SORA update

Greetings!

March is almost over and the SORA Serenade has been quiet too long. The SORA Board met on Saturday, March 6 at Brewed Awakenings in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Here are the highlights from that meeting:

- Planning is beginning for the annual gathering Aug. 13 and 14, 2010 in Bemidji
> Aug. 13 is an Education Event at Diamond Point Park followed by a harvester Social
> Aug. 14 is the annual gathering, co-hosted by the Bemidji State University Biology Department and SORA

- Our National Forest Foundation grant has expired and we are hoping to get a continuation grant

- Change in mission statement to clarify our purpose for grant applications. New: The mission of SORA is to integrate science, community and education for the conservation and sustainability of native wild rice ecosystems.

- Much discussion on potential activities and projects. Look for the complete minutes on the website in the near future.

SORA is still waiting to hear about its 501c3 non-profit status application. Soon, we hope. That will allow us to start accepting donations and to move forward with grant applications. We are working on an LCCMR grant right now involving the development of a citizen/harvester monitoring program and a harvester recruitment and retention program. Stay tuned! We are currently grantless - but looking and working toward several other funding opportunities.

As I mentioned in my very first post, way back in October, this blog 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(attempted) 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). Contact me at adrewes@saveourrice.org with news from your region, information and event items.