The National River Rally includes a variety of workshops, presentations, and speakers. Featured speakers this year include:
Rudy Mancke on Friday evening. Mancke is founder of the South Carolina Association of Naturalists and helped create the television series NatureScene, which is still being aired on public television.
Mickey Fearn on Saturday morning. Fearne is the National Park Service’s Deputy Director for Communications and Community Assistance.
Janisse Ray will present River Politics & the Landscape of Wholeness during lunch on Saturday. Ray is the author of three books of literary nonfiction and a new collection of nature poetry.
William Werkheiser will speak Saturday evening. Werkheiser is the U.S. Geological Survey’s Associate Director for Water Resources. Werkheiser also led the Natural Hazards Initiative Team and the Long-term Hurricane Katrina Response and Recovery Team for USGS.
On Monday morning a panel moderated by Charles F. Sams III and featuring Iantha Gantt-Wright, Rev. Fletcher Harper, George Hawkins, Judy Steckler, and Marjan Farzaad will meet to discuss urban rivers and how move beyond the activists to include the communities surrounding these urban rivers.
The River Network focuses on getting local activists and communities more involved in the preservation of their rivers. To that end a variety of workshops will be available to attendees. Topics include: “Introduction to Water Quality Standards”, “Building a new Major Donor Program”, and “Five Essentials for Successful Community Organizing” and many more than can be listed here. For a full list of workshops check out:RiverRallyWorkshops
The River Rally isn’t just about community organizing and activism, it’s also a heckuva lot of fun. Field trips, pub trivia, live music, and an awards banquet are all part of the experience. For a full list of events click here:RiverRallyFun
To register online for the Rally click here:RiverRallyRegistration
Remember, registration fees include hotel!