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<br />The Rivers Council of Minnesota (RCM)
<br />helps Minulesotans protect, restore, and enjoy
<br />_ the state's 92,000 miles of rivers by btuldiiig
<br />_ - awareness of river resources, promoting and
<br />_ teaching river health, monitoring and fostering
<br />~~~__~. grassroots action to nnprove and maintain the
<br />health of rivers. RCM works to help citizens
<br />and commtu~ities lalow how to live with rivers and make decisions
<br />with full knowledge of how they affect rivers.
<br />~ ~~~~~~~~ The Minulesota Lakes Association
<br />(MLA) is a statewide organization of
<br />=~ ~ ~~ lake users, Lakeshore property
<br />A s®~ra~a®~v
<br />owners, lake associations, coalitions
<br />of lake associations, local governmental units, and businesses
<br />dedicated to protecting and improving Muulesota's lakes. The
<br />mission of MLA is to promote citizen stewardship of
<br />Milulesota's waters and to influence and support public policy
<br />for water resource management.
<br />BENEFITS of torinin~ MINNESOTA WATERS:
<br />
<br />There are many beneficial reasons for combining the three organizations into one ~~ ~) L i I- ~ Il ~ tl ~
<br />powerful new entity called Minnesota Waters:
<br />The Huard of Directors of the
<br />ACTION l=rosh~-~~ator Socicty met in a special
<br />Tlis merger is all about ACTION and turnnlg ideas into results-oriented programs. mooting on June 6 and unanimously
<br />The impact of tlis new organzation will be ~nazing, after by putting the right supported the vision, mission, and the
<br />combnzation of people and resonuces n1 the right positions. In addition to all of the new incredible potential for Minnesota
<br />programs, the many successful programs of the Freshwater Society will remain intact, Waters. The board did not ha~~e the
<br />and n1 fact, be strengthened. A good example of this will be the appeal that the required "super nr~jority" of votes to
<br />Freshwater Society's Minnesota Weathergi~ide Environment C~le~idar will have to the change our articles of incorporation to
<br />thousands of MLA and RCM members ... the calendar's target audience. The bottom become a nog-~~ 501(c)3 supporting
<br />line is that this merger brntigs together a nucleus of staff and board members, that organization to Minnesota Waters, su
<br />together, are nlcredibly nlclined to action and results. the Fresh-eater Society is ~-~~orking on a
<br />SYNERGY nlU!tl-year il1a118'Clnont agroeJllent t(lC
<br />1+1+1= 5 (or more!) The synergies in this combination of organizations are managing and expanding the programs
<br />plentiful, some of which will become fully apparent only after the groups join forces. of the three organizations while taking
<br />1ach organzation offers specific assets that, leveraged together, will make each advantage of ne~v opportunities that
<br />organization more effective. The Freshwater Societybrnzgs financial stability, reputation, ~~`~~~` come along as eve began ~-rork on
<br />staff, horizontal perspective, and programs. MLA brings a broad membership base, Joining fords.
<br />ro~rams, and committed staff. RCM brims membersli s no~ranns and ualit staff
<br />p ~
<br />~ p ~ p ~ ~ ~ y The Frosh~-valor Socicty looks
<br />°
<br />(as evidenced by being named 2004 non-profit organization of the year!). Together, forward to ~~~orkin~= as ,~i t of the ne~y
<br />° `' F `
<br />Minulesota Waters will truly be an "impact player" ntprovidnlg assistalue to water Minnesota Wafers organization to help
<br />resotuces, muclunore effective and nlfhtential than ~1y one of the organizations alone. achieve the new mission and goals that
<br /> hlV'C Cnel'gILC'd support thi'OUgh OUI'
<br />RELEVANCE state. ~ he mission and slues of the
<br />To stiuvive, the Freshwater Society must change and evolve. The old model of non- Freshwater Socicty avill be achieved and
<br />profits i11 Miluzesota has become outdated by the growing need by supporters, fiduciary responsibilities ~-~~ill be met.
<br />govenimental traits, and citizens for accountability and action. There are too many good proper governance ~-vill be practiced
<br />causes tryiltig to do good work for clealz water without a lot of money, resources, or through enhanced partnerships and
<br />vision. To be relevant n1 today's non-profit world, organizations must be coruzected at all i Ilianccs, incre~~sod board in~~o~~•ement,
<br />levels, have critical mass, be committed to action, and then deliver flawlessly on the plan. broader and more frequent
<br />
<br />IMPACT amununications, improved ttchnolug~',
<br />We must stay true to our mission. Change is difficult, but being content with the and stronger ad~~ocacv fur rational
<br />status quo is even harder. The vision of the Freshwater Society, established over 35 in~ana~~emont of water resi~urcos.
<br />years ago, was abonrt making a difference n1 Minnesota's water quality. The nnpact !~r'~' nwro information about the
<br />the new organization will make i11 just the first year alone would take years for each F"~°P~'sal to join forces ~-vith p.C[vl and
<br />organization to independently acMeve. In today's busi~less world, the focus is on f~1L;~, go to ~vw~,v.tresh~vater.org/
<br />accelerating impact and rehu71 on investment. The same focus certainly applies to inle';,e-temp.html. We ~~aluc your
<br />protecting and preserving our state's water resources. input! Cell Jim Hansen, 612-S89-7370;
<br />"
<br /> Todd Colin, 612-374-
<br />1200; ur Don
<br />INFLUENCE drauor, 952--171-9773, ur e-mail the
<br />Vlirulesota Waters can make a difference. The entity that's about to be created has the Fmsh~~~ater Sociot_v at: freshwater «'
<br />likelihood of beconning one of the biggest and most influential nonprofits i11 tl2e protection fresh~yater.org, or Bond a letter to
<br />and management of water resotuces ii1 Minulesota's listory. h1 the futnue, tlis decision to Freshw^ ter Society, 2500 Shad vwood
<br />join forces will be remembered as a pivotal point nl the road to action for the state's waters. Road, Excelsior, f~~iN 55301..
<br /> FACETS July 2005 ','.~.
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