Okay, so it looks as though I should engage in a New Year's resolution to blog once a week. We'll see if I can be better at this in 2010 than I was in 2009. First off - a couple of new things happening with SORA! We have sent off our 501c3 application and are waiting to hear back from the feds on this. Keep your fingers crossed! What that does is allow us to go out on our own for grants and funding, without having to go through a fiscal agent. We are continuing to look for grants and funding that will allow us to both grow as an organization and to begin some of the research that is so badly needed with wild rice.
Secondly, mark the date: Friday and Saturday, August 13 and 14th, 2010! It may seem far away, but it will be here before we know it along with another season of ricing! Aug. 13 SORA will be hosting an education/outreach event around wild rice and wild rice harvesting in Bemidji, Minnesota. On Saturday, the 14th, SORA will hold its 2nd Annual Wild Rice Gathering. The agenda has not been set - but again, we will be in Bemidji this year and please stay tuned for more details as we move into spring.
On a final note - the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is looking to identify 'important' wild rice lakes with a goal of at least documenting the importance of these lakes to the general public and local decision makers. Currently there really is no list, as it were, that developers, county commissioners, etc. can access to know if a particular lake has wild rice growing on it. This would help in reducing some conflicts or at the very least, raise some questions when decisions are being made. Look for the rice list on SORA or check with a member of the DNR Interagency Wild Rice Work Group (SORA is a member).
Until next week, stay warm, close your eyes and remember the sound of ripe rice falling into the canoe!
annette
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