Volunteering:  A Capital Honor

The effort to establish the San Joaquin River Parkway has its roots in community volunteers. This week, about 250 river volunteers attended an annual gathering  the Trust hosts to express our appreciation of their efforts, celebrate our successes and to take stock of what's ahead.  It was a great time to be with friends that share a common cause and serve on behalf of the community.

One of our volunteers and board members, George Folsom, recently received national recognition for his dedication to the San Joaquin, the Presidential Award for Volunteer Service, presented to him by EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson and Congressman Radanovich. George received the award for his volunteer leadership at the Trust as well as his service as board president for another non-profit, Revive the San Joaquin.

There are many opportunities to help us create and protect the San Joaquin River Parkway.  To find out more about volunteering, please click here. Thank you for joining the cause.

Save the Date!

Respite by the River FREE

August 16, 2007 - 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Tonight, Aris Janigian will read from his novel Bloodvine, and its sequel due out in 2008. Aris Janigian is a second-generation Armenian-American, born in Fresno. Bloodvine was a finalist for the William Saroyan International Prize for writing. It will surely be a special experience.

September 20, 2007 - 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

David Mas Masumoto will debut his new book Heirlooms: Letters from a Peach Farmer with his daughter Nikiko.

Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy on the River Center lawn while dinner music plays in the background from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. You can even order a dinner online from Bentley's Fresh Market and pick it up on your way to the River Center for a truly relaxing experience. Readings will begin at 7:00 pm. After the reading, book signing opportunities and delectable desserts, provided by Bentley's Fresh Market, will be available.

Please call 433-3190 ext. 3# for more information about Respite by the River.

Pancake Breakfast at the River Center

Mark your calendars! Our next pancake breakfast will be held on Sunday, August 19. The grill heats up at 8:00 am and the last pancakes will be flipped around 10:30 am. Meals are $5 each and include pancakes, sausage and juice. Proceeds benefit education programs at the Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies (River Center).  

Sunday, September 9, 2007 - 9:30 am

Brought back by popular demand, author Mark Arax will repeat last year's sold-out bus trip to the areas discussed in his book, The King of California. Mark and retired cotton farmer Mark Grewal will provide tales of the southerner J.G. Boswell who, chased out by the boll weevil, came to California's Central Valley a century ago and created an empire, becoming the biggest farmer in America. Included on your tour is lunch at a local favorite café, and in the afternoon, relax with that staple of the old Dixie, the Mint Julep. All transportation is included.

$100 for Trust Members, $110 for Non-Members.

Return of the Salmon

Saturday, September 22, 2007 - 5:00 pm

Listen to an expert discuss the prospect of resurrecting the San Joaquin River to its former glory and restoration of the salmon runs of old. Savor a delightful dinner of baked salmon served with wine, stroll the Mallory/Harmsen water garden, and relax with friends of the River. It's a celebration!

$75 for Trust Members, $83 for Non-Members.

Bridge Binge

Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 12:30 pm

Calling all bridge aficionados. Spend an afternoon in the cool of a beautiful California adobe hacienda. Your hostess, Judy Hecht, invites you to a binge of bridge playing that will include 1 club for lunch, 2 hearts for dessert and 7 no trump's worth of fun. You won't regret indulging yourself for a delightful afternoon. All levels invited.

$40 for Trust Members, $44 for Non-Members.

Internship Opportunity-Bilingual Canoe Program

Do you know a student between the ages of 16 and 20 who is bilingual, likes traveling and the outdoors and is good with people? We are offering bilingual, mature-teen students a special opportunity to develop skills in canoeing, public relations, and natural interpretation through our educational and recreational canoe program.

This exciting new internship opportunity is designed to extend our popular river tour program to the Spanish speaking communities of the Central Valley, while providing a quality learning experience for students.

Participants will enjoy the wonders of our full-day river tour, and will spend some learning time with experienced language advisors and naturalists at the River Center, where they will design and develop a 5-10 minute bilingual interpretative presentation on a selected topic of the San Joaquin River. The internship will culminate in a bilingual half-day river trip where interns will share their achievements with a special group of family, friends and guests (limit 2 free guests per intern).

Applicant Requirements

Between the ages of 16 - 20, completed the 11^th grade

Fluent in English and Spanish (or 3 years minimum instruction in both reading and writing)

• Interest in aquatics, recreation, local field biology, natural history and social sciences
• Attendance at 7 training sessions (dates, times and location to be announced)
• Participants will be selected through an application and interview process

Applications due by Friday, August 31

For more information and applications please contact