Thank you for your efforts and for bringing Clearwater’s message to your friends, family and community! Remember: if you know someone that isn’t able to join Team Clearwater for the 5 Boro Bike Tour this year, let them know they can still support Clearwater’s mission by donating  to your efforts or by creating their own fundraising pages via the options listed below!

And for those of you who already registered through Bike NY as a general rider, but still want to be a Team Clearwater member… just follow the instructions below and those who raise more than $250 by April 2, will get the Team Clearwater jersey for the ride. You must send an email with your name, phone number and t-shirt size to bike@clearwater.org, so we can put you on the auxiliary roster and keep track of your progress.

Now we can help you get started with your fundraising.

The most important thing to remember is that as a 501(c)3 non-profit, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Inc. is required by the IRS to write a letter of acknowledgement for every donation, so please follow these instructions carefully.

The first step, of course,  is to spread the word!  Simply send an email around to your friends and family telling them about your participation in the 5 Boro Bike Tour on Team Clearwater.  Here are some points you may want to highlight:

• Our team will be riding 42 miles through New York’s five boros, traffic-free, as a part of Bike New York’s TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour. We will be joining 30,000 cyclists for the largest recreational cycling event in America.
• All proceeds from this event go to support the historic Hudson River Sloop Clearwater and her critically-acclaimed environmental education programs.
• The 108-foot tall sloop serves as a floating classroom to give over 15,000 students each year a hands-on experience with the science, history and culture of the Hudson River. For more information, please visit www.clearwater.org
• You can use the per mile breakdown below for ideas, but we welcome any amount you can give.

Once they’ve decided to support you, there are a couple of ways to go about securing their donation:

1) Download this form and attach in an email to your supporters.   They can pay by credit card or check, but MUST FILL OUT THE FORM in both cases. Checks must be made payable to Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. Then they can either print and mail, print and fax or email the form and payment into our office (see below address). Or they can send the form and donation back to you and you may send all your sponsor forms (and accompanying payments) in at once.

Send to: bike@clearwater.org
or
HRS Clearwater Inc.
724 Wolcott Ave.
Beacon, NY 12508
Attn: Ann
Fax: 845-831-2821

Bear in mind: whether they send in their payment and form or you do, at least $500 must be in to us by April 16th, 2010, or your credit card will be charged for the amount of shortfall.  Be sure and remind them that it is important to fill out the form accurately.

2) There are a number of online services which allow you to set up a secure page where your friends and family can donate using their credit card while completing the appropriate information we need.

Firstgiving – http://www.firstgiving.com

• Choose “make your page” and designate Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. as your non-profit of choice.
• Choose “Sporting” as your chosen event and then choose “Cycling” from the drop down box.
• Go through the secure set up system and enter in the requested information. It will ask you to identify your event and the date– if the Bike Tour doesn’t come up, don’t worry! Keep going through the simple steps and edit your page details, once firstgiving.com allows you to do so. You can spice up your page as much (or as little) as you’d like!
• Send the link that firstgiving.com emails to you out to your family, friends, coworkers, etc. Post the available widget on your social networking sites (facebook.com, myspace.com, etc.) and on your blogs to get the word out– the more people that know, the more money you raise!
• Your family, friends and co-workers can also go to www.firstgiving.com and search your name, thereby bringing up your page. Then they can donate!

Again, let family, friends and co-workers know that even if they can’t join us riding that day, they can still be  a part of the action by creating a page for themselves, as listed above, and by spreading the word to everyone they know. The more support Team Clearwater gets, the more success our mission will see!

We’re looking for a media officer for whom clear and compelling writing comes naturally and who believes strongly in the importance of our mission to protect and preserve the Hudson River.  The Communications Director works directly with all department heads. 

The position is based at Clearwater’s main office at 724 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY 12508.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify and develop media outreach opportunities that advance the organization and our programs;
• Develop organizational media work plans;
• Work with program staff on media strategies;
• Cultivate alternative and mainstream media relationships in strategic markets;
• Identify story ideas and events and pitch them to reporters;
• Assist program staff in relationship building with strategic media outlets/reporters;
• Respond to media requests and arrange interviews for program staff and spokespeople;
• Conduct interviews with media and represent Clearwater at public events where appropriate;
• Create press lists and maintain up-to-date media contact database;
• Monitor media coverage on core issues and program targets;
• Organize press briefings, media alerts and other PR events;
• Write, design and produce various PR materials including press releases, media advisories, op-eds, letters to the editor, talking points, etc.;
• Conduct target and market specific media research as necessary to support program objectives;
• Create and/or copy-edit material for publications, web site and electronic newsletters; annual report
• Monitor Clearwater publications and messaging for consistency and accuracy;
• Provide media trainings to staff and allies;
• Assist in the preparation and production of development materials (annual report, event publications, etc.)

· Web oversight, writing and design

· Grant oversight, writing and support  

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum three years experience in journalism, public relations, or a related communications field.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Ability to draft documents under tight deadlines.
• Solid copy-editing skills, strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work closely and constructively with others.
• Good organizational skills, demonstrated initiative, flexibility and creativity.
• Passion for the environment

· Grantwriting and management experience

· Graphic design skills

· Website management skills (writing and design) 

Please email cover letter and resume (no hard copies, please) to: 

larson@clearwater.org

Please put “Communications Director” in the subject field.

BEFORE

AFTER

And while the futtocks were being churned out, another single, but oh so crucial, piece of timber was measured, cut and skillfully installed – and with no small amount of team effort. Though we thankfully discovered the stem itself to be in great shape, the “stem knee”, the piece that connects the stem to the keel, was ready to go. So Captain Nick and Master shipwright Jim Kricker picked the perfect piece of lumber and got to work. Straight forward to create, yet complicated to remove and install, this key piece of the puzzle got the attention it deserved and a shiny new stem knee now graces the interior bow of the Sloop.

Doesn'l look like much, but it takes a truck to hoist this piece!

And all that was on display for the hardy souls who came out to our February potluckand open boat on Saturday. While the office in Beacon looked like this…

2-3ft.of snow covered everything in Beacon

Saugerties only saw some slushy rain, and more than thirty-five supporters visited us at Lynch’s for a hearty potluck feast and the jumping bluegrass tunes of Rich Hines and the Hillbilly Drifters. The jam session carried on into the night as ever, and we warmed up a chilly winter day with good food and good friends and another successful open boat party.

If you couldn’t make it up to the boat on Saturday but are curious as to what goes on up there, look for more photos in the Sloop’s photo gallery. Also, check back at the website for information on our next Open Boat & Family Day in March. It’s an exciting time up in Saugerties this year and we’re thrilled to share it with you!

**Despite the inclement weather, the Captain and Crew welcomed many visitors to the workshop and Sloop and we are so grateful to those who braved the elements and came out to support us!!! And that includes the rockin’ sounds of Rich Hines and the Hillbilly Drifters!**

Open Boat and Family Day Potluck Party

Saturday, February 27

1:00 PM to 6:00 PM

At Lynch’s Marina

2 Ferry Street, Saugerties NY

The shipwrights and crew are hard at work

and we want to share it with you!

Bring your family and friends to see the Sloop restoration work in action.

• It is a rare opportunity to see Clearwater out of the water and in all her glory.

• The Captains and crew will be giving guided tours of the worksite.

• Refreshments will be available, but, as always, bring your favorite dish for the potluck.

• Enjoy live music with members of the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association, and bring your own instrument for the afternoon jam session.

Please visit our website at www.clearwater.org for more information or just click here to RSVP.

And remember, it will be cold at Lynch’s Marina in January, so please dress warmly.

Can’t come? Don’t worry, just check back at our website for our March open boat and our Spring Launch party.