Special Events Update Introducing the Mayfly Club: Our Next Generation of Watershed Stewards The Mayfly Club, a membership and volunteer group of young adults, is dedicated to raising awareness and support for the Stroud™ Water Research Center and the issues facing the world’s supply of fresh water. The Club was named for one of the most pollution-sensitive macroinvertebrates, the mayfly — of which there are approximately 2,000 species worldwide — because of its key role in alerting us to changes in water quality. Through a combination of social events and educational workshops, the Club seeks to raise awareness about freshwater issues, help fund the Center’s programs — and have fun doing both.

More and more, our news headlines are about water — and the issues that these stories raise are increasingly hard to ignore. Whether we’re talking about contamination, flooding or drought, many of us are asking what we, as individuals, can do to help address these problems.

“The good news,” said Billy Peelle, co-founder of the Mayfly Club, “is that by being informed, we can make small changes in our habits that will make a significant difference. And, that’s really what the Mayfly Club is all about.”

“Fresh water is a finite resource,” said Gayley Blaine, co-founder of the Mayfly Club. “I’m hoping that our efforts can encourage others to conserve water and protect our watersheds.”

There are simple and cost-effective ways to protect and improve the quality of our streams, which are the source of much of our drinking water. One of the most important is to restore trees along the banks. That’s why the Club will be getting together this fall to plant a streamside forest along the banks of a tributary of the Brandywine River in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Mayfly Club members share a passion for the environment and a commitment to watershed stewardship. If you’d like to join — or know someone who might be interested — membership is just $40 per year. In addition to receiving Upstream, our electronic newsletter, members also receive the Mayfly Club t-shirt and invitations to special Mayfly Club and Stroud Water Research Center events.

JOIN US AT THESE SPECIAL EVENTS

Don’t miss these upcoming events featuring Flip Nicklin, National Geographic contributing photographer. Meet the man whose 5,500 dives have brought him up close and personal with the largest mammals on earth — whales. And, take advantage of the special Mayfly Club member discounts.

October 2nd, 2008
The Water’s Edge
         “Whales, A Changing View”, featuring Flip Nicklin
         6:15pm Dinner & Lecture
         Longwood Gardens Pavilion
         Kennett Square, PA

October 3rd, 2008           
Cocktails with Flip Nicklin
         6:00pm The Harvard Club
         New York City, NY
        
Finally, we hope you’ll reserve the date for the Mayfly Club’s fall tree planting at the Abbott’s farm in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Bring your jeans, a shovel (if you have one), and some work gloves as we’ll be planting 500 trees to restore the streamside forest.

October 25th, 2008
Abbott Farm Tree Planting
    10:00am Start
    West Chester, PA
Brief remarks by Bernard Sweeney, Director of the Stroud Water Research Center.
Refreshments will be provided.

For information and reservations for any of these events, please contact Kay Dixon at 610-268-2153 X 247

To join the Mayfly Club, please send your check for $40 dollars, payable to the Stroud Water Research Center Mayfly Club, along with your name, address, telephone number and email address.

To see Flip Nicklin’s bio, go to:
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photographers/photographer-flip-nicklin.html

For information on either The Water’s Edge or the Harvard Club event, go to:
http://www.stroudcenter.org/calendar.htm#Waters_edge

Check out the Mayfly Club’s 6 Steps for Cleaner Streams and 6 Steps to Water Conservation.

For more information on streamside forests and their benefits:
http://www.stroudcenter.org/research/riparianbuffer.htm

Back to Summer 2008 Upstream Newsletter

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