TO: Friends of the Verde River

What: Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition meeting

Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2:00 p.m.

Location: City of Prescott Town Hall, 201 S. Cortez Street

Preview the agenda at: www.cityofprescott.net/_d/agendas/2006-11-22_1145.pdf

For more information about tomorrow’s meeting or other ways you can help the Save the Verde Campaign, please contact Michelle Harrington at 602-628-9909 or mharrington@biologicaldiversity.org, or Ashley Fine at 928-533-4309 or creasotebsh@yahoo.com.

The Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition was formed as an alternative organization to the Verde River Basin Partnership. The Partnership has several municipalities, regional, state and federal agencies and other stakeholders as members who are working to bring science and new studies to future policy decisions in the region.

Misnamed, the Watershed Protection Coalition, on the other hand is an organization formed by Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Dewey-Humboldt and Yavapai County that is working to discredit any science that may get in the way of the Big Chino Water Ranch Pipeline Project.

This group begs to be watch-dogged, and concerned citizens like you are just the ones to do it!

Check our online calendar for future meetings and other events. Make a difference. Be there!

Other ways you can help:
The Verde Needs YOU to Write a Letter on its behalf
Please take a few minutes and write a letter to the editor of your local paper. Tell them that Prescott’s and Prescott Valley’s pursuit of Big Chino water is short-sighted and will lead to the destruction of the upper Verde River and its habitat. Emphasize that the Coalition’s isolationism hurts the river and that the members should join the Verde River Basin Partnership and cooperate with other communities in the watershed. Click here for more talking points and links to some area newspapers.

Job Opportunity:
Position: Outreach organizer for The Save the Verde Campaign

Hours per week: 30-40

Responsibilities may include but are not limited to: staffing information table at events, recruiting volunteers and maintaining the volunteer database, organizing attendance at important water-related meetings, making public presentations, coordinating rallies or events, possible research, and other outreach activities as necessary.

The ideal candidate has good organizational and time management skills; an understanding of local politics and water policy (including knowledge of the Big Chino Water Ranch Pipeline Project and the Prescott AMA); exceptional communication skills (especially verbal); the ability to recruit and utilize volunteers, organize activists and plan rallies, work in coordination with other advocacy groups, and take direction and work independently; and a love for the Verde River ecosystem.

How to apply: Send a cover letter and resume or inquiries to Michelle Harrington, Rivers Program Director; 602-628-9909; mharrington@biologicaldiversity.org; Center for Biological Diversity, PO Box 39629, Phoenix, AZ 85069.

Make a Contribution!
The Center for Biological Diversity appreciates your interest and involvement in the Save the Verde Campaign. Please visit savetheverde.org for other news and updates. You can also make a donation to this c ampaign from the web site. Please contribute today if you haven’t done so already.

For more information on how to get involved, contact Ashley or Michelle.