BEN - Protect Forever Wild & Spring Calendar 2011 (Updated)

Protect Forever Wild Today - This Morning - Thursday, April 14th!

We anticipate a vote on the Forever Wild re-authorization legislation to occur today in the Alabama House of Representatives. Please call your local representative this morning before 10:00am. The switchboard number is 334-242-7600. The links below can help direct you.

http://www.protectforeverwild.org

http://conservationalabama.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=820

Keeping Alabama Forever Wild

We will be uploading new webpages/stories daily up until April 22nd. You can bookmark our website at:

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/index.html

Upcoming Events

Sierra Club Outings Across the State

http://alabama.sierraclub.org/outings.html

Auburn University Forest Preserve Spring Events

http://auei.auburn.edu/events/index.php#Southeastern

Weeks Bay Foundation Calendar

http://www.weeksbay.org/calendar.htm

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Events

http://www.bbgardens.org/index2.php

Mobile Botanical Gardens Calendar of Events

http://www.mobilebotanicalgardens.org/calendar.htm

Huntsville Botanical Gardens Calendar of Events

http://www.hsvbg.org/index.php?mainID=2&subID=2&type=events

Fresh Air Family Event Calendar

http://www.freshairfamily.org/eventscalendar.html

Ruffner Mountain Calendar of Events

http://www.ruffnermountain.org/activities/events-calendar.html

Hummer Bird Study Group Calendar of Events

http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/CalendarOfEvents.html

Freshwater Land Trust Events Page

http://www.freshwaterlandtrust.org/upcoming-events

Shoals Earth Month Activities

http://www.shoalsearthmonth.com

Black Warrior Riverkeeper Calendar

http://blackwarriorriver.org/calendar/index.php?cal_monthDate=2011-05

AWF Educator Workshops

http://alabamawildlife.org/conservation/?pageID=25

Weeks Bay Events Calendar

http://www.weeksbay.org/calendar.htm

Alabama Five Rivers Schedule of Events

http://www.outdooralabama.com/outdoor-adventures/5rivers/events/

Little River Canyon Center Events

http://www.jsu.edu/epic/EventCC.html

Landmark Park - Dothan Calendar of Events

http://landmarkpark.com/events.html#current

Renew Our Rivers Calendar - (Cleanup Dates)

http://www.alabamapower.com/lakes/schedule.asp

Alabama Wildlife Federation's Calendar of Events

http://www.alabamawildlife.org/events/

Red Mountain Park Calendar

http://www.redmountainpark.org/

Cahaba River Society's Canoe outings

http://www.cahabariversociety.org/canoe.php

Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama "Green Means Go" Spring Hikes 2011

http://landtrustnal.org/new-green-means-go-hikes-for-spring-2011/

Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama "Spring Burst" Guided Hike Series

http://landtrustnal.org/land-trust-spring-burst-guided-hike-series/

EEAA's Annual Conference "Learning Among the Longleafs" April 14-16 -

http://www.eeaa.us

Mobile Electronics Recycling

http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org/events/electronics-recycling-0

Technical Knock Out to Sponsor Event at Whole Foods- Birmingham April 16

http://www/technicalko.net

The Great Drift - Saturday, April 16th, 2:00 Dog River Park in Mobile - Dog River Clearwater Revival

http://www.dogriver.org/uploads/6/2/5/2/6252936/greatdrift_flyer_f2.pdf

Operation Green Team's Earth Day in Huntsville - April 16th at the Hays Preserve

http://www.huntsvilleal.gov/greenteam/EarthDayExhibitors2011.pdf

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Discovery Day - April 17

http://press.disl.org/3_11_10dday.htm

Earthbound's EarthFest - April 17th, 2 to sundown Bessie Estelle Park Birmingham

http://blackwarriorriver.org/news/earthbounds-earthfest-2011.html

Earth Day at Samford University Schedule - April 18-22

http://www4.samford.edu/earthday/schedule.html

Auntie Litter Earth Day Parade - April 20th at Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham -

http://www.auntielitter.org

Party for the Planet at the Birmingham Zoo - April 21-23

http://www.alabamarivers.org/events/special-events/party-for-the-planet-earth-day-event-at-the-birmingham-zoo/

Earth Day Safari at the Montgomery Zoo - April 20-21

http://www.eventcrazy.com/Montgomery-AL/events/details/363418-Earth-Day-Safari

Earth Day Mobile Bay - April 23rd in Fairhope

http://www.earthdaymobilebay.org/

University of West Alabama Earth Day - Livingston, Alabama - April 23rd

http://act.earthday.org/event/university-west-alabama-honors-earth-day-2011

Alabama Environmental Council Green Tie Affair - April 28th - Good People Brewery , Birmingham

http://www.aeconline.org/greentieaffair

3rd Annual Delta Woods & Waters Expo - April 30th at 5 Rivers on the Causeway

http://www.alabamarivers.org/events/special-events/3rd-annual-delta-woods-waters-expo

Freshwater Land Trust Darter Dash - April 30, 8:30am Turkey Creek Preserve

http://www.active.com/running/pinson-al/freshwater-land-trust-darter-dash-2011

Earth Day at the Gardens - Birmingham - May 1st

http://www.bbgardens.org/earth-day.php

Dauphin Island Sea Lab - Cocktails with the Critters - May 5th

http://press.disl.org/3_20_11foundation.html

Audubon Mountain Workshop (May 12-15)

http://www.birminghamaudubon.org/education/amw

http://www.birminghamaudubon.org/images/Other_Uploded_Files/AMW/AMW_2011_brochure.pdf

Bald Eagle Bash - June 4th, 4-7pm - Tonsmeire Weeks Bay Resource Center

http://www.BaldEagleBash.com

Legacy's 2011 Workshop Calendar

http://www.legacyenved.org/index.php/educator-workshops/2011-workshops

Legacy's 2011 Enviro-Bowl Schedule

http://www.legacyenved.org/index.php/student-activities/envirobowl

Jobs and Announcements

Project Coordinator for Gulf of Mexico Conservation Coalition

http://www.landtrustalliance.org/about/jobs/open-positions/project-coordinator-for-gulf-of-mexico

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Internships

http://press.disl.org/jobs/grahamsummerintern.html

Wild South Internships in Alabama

http://www.wildsouth.org/index.php/work-with-us/51-internship-opportunities/237-internship-opportunities

Legacy Competitive Grants - April 29th Deadline

http://www.legacyenved.org/index.php/grants-and-scholarships/sub-menu-1

Legacy Mini Grants

http://www.legacyenved.org/index.php/grants-and-scholarships/sub-menu-2

Audubon Mountain Workshop Scholarships (May12-15 in Mentone)

http://www.birminghamaudubon.org/grantscholar/amwscholarships

Alabama Outdoor Classroom grants

http://www.alabamawildlife.org/uploadedFiles/File/Grant_Opps_for_OC_Schools_(update_Jan_11).pdf

Mountains to the Gulf Teacher Workshop - Deadline April 29th

http://www.alabama.sierraclub.org/chapternews/february2011/mountainstogulf.pdf

Fish America Grants - May 16th Deadline

http://www.fishamerica.org/grants/

Keeping Alabama Forever Wild - March 26 - April 4

Desoto Falls

Keeping Alabama Forever Wild on al.com for the Week of March 26 - April 4

Cypress Nature Park, Little River Canyon, Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge, Wheeler Lake, The Dismals, Cheaha State Park/Pinhoti Trail, Bartram Trail/Tuskegee National Forest, Moss Rock/Shelby County, Perry Lakes Park (Near Marion, Alabama), Big Leaf Magnolia

We will be uploading new webpages/stories up until April 22nd. You can bookmark our website at:

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/index.html

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Cypress Nature Park (Montgomery, Alabama) April 4

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/2011/04/post_20.html

Little River Canyon - April 3

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/2011/04/post_6.html

Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge - April 2

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/2011/04/post_13.html

Wheeler Lake - April 1

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/2011/04/wheeler_lake_needs_edit_great.html

The Dismals (Near Russellville, Alabama) - March 31

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/2011/03/pride_in_alabama_needs_edit.html

Cheaha State Park/Pinhoti Trail - March 30

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/2011/03/you_have_to_get_out_of_the_car.html

Bartram Trail/Tuskegee National Forest - March 29

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/2011/03/you_have_to_get_out_of_the_car.html

Moss Rock/Shelby County - March 28

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/2011/03/post_12.html

Bankhead National Forest - March 27

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/2011/03/glorifying_god_by_studying_bio.html

Perry Lakes Park (Near Marion, Alabama) - March 27

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/2011/03/perry_lakes_park_an_outdoor_bl.html

Big Leaf Magnolia - March 26

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/2011/03/camp_mcdowell_by_alicia_hall_n.html

April 4, 2011 #352

Tree Art in Downtown Mobile

Special in this Edition: Watercress Darter Festival, Birmingham News Pro-Forever Wild Editorial, Forever Wild Passes Senate Committee, Coastal Environmental Leaders Lobby Congress, EPA Reinstating Tougher Air Quality Standards, Solar Power Cut Costs at Lee County Justice Center

Protect Alabama Forever Wild

Learn how YOU can Support Forever Wild Re-authorization Legislation TODAY

http://www.protectforeverwild.org/get-involved/

Keeping Alabama Forever Wild Series on al.com

We will be uploading new webpages/stories up until April 22nd. You can bookmark our website at:

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/index.html

You can also 'like" Keeping Alabama Forever Wild on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/KeepingAlabamaForeverWild

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Op-eds, Links and Videos

"Heart and Soul" of EEAA Environmental Educator Jeff Hughes Passes Away

http://www.eeaa.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=135:jeff-hughes-will-be-missed&catid=111:announcements&Itemid=42

Conservation Alabama's March 28th Hot List (Legislative Priorities)

http://www.conservationalabama.org/vertical/Sites/{8E4DA6E2-1A16-43DE-9136-81711C3678F5}/uploads/{5C1BFF1B-E67A-482A-907A-29764D341E9E}.PDF

Watercress Darter Festival (video)

http://www2.alabamas13.com/news/2011/apr/01/watercress-darter-festival-ar-1659691/

NatureServe Climate Vulnerability Index

http://www.natureserve.org/prodServices/climatechange/ccvi.jsp

Birmingham News Pro-Forever Wild Editorial

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2011/03/our_view_a_state_senate_commit.html

Environmental Organizations - Profiles

Weeks Bay Foundation - http://www.weeksbay.org

Lookout Mountain Conservancy - http://lookoutmountainconservancy.org/

Landmark Park - http://www.landmarkpark.com

News Across Alabama

Forever Wild Passes Senate Committee

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/03/alabama_senate_panel_oks_bill_1.html

Coastal Environmental Leaders Lobby Congress

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/03/environmentalists_argue_that_u.html

EPA Reinstating Tougher Air Quality Standards

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wual/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1782416

http://www.cbs42.com/content/health/story/Clean-air-victory-for-Alabama/JIE1xgyKREyT7s3cBgz4Lg.cspx

Coldwater Mountain to Receive Bike Trail Funds

http://annistonstar.com/view/full_story/12550500/article-State-to-pay--300-000-for-Coldwater-Mountain-bike-trails?

Solar Power Cut Costs at Lee County Justice Center

http://www2.oanow.com/news/2011/mar/25/solar-panels-help-heat-water-cut-costs-lee-county--ar-1630142/

Wild South Roosevelt-Ashe Winners

http://www.wildsouth.org/index.php/component/content/article/66-frontpage-news/423-roosevelt-ashe-society-conservation-award-winners

Spring Events/Workshops/Job Announcements & Grants

http://bamanews2.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-calendar-of-eventsworkshopsgrant.html

Special Promotion - Check Out Energy Efficient Products

http://www.dixiehomecrafters.com/ * Contact my nephew Warren Brewer at 423-637-0830 or wbrewer@dixiehomecrafters.com Make sure to tell him you are a BEN reader.

Protect Forever Wild Appeal & Spring Calendar (updated)

Forever Wild Re-authorization Op-ed - Earth Day 2009 Reprinted

Below is an opinion piece I wrote nearly three years ago predicting the need to re-authorize Forever Wild. After this legislative session, there will be only one remaining legislative session before the funding for Forever Wild sunsets. Do not let opponents of Forever Wild "run out the legislative clock." We need to re-authorize Forever Wild now - as-is. Here is the 2009 Birmingham News op-ed.

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2009/04/keep_funding_for_forever_wild.html

Best wishes, Pat Byington - BEN Publisher

Protect Forever Wild Today

The Alabama State Senate will be holding a public hearing at the Statehouse in Montgomery on Thursday, March 31st, 8:30AM. All supporters of Forever Wild should try to attend the hearing or call your local state senator (334-242-7800) or representative (334-242-7600). Visit the following two websites to learn how you can get involved:

http://www.protectforeverwild.org

http://conservationalabama.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=820

Keeping Alabama Forever Wild

We will be uploading new webpages/stories daily up until April 22nd. You can bookmark our website at:

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/index.html

Upcoming Events

Sierra Club Outings Across the State

http://alabama.sierraclub.org/outings.html

Auburn University Forest Preserve Spring Events

http://auei.auburn.edu/events/index.php#Southeastern

Weeks Bay Foundation Calendar

http://www.weeksbay.org/calendar.htm

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Events

http://www.bbgardens.org/index2.php

Mobile Botanical Gardens Calendar of Events

http://www.mobilebotanicalgardens.org/calendar.htm

Huntsville Botanical Gardens Calendar of Events

http://www.hsvbg.org/index.php?mainID=2&subID=2&type=events

Fresh Air Family Event Calendar

http://www.freshairfamily.org/eventscalendar.html

Ruffner Mountain Calendar of Events

http://www.ruffnermountain.org/activities/events-calendar.html

Hummer Bird Study Group Calendar of Events

http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/CalendarOfEvents.html

Freshwater Land Trust Events Page

http://www.freshwaterlandtrust.org/upcoming-events

Shoals Earth Month Activities

http://www.shoalsearthmonth.com

Black Warrior Riverkeeper Calendar

http://blackwarriorriver.org/calendar/index.php?cal_monthDate=2011-05

AWF Educator Workshops

http://alabamawildlife.org/conservation/?pageID=25

Weeks Bay Events Calendar

http://www.weeksbay.org/calendar.htm

Alabama Five Rivers Schedule of Events

http://www.outdooralabama.com/outdoor-adventures/5rivers/events/

Little River Canyon Center Events

http://www.jsu.edu/epic/EventCC.html

Landmark Park - Dothan Calendar of Events

http://landmarkpark.com/events.html#current

Renew Our Rivers Calendar - (Cleanup Dates)

http://www.alabamapower.com/lakes/schedule.asp

Alabama Wildlife Federation's Calendar of Events

http://www.alabamawildlife.org/events/

Cahaba River Society's Canoe outings

http://www.cahabariversociety.org/canoe.php

Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama "Green Means Go" Spring Hikes 2011

http://landtrustnal.org/new-green-means-go-hikes-for-spring-2011/

Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama "Spring Burst" Guided Hike Series

http://landtrustnal.org/land-trust-spring-burst-guided-hike-series/

Cahaba River Society "Every Drop Matters" - March 31st , Architecture Works

http://richardjosephsalonspa.com/events.php

Weeks Bay Day - 25th Anniversary - April 2nd 9-3pm

http://www.weeksbay.org/calendar.htm

Auburn University's Earthfest - April 2, 10:00 Arboretum

http://www.auburn.edu/cosam/events/earthfest.htm

Alabama Trails Conference - March 31 to April 3 in Fairhope

http://www.CheahaTrailRiders.com/ATC-Info/ATCFlyer.pdf

Friends of Hurricane Creek 2011 Spring Cleanup - April 9th

http://www.alabamarivers.org/events/special-events/friends-of-hurricane-creek-2011-spring-cleanup/view

EEAA's Annual Conference "Learning Among the Longleafs" April 14-16 -

http://www.eeaa.us

Mobile Electronics Recycling

http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org/events/electronics-recycling-0

Technical Knock Out to Sponsor Event at Whole Foods- Birmingham April 16

http://www/technicalko.net

The Great Drift - Saturday, April 16th, 2:00 Dog River Park in Mobile - Dog River Clearwater Revival

http://www.dogriver.org/uploads/6/2/5/2/6252936/greatdrift_flyer_f2.pdf

Operation Green Team's Earth Day in Huntsville - April 16th at the Hays Preserve

http://www.huntsvilleal.gov/greenteam/EarthDayExhibitors2011.pdf

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Discovery Day - April 17

http://press.disl.org/3_11_10dday.htm

Earthbound's EarthFest - April 17th, 2 to sundown Bessie Estelle Park Birmingham

http://blackwarriorriver.org/news/earthbounds-earthfest-2011.html

Earth Day at Samford University Schedule - April 18-22

http://www4.samford.edu/earthday/schedule.html

Auntie Litter Earth Day Parade - April 20th at Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham -

http://www.auntielitter.org

Party for the Planet at the Birmingham Zoo - April 21-23

http://www.alabamarivers.org/events/special-events/party-for-the-planet-earth-day-event-at-the-birmingham-zoo/

Earth Day Safari at the Montgomery Zoo - April 20-21

http://www.eventcrazy.com/Montgomery-AL/events/details/363418-Earth-Day-Safari

Earth Day Mobile Bay - April 23rd in Fairhope

http://www.earthdaymobilebay.org/

University of West Alabama Earth Day - Livingston, Alabama - April 23rd

http://act.earthday.org/event/university-west-alabama-honors-earth-day-2011

Alabama Environmental Council Green Tie Affair - April 28th - Good People Brewery , Birmingham

http://www.aeconline.org/greentieaffair

3rd Annual Delta Woods & Waters Expo - April 30th at 5 Rivers on the Causeway

http://www.alabamarivers.org/events/special-events/3rd-annual-delta-woods-waters-expo

Freshwater Land Trust Darter Dash - April 30, 8:30am Turkey Creek Preserve

http://www.active.com/running/pinson-al/freshwater-land-trust-darter-dash-2011

Earth Day at the Gardens - Birmingham - May 1st

http://www.bbgardens.org/earth-day.php

Dauphin Island Sea Lab - Cocktails with the Critters - May 5th

http://press.disl.org/3_20_11foundation.html

Audubon Mountain Workshop (May 12-15)

http://www.birminghamaudubon.org/education/amw

http://www.birminghamaudubon.org/images/Other_Uploded_Files/AMW/AMW_2011_brochure.pdf

Bald Eagle Bash - June 4th, 4-7pm - Tonsmeire Weeks Bay Resource Center

http://www.BaldEagleBash.com

Legacy's 2011 Workshop Calendar

http://www.legacyenved.org/index.php/educator-workshops/2011-workshops

Legacy's 2011 Enviro-Bowl Schedule

http://www.legacyenved.org/index.php/student-activities/envirobowl

Jobs and Announcements

Project Coordinator for Gulf of Mexico Conservation Coalition

http://www.landtrustalliance.org/about/jobs/open-positions/project-coordinator-for-gulf-of-mexico

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Internships

http://press.disl.org/jobs/grahamsummerintern.html

Wild South Internships in Alabama

http://www.wildsouth.org/index.php/work-with-us/51-internship-opportunities/237-internship-opportunities

Alabama Wildlife Federation Seeking Resource Stewardship Biologist

http://www.alabamawildlife.org/uploadedFiles/File/Longleaf_biologist_position_announcement.pdf

Freshwater Land Trust Land Steward Position

http://alabamanonprofits.org/job-opening.php?cn=152

Mobile Baykeeper Development Director

http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org/news/immediate-opening-development-director

Mobile Baykeeper Partnership Coordinator

http://mobilebaykeeper.org/about-us/employment-opportunities/immediate-opening

Mobile Bay NEP Communications Position

http://www.mobilebaynep.com/job-announcement-public-relationscommunications-manager/

Legacy Earth Month Sponsorships - Deadline Feb. 28th

http://www.legacyenved.org/index.php/grants-and-scholarships/earth-month-sponsorships

Gulf Guardians Nominations - Deadline March 31st

http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/gulfguard/2011_awards.html

Legacy Competitive Grants - April 29th Deadline

http://www.legacyenved.org/index.php/grants-and-scholarships/sub-menu-1

Legacy Mini Grants

http://www.legacyenved.org/index.php/grants-and-scholarships/sub-menu-2

Audubon Mountain Workshop Scholarships (May12-15 in Mentone)

http://www.birminghamaudubon.org/grantscholar/amwscholarships

NOAA-TNC Community Restoration Grants - April 1 deadline

http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/restoration/programs/crp.html

Alabama Outdoor Classroom grants

http://www.alabamawildlife.org/uploadedFiles/File/Grant_Opps_for_OC_Schools_(update_Jan_11).pdf

Mountains to the Gulf Teacher Workshop - Deadline April 29th

http://www.alabama.sierraclub.org/chapternews/february2011/mountainstogulf.pdf

Fish America Grants - May 16th Deadline

http://www.fishamerica.org/grants/

EPA Gulf Guardian Awards - March 31 Deadline

http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/