The River Connects Us All
Lower Mississippi River Dispatch No 333
--- Posted Monday, Feb 2, 2016 ---
-- Love Your River --
February is for Friends of the Sunflower River
Annual General Membership Meeting
Noon Potluck, Saturday, Feb 13th (River Cleanup to follow)
Behind Quapaw Canoe Company (in downtown Clarksdale)
Happy 45th Birthday to the Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention (formally, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat) is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the Convention was signed on Feb 2, 1971. (Thanks for this brer Seth!)
Now Available: Map Poster of Southern Louisiana
Southern Louisiana -- Mississippi and Atchafalaya River -- 26" x 36"
Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Venice, Birdsfoot Delta, Atchafalaya River for the: Rivergator - Paddler’s Guide to the Lower Mississippi River
Our newest map is printed on waterproof paper featuring the Mississippi River from Fort Adams through Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Venice, and the Birdsfoot Delta; and Atchafalaya River from Old River through the Atchafalaya River Basin to Morgan City, and then down through the Atchafalaya River Delta. 26" x 36" printed on 70# Yupo waterproof paper. Can be rolled or folded. Good on the river, good framed and hung on your wall!
You can order a copy of the map here:
http://www.rivergator.org/map-shop/map-shop.cfm
Needed: Rags and Mixing Bowls!
A new voyageur canoe is taking shape in the Quapaw Canoe Company wood shop, and we need your help with bowls, plastic containers and your old rags. Please save for us anytime between now and June, 2016.
1) Needed: Plastic Yogurt/Cottage Cheese (or similar) Containers!
2) ALSO Needed: Rags! (For cleaning up epoxy resin. For wiping down canoes after sanding. For cleaning canoes before applying marine spar varnish)
We are going into the wood shop in and will be building several voyageur canoes this winter. We need your 2 qt (or 32 oz) plastic yogurt containers! Cottage Cheese containers would work just as well. And also any other containers or bowls about that same size for mixing epoxy resin. Your old plastic or metal bowls. Smooth edges and rounded bottoms are best for the purpose. Clean them out and bring to us in downtown Clarksdale, or box and send to Quapaw Canoe Company, 291 Sunflower Avenue, Clarksdale, MS, 38614. It will take us 4-6 months to finish these canoes. Anytime between now and June is good. Save your smooth plastic containers for us until June. Thanks! Free Mississippi River Connects Us All Poster to anyone who brings us cleaned out yogurt containers!
Dream Job Opening at 1 Mississippi
Mississippi River Network 1 Mississippi Campaign Coordinator Position Description
The Mississippi River Network (MRN, the Network) Campaign Coordinator helps to implement and grow the MRN’s public communications campaign called 1 Mississippi. The purpose of the campaign is to build a nationwide community of people (River Citizens) to protect the Mississippi River. The overarching goals of the campaign are to increase the number of River Citizens, to better engage and educate River Citizens and to encourage River Citizens to take advocacy action. The Mississippi River Network is a coalition managed by Bluestem Communications, a leader in building creative public communications campaigns.
As a full-time manager of the 1 Mississippi campaign, the Campaign Coordinator collaborates with the five Regional Hosts (MRN members) to hire, train and manage 1 Mississippi Outreach Assistants. Outreach Assistants are responsible for recruiting River Citizens as well as cultivating the River Citizens’ relationship to the River through education and engagement events with support from the Campaign Coordinator.
The Campaign Coordinator is responsible for organizing meetings, press conferences and engaging River Citizens to use their advocacy voice throughout the basin and specifically in Illinois and Iowa on MRN priority policy issues. He or she works towards acquiring press and increasing exposure for the 1 Mississippi campaign by building relationships with reporters and other member’s communications staff. This person identifies, tracks and manages press hits and analyzes how to continually improve the campaigns communications strategy. He or she will develop and guide a Campaign Committee to ensure that the communications strategy is delivered effectively to the public.
The Campaign Coordinator uses web development, social media and research skills to maintain, update and promote the 1 Mississippi website and social media accounts. The position requires staying up to date on policy issues involving the River, translating these and other complicated ideas to the general public and inspiring people to take action to help the River. All campaign materials are created by the Campaign Coordinator, in collaboration with Bluestem staff. In addition, the Campaign Coordinator seeks to increase the reach and resources of the campaign through grant writing as needed. The Campaign Coordinator reports to the MRN Program Manager.
The position involves other types of outreach such as presenting the 1 Mississippi message and campaign at conferences and networking to increase Bluestem’s exposure. Support and participation in other Bluestem projects is encouraged as well as opportunities for professional development.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Coordinate the implementation and growth of a national public engagement campaign in order to engage people of voting age about the River
- Within the context of MRN’s policy priorities, organize in-basin meetings around policy issues and engage River Citizens to use their advocacy voice
- Identify and develop new and exciting outreach strategies consistent with MRN’s overall strategy and grant deliverables
- Write and produce all 1 Mississippi campaign materials and communications to River Citizens, including blog posts, newsletters, action alerts and all event materials
- Develop and manage current content on the 1 Mississippi website, regularly track its progress and promote it through online media
- Research and cultivate outreach techniques via social networking tools
- Recruit, train and manage five regional Outreach Assistants (located throughout the ten
mainstem states) including planning a yearly training
- Oversee each region’s implementation of the 1 Mississippi campaign, providing guidance and
support when necessary to coordinate engagement and recruitment events
- Collect and track data on campaign activities such as events held, River Citizens recruited,
advocacy actions taken, letters/articles published; design and distribute annual River Citizen
survey and report findings
- Attend and participate in all appropriate internal MRN planning meetings
- Assist with creation of MRN Campaign Committee meetings and attend and participate in other
MRN committee meetings (Steering and Policy) as needed
- Research, draft and submit grant proposals that contribute to 1 Mississippi campaign funding
- Assist MRN Program Manager in planning and conducting large meetings, including the MRN
Annual Meeting
- Other duties as needed
Responsibilities for Bluestem Communications work:
• Attend staff meetings
• Participate in group work sessions, like strategic planning, brainstorming, large mailings, etc. • Help with non-Mississippi-related writing tasks, as necessary and appropriate
Requirements for this position:
- College degree
- 3 to 5 years experience with managing and implementing a public engagement campaign
- Organizing experience with a particular understanding of event planning
- Marketing knowledge with specific experience in social media and public communications
- Understanding of conservation-related environmental issues and advocacy
- Motivated self-starter who will eventually require little guidance
- Innovative and strategic thinker who is continually developing ways to improve campaign
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a friendly, outgoing manner
- Experience working on teams and in a small-office setting
- Current, valid Drivers License
Ideal candidates possess the above and are:
- Experienced with Salsa Labs, Adobe and Drupel
- Quick learners eager to take on new tasks
Hours
This is a salaried, full-time position. This position requires overnight travel approximately once to twice a month and at times requires weekend work for outreach/campaign events
Location
Bluestem Communication’s offices are located at 14 North Peoria St, Suite 4F, Chicago, IL 60607.
Salary and Benefits
- Salary $35,000 - $40,000 - commensurate with experience
- Health insurance
- 5% of salary contribution to retirement fund
- V acation:
o Year 1: 15 days
o Year 2 and on: 20 days o After 5 years: 25 days
- Nine paid sick days
- Twelve paid holidays
Application Details
Please prepare and submit a cover letter explaining specifically how you meet the above criteria, your resume and at least two writing samples. Please apply ONLY if you have ALL of the above qualifications and can readily complete the listed tasks. Application packets that have form cover letters, grammatical errors or do not include at least two writing samples will not be considered. Email cover letter, resume and writing samples to Kelly McGinnis at: kmcginnis@bluestemcommunications.org.
In the email subject line, write “Campaign Coordinator.” No phone calls, please. Applications will be reviewed on an on-going basis until the position is filled.
Job Opportunity from Our Partner Leave no Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics:
Searching For Our Next Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers!
See more at: https://lnt.org/blog/searching-our-next-subaruleave-no-trace-traveling-trainers#sthash.KQ9JMd1h.dpuf
Dream Job Opening: LNT - Leave No Trace!
APPLICANTS WANTED!
SUBARU/LEAVE NO TRACE TRAVELING TRAINER PROGRAM
LEAVE NO TRACE CENTER FOR OUTDOOR ETHICS
See more at: https://lnt.org/blog/searching-our-next-subaruleave-no-trace-traveling-trainers#sthash.KQ9JMd1h.dpuf
Mission: The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an educational nonprofit organization that teaches people how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program is the mobile education arm, delivering Leave No Trace education to local communities. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program, sponsored by Subaru of America, reaches millions of people annually, promoting stewardship of the outdoors.
Position Opening: The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics seeks a dynamic, savvy, extroverted team of educators (only teams of two are accepted as applicants) for an April 2016 through April 2017 Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer position. As Traveling Trainers, teams live on the road, camp over 250 nights a year, and deliver Leave No Trace programs promoting the Leave No Trace minimum impact program to outdoor enthusiasts of all experience levels and ages. Teams create social media content, videos, weekly blogs, and detailed program reporting. Teams are focused in one of four regions as determined by the Center, but will work and travel outside of that region as needed. Team members are outfitted with a Subaru vehicle, basic equipment and supplies necessary for teaching and camping, and technology for communication needs. The majority of this work is with first-time users in frontcountry settings.
The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers represent the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics as ambassadors and educators and should be pumped to do all of the following:
Educate > Camp > Play Outside > Drive > Educate > Camp > REPEAT
Prepare and present Leave No Trace programs for diverse groups of all ages such as youth, youth serving organizations, land managers, park staff, college classrooms, hiking/paddling/climbing and other user groups, and the general public
Develop and evolve curriculum for scheduled programs – including program reporting on the back end
Expo in boothing areas at Outdoor Retailer, trade shows, conferences, outdoor festivals, races, interpretive trails, at trailheads, and other forward facing events
Generate social media content via creating blogs, posting Instagram photos, and creating videos highlighting work with partners, constituents and the general public
Promote and help build our membership and partnership programs
Be high energy, open, and ready to engage with whatever the day requires
See more at: https://lnt.org/blog/searching-our-next-subaruleave-no-trace-traveling-trainers#sthash.KQ9JMd1h.dpuf
Employment and travel begin without exception April 28thth, 2016 extending through April 1st, 2017.
Leadership and Interpersonal Requirements:
High-level of motivation, energy, creativity and professionalism
Charismatic and entertaining public speaking and verbal communication skills
Interpersonal skills to facilitate work with a wide range of individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds
Must enjoy working with and educating both adults and kids of all ages
A positive, flexible disposition as well as the ability to deal with an evolving and unpredictable itinerary
Ability to see stories amidst events and help tell those stories
Excellent time-management skills
Established interpersonal relationship with other applying team member
Education and Technical Requirements:
Experience teaching in an indoor and outdoor environment
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Skill in writing for a variety of audiences - strong editing and proofreading skills
Savvy with creating social media content, video creation, and photography
Demonstrated passion for and participation in outdoor recreation
Current, Basic First Aid and CPR certification
Prior Leave No Trace Training (the Center will train the right team)
Personal budgeting and expense tracking skills
Proficiency with Mac computers
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POSITION: Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Regional Team
SALARY: Living stipend, health insurance stipend, limited monthly salary and all travel expenses, a vehicle, and basic gear for life on the road.
CLOSING DATE: January 25th, 2016
APPLICATION PACKET:
Resumes for both team members
Joint Cover Letter – 2 page maximum
30 second – 1 minute creative video introducing yourselves and highlighting content creation skills
Please be prepared to provide 3 references upon request
EMAIL TO: Betsy@LNT.org | subject: Traveling Trainer Search - 2016
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
-No calls please.
-Pre-paired teams only apply. We will not place individuals into a team.
-U.S residents only
-No pets allowed
For more information about the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, visit www.LNT.org.
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an equal opportunity employer.
Subaru:Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Job Announcement 2016.pdf
- See more at: https://lnt.org/blog/searching-our-next-subaruleave-no-trace-traveling-trainers#sthash.KQ9JMd1h.dpuf
For more photos of the Lower Miss and more reading, go to www.rivergator.org
The Lower Mississippi River Dispatch
is a service of the Lower Mississippi River Foundation
Clarksdale, Mississippi ~ Helena, Arkansas