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Promoting
Water Trails: Professional Events Chronology
1999
July
National Water Trail Organization Exploratory Meeting
Washington, DC
Meeting with Search Committee
representative from the National Park Service and North American
Water Trails (NAWT) co-founder, Al Staats collaborates on plan
to re-launch NAWT as full-time
DC-based national water trails support organization. Planning begins
for first meeting of newly selected Board of Directors comprising
water trail and conservation professionals from across the US and Canada.
2000
January
Inaugural
Meeting of Founding Board of Directors
North
American Water Trails, Inc. Board Retreat
Palm
Key, SC
Al Staats joins professional
colleagues and National Park Service personnel in first event of
year-long re-launch of the only organization in the country solely dedicated to water trails; establishes national office
in Washington, DC conducting partnership outreach and fundraising initiatives.
May
North
American Water Trails Semi-Annual Meeting
Board
of Directors Planning
Washington, DC
Under the leadership of
newly elected Board President Brook Lenker from the Alliance For
the Chesapeake Bay, committees take up the work of growing the
program and development responsibilities of the organization. Al
Staats spearheads fundraising initiatives.
September
North
American Water Trails Semi-Annual Meeting
Board
of Directors Planning
Washington, DC
Board continues organization
development efforts; work begins on new edition of North American
Water Trails publication.
2001
January
North
American Water Trails Semi-Annual Meeting
Washington, DC
Succeeding Brook Lenker,
Al Staats is elected Board President and works with colleagues
on organizations opportunities. Subsequently, he meets with Confluence
Watersports Co. founder Andy Zimmerman who pledges $150,000 gift
to support NAWT’s full-time operations for two years. Al
agrees to take leave from the Board to serve as full-time Executive
Director for two years to guide and grow the organization.
Water
Trails in Western Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, PA
With the French Creek Project
and PA Environmental Council, Al Staats participates in planning
meeting sponsored by the Heinz Endowments to explore water trail
development in southwestern PA.
March
Coastal
Plain Waters 2001 Symposium
NC
Coastal Plain Water Trails Symposium
Washington, NC
Al Staats and colleagues
help coordinate statewide conference to promote the development
of water trails in North Carolina; serves as speaker, moderator
and event facilitator.
North Carolina Paddletrails Association
Al Staats plays key role
in effort to create statewide water trail body; becomes steering
committee member of newly created North Carolina PaddleTrails Association.
May
North
American Water Trails Semi-Annual Meeting
Board
of Directors Training
Washington, DC
With the Institute for Conservation Leadership, Al Staats organizes and
performs board building training session and organization capacity
building exercises.
August
Water
Trails Partners Technical Assistance Project
Chesapeake
Bay Gateways
Program
Annapolis, MD
Al Staats writes successful
proposal and secures $41,000 Cooperative Agreement with the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Program to provide water trail technical
assistance to Chesapeake Gateways water trail partners.
September
North
American Water Trails Semi-Annual Meeting
Board
of Directors Training
Portland, ME
With River Network organization
development trainer Sharon Behar, Al Staats plans and implements
day-long Board fundraising training session.
Water
Trails for the New Millennium
4th NAWT
Biennial International Water Trails Conference
South Portland, ME
In partnership with the
National Park Service and Maine Island Trail Association, Al Staats
plans three-day conference attended by over 400 individuals from
the U.S. & Canada. Andy Zimmerman, co-founder of Confluence Watersports Co.
joins in presenting David Getchell Sr. the first ever lifetime
achievement award for Getch’s commitment to waterway conservation.
Mid-Atlantic
Governors Conference on Greenways, Blueways and Green Infrastructure
Crystal City, VA
As a member of the Water
Trails Planning Group for 10 months prior, Al Staats helps organize
the water trails track comprising 20 workshops; he is a speaker,
moderator and facilitator in four workshops at conference that
draws over 500 participants.
December
2002
Sojourn Steering Committee
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Washington, DC
ACB launches planning for
the 2002 Inaugural Potomac River and 2nd Annual Patuxent River Sojourns. Al Staats accepts position on Steering Committee.
2002
April
American Heritage Rivers Initiative
River Navigators and Community Partners Conference
West Point, NY
Al
Staats joins colleagues from Hudson Valley Greenway and AHRI representatives
from across US in water trails program and planning for expansion
of the Heritage Rivers program.
San Francisco Bay Water Trail Festival
Sausalito, CA
With paddlers from Bay Area Sea Kayakers, local organizers and area National Park Service staff, Al Staats and colleagues help plan and carry
out day-long program in support of the proposed SF Bay Water Trail; he moderates and participates in workshops
and panel discussions. Al subsequently serves as an advisor to
Bay Access, the group formed to advance the water trail project.
May
2002 River Network River Rally
Monterrey, CA
Al
Staats promotes
water trail partnerships with watershed organizations; receives Compton Foundation Presidential grant in support
of these efforts.
2002 River Management Society
Annual Symposium
Boise, ID
Al Staats is a featured
speaker at annual conference; presentation entitled: Water Trails:
A Modern Day Water Resource Protection Opportunity. Al meets with federal agency representatives and local river
activists to explain water trail building as a community involvement
process.
Coastal Waters
2002 Symposium
Orleans, MA
Al Staats joins with Goose
Hummock Outfitters and local stakeholder group on Cape Cod in week-end
event organized to promote paddlesport recreation and build support
for the proposed Cape Cod Water Trail. Al serves as advisor to
local stakeholder group as work begins on mapping and outreach.
Housatonic Valley River Trail Advisory
Board
Housatonic Valley Economic Development Partnership
Brookfield, CT
At the invitation of the local organizers of this
water trail project, Al Staats becomes an advisory board member.
June
Canadian
Heritage Rivers Biennial Conference
Frederickton, N.B. Canada
Teaming with Canadian colleagues,
Al Staats promotes water trails in workshops and discussions; participates
in meetings on project to develop a water trail on the St. John River, participates
in the announcement of a $400,000 provincial grant for the project.
September
Creating
Water Trails: Sojourn to Seminar Conference
McKeesport, PA
Al Staats is keynote speaker,
charette participant, and panelist in week-end event hosted by
Friends of the Riverfront and other local and regional partners
in support of a Monongahela River Water Trail, part of an area-wide
water trail development project sponsored by the Heinz Endowments.
2002
Kodak American Greenways Award Program
National
Geographic Society
Washington, DC
Al Staats accepts the 2002
National Organization Award from the National Geographic Society,
Conservation Fund and Eastman Kodak, that annually recognizes a
national non-profit’s efforts to enhance the nation’s
outdoor heritage through the protection of rivers, forests, greenways
and blueways.
November
Water
Trails in Western
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, PA
Al Staats writes successful
grant proposal, receives $20,000 Vira I. Heinz Endowment grant
to support water trail development in Western Pennsylvania through partnership with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the French Creek Project.
American Trails 16th National Trails Symposium
Greenways and Trails ~ Crossing the American
Landscape
Orlando, FL
With non-profit organization
and government partners, Al Staats organizes and conducts two workshops
on water trails (ater Trails for the New Millenium: Guiding Principles
and Bluways on the Ground) at this important trails venue.
December
2003
Sojourn Steering Committee
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Washington, DC
ACB launches planning for
the 2003 2nd Potomac River and 3rd Patuxent River Sojourns. Al Staats joins Steering Committee in event planning.
2003
Year Long
Occoquan
Water Trail Development
Northern Virginia Regional Park
Fairfax City, VA
Following on January meeting
(below) Al Staats meets with Authority leadership to further promote
a water trail along their parklands; project is endorsed and he
serves as a consultant for the rest the year.
January
Occoquan
Water Trail Concept Meeting
Virginia Regional Park Authority
Fairfax City, VA
Al Staats meets with NVRPA
staff to explore development of a water trail along Bull Run and the Occoquan River.
March
America’s WaterTrails Launch
Washington, DC
Following the completion
of his two-year term as Executive Director, Al Staats launches America’s WaterTrails, a new project to promote water trails
and offer technical assistance consulting services for projects
primarily in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
and Mid-Atlantic region. He continues national speaking and outreach
initiatives on behalf of water trails.
Water
Trails Partnership Dialogue
American
Canoe Association
Springfield, VA
In an effort to expand
national efforts on behalf of water trails, Al Staats makes presentation
to ACA leadership on adding water trails to organization’s
major program initiatives.
Cape
Cod Water Trail Stakeholders Meeting
Orleans, MA
Joining local organizers,
Al Staats joins discussions in support of the creation of the Cape
Cod Water Trail, a personal favorite paddling destination.
Cape
Cod Harbormasters
Luncheon
Barnstable, MA
With local trail organizers,
Al Staats participates in presentation to promote the Cape Cod
Water Trail project to this important stakeholder group.
April
Pappahannock
River Water Trail Concept Meeting
Friends
of the Rappahannock
Fredericksburg, VA
Following their designation
as a Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network partner, Al Staats meets with FOR Vice-Chair
to discuss strategies for development of a grant proposal to the Chesapeake Bay Gateways
Program. Subsequent meetings with FOR leadership continue work
on grant proposal strategies. Grant is written by FOF, submitted
and approved
Paddlesports
Business (publication)
Canoe & Kayak
Publishers
Kirkland, WA
Canoe & Kayak create
Water Wards column in this industry trade publication, invites
submissions from selected paddlesports-related non-profit organization
representatives-Al Staats accepts offer to become contributor,
writes column to promote the water trails concept to the padlesports
industry.
2003
Sojourn Event Support
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Washington, DC
ACB contracts with Al Staats
to provide pre-event support services for Potomac and Patuxent River Sojourns. Al Staats participates in both 7-day events.
May
Wyoming
Valley Water Trail Planning Group Meetings
Wilkes-Barre, PA
With other regional partners, America’s WaterTrails joins local and state agency officials
in a monthly initiative to plan a 75 mile expansion to the Susquehanna
River Water Trail.
August
Outdoor
Retailer Summer Market Exposition
Salt Lake City, UT
Continuing an annual tradition
that started in the 90’s, Al represents America’s WaterTrails
at outdoor recreation industry exposition promoting water trails
concept to participating companies and retailers.
September
Mid America Greenways Conference
Green
Infrastructure: A Natural Framework for the Future
Indianapolis, IN
Continuing his national
outreach on behalf of water trails, Al Staats attends regional
conference; serves as moderator and presenter of workshop- Developing
Water Trails with Kent Taylor, Openlands
Project and Paul Labovitz,
NPS, Rivers and Trails Program.
November
Partners
in Stewardship Conference
Los Angeles, CA
In this conference attended
by1500 individuals from seven federal agencies and scores of no-profit
organizations, Al Staats promotes the water trails concept and
assists in facilitating a role play exercise in the workshop, Stone
Soup Conservation, with Don Baugh of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
December
Anacostia
Watershed Initiative
Washington, DC
Recruited by Bob Patten
of the DC Dept. of Planning, Al Staats accepts a role as an Advisory
Committee member charged with providing input on an Anacostia River
Water Trail, one aspect of a 20-year, multi-billion dollar initiative
to redevelop the Anacostia waterfront in Washington, DC.
2004
Year-Long
Occoquan
Water Trail Development
Virginia Regional Park Authority
Fairfax City, VA
In a continuation of the
project to build a water trail on Bull Run and the Occoquan River, Al Staats assists NVRPA in applying for status as a Chesapeake Bay Gateways
Network partner. Application is submitted in May and approved.
Al co-authors funding proposal in support of developing the Occoquan
Water Trail which is submitted; $100,000 grant request is approved
in full. Work on fulfillment of the project deliverables begins
in September and continues through the end of the year.
March
Wabash River Initiative
Wabash River Heritage Corridor Commission
Lafayette, IN
America’s WaterTrails provides technical Assistance to this
local land and water trail initiative.
April
Occoquan
Water Trail Development
Virginia Regional Park Authority
Fairfax City, VA
America’s WaterTrails formally becomes a project partner with
NVRPA and twelve other agencies and organizations on the Occoquan
Water Trail project. AWT commits $25,000, the largest support pledge,
in matching funds toward the NVRPA $100,000 grant request.
Paddlesports
Business (publication)
Canoe & Kayak
Kirkland, WA
Water Wards column written annually by
Al Staats to promote the water trails concept to the padlesports
industry, is published.
August
Outdoor
Retailer Summer Market Exposition
Salt Lake City, UT
Once again, Al represents America’s WaterTrails at this outdoor recreation industry exposition
promoting the water trails concept to participating companies and
retailers. America’s WaterTrails is successful in securing assistance from
several companies in support of its work.
5
Rivers Metro Parks
Dayton, OH
America’s WaterTrails provides technical Assistance and reference
materials to this local water trail initiative.
October
River
Advocates Fundraising Guide: A handbook For River and Watershed Organizations
A
River Network Publication (2004)
Portland, OR
As a contributing Editor
to the quarterly River Network Fundrasing Alerts, Al Staats writes
on fundraising and technology topics. This handbook is an edited
compendium of previously published Alerts; Al Staats, Sarah Clark
and David Jenkins authored the chapter, Online Fundraising.
2005
Year-Long
Occoquan
Water Trail Development
Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority
Fairfax City, VA
In a continuation of the
project to build a water trail on Bull Run and the Occoquan River, Al Staats assists NVRPA in stakeholder development, one of
three major deliverablesof the Gateways grant to support the development
of the Occoquan Water Trail. He works with staff project manager
to coordinate project partner meetings and the creation of a planning
team to assist in project delverables.
February
FOR
Interpretive Planning Workshop
Friends
of the Rappahannock
Fredericksburg, VA
At the invitation of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways
Program and FOR, Al Staats joins Gateways staff, FOR staff and
project partners, and interpretive planning consultant John Veverka
in a day-long interpretive planning workshop.
March
Paddlesports
Expo 2005
Somerset, NJ
America’s WaterTrails promotes water trails at paddlesports
industry event.Al Staats meets with company executives topromote
recent and upcoming water trail efforts.
April
Gateway Water Trails: Connecting People to Quality
Experiences in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Chesapeake Gateways Network Annual Conference
Solomon’s, MD
America’s WaterTrails participates in IdeaMart featuring vendors
and service providers in a variety of specialties needed by GatewayPartner
to fulfill grants and other projects. Al Staats works with Gateways
staff to organize day-long water trails seminar; presents workshop
on Managing Water Trails, serves as panelist on other workshops.
Occoquan
Water Trail Stakeholder Forums
Virginia Regional Park Authority
Fairfax City, VA
America’s WaterTrails
partners with the Institute for Conservation Leadership, NVRPA
and project partners to plan and carry out two are stakeholder
development meetings in support of the development of a stakeholder
community for the Occoquan Water Trail.
Occoquan Water Trail Interpretive Planning Workshop
Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority
Fairfax City, VA
With support from the Chesapeake Bay Gateways
Program, Al Staats works with the OWT Planning Team to organize
a day-long interpretive planning workshop led by interpretive planning
consultant John Veverka.
May
Paddlesports
Business (publication)
Canoe & Kayak
Magazine
Kirkland, WA
Water Wards column written
by Al Staats to promote the water trails concept to the padlesports
industry, is slated for publication.
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