Finishing The Week

The Waterkeeper Alliance Annual Meeting was held on the fourth and final day of the conference. Highlights from the last year were shared; new projects were announced – including our new esri partnership that benefits all Waterkeeper members; the bylaws were ratified by the membership; and the Waterkeeper Council election results were announced. Later in the day, more breakout sessions were held on the impacts of pollution on fisheries, media training, PFAS and microplastics, and how best to respond to harmful algal blooms. 

Several days of learning and reconnecting culminated on Saturday night where we celebrated the amazing accomplishments of our fellow Waterkeepers at the Terry Backer Awards Banquet. This award acknowledges the legacy of the late Terry Backer, the original Long Island Soundkeeper, by honoring individuals who exemplify his grit, tenacity, and effectiveness. Nominated and selected by their Waterkeeper peers, the 2022 winners were Rodrigo de la O of Maule Itata Coastkeeper in Chile, Kathy Phillips of Assateague Coastkeeper, and John Wathen of Hurricane Creekkeeper. 

Introduced by Tijuana Waterkeeper Margarita Diaz, Rodrigo was recognized for being a leader and community builder who works against the odds to defend his local waterways, including helping to stop a power plant and industrial salmon farming projects in Chile as well as standing strong against large real estate companies that would have destroyed a pristine area in Los Arcos de Calan. Kathy Phillips was introduced by Betsy Nicholas from Waterkeepers Chesapeake for her tireless commitment as a water defender and mentor. Betsy reflected on Kathy’s ability as a trusted community advocate who deftly navigated both sides of an issue. As an outspoken advocate against CAFOs, Kathy was often called upon by those same farmers in their time of need. Now retired, Kathy has passed her legacy to the next generation of Waterkeepers, but will always remain an integral part of the movement. Similarly, John Wathen, who dubbed himself a “gray beard,” encouraged younger Waterkeepers to benefit from the knowledge of those who have come before them so that together, we can carry on this important work for generations to come. Although not able to join us in person, John accepted his award by video, following a special introduction by his friend and Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper, Mike Mullen.
 
We also recognized our 2020 winners who had received their awards virtually. Although not with us in person, Marc Yaggi shared a bit of Kenya Lake Victoria Waterkeeper Leo Akwany’s indomitable spirit as a gifted facilitator who mentors, trains, and mobilizes a strong movement of more than 5000 advocates to conserve Lake Victoria wetlands and its waters. Known in the East Kali region as Nadiputr or “Son of Rivers,” Raman Kant of Hindon River Waterkeeper and the former East Kali River Waterkeeper in India, was given the opportunity to accept his award in-person for his work to initiate and restore the health and flow of the East Kali River. Each honoree exemplified and shared a personal reflection of what Terry and the award meant to them. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.  

We were moved in a different way with special musical performances by former West Rhode Riverkeeper, Jeff Holland and the Crush Funk Brass Band. Jeff opened the program with fun originals on the impacts of PFAS in water bodies and led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to our very own Waterkeeper Alliance President Gloria Reuben. The local Crush Funk Brass Band treated Waterkeepers to a taste of their multi-genre style with an “Urban Capital City modern pop-fun twist” that had every attendee up out of their seat dancing the night away. 

That’s a wrap! Wishing our Waterkeepers a safe trip home to their corners of the world with thoughts of our next time together in 2024!