through email, talking with me individually and also by working with the board. We were able to create a strategic plan and fundrais-ing plan with Freshwater Future’s help. These were really helpful to me because they were good guiding documents for a new person coming in to have. They provided the whole picture of the organiza-tion and our goals. Freshwater Future staff are very supportive and easy to reach via phone or email for any questions I have.

FF: What changes has your Board of Directors made after they partici-pated in the Insight program?

MO:Your staff came and did a board development workshop, about 7 hours long. The board received training on how a highly functioning board operates, talked about governance and the role of the board. We discussed fundraising, and eventually divided the board into commit-tees—that was a big step for us! We’re still undergoing transition, but the seeds have been planted to move in the right direction. I’m looking forward to some really good changes.

FF:What were the most helpful types of information or new skill sets your group received from Freshwater Future during the program?

MO:We learned how highly functioning nonprof-its operate, and how a great system would work. It was really nice to have an outside person provide expertise and information to the board. We also appreciated looking to how Freshwater Future op-erates as inspiration. We got some great ideas just by observing you! For example, we can use tech-nology to our advantage to assist our work. I really love working with Freshwater Future, and always look forward to our calls.

To take advantage of Freshwater Future’s Insight Services and apply for a grant towards the cost of these services, go to freshwaterfuture.org/grant-programs/insight-services-grant-program.html

yellow Dog Watershed Preserve staff and volunteers at the Salmon trout Volunteer Stream monitoring training day in fall 2012.

members of Faith in Place’s partner congregations participate in an educational training.

MAKETHESHIFT:TuRNClIMATECHANGEvulNERABIlITYINTOSTRENGTH

ClimateAdaptationWorkshopsScheduledforthisFall“ When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability... To be alive is to be vulnerable.” ~ Madeleine L’Engle

Is climate change affecting your work to protect or restore your favorite community waterway? Well, if it hasn’t yet, it most likely will. But don’t fret, Freshwater Future can help you come up with ways to adapt to the effects of climate change.

We partnered up with two great organizations, Cayuga Lake Watershed Network and Environment Erie to offer two Climate Adaptation Workshops this Fall.

Save the date for one of the two events below and plan to join us to learn more about how your work and community may be vulnerable to climate change, and identify solutions to adapt and reduce impacts.

• october 7-9 Erie, Pennsylvania • november 8-9 ithaca, new York

Vistit freshwaterfuture.org to learn more and register.

Mindy Otto is the new Executive Director of Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, which was established in 1995 by a group of local citizens concerned about unchecked logging and property division activities. Their work includes public advocacy, ed-

ucation, land acquisition, resource management and water quality protection. Since 2003 the organization has dedicated years of time and resources to protecting the watershed from the multilayered threat of sulfide mining. The Yellow Dog River Watershed lies in eastern Baraga and western Marquette Counties in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The area is known as the Huron Peninsula and is one of the last wild areas in the state.

Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve recently took advantage of Freshwater Future’s Insight Services—low-cost or no cost trainings, events, and coaching services to build the skills and success of organizations. Here is what Mindy had to say about the program:

4 F r e S h waT e r F u T u r e I n S I g h T O P P O r T u n I T I e S Freshwater Future September 2013 g r a S S r O OT S I n aC T I O n 5

Brenda JOneS ~ glOwIng rOCkS, lake SuPerIOr

STeven huySer-hOnIg ~ TahquaMenOn rIver SunrISe

INSIGHTSERvICES:GE T TINGHElPTOIMPROvEYOuRORGANIz ATIONYellowDogWatershedPreserve’sExperience

FaithCommunitiesPlayKeyRoleinProtectingWaterBy Rev. Dr. Clare Butterfield, Director, Faith in Place and the Illinois Interfaith Power & Light Campaign

When Faith in Place staff first looked at a map of Illinois that showed where the coal and shale deposits are located in our state, we were struck by just how widely spread they

are. Almost all of Illinois has a shale shelf under it, and the coal deposits stretch almost as far. If all of that shale were to be explored for natural gas extraction it would have a profound impact on the agricultural activity and the water supply of our state.

It struck us that a good time to figure out how to manage the is-sue of fracking in Illinois would be before it started. And so we first set to educating ourselves, about the process, about the problems,

about how other states were starting to address it. Then we started educating others. For the last three years, but particularly this year, we held workshops across Illinois, from Carbondale to Chicago, to help people of faith understand the issue and its implications. Once a bill emerged, we also worked to help our constituents in the faith community understand the nuances of the issues and the pros and cons of the different legislative proposals.

This year the Illinois General Assembly did pass a piece of legislation that contains a number of important restrictions on how fracking is conducted in Illinois. With the Governor’s signature, that bill has now

become law. We helped members of our partner congrega-tions to understand that the process was about to begin here, and how we might respond to that as people of faith and as careful stewards of the water resources of Illinois.

We’re not thrilled that fracking has come to Illinois, but we are relieved that we have the strongest set of restrictions on the books of any state. Clearly, we have more work to do to get our economy to a place that no longer relies on fossil fu-els. We believe that is what will ultimately liberate us from this kind of dilemma.

mindy otto

Freshwater Future (FF): How did the Insight program help your group transition smoothly from the former Executive Director to you, the new Executive Director?

MindyOtto(MO): The transition is still ongoing, and so I still regu-larly talk with Freshwater Future staff. They help by giving feedback through email, talking with me individually and also by working with the board. We were able to create a strategic plan and fundrais-ing plan with Freshwater Future’s help. These were really helpful to me because they were good guiding documents for a new person coming in to have. They provided the whole picture of the organiza-tion and our goals. Freshwater Future staff are very supportive and easy to reach via phone or email for any questions I have.

FF: What changes has your Board of Directors made after they partici-pated in the Insight program?

MO:Your staff came and did a board development workshop, about 7 hours long. The board received training on how a highly functioning board operates, talked about governance and the role of the board. We discussed fundraising, and eventually divided the board into commit-tees—that was a big step for us! We’re still undergoing transition, but the seeds have been planted to move in the right direction. I’m looking forward to some really good changes.

FF:What were the most helpful types of information or new skill sets your group received from Freshwater Future during the program?

MO:We learned how highly functioning nonprof-its operate, and how a great system would work. It was really nice to have an outside person provide expertise and information to the board. We also appreciated looking to how Freshwater Future op-erates as inspiration. We got some great ideas just by observing you! For example, we can use tech-nology to our advantage to assist our work. I really love working with Freshwater Future, and always look forward to our calls.

To take advantage of Freshwater Future’s Insight Services and apply for a grant towards the cost of these services, go to freshwaterfuture.org/grant-programs/insight-services-grant-program.html

yellow Dog Watershed Preserve staff and volunteers at the Salmon trout Volunteer Stream monitoring training day in fall 2012.

members of Faith in Place’s partner congregations participate in an educational training.

MAKETHESHIFT:TuRNClIMATECHANGEvulNERABIlITYINTOSTRENGTH

ClimateAdaptationWorkshopsScheduledforthisFall“ When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability... To be alive is to be vulnerable.” ~ Madeleine L’Engle

Is climate change affecting your work to protect or restore your favorite community waterway? Well, if it hasn’t yet, it most likely will. But don’t fret, Freshwater Future can help you come up with ways to adapt to the effects of climate change.

We partnered up with two great organizations, Cayuga Lake Watershed Network and Environment Erie to offer two Climate Adaptation Workshops this Fall.

Save the date for one of the two events below and plan to join us to learn more about how your work and community may be vulnerable to climate change, and identify solutions to adapt and reduce impacts.

• october 7-9 Erie, Pennsylvania • november 8-9 ithaca, new York

Vistit freshwaterfuture.org to learn more and register.

September 2013 F r e S h waT e r F u T u r e I n S I g h T O P P O r T u n I T I e S 3 6 F r e S h waT e r F u T u r e u P d aT e S Freshwater Future

Did you miss our Spring Project or Climate Grant deadlines? Do you have a project that needs funding? Don’t miss out on our upcoming grant deadlines!

FallProjectGrants:September30,2013Freshwater Future’s Project Grant programs provide funding ranging from $500 to $3500 (USD) to be used for specific project expenses. Grassroots organizations engaging in advocacy activities and proj-ects to protect local lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and other aquatic habitats will be considered.

FallClimateGrants:November15,2013Freshwater Future’s Climate Grant program provides awards ranging from $500 to $5000 (USD) for projects that engage communities, par-ticularly in urban areas, in preparing for, and responding to, climate change impacts. Attendance at a Climate Symposium is strongly encour-aged for climate grant applications to develop a competitive proposal. (See page 5 to find a climate symposium near you!)

Don’t forget we have other grant programs with Rolling Deadlines! You can apply at any time for:

SpecialOpportunityGrants– also known as “emergency grants” allow for quick funding opportunities for projects under $500 (USD).

InsightGrants– funds to provide staff time for professional assistance to your project or organization. Areas of assistance include customized training such as board development, membership expansion, commu-nications, fundraising, and strategic planning.

HOWGrants–Healing Our Waters (HOW) are awards up to $15,000 (USD) for financial support to develop and implement Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and other federal proposals of projects.

To learn more about all of our grant programs, visitfreshwaterfuture.org/grant-programs. We strongly encourage you to discuss your proposal ideas with Freshwater Future staff before applying.

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N E E D M O N E Y F O R YO u R W O R K ?FreshwaterFutureGrantDeadlines

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A N O N - l I N E W O R K S H O PP R O v I D E D BY F R E S H WAT E R F u T u R EDigitalStorytellingforYourGroup

Your organization has great stories to tell. This 3-part on-line workshop will intro-duce you to an exciting way to tell them.

Digital storytelling combines visuals and sound to communicate about the work you do, result-ing in a short video all about your organization.

This workshop meets three times on-line, with support between sessions to help you learn the

tools and create your first story. With support from Freshwater Future staff, you will create a 2-4 minute digital story to use for fundraising, to motivate volunteers, public outreach and more.

Wednesday,October16 11:30amESTSESSion onE: Introduction to Digital Storytelling

We will look at the elements of digital storytelling for organizations and discuss examples of effective digital stories. Then we will talk about the story you want to work on and plan for developing a script.

Wednesday,October23 11:30amESTSESSion Two: From Script to Production, Including Storyboarding and Editing

We will discuss how to move your story from a scripted idea to a reality using storyboarding to connect images and sound with your words. Then we will look at several digital editing tools for you to use in creating your story.

Wednesday,November13 11:30amESTSESSion ThrEE: Planning to Finish and Share Your Story

We will look more closely at editing techniques, opportunities and challenges, arrange for supporting you to finish your story, address problems you might be having, and plan for how you will share your story with others.

workshop provided by David Syring, Melanie welch, and Becca TurnerDavid is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He has been working with community groups and students to create digital media for the past two years.

Don’t delay! Be a part of this exclusive programfor a discounted, introductory rate for organizational members of

$75 per group (an $800 value!). Email melanie@freshwaterfuture.org to reserve your spot.

registerNoW!

HandCarvedandBotanicalBeeswaxCandlesBenefitFreshwaterFuture

Beautiful, unique, hand-signed beeswax products are handcrafted by BeeNatural artists in Athens, Georgia. Their Hon-

eypot® luminaries add a warm glow and real honey aroma to any home or garden decor.

BeeNatural will donate 25% of your purchase total to Freshwater Future when you use this link: bit.ly/FwFhoney and when you remember to include “Freshwater Future” in the com-ments section of the order form.

We’re excited that these all-natural products will help support Freshwa-ter Future’s work.

Gary Street is our new science and engineering consultant vol-unteer. As retired chemical en-gineer from Dow Chemical and a lifelong Great Lakes citizen, Gary’s passion for the Lakes and their health led him to Freshwa-ter Future; first as a board mem-ber, now as an involved citizen and volunteer. His background and keen knowledge on Great Lakes issues has proven to be a valuable contribution.

Bonnie Danni, fiscal special-ist, brings a blend of corporate America and non-profit experi-ence to our team. She previous-ly served on Freshwater Future’s Board of Directors as President and with EarthShare New York as Treasurer. She has had a love for the Great Lakes since child-hood, and they’ve been the driv-ing force behind her desire to be involved in the environmental movement.

N E W T E A M M E M B E R SFreshwaterFutureWelcomesTwoMemberstoOurTeam

More details about all our staff can be found at freshwaterfuture.org/about/board-staff.html.

F R E S H WAT E RF u T u R E’SN E W E S TCO N S u lT I N GS E R v I C E:AccountingandBookkeeping

Freshwater Future is pleased to announce we now offer professional accounting services. Through our Insight Services we

can assist you with:

• Training your staff or volunteers in record keeping, reporting, and comprehending fi-nancial statements

• Setting up accounting systems• Maintaining your financial records, proving

reports and information for your programs and donors

To learn more about this program and un-derstand the key benefits, visit our website or email Brenda at brenda@freshwaterfuture.org.

Freshwater Voices is published quarterly and distributed by Freshwater Future, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. Fund-ing for the publication is provided by our members.

staffAnn BAughmAn Associate Director for Development ann@freshwaterfuture.orgBonnie DAnni Fiscal Specialist bonnie@freshwaterfuture.orgCheRyl KAllio Associate Director for Policy cheryl@freshwaterfuture.orgliSA mAttS office manager lisa@freshwaterfuture.orgJill RyAn executive Director jill@freshwaterfuture.orggARy StReet engineering Consultant Volunteer gary@freshwaterfuture.orgBeCCA tuRneR Program Associate becca@freshwaterfuture.orgmelAnie nAPoleon WelCh Associate Director of Program melanie@freshwaterfuture.orgAnDReA DuBe-goSS Program innovator, Canada andrea@freshwaterfuture.orgemily WhittAKeR Policy Specialist emily@freshwaterfuture.org

mAin oFFiCe: (231) 348-8200

Board of directorsgARy BelAn American Riversglen DAle

great lakes CitizenDeBoRAh DoRSey

West grand Boulevard Collaborative

KRiSty meyeR the ohio environmental Counciltim moRRiS great lakes CitizenmiChelle PARKeR

John g. Shedd AquariumteRRy SWieR michigan Citizens for

Water ConservationlinDSAy telFeR

Canadian Freshwater Alliance

DiSClAimeR: Freshwater Voices is intended to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas among citizens and organizations working to protect aquatic habitats in the great lakes Basin. the interpretations and conclusions presented in this newsletter represent the opinions of the individual authors. they in no way represent the views of Freshwater Future, funders, members, donors, or any organization mentioned in this publication.

September 2013 F r e S h waT e r F u T u r e M e M B e r n e w S 7

Thank You to All of Our Donors from June 2013 through August 2013JOhn dykSTra ~ MIner BeaCh FallS

FOuNDATIONSANDGRANTSC. S. mott Foundation,

environment Programnew Prospect FoundationFrey FoundationJ.A. Woollam Foundation

CORPORATEGIFTSBee natural, inc.lake is goodted glasoe Fine Art

Photography

FuNDERSCIRClE($1000andabove)ted and Brenda Freyherman miller FoundationJack and tucker harrismurray and Jeanie Kilgour

SuSTAINER’SCIRClE($1000orgreaterthroughmonthlygiving)Bonnie Danni

MONTHlYGIvINGAnn BaughmanCheryl KallioJill RyanBecca turnermelanie Welchemily Whittaker

ORGANIzATIONSBuffalo niagra RiverkeeperCayuga lake Watershed

networkCentre for Sustainable

WatershedsClean Water Action CouncilConcerned Citizens

of Big BayCuyahoga River Community

Planning organizationDetroiters Working for

environmental JusticeDoan Brock Watershed

Partnershipeden gardens Block Clubelk-Skegemog lakes

Association

Finger lakes Zero Waste Coalition, inc.

Flint River Watershed Coalition

For our grandchildrenFriends of the Boundary

Waters WildernessFriends of the Crooked RiverFriends of the Detroit RiverFriends of the St Joe River

Associationgreat lakes Commons mapKalamazoo nature CenterKalamazoo River Cleanup

Coalitionlake michigan league of

Women Voterslake Superior Watershed

Conservancyles Cheneaux Watershed

Councilmiddle grand River

organizations of Wetlandsminnesota land trustmullett lake Area

Preservation Societymunuscong River Watershed

Associationnature Aboundsnew image lifeskills

Academy, inc.Rideau Valley Conservation

AuthorityRiver Raisin instituteSaugatuck Dunes Coastal

AllianceSave our Sky Blue WatersSierra Club ontario ChapterSisters of St. Francis of AssisiSweet Water-Southeastern

Wi Watersheds trusttC 350two Rivers CoalitionWaterlegacyWisconsin land and Water

Conservation Association

SPONSOR($250-$499)tom and Bette irwinJulie A. napoleon

SuPPORTER($100-$249)Amanda and Paul Brinktimothy Crooksmargaret DeacyDean DabsonKristin hagberglinda hardienancy Ann hellmanRyan hilbertDr. John huttograce KayeWilliam lavigneAl and Joan maerzgail mcCarthyhenrietta SaundersSusie Schreibermarilynn SmithCheryl Weeks-RostenBetty yonkers

MEMBER($50-$99)Anonymous (3)Johanna BalzerSandra BroganBrian CampbellRuth ClausenJill and William CraftonCarole and Clifford Dahlelliott DudnikDiane hofnerDebra KerrKim KihnkeBethia KingSteven and Sherry lessensRay letherennancy malvickelizabeth and terry mcCloskeyKristy meyerJane and William millarDr. Kirby and Kathryn miltonDonald munskiJohn P. oliverthomas V. PottsCarol and Paul Rosenancy and gig Stewarted and Diane StrzelinskiJim Sweeneyelsa and Walter VerderberDavid WebbJan and Brad WilkinsKathy Wright

CONTRIBuTOR($1-$49)Anonymous (2)Sandra BoeghRoger BowenPaul BurroughsRobert and Anne ButcherKenneth CromerJudith DavidsonAnonymousJudith DushaneDiane FontaineDonald geigerDon gunningJean hamiltonRosemary hartzerJudith hodelledwin hodgsonholly hoffemarv and Bert howellJackie and Carol KangasKevin KerstnerBruce KlosnerVictor KrausPaul KreckeAdam Johnhilary lambertmary leachJoanne h. lindermichael millerJulie misegadesBrad mosherlouis mule’Carl SandersCharlie Slackmarilyn and Bob SmithAlison StankrauffWilliam StraubCharles and Susan thomasAndrea and Jerry VigueKen VinciquerraKenneth and Kay Walcott

IN-KINDDONATIONSgary and mary Street

2 F r e S h waT e r F u T u r e S Ta F F v I e w S Freshwater Future

D I R E C TO R ’S N OT ElearntoShare,SharetolearnJill Ryan, Executive Director

As the leaves begin to turn, it means the tem-peratures will begin to fall, which also means students are returning to classrooms. As they

embark on a new school year of learning, and I read through this current issue of Freshwater Voices, it is evident learning doesn’t end in the classroom. Learn-ing is facilitated through sharing information. And this issue highlights an abundance of that happening in the Freshwater Future community.

Examples in this issue include: inviting you to reach out to the EPA with information you know about frack-ing activities, faith communities educating themselves then offering that information on to others, exchang-ing of knowledge between organizations through our Insight Services, learning to share your story through media, and even sharing funds to help organizations complete projects.

I challenge you to recognize the expertise you have, and pass it along. Share with others. While you share, recognize you are providing opportunities for others to learn. Look out for what others have to share with you, and keep on learning. If you have something to share consider contacting us to see if we can include an article in a future Freshwater Voices.

You have until November 15, 2013 to comment. Here’s how:

• Email: Send information to: ord.docket@epa.gov, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0674.

• Fax: Fax information to: (202) 566-9744, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0674.

• Mail:Send information to: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Mail code: 28221T, 1200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC, 20460, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0674.

More information can be found on our website at www.freshwaterfuture.org. We’ll be submitting comments too and would love to note your experience. If you think there has been or will likely be pollution to waters in your area from fracking, please let us know! You can email Cheryl@freshwaterfuture.org with your comments.

Also, check out our water testing program on the back page.

Opportunity to Strengthen Federal Protections on Fracking continued from page 1

Come out to a Bingo Night like no other! On Monday, October 28 at 8pm, meet at Hamburger Mary’s (5400 N. Clark Street, Chicago) for Charity Bingo Night, benefitting Freshwater Future. Bring your friends

and neighbors, the more the merrier, but leave the kids at home for this adults-only night of fun, food and prizes.

There will be $10 Bingo cards and a cash bar, with 90% going back to Fresh-water Future. We’ll play 8-10 games with prizes going to each winner. Helping the Great Lakes has never been this fun! The full restaurant menu will also be available.

BINGO!DIVAS!FUN!hamburgermarys.com/chicago/

in the chicago area?Don’t Miss Out on this Fun, Irreverent Fundraiser for Freshwater Future on October 28!

2013 Series, Issue Three

In thIs Issue: IntheChicagoArea?

CometoBingoNightatHamburgerMary’s–AFundraiserforFreshwaterFuture

On-lineWorkshop:DigitalStorytellingforYourGroup

InsightServices:YellowDogWatershedPreserve’sExperience

FaithCommunitiesPlayKeyRoleinProtectingWater

ProposedFrackingWellsAConcern?HaveYourWaterTested!

Freshwater FutureP.O. Box 2479

Petoskey, MI 49770Phone: (231) 348-8200

www.freshwaterfuture.org

ChrISTIna CarSOn ~ PICTured rOCkS

EnsuringtheHealthyFutureofOurWaters

Could you imagine if a business was allowed to inject

a toxic mixture contain-ing known carcinogens into the ground, threat-ening to contaminate the water you and your fami-ly drink, possibly leading to serious illness? Surely not in the year 2013!

After all, we have the Safe Drinking Water Act to pro-tect us, right? Not when it comes to fracking. During the early 2000’s our federal decision-makers decided to exempt the injection of polluting chemicals used in the fracking industry from the Safe Drinking Water Act in addition to parts of the Clean Water Act. In other words, chemicals that are a “contaminant” according to the Safe Drinking Water Act are now not defined as a “contaminant” if used by the fracking industry. I know—we could rant end-lessly about how pollution is pollution no matter who does it. However, I think thatwould just be “preaching tothe choir” here. What I want to tell you about is a real op-portunity to try and change that.

Congress introduced legis-lation twice that would re-move fracking’s exemption under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Each time the legislation was defeated. However, the Environmen-

tal Protection Agency (EPA) is currently investi-gating the impacts of fracking on drinking water, which the agency says is necessary to address pub-lic concerns. They will have a final report on this in 2014. Right now, they have released a progress report and are asking for input. This is one of the biggest opportunities we have had in a long time to influence federal protections related to fracking. And to be effective, EPA needs to hear from you!

Specifically, the EPA is asking for the public to sub-mit data and scientific literature to inform their re-search on the potential impacts of hydraulic fractur-ing on drinking water resources. If you can or have documented experiences related to fracking and possible pollution to a community’s waters, let the EPA know! Do you know of a good study or story about fracking impacts to water resources? Let them know! Now is our time to provide examples that could lead to stronger protections for our waters from the impacts of fracking.

OpportunitytoStrengthenFederalProtectionsonFracking by Cheryl Kallio

Cheryl Kallio

Follow Freshwater Future on Facebook and Twitter!

STeven huySer-hOnIg

printed on recycled paper

A Pennsylvania fracking well and the Susquehanna River.

dOnald gIllIland/harrISBurg PaTrIOT-newS

Continuted on page 2

CONCERNEDABOuTPOTENTIAlCONTAMINATIONFROMPROPOSEDFRACKINGWEllS?

HaveYourWaterTested!

Freshwater Future invites you to participate in our new homeowner water testing program. The program includes drinking water testing for residents in Great Lakes fracking areas prior to fracking activity, with follow-up testing after these activities

start. If you live near proposed fracking wells, we encourage you to learn more and participate in this program.

Freshwater Future’s water testing program will be carried out by a certified lab and Central Michigan University. Participating home owners will be provided with follow-up sampling of well water, giving peace of mind and helping to create a picture of impacts as they happen in our area.

For more information, including pricing, go to our website at www.freshwaterfuture.org or contact Emily Whittaker at Emily@freshwaterfuture.org or (231) 373-3670.