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"Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life."
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Come and Explore Our New Hiking Trail!
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| Horizon Trailhead. Credit: K. Martin |
GSWA is overjoyed to announce the opening of a new trail at its Conservation Management Area (CMA), the Horizon Trail.
The approximately mile long path meanders past vernal pools bursting with frogs and salamanders in the spring, the occasional shagbark hickory - a favorite roosting location for little brown bats and the federally endangered Indiana bat, and old oaks checkered with pileated woodpecker holes.
Since the official trail opening ceremony on September 22nd, 2015, the property has been abuzz with activity, acting as a hub for schools, garden clubs, camps, and other groups to study water quality, ecology, and environmental stewardship...
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Grading the Great Swamp Watershed
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| Click the image to view a larger version of the report card. |
If you're a follower of GSWA's print newsletter, Across the Watershed, you may recall that in our
Spring-Summer 2015 issue I wrote about our forthcoming Great Swamp Watershed Report Card, which would grade our streams based on our stream monitoring data.
After many hours by GSWA staff and volunteers, the numbers have been crunched and
the results are in for 2014, including some surprises!
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The beginning of a standing ovation as Assemblyman John Bramnick awards Mayor Nicolas Platt with a constitutional honor. Credit: C. Mezzacappa
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Our Most Successful Gala Yet
On Wednesday, October 21, over 400 members and friends joined GSWA at the Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park to celebrate GSWA's 34 years of service and to honor Harding Township Mayor Nicolas Platt for his dedication to the environment.
A champion of conservation, Mayor Platt has worked on many environmental projects in the region, including the recent preservation of Giralda Farms in Chatham Township. When GSWA's executive director, Sally Rubin, called Nic Platt to ask if he would be this year's gala honoree, his response was, "You can't honor me, I still have so much work to do!" Clearly, the overwhelming support GSWA and Nic Platt received from this gala proves his worth as an honoree.
With over 400 guests, nearly 200 silent auction items, and seven generous event sponsors, the 2015 gala was undoubtedly our most successful event yet. Our sincerest thanks to all of the dedicated volunteers, board members, advisory council, sponsors, and staff members of GSWA that made this success possible.
Care to hear more about the gala? Read about it here.
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GSWA is a Charity Navigator
All-star
Great Swamp Watershed Association is proud to announce that it has achieved a coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.
Receiving the highest rating verifies that our organization adheres to good governance and other best practices. It also shows we consistently execute our mission in a fiscally responsible way.
Approximately a quarter of the charities evaluated by Charity Navigator have received the highest rating, indicating that Great Swamp Watershed Association outperforms most other charities in America. This "exceptional" designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Great Swamp Watershed Association from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.
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GSWA is Looking to Remodel!
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Do you have a couch you're planning to get rid of?
If you've been to GSWA's headquarters recently, you may have noticed our loved-to-threads couches and 70's era bright green rug in the entry way.
We would love to revamp our look! If you have a neutral-looking couch or area rug in good condition that you're planning to kick to the curb, give us a call instead!
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Start Using Amazon Smile!
With all of that holiday shopping around the corner, now is the perfect time to start using
Amazon Smile! When you link your already existing Amazon account to Great Swamp Watershed Association, Amazon starts donating .5% of your purchases to us. Although that may not sound like much, if all of our Amazon using members switched over to Smile, it would really add up!
Here's how you do it:
1. Visit smile.amazon.com
2. Sign in to your already existing amazon account (or create a new one)
3. In the "Pick Your Own Charitable Organization" section, type Great Swamp Watershed Association and click the search button. Then click the select button next to our name.
4. You're all done! Now shop away :)
A helpful tip - Amazon only donates when you shop through the smile website. Change your regular amazon bookmark to
smile.amazon.com (your shopping experience will be the same). That way, you'll always be donating while you shop!
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GSWA & the Care2Share Program
Do you already bank with investors? Sign up for their Care2Share program!
Investors Bank supports GSWA by providing regular donations through its
Care2Share program. It's totally free, and with a little help from you and your family, friends, and neighbors, we can grow those donations into something special: special in a way that helps all of our environmental stewardship, education, and advocacy programs!
How does it work?
The
Care2Share program allows you to link your personal deposit account at Investors to GSWA. On a regular basis, Investors looks at the number of accounts linked to us, calculates the average balance in those accounts, and makes a donation to us equal to a percentage of that average balance. It doesn't cost you a cent, and your favorite charity get an important financial boost!
Continue Reading...
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Do you enjoy reading this eNewsletter?
Do you think we're doing a good job of protecting the waters and the land of the Great Swamp Watershed? If so, then please help us continue our work by sending in your
gift o
f support right now!
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Stream Assessment Training, 11/7
9AM-12:00PM. This workshop will show you how routine visual stream assessment surveys are conducted on our streams and rivers, and how that data can provide critical information about our water resources and the local environment. Then, step by step, you will learn how to conduct an on-the-ground visual stream assessment-one of the most basic water quality assessment tools available to environmental scientists.
Please click the Register Now!
button for location information.
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Breakfast Briefing: Blue Acres & Morris County's Flood Mitigation Program, 11/10
8AM-9:30AM. Join us to learn about NJ's first county-level, dedicated flood acquisition program. Created in 2012, the Morris County Flood Mitigation Program has worked directly with 9 municipalities, closing on 55 projects, with 36 projects in progress. The program goal is to create open space and lower municipal costs by moving people out of harm's way.
Please click the Register Now!
button for location information.
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Evening Briefing: Historic Paterson, 11/18
6PM-7:30PM. Did you know that the Great Falls in Paterson, NJ is the second largest waterfall east of the Mississippi? Join us for a special evening presentation with Supervisory Park Ranger Ilyse Goldman as she shares with us the history of the newly appointed Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park. Ilyse will discuss why Paterson was founded, its past industries, and what the park is doing to help reinvigorate the area.
Please click the Register Now!
button for location information.
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Guided Dog Walk, 11/29
* Please note that this has been changed from its original date
10AM-11:30AM. Come and explore GSWA's Conservation Management Area with your furry friend! We'll see what we can sniff out in the woods.
Please click the Register Now!
button for location information.
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Follow GSWA on these social media sites for breaking news and special posts...
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