A Note from the Editors

A lot has happened since our last issue. First and most important: the BRSF received 501(c)(3) status in September, after spending countless hours dealing with the IRS. We are now formally recognized as a charitable organization, and all contributions are tax-deductible.

Second, the BRSF began integrating itself into the nationwide networks of environmental organizations and river activist groups. We joined one such group, the River Network, in July — an article appears on pp. 6-9. We will consider at our upcoming meeting which other groups to join — a list appears on pp. 16-17.

Third, the BRSF has begun “marketing” to make ourselves known to residents and newspapers in the region. Some press clippings appear on pp. 14-15. And our new “Web Page,” a means of disseminating information by computer, appears on the back cover, with an article on p. 17 — and an electronic letter from a Web viewer on p. 11!

Finally, we have scheduled a Board Meeting to be held in Harrison on Dec. 1-3. All BRSF members may attend and voice their opinions. Call us for directions. For new members, let us reiterate our mission and invitiation to join:

The Stewardship Foundation is dedicated to protecting the Buffalo River while respecting the property rights of land owners. We offer “conservation easements” to land owners along the Buffalo’s tributaries, where we pay them to maintain a “riparian corridor.” We facilitate a “Watershed Council” to promote cooperation between relevant agencies and persons. We produce educational material and films on issues related to the Buffalo River.

Our success at protecting the Buffalo River from further environmental degradation depends on you, our dues-paying membership. All dues goes directly into our conservation easement program — 100%. We pay for our operating expenses from grants and volunteer work, and we commit to spending all dues on programs. Our basic one-year membership is $35. A membership form appears on the back cover.