Currents November 2017

Did you know that the Great Lakes are the biggest freshwater source in the world? Lake Erie is the most productive for fishing of all the Great Lakes. Your support helps make our streams clean, clear and healthy so they can support this complex ecosystem. By donating to PCS, you help us reach our goals of restoring rivers that lead to Lake Erie beaches that promote fishable and swimmable conditions for generations.

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November

GivingTuesdayNWOYou’ve heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but what about Giving Tuesday? #GivingTuesdayNWO is a way to spread your generosity to local nonprofits. On Tuesday, November 28th, every dollar donated to Partners for Clean Streams on this day will be matched through a grant program with the Toledo Community Foundation. For more information about this program, click on the #GivingTuesdayNWO icon. You will be able to donate through our website or by check (dated Nov. 28th), but your donation will be matched only on this day! As a local nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of our donors to ensure that our projects and programs remain viable and that we are able to fulfill our mission of bringing environmental outreach to the community. If you are willing to support PCS, please make sure that you mark this day on your calendar so we can maximize your donation. Thank you for being a partner for clean water.

PiechartAnother successful Clean Your Streams Day! We have compiled all the data cards and tabulated exactly how much trash and debris the 910 volunteers removed from the waterways. This year, there were 69 cleanup sites along the riverbank and one canoe crew, covering 25.57 miles around the greater metropolitan Toledo area. These volunteers worked hard to gather 910 bags of trash equaling 23,789 pounds along with 94 tires! The top ten items found this year were: food wrappers (6910), plastic beverage bottles (5545), cigarette butts (4218), foam pieces (3955), plastic pieces (3807), plastic grocery bags (3338), beverage cans (2618), glass pieces (2348), foam cups and plates (2138), and other plastic bags (2058). The data cards help us to track trends and changes in what is being found in our community each year. This information is then submitted to the International Coastal Conservancy TIDES database, so they can compile the data worldwide. The goal is to be able to effect policy and public change on a local, regional, national, and international scale to help reduce specifically what is being found in our waterways. As society moves towards more single-use plastic containers, they inadvertently end up as litter in the streams as evidenced by all the plastic material found during Clean Your Streams Day. All of our volunteers did an amazing job at reducing the amount of trash in nearby streams and rivers and we hope the information they collected will reduce the need for Clean Your Streams programs in future. CYS is one way in which we can conserve and protect our water bodies for the future. Thanks again to all of our volunteers, planning committee members, and sponsors for making this day possible!

AnnualProgramsPartners for Clean Streams has several programs available throughout the year. Missed Clean Your Streams Day or want to do it again? Make your own Clean Your Streams Day with our CYS 365 program. We will provide the supplies and data cards for any group interested in cleaning a specific site, any day of the year. Our Reel-in-and-Recycle program provides fishing line bins to parks and private property owners to allow fishermen to properly dispose of their used line. You can Host-a-Bin, Sponsor-a-Bin, or Adopt-a-bin today to help us keep fishing line out of the water and away from wildlife. Get the Lead Out is another waterway conservation program that centers on the removal of fishing line, lead, and lures from the riverbank. Is education more your thing? Each Spring, PCS presents a Youth Patch Day program in which participating Boy and Girl Scout troops can receive a patch for various water-related activities. Following Patch Day, volunteers can participate in our Storm Drain Marking program that encourages responsible use of our community’s storm drains through marking and education. Educational outreach programs allow us to promote our mission of increasing awareness and community stewardship.

These programs are all made possible by volunteers and donations from people like you. If you would like to support PCS and our annual programs, please consider several options for doing so. Become a member and receive updates on our events and much more. Volunteer to participate in our several programs and do your part for the environment and your community. Or, donate to support the continuation of programs, such as Clean Your Streams Day and Get the Lead Out. As a local non-profit, all your donations will go towards ensuring that these programs remain sustainable and available.

bassproIt’s the most wonderful time of the year … to wrap presents with us at Bass Pro Shops! PCS will be at Bass Pro in Rossford during the holiday season to help shoppers gift wrap purchases for a small donation. All money raised will go directly to supporting our programs. But we need your help to make this event merry and bright! We are scheduled to participate at various times throughout December including: Friday 12/1 from 5-9pm, Saturday 12/2 from 5-8:30pm, Sunday 12/10 from 10-2pm, and Tuesday 12/19 from 5-9pm. If you are able to join us on any of these dates, please call our office (419) 874-0727 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we can schedule you as a volunteer. You do not have to be a “pro” to wrap presents. This is a great way to get into the holiday spirit and donate your time for a good cause!

 

 

potbellyGive back by enjoying a great sandwich? That’s right! On Wednesday, November 29th, dine in at Potbelly Restaurant in Toledo and 15% of all proceeds will benefit Partners for Clean Streams. Come in from 5 to 9 at the Potbelly at 4038 Talmadge Road and your meal will help support our programs. So, help Give Water a Hand and get yourself a sandwich!

AGMThis year, PCS will be hosting its 2017 Annual General Meeting on Thursday, December 14th from 6-8pm.  It will be held at the Fallen Timbers Battlefield Rental Facility, Toledo Metroparks, 4949 Jerome Road in Maumee, OH 43537.  All Challenge Awards winners from Clean Your Streams Day, PCS partners, and Board Members are invited for a light dinner, slideshow presentation, and an Awards Ceremony. We will review the programs from the past year and present a summary of our work throughout 2017. We will recognize a Clean Streams Partner and our Challenge Award winners from Clean Your Streams Day! There will also be a Board Election so if you are interested in serving on the Board, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. We look forward to this annual event to share what we do and to acknowledge the partners that make our work possible. If you received an invitation by email or snail mail, please RSVP so we know you will be joining us at the Annual General Meeting!

Currents: November 2017


Your donation, no matter how small, can make a huge difference in the long run. Every penny goes a long way in protecting your water.
 

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Terry Shankland
President of the Board
Private Citizen

Andrew Curran
Vice President
Assistant Scout Executive,
Boy Scouts of America

Colleen Dooley
Treasurer
Attorney, Private Practice

Kyle Spicer
Secretary
Private Citizen

Deanna Bobak
Board Member
Private Citizen

Denise Fonner
Board Member
Private Citizen

Jeff Gibbs
Board Member
Private Citizen

Joan King
Board Member
Private Citizen

Chris Smalley
Board Member
Park Services Supervisor
Metroparks of the Toledo Area

Patrick Lawrence, Ph.D.
Past President of Board (non-voting)
Associate Dean, College of Arts & Letters
University of Toledo

Partners for Clean Streams Inc. is striving for abundant open space and a high quality natural environment; adequate floodwater storage capacities and flourishing wildlife; stakeholders who take local ownership in their resources; and rivers, streams and lakes that are clean, clear and safe