Nominate a River Hero

2011 River Hero Nominations are due Feb. 4, 2011

River Network's River Heroes Award celebrates rivers and those who protect them by recognizing some of our victories and honoring those who provide us with leadership and inspiration along the way.

All too frequently, individuals and groups involved with natural resource conservation fail to celebrate their hard-won successes. Too often, important victories are allowed to be overshadowed by the next issue or threat. Challenges always lie ahead, but River Network wants to take time each year to celebrate the people who make our collective achievements possible.

The National River Heroes Award

To weave a celebratory thread throughout the watershed community, in 2001, River Network created The National River Heroes Award.

Eligibility

Open to any individual (board member, staff, volunteer or private citizen) who has successfully worked with a river conservation organization to improve a river and its watershed AND who over the years has made a sustained contribution to the conservation of the river. Please nominate only one person per application.

Criteria

The River Heroes Award will recognize individuals in the watershed movement who:

• Provide leadership
• Inspire the work of others
• Utilize innovative strategies and techniques to achieve significant results
• Foster the growth and sustainability of a watershed community
• Are able to give short speeches

Application Process/Deadline

Individuals associated with the River Network Partnership are eligible to submit nominations; nominees do NOT have to be River Network Partners. River Network employees and board members are not eligible to submit nominations or be nominated.

To nominate yourself or another individual for 2010, please return one completed copy of the NOMINATION FORM and 3 LETTERS OF SUPPORT postmarked on or before Friday, February 4, 2011. The letters of support should be representative of the community at-large. Please do not send any materials not requested on the nomination form as they will not be used in the decision-making process. If needed, please feel free to recreate the nomination form.

Completed application packets should be sent to:

National River Hero Nomination
River Network
520 SW 6th Avenue #1130
Portland, OR 97204

Please do not fax materials (as they generally don't copy well) and please do not send materials via express/overnight mail (there's no need, as we accept nominations based on the postmark, not the arrival day). If you have any questions regarding the process or deadline, please call Dawn at: (503) 542-8393.

Review Process

River Network staff will review all nominations. A panel representative of the watershed community will make final decisions. All nominators will be informed of the final decisions.

Awards

Award recipients will be honored during a celebratory banquet at River Network's River Rally (June 3-6, 2011 in North Charleston, SC). Honorees will receive a full scholarship to attend the River Rally, a plaque of commendation, acknowledgment on River Network's web page and in River Network publications, a 1-year River Network Partnership and additional gifts from River Network.