Alabama Smart Yards Program

There's a new publication available to lakefront property owners titled Alabama Smart Yards.  This publication was a team effort between the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association, the Alabama Master Gardeners Association, and the Auburn University Department of Horticulture.  Quoting the publication "Conservation and efficient, responsible use of our natural resources is the overriding concept and the educational goal of the Alabama Smart Yards (ASY) program. Participating in this process will save you time, energy, and money while preserving our natural heritage."  This 100-page publication details subjects such as landscape design, planting, watering, mulching, wildlife, pests, stormwater, and protecting waterfronts.  The publication was recently mentioned at one of our of our Rock Creek Watershed meetings and thought some WCSLAI members might like a copy.  We've ordered a 100 copies of the publication.  If you would like one give me a call at 489-5376, and I'll send it to you when they come in.

Next Clean-up - June 17 - 19 - Houston Rec Area

Please join us for the summer Renew Our Rivers clean-up on Smith Lake in Winston County. The target of the June 17 - 19 clean-up is loose styrofoam and litter which will be accepted at the Bankhead National Forest's Houston Recreation Area boat ramp. More details about the clean-up can be found on the flyer at the following link: http://www.aces.edu/~henshmd/temp/ROR_flyer2010_.pdf

Board meeting

Our board meeting May 10th was very productive, with discussions about our public meeting in April, signage, April clean-up, progress of the Rock Creek Watershed Management Plan, status of the Power Point Watershed program ,decision on location where to have the June 17th,18th and 19th clean-up,discussion of localized clean-ups, possibilities of having a bag for boaters to take with them, to put their trash in, and bring back to shore for disposal. Meeting was adjouned. Next board meeting Tuesday night, June 8th @ 6:30 P.M., Traders & Farmers Bank, Arley. Our Board Meetings open to the public.Do you have something you would like to bring to our attention,or just learn more about WCSLAI ,come be with us on June 8th.

2010 Board of Directors
Linda Atkinson
Larry Barkey
Bob Beatty
Sammy Boggan
David Brown
Kitty Chance
Mary Ann Crunk
Paul Gillette
Tom Grubbs
Burt Jones
Judy Lambert
LaVerne Matheson>

2 day clean-up

How did 33 adult and 4 youngster volunteers bring in 8.4 tons of Styrofoam and trash? Just take a look at some of the enclosed pictures and you'll understand!! Many of the volunteers came for both days and gave blood (yes, some cuts and bruises), sweat (even though the weather was perfect), and hopefully, only internal tears (because we hate to see our beautiful lake trashed by uncaring people).

That's 8.4 more tons of trash removed from Smith Lake in Winston County, thanks to the Renew Our Rivers initiative and a partnership with Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy, Inc.

TONS of thanks to our hard-working volunteers, and to our incredible friends, Jim and Shirley King and Sammy Boggan, who provided the site and the two forklifts, with Jim and Sammy doing the driving. Tarrie Hyche the dumpsters. You're all the greatest!!

Linda Atkinson, on behalf of
Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy, Inc.

next board meeting

Arley, Trader and Farmers Bank Monday May 10th @ 10:A.M.

Remember, odd date for meeting, is Monday May 10.
Agenda below. Minutes from previous meeting under separate email to follow.
See you at Arley Day!
Linda

Proposed Agenda
Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy, Inc.
May 10, 2010

1-Minutes of last meeting Judy
2- Treasurers report
3- Discussion of public meeting All
4-Progress of signage project Tom
5-Update on Rock Creek Watershed Management plans Mona &LaVerne
6-Discuss results of April clean-up All (37 volunteers, 8.4 tons, 1 dumpster full)
7-Planning 2-1/2 day clean-up June 17, 18, 19:
location, picnic, flyers, publication All
Status of sponsorships/t-shirts Allison
8-Bags for trash, distributed by WCSLAI Paul
9-Watershed yearly scholarship LaVerne
10-Report on success of watershed program @Winston County Natural Resources Field Day Mona & LaVerne
11-report on clean-up by local homeowners Burt

New business
Adjourn, schedule next meeting (1st Mondays?) All

open to public