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President’s Message

A Look Back on Forty Years of Conservation

and Community Activities

            

             I am very pleased that at our annual meeting this year several of our presenters will be some of the founding members of the Octoraro Watershed Association.  It is always interesting to look at where you have come from.  There was a mission when the organization was founded, and at a recent retreat held by the Board of OWA we agreed it was again time to look at our mission statement to see if it is still appropriate to meet today’s needs.  A lot can change in 40 years but I think we will find that the overall mission, although somewhat more complex today, will include many of the same ideas.

                 It is also important to look at our history to see how far we have come.  A sense of accomplishment is important to any organization.  In recent months OWA has begun to foster a fledgling watershed organization, “The Friends of Fishing Creek.”  With OWA’s 40 years of experience we can feel proud and confident in helping this or any new watershed organization get started, offering advice as to what has worked and what has not.  Another interesting aspect of our work today is a countywide group formed through the Lancaster County Conservation District that will give all watershed groups a chance to share ideas and allow better networking for funding.  We have these opportunities because of better communication abilities that were not available 40 years ago.  OWA looks forward to partnering with this group and sharing the many successes that have worked for our association.

                 Finally we must salute and honor former members of the association and those that chose to serve on the Board of Directors.  Without their dedication and visions we would not be celebrating a 40 year anniversary.  An organization is only as strong as its members and those that chose to serve.  As new members come into the association they learn from existing members what we are about.  And so is true for the Board members who serve the membership. 

                 I encourage you all to learn what you can during the celebration of 40 great years.  Take that knowledge and share it with others that live and thrive within the watershed and encourage your neighbors or co-workers to become members.  Perhaps you would like to serve on the Board of Directors and take a more active role in the association’s day to day operations.  Remember what we do with water can have a lasting affect and there is always somebody or some thing downstream.

I look forward to seeing you all at the annual meeting!

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