We heart River Rally

Wondering why you should attend the National River Rally? Read what past participants have said. And believe us, we couldn't make this stuff up!

"This was a wonderful experience I won't want to miss in the future. I'll be fighting with my colleagues to see who gets to attend next year."

"The event is truly key to the advances in the river/watershed conservation movement. The work that we all do is greatly strengthened."

"Rally is the only place I leave feeling like I've sung Kumbaya without that awkward feeling had I actually sung Kumbaya."

"How could we not benefit from Rally?!? Since then [2006 Rally], we've rebuilt our board of directors, implemented fundraising strategies and much more - all thanks to Rally. All of this growth and success is a direct benefit of our attendance at Rally. (And if we haven't said it enough already - Thank you, River Network)"

"A wonderful, rejuvenating experience! Rally affords tremendous opportunity for shared learning, networking and momentum building. It's terrific to return to the home watershed with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and lots of great ideas."

"As valuable as the information is during the sessions, being able to speak with people one-on-one provides saves us steps and mis-steps. One of the most amazing things about Rally is how exciting, involved, and knowledgeable the participants are. Everyone there has a program, answer, idea, or suggestion that is useful and valuable to our organization."

"I work alone much of the time on a watershed that is far too big for me. Often, I struggle with maintaining a positive attitude and avoiding burnout. Meeting hundreds of other "river people" allowed me to re-focus on my work and be confident that my friends were doing their part, so all I had to do was mine."

"What was the most useful in terms of knowledge gathering and networking was a combination of workshops and meeting peers from across the nation. It's a lovely and amazing opportunity to get quality education from the diverse selections of workshops and to be able to expand my existing network tenfold."

"I just wanted to send a note thanking you all for another Rally experience this year. It was wonderful, of course. This year was my third at Rally and I had the opportunity to attend with my two interns. For each of us it was a tremendous opportunity to learn and share and gain insight from our peers in wetter parts of the country. While we in the southwest are short on water in our creeks and rivers, we are filled with passion for protecting them. River Network and Rally help feed this passion each year."

"I have been to several conferences but this was my first River Rally. It was far and away the most informative and well organized conference I've attended."

"This was the best Rally ever! I really appreciated the extended networking time between Rally sessions. I got so much information, ideas, and inspiration from informal conversations with Rally participants. The networking is invaluable!"

"As a new Executive Director, I wasn't sure if I should take the time to come to a conference with so many other urgent things on my plate. But, I'm THRILLED I made the decision to come to River Rally. The sessions were wonderfully helpful and the networking was great! I'll definitely try to come back next year!"

"The River Rally is excellent first-time exposure for any company engaged in services that protect river resources."

"I have not missed a Rally since my first at Skamania in 2003. I hope I never miss one. I come away personally and professionally recharged and with new knowledge, fresh ideas and blossoming friendships. Rally is invaluable to me! Where else does one's personal and professional lives collide with such purpose and promise?"

"A great event! Well organized. It offers the opportunity to meet river and stream enthusiasts from across the country."

"I cannot imagine not attending River Rally. The knowledge gained and friendships made over the past 3 years have changed my life for the better. I am eternally grateful for the efforts of River Network and its partners and I am proud to be a conscious river steward."

"The Rally is always a terrific venue for me to meet face-to-face with a huge number of folks from my member organizations. For me this is the most valuable experience I get out of attending Rally..."

"I go to many educational and environmental conferences and this was in the top 5 for sure."

"The River Hero and Jim Compton Awards were again the highlight of the inspirational experience. The expanded networking was also super valuable - thanks for keeping Rally fluid and allowing for us to learn from one another."