Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
Doc. #2009-
Program Committee (formerly Outreach Committee)
June 1-August 31, 2009
(Ed Harwood, Chair; Roxy Johnston, Rebecca Ruggles, Judy Pipher)

Since meetings/telecons are no longer scheduled, this report of the Program Committee is developed from reports from each committee member on their activities.

Judy completed writing to all past Lakefest display participants in June, informing them that the Lakefest would not be held this year, and thanking them for their past support. Response has been uniformly one of surprise because past participants thought it had been an excellent opportunity to educate the public. She continued to update the website, and upon Ronda Fessenden’s suggestion, incorporated a large ad for “Sunset on Cayuga”, the Watershed Network's first annual fund-raising dinner in September, on the home page. She worked with Bryan Bates of AWP to insert an events Paypal button on the webpage and received instructions as to how it can be modified for future events. Judy is helping Hilary with communication details of the organization such as the listserv. She also gathered several large items and several smaller items as auction items and/or doorprize gifts.

Judy helped vet e-mail lists developed by the office interns, and reviewed the Weeds pamphlet. She alerted Deb and John in Hilary’s absence to a possible grant opportunity with a rapidly approaching deadline.

Rebecca and Roxy have organized the traveling road show “Ups and Downs of Cayuga Lake” with Bill Kappel, a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, discussing seasonal variations of water levels. Thirty-five people couldn't get enough of this talk June 25, 2009 at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. They learned why the level of Cayuga Lake waters fluctuate throughout the year, as well as what and who controls the changes in lake levels and why. This program was jointly sponsored by the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network and the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization. This lecture will be repeated at various locales around the lake. On August 27, 6pm at the at the History Center in Ithaca, the History Center co-sponsored the same talk with the Watershed Network, and hosted it at their August History Cafe. The presentation is in conjunction with The History Center’s current exhibit, Out Upon Cayuga’sWaters: 100 Years of Life on the Lake (on view June 16th through October, 2009) and 90 people attended.

Rebecca wrote an article outlining Bill’s June talk. Roxy arranged for IO co-sponsorship. Hilary, Roxy, Judy, others mobilized communications and postings on websites for the June presentation. Roxy is Bill Kappel’s “road manager” for the traveling road show. Other dates not yet firmed up, but expect October and next April will be scheduled.

Roxy has agreed to give one of 3 addresses at the Watershed Network’s Fall conference on Phosphorus in October.