River Awards Banquet to celebrate River Protection in Alabama
Event will highlight outstanding organizations, businesses, and individuals working across the state to protect and preserve rivers
PRESS ADVISORY: March 7, 2014
Montgomery, AL—Environmental leaders from across Alabama and beyond will gather at the Embassy Suites in Montgomery, Alabama for Alabama Water Rally, the Alabama Rivers Alliance’s 16th annual conference. The conference will kick off Friday, March 7th at 7 pm with the River Celebration Awards banquet where Dr. Doug Phillips of the Emmy Award winning Alabama Public Television series Discovering Alabama will be awarded a coveted River Hero Award. Other notable award winners include the Alabama Scenic River Trail for Outstanding Group of the Year, and EBSCO Industries for Business Partner of the Year.
The Alabama Rivers Alliance devotes one evening at each Alabama Water Rally to those special organizations and individuals who have made outstanding contributions toward river protection in our state. Nominations are submitted by members of the Alabama Rivers Alliance. The highest of the River Celebration Awards is the River Hero Award. These lifetime achievement awards are given to passionate individuals who exemplify river stewardship and who have a rich history of advocating for the protection of Alabama’s waterways.
Alabama Water Rally is Alabama’s premiere environmental education event. Featuring nationally-recognized speakers, valuable educational sessions, and entertaining networking opportunities, the conference draws over a hundred participants from a variety of backgrounds each year. The conference is held in different regions of the state each year to make it accessible for citizens across Alabama.
“This year’s conference is being held in the River Region, the capitol of Alabama the River State. This is a poignant place to come together as a community and celebrate the accomplishments of the past while sharing ideas for a better, cleaner future for our rivers,” proclaims Cindy Lowry, Executive Director of the Alabama Rivers Alliance.
This year’s conference will feature speakers from local, regional, and national environmental organizations, such as River Network, American Rivers, and the Coosa Riverkeeper. Leaders from Georgia Interfaith Power and Light and the Alabama Episcopal Diocesan Task Force for the Stewardship of Creation will lead a discussion on engaging faith based organizations in environmental work. A Saturday lunch keynote will feature Scot Duncan, author of Southern Wonder, an exploration of Alabama’s amazing biological diversity.
About the Alabama Rivers Alliance
The Alabama Rivers Alliance is Alabama’s statewide, nonprofit river protection organization. Our purpose is to protect & restore Alabama’s rivers. To do this, we advocate smart water policy, organize at the grassroots level, and teach citizens how they can protect their water. We are privately funded and accomplish our mission with the financial support of people like you. Our goal is to achieve healthy rivers, healthy people, and a healthy system of government for the state of Alabama.