Tag Archives: PR

About WWALS River Revue on The Spotlight Show, Talk92.1 FM 2023-09-14

Update 2023-09-15: Last call for tickets for WWALS River Revue, on Talk 92.1 FM 2023-09-18.

Join us on The Spotlight Show on talk921.com at 6 PM, Thursday, September 14, 2023.

Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman and “Diamond” Jim Halter will talk about the WWALS River Revue sit-down fundraising dinner, with cash bar, silent auction, and new songs in the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, all 6-10 PM, Friday, September 22, 2023, at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, Georgia.

Tickets are available only online in advance, by Monday, September 18th:
https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/

[The Spotlight Show, WWALS River Revue]
The Spotlight Show, WWALS River Revue

On the radio, we will talk about some of what WWALS does that this fundraiser supports, including water trails, paddle outings including bats on Banks Lake, and cleanups, including chainsaw cleanups. Continue reading

Radio: water quality, cows, trash, mining too near the Okefenokee Swamp @ WKUB FM 2023-09-07

Update 2023-09-13: About WWALS River Revue on The Spotlight Show, Talk92.1 FM 2023-09-14.

How WWALS water quality testing discovered cow manure was contaminating the Withlacoochee River and got it (mostly) fixed.

About that titanium dioxide strip mine proposed too near the Okefenokee Swamp, plus trash and water trails.

Thanks to Bryan Blount for inviting me on WKUB 105.1 FM, from Pierce County, Georgia.

This is Part 2. See also Part 1 about the WWALS River Revue sit-down fundraising dinner, with three speakers, silent auction, and the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, all 6-10 PM, Friday, September 22, 2023, at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, Georgia.

Tickets are available online only here:
https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/

[Suwannee Riverkeeper against a strip mine too near the Okefenokee Swamp, on WKUB FM 2023-09-07]
Suwannee Riverkeeper against a strip mine too near the Okefenokee Swamp, on WKUB FM 2023-09-07

For more Continue reading

WWALS River Revue on WKUB 105.1 FM 2023-09-06

Update 2023-09-10: Radio: water quality, cows, trash, mining too near the Okefenokee Swamp @ WKUB FM 2023-09-07.

Thanks to Bryan Blount for inviting me on WKUB 105.1 FM, from Pierce County, Georgia, to talk about the WWALS River Revue, a sit-down-dinner fundraiser, with three speakers, silent auction, and the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, all 6-10 PM, Friday, September 22, 2023, at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, Georgia.

Tickets are available online only here:
https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/

[WWALS River Revue and WKUB 105.1 FM]
WWALS River Revue and WKUB 105.1 FM

Bryan says he’s broadcasting on low power due to Hurricane Idalia, so maybe a few more people will hear the interview this way.

Here’s the 30-second Public Service Announcement he’s been playing by our headliner Katherine Ball:

Y’all come! Continue reading

Where to get flyers for WWALS River Revue 2023-08-25

You may have heard WWALS is having its first-ever sit-down fundraising dinner, Friday, September 22, 2023, at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, Georgia, including speakers, a silent auction, a kayak raffle, and the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.

WWALS members who want to distribute flyers can get printable PDFs online here:
https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2023/

Or you can get paper copies at two locations this Friday and Monday.

[Water quality test kit, Suwannee River State Park, Madison Blue Spring]
Water quality test kit, Suwannee River State Park, Madison Blue Spring

  • Friday, August 25, 2023, WWALS E.D. Gretchen Quarterman will be doing water quality testing training at Suwannee River State Park, 3631 201st Path, Live Oak, FL 32060. She’ll be at Pavilion 3 from 9 AM to 3 PM.
  • Monday, August 28, 2023, you can join Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman to help stop FDEP from drawing down our springs, at the Alachua County Headquarters Library, Meeting Room A, 401 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601. The meeting starts at 11 AM, and will probably run at least an hour. I’ll leave some flyers at the library, as well.

Bonus: Monday, August 28, 2023, come to the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission meeting, at 5:30 PM, in the Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office, 325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia.

Or call or write and we may be able to deliver.
850-290-2350
wwalswatershed@gmail.com

Oh, and don’t forget to get your tickets and come on down to the WWALS River Revue:
https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/

Maybe you or your organization want to be a sponsor. Follow the link for the sponsor package.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

Ten Songwriters in Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in WWALS River Revue

Update 2023-09-06: WWALS River Revue on WKUB 105.1 FM 2023-09-06

Hahira, GA, August 16, 2023 — All ten songs were so good we couldn’t decide, so we accepted them all as finalists. We’ve got six songwriters from Florida, three from Georgia, and one from Tennessee. Genres range from easy-listening pop to a mining protest chant. Come hear them at the Finals of the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, 6-10 PM, Friday evening, September 22, 2023, at the Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta, Georgia. Also enjoy a catered sit-down meal, speakers, a silent auction, and a kayak raffle.

[WWALS River Revue Flyer 2023]
WWALS River Revue Flyer 2023
PDF

“Traditionally we extend the song submission deadline twice, but we didn’t need to this time,” said longtime organizing committee member and new WWALS Board member Scotti Jay.

Follow this link for tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and more:

https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/

WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman said, “Your ticket or sponsorship helps support everything WWALS does, from water quality tests, paddle outings and swimming & boating lessons, to chainsaw cleanups, and beyond to advocacy to stop trash at its sources, strip mines, and pipelines. We work for water trails, solar power, and the Right to Clean Water, with growing engagement for youth and marginalized communities.”

“We’re gonna rock the autumn equinox,” said organizing committee chair and WWALS President Sara Jay Jones. “Thanks to our sponsors so far: Georgia Power, Brooksco Dairy, Landis International, Michael Smith, Clyde Butcher Gallery, Great Dame, Georgia Beer Company, Azalea City Woman’s Club, Agri-Supply, Olympia Bend Shooting Range, and Jack’s Chophouse. You, too, can be a sponsor!”

These are the ten songwriter finalists, in alphabetical order, with a bit they wrote about themselves: Continue reading

PSA and flyer for WWALS River Revue: come hear speakers and ten finalists in the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest

Update 2023-09-16: Ten Songwriters in Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in WWALS River Revue.

Thanks to all the ten songwriters who sent in songs, and the ten sponsors (so far), as well as the two speakers.

Please see the attached flyer, and we hope you will play the attached Public Service Announcement.

[WWALS River Revue Flyer 2023]
WWALS River Revue Flyer 2023
PDF

Tickets are available online in advance only:
https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/

Follow the same link for how to become a sponsor.

Contact: John S. Quarterman
Suwannee Riverkeeper
song@suwanneeriverkeeper.org
850-290-2350

===

Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle in Lanier County Advocate 2023-08-01

Thanks to “friendly, bubbly” Meredith Crosby for leading this outing, to Rebecca Galardo for reporting on it, to Tony Galardo for taking her out in the Lanier EMA boat to do that, thanks to James Barnes, Lanier County Code Enforcement, for unlocking the boats, and thanks to Lanier County for letting WWALS rent the boats to paddlers for free.

[WWALS Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle in Lanier County Advocate]
WWALS Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle in Lanier County Advocate

Plus of course thanks to everyone who paddled on the Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle, 2023-08-01. The next full moon paddle is at the end of August: Banks Lake Full Blue Supermoon Paddle 2023-08-30.

For more WWALS outings, see:
https://wwals.net/outings

Rebecca Galardo, Lanier County Advocate, Banks Lake paddling event held August 1, Continue reading

Song submission extension and Headliner for Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in WWALS River Revue

Update 2023-08-13: PSA and flyer for WWALS River Revue: come hear speakers and ten finalists in the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest

Hahira, GA, August 3, 2023 — We’ve got some songs, but we want more, so the organizing committee has extended the deadline another week for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, to August 9, 2023. And we have a headliner, Katherine Ball.

[Trimmed Songwriting Flyer 2023]
PDF

“Submissions can be songs about any river, stream, spring, sink, swamp, lake, or pond in the Suwannee River Basin or Estuary (except not the Santa Fe Basin; that has its own contest),” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman. “For those selected as finalists, in September the three judges will award the First Prize of $300, with $50 prizes for Best Song from Within the Suwannee River Basin and Best Song from Without, as well as plaques for Best Song in each genre.”

Here’s the entry form:
https://forms.gle/ZPbfnnLj5ruum5xk6

“Thanks to Katie for playing for us all,” said WWALS President Sara Jay Jones. “We’re gonna rock the Autumn Equinox.”

Katherine Ball is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and elemental artist bringing serenity and surrealism to the stage.

Continue reading

Last Day to send in your song for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in WWALS River Revue 2023-08-02

Songwriters, you can still send in your song today:
https://forms.gle/gxPja2ywz7TmEm9F9

If you get into the Finals, the judges will decide in the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in the WWALS River Revue at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, GA, 6-10 PM, Friday, September 22, 2023. The judges are Joe Smothers from Lowndes County, Georgia, Anna Stange from Madison County, Florida, and Tony Buzella from Columbia County, Florida.

[Songwriting Flyer 2023]
Songwriting Flyer 2023
PDF

“I’m very pleased to welcome Joe Smothers and Tony Buzella back again, plus new judge Anna Stange,” said WWALS President Sara Jay Jones. “We’re gonna rock the Autumn Equinox.”

Thanks to our sponsors so far, Brooksco Dairy, Landis International, Michael Smith, Georgia Beer Company, Azalea City Womans Club, Agri-Supply, and Georgia Power. You, too, can be a sponsor!
https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/

For more about the Contest the WWALS Revue, and WWALS, see:
https://wwals.net/?p=62712

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

Judges announced for Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in WWALS River Revue

Update 2023-08-03: Song submission extension and Headliner for Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in WWALS River Revue

Hahira, GA, July 27, 2023 — The judges for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in the WWALS River Revue are Joe Smothers from Lowndes County, Georgia, Anna Stange from Madison County, Florida, and Tony Buzella from Columbia County, Florida. Joe and Tony have judged before; Anna is new to this Contest.

“I’m very pleased to welcome Joe Smothers and Tony Buzella back again, plus new judge Anna Stange,” said WWALS President Sara Jay Jones. “We’re gonna rock the Autumn Equinox.”

[Songwriting Flyer 2023]
Songwriting Flyer 2023
PDF

Judge Joe Smothers is from Reidsville, NC, lives in Valdosta, and often plays The Salty Snapper, with a second home in Cortez, FL, with his wife Murphy. Joe’s mom Betty purchased a Stella guitar at the local pawn shop when he was thirteen. Born in the Piedmont area of North Carolina in 1950, he toured with his teenage inspiration, the legendary Doc Watson, and played on more than a dozen albums with him. Joe has performed at every Merle Fest (31) and was asked to perform at Doc’s funeral. Joe toured extensively with Jack Lawrence as a supporting act for John Prine, Leo Kottke and Emmylou Harris, to name a few. He has released two albums: These Things I Know, and ‘Terpretations. His song “The Three Buglers” — a mix of fiction and history on Taps — won him a first place at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS, in 2007.

“We are excited to see and hear the talented songwriters and discuss future water protection goals,” said new organizing committee member Matt Prentice.

Judge Anna Stange moved to Madison, Continue reading