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Help us reach our goal!
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Thanks for your help!
Our Connect to Protect Spring Fundraiser wrapped up on Friday, July 9th. Thank you for all your help and support during the fundraiser- together, we raised $33,079. If you mailed us a check near the end of the campaign, we'll keep our eyes out for it and modify the total for checks dated before July 9th. Thank you again for your support! Check out our Connect to Protect Donors and Stewardship Network Members by clicking here!
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"With summer just around the corner, the Stewardship Network has been in the full swing of things for several months now.
After the January Science, Practice & Art of Restoring Native Ecosystems conference, we jumped right into planning the Cluster workshops - this year featuring more than 85 workshops helping people learn about and protect on natural communities - and our Garlic Mustard Challenge where we aim to collectively pull more than 150,000 pounds of garlic mustard protecting the native biodiversity of our woods.
On top of that, we are constantly adding new volunteers, working with partners on new collaborative projects, and facilitating the dialogue about conservation. At the Network we engage, listen, understand, and deliver.
How do we do it all? The Network's tiny staff and low overhead ensure that your dollars go a long way. I truly hope you will join us and make a contribution today!"
- Lisa Brush, Executive Director, Stewardship Network
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The Stewardship Network serves to increase the capacity of local organizations, business, and individuals to care for natural lands and waters. Its grassroots, or prairie-roots, foundation allows it to provide support for on-the-ground restoration work across the state of Michigan and the larger Great Lakes region.
Realizing the gaps in resources, communication, and information in the natural resources field, the Network strives to bridge those gaps through traditional hands-on workdays and workshops as well as more innnovative ways, such as live webcasts and strong online presence. Programs and services such as the annual Stewardship Network Garlic Mustard Challenge, Monthly Webcasts, Cluster Workday/Workshops, Searchable Events Calendar, and annual Conference just to name a few, bring individual restoration efforts to connect with others and become part of a larger picture.
Please help us to continue to provide a quality Network of support for natural area stewards across the Great Lakes region by donating today.
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Stewardship Network's Programming Needs...
Your generous donation today will go towards a general fund supporting the following Stewardship Network projects directly, as well as the Network's day-to-day work supporting these projects and others.
Clusters: 
One way the Stewardship Network works to bridge gaps is the innovative Cluster model. This dynamic model is very rooted in local communities, but at the same time has access to and is connected with a broader network. For example, within a Cluster, organizations and individuals may come to together to coordinate a roving burn crew, while that same Cluster may also take advantage of resources available in other Clusters or developed by other Clusters (i.e. Searchable Events Calendar). Furthermore, Clusters tap into region-wide resources as well, such as Stewardship Network partners, Conference presenters, and webcast presenters and attendees.
Currently, we have eight Clusters, all in different stages of their life-cycles, but one thing across the board has become glaringly apparent- we need funding to more adequately support our Cluster Coordinators. Each of the Cluster Coordinators work on a volunteer basis after already working full-time jobs already.
In 2009 we were approached by groups in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio to start two new Clusters. So, with adequate funding, in fall 2010 we hope to respond to the demand to launch two new Clusters, the Northern Indiana Cluster and the Western Lake Erie Cluster. With these Clusters launching, we are in need of funding more than ever. Other groups have also requested beginning Clusters, but we've had to decline. Please help us to be able to better support our existing Clusters and get these newest Clusters off the ground. Donate and Join Today!
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Free, Live, Monthly Webcasts:
One of our most popular programs that the Stewardship Network offers are the free, live webcasts that air online every second Wednesday of the month. Each session between 100 and 250 people from across North America participate in and listen to these interactive online presentations. These webcasts create a great space for informative dialogue around natural area issues. Each month a different topic related to the care of natural lands and waters is presented by an expert in that field. During the webcast, attendees can be a part of the presentation by asking questions aimed at the presenter and other attendees. People across the county, and outside of the US, can tune in and actually be a part of the dialogue. The large number of people and broad spectrum of places and experiences truly enhances the value of these live webcasts. Time and time again attendees tell us how useful and valuable the free webcast is for their own work, and many times for staff and volunteer training.
 Your support helps ensure that we keep the live monthly webcasts free. The Stewardship Network pays a subscription fee for the webcast service. Our archives are charged just like you would a cell phone, and all of those attendees and minutes add up. Looking at our library of archives now, and looking ahead to the future, there are many more ways that we would like to make the archives even more valuable and ways to access- while keeping the live webcasts free. The Stewardship Network is currently creating a webcast sponsorship program in which organizations and businesses can sponsor a particular webcast- Please contact us to learn more.
Please help us by donating today in order to continue providing live webcasts free of charge and expand our webcast archive services in more user friendly ways. Donate and Join Today!
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Workday/Workshop Kit Program:
Within many of our Clusters, one of the main services are the multiple workday/workshops that they offer throughout the field season. These workday/workshops in their simplest form are information sessions, run completely through the voluntary efforts of the Cluster Coordinator, some members of Cluster committees, a volunteer presenter, and a host site. Topics range from "Frog Symphony" to "Invasive Plant Identification" to "How to Make an Herbicide Wand" to "Create Your Own Mangement Plan" ... and many more. Attendees are usually made up of a peppering of individual property owners, volunteers, field crew members, and anyone else looking to get their hands dirty caring for natural lands and waters. These workday/workshops can serve as merely an informative session or for many people serve as training sessions.
 Our Workday/Workshop Kit Program will package 20 of these webcasts, to be available online and in hard-copy form so that anyone can use the materials (powerpoint, hand-outs, etc.) and contact suggested presenters and hosts. We currently have Sustain Our Great Lakes Funding to put together the first twenty, but there are many more topics that we would love to be able to offer. Furthermore, the funding is only for a limited time and we lack the resources to fully support this great program once the grant period is over.
Please help the Stewardship Network be able to support the kit program after the initial grant investment and allow us to provide a broader selection of available kits. Donate and Join Today!
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You can either donate through our online form at www.StewardshipNetwork.org/JoinNow or you can mail a check to our office at:
Stewardship Network
416 Longshore Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
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