Take a look around the SORA website next week. Kim Lancaster from Webworks Creative is our web designer/manager and has done a wonderful job with the site. One of the new additions to the website is a 'comments' box where people can leave a comment or ask a question. Check it out and check back often to respond to comments or questions left on SORA.
Some of you may remember that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources initiated some Wild Rice meetings last spring in conjunction with some of the changes in regards to regulations and management. That large group now has smaller subgroups includeing Regulation (made up of tribal and state Conservation Officers and others interested in regs); Management (state, tribal and some national folks); and finally, Education and Outreach. I am chair of the Education and Outreach committee and we will be holding a meeting in a couple of weeks to set up goals and identify our mission as an advisory group (although I'm not sure we have official "advisory" status - unclear). Anyway, please feel free to send ideas or comments in regards to education and outreach that you might like to see developed for the future. LET ME BE CLEAR: I am not aware that we have ANY money available, at this point we may just be looking at what priorities SHOULD be if money becomes available and WHO might be involved (tribal, state, SORA, feds, etc.).
That's all for now, stay safe if you are venturing into the woods this weekend for deer!
Annette
Friday, November 6, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Introduction
Greetings!
I'm wandering into this blog thing just as I wandered into the wild rice - a goal in mind, but few clues on how to get there! SORA Serenade is an attempt to hold myself accountable to those who have committed time and interest to the development of a wild rice conservation organization (SORA). Here you will find weekly updates and thoughts on the journey of webbing together people and resources for the conservation of natural wild rice (Zizania palustris). Follow along, offer suggestions or suggest connections that help us to strengthen our ability to expand understanding of this declining natural resource of the Upper Great Lakes Region (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario [CA] and Michigan).
SORA update 1 - We are coming to the end of our initial two-year grant from the National Forest Foundation. To date we've created a website (www.saveourrice.org), developed a display and facilitated our first official SORA gathering (August 1, 2009). As SORA Director I am also participating in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Wild Rice Education and Outreach committee. We are in the process of identifying both short and long term goals for this committee, your input is always welcome (adrewes@saveourrice.org). Prior to the SORA gathering we also established our first official Board - check out the SORA website to see who they are and what they do!
Looking ahead - SORA is eligible for a second round grant from the National Forest Foundation. We will be putting together a work plan and budget to be submitted for review by the end of the year. In addition, National Geographic Conservation Trust grants are available and we will be looking at those to potentially fund a research project. Global climate change and changes in harvesting patterns make us question whether or not wild rice lakes are seeing a shift to earlier ripening dates. Partnering with long-time harvesters we hope to develop an historical landscape perspective of wild rice ripening built on lake specific data from individual harvesters. Other grant opportunites are being sought for development of education and outreach materials, particularly involving collaboration with other agencies/organizations.
Until next week...stay warm and if you don't know what a Sora is (hint: its a bird) check it out through Cornell's "All about birds!" website (www.allaboutbirds.org).
annette
I'm wandering into this blog thing just as I wandered into the wild rice - a goal in mind, but few clues on how to get there! SORA Serenade is an attempt to hold myself accountable to those who have committed time and interest to the development of a wild rice conservation organization (SORA). Here you will find weekly updates and thoughts on the journey of webbing together people and resources for the conservation of natural wild rice (Zizania palustris). Follow along, offer suggestions or suggest connections that help us to strengthen our ability to expand understanding of this declining natural resource of the Upper Great Lakes Region (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario [CA] and Michigan).
SORA update 1 - We are coming to the end of our initial two-year grant from the National Forest Foundation. To date we've created a website (www.saveourrice.org), developed a display and facilitated our first official SORA gathering (August 1, 2009). As SORA Director I am also participating in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Wild Rice Education and Outreach committee. We are in the process of identifying both short and long term goals for this committee, your input is always welcome (adrewes@saveourrice.org). Prior to the SORA gathering we also established our first official Board - check out the SORA website to see who they are and what they do!
Looking ahead - SORA is eligible for a second round grant from the National Forest Foundation. We will be putting together a work plan and budget to be submitted for review by the end of the year. In addition, National Geographic Conservation Trust grants are available and we will be looking at those to potentially fund a research project. Global climate change and changes in harvesting patterns make us question whether or not wild rice lakes are seeing a shift to earlier ripening dates. Partnering with long-time harvesters we hope to develop an historical landscape perspective of wild rice ripening built on lake specific data from individual harvesters. Other grant opportunites are being sought for development of education and outreach materials, particularly involving collaboration with other agencies/organizations.
Until next week...stay warm and if you don't know what a Sora is (hint: its a bird) check it out through Cornell's "All about birds!" website (www.allaboutbirds.org).
annette
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