Friends of the Illinois River Cica 2007-2008

This was the former website of the Friends of the Illinois River, a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving the natural resources of the Illinois River and its watershed. Content is from the site's 2007-2008 archived pages.

While I was rebuilding this website with 2007-2008 archived content after recently purchasing the domain, I was reminiscing about the year 2008. As folks were cleaning up the banks of the Illinois River during their annual Illinois River Sweep, folks along the eastern seaboard of the US, including myself, were cleaning up after Hurricane Hanna. The phones of companies who offered emergency water damage restoration in New York City were "ringing off their hooks." What I really needed though was an oriental carpet cleaning NYC emergency service. I should know since my cousin owns such a company offering efficient, professional and affordable oriental rug restoration company serving the New York Metro Area. He's always telling me that my shoreline 2nd home is a potential disaster. Since everything in the path of the water including furniture and other household items, walls, and floors can become quickly saturate, damage starts within minutes. Having a coastal house is crazy he tells me. Well, when Hanna hit in 2008 and then Sandy in 2011 all his predictions came true. And since we couldn't return to the house for several days after the hurricanes move through, we couldn't even start a recovery which in turn causes dramatic increases in cost and time for removal and repairs since extensive contaminated material replacement and structural rebuilding may become necessary. Fortunately in Hurricane Hanna's case the damage was minimal. I can't say that was the case with Sandy. What the Friends of the Illinois River does each Fall is certainly admirable. So I applaud you with rescuing your old site from the attic of un-renewed domain registration.

If you have just arbitrarily come across this site and are interested in contributing to the Friends of the Illinois River please visit therm at their current website, go to:www.friendsoftheillinoisriver.com/ or visit their Facebook page at:www.facebook.com/FriendsOfTheIllinoisRiver/.

Friends of the Illinois River have once again assembled a dynamic and energetic group of River Sweep Captains and with your help, Illinois River Sweep 2008 will be an enormous success. Thank you in advance for your generosity. If a monetary contribution is not possible at this time, please consider coming out and participating in Sweep.

 

Our Goals -

• Enhance local awareness of issues directly related to the Illinois River.
• Increase public awareness of the historical, cultural, and natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities along the Illinois River.
• Protect and enhance native plant and animal communities.
• Encourage economic development compatible with the mission statement of the Friends of the Illinois River.

 

The Annual Illinois River Sweep

The Sweep is an annual event that cleans up the Illinois River and it's tributaries on the third Saturday in September - Make plans now to join us in September, 2008 for our 8th Annual Illinois River Sweep. We are ever so grateful to the volunteers. Without them, the sweep would not be possible. But along with the Volunteers, below is a list of Our Friends who help us each and every year with donations and their time that truly makes the Illinois River Sweep the success that it is today. To them we say, thank you! We ask you to visit their website and learn what our friends do and how they help us keep our Illinois River clean. We have some exciting news for our 2008 sweep - MoonAtMidnight, the online Batman apparel shop will be providing our Batman themed t shirts and promo campaign. This is the hands down worldwide favorite outlet for all the most stylish Batman apparel we know of and we are honored to have them onboard. So volunteer, tell your friends, be Batman for a day and help us make the waterfront a better, cleaner, and healthier place. Make Batman proud and fly his flag while doing a good deed - he would definitely approve.

EXCITING NEWS!!!!!!!

We would like to share some changes and challenges with our members. As you are aware, the Friends of the Illinois River (FOIR) is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving, enhancing, and promoting the cultural and natural resources of the Illinois River and its watershed. We have solicited memberships annually; however, this past year, the Board of Directors has decided to waive membership fees in hopes that we can begin to grow our list of “Friends” by simply asking that you sign up to support Friends of the Illinois River right here on our website. We appreciate the support you have given us in the past and hope that you will remain a part of our organization.

Since 1999, FOIR has been coordinating a statewide effort to beautify and raise awareness of one of the most unique resources in the Midwest. Illinois River Sweep is an annual event in which thousands of citizens from Lemont to Grafton assemble for a day of volunteer action to protect and celebrate our river and natural heritage. Next September, 2008, will mark the eight year of Illinois River Sweep, an effort that has drawn over 8,000 volunteers to our river’s shore since its inception. Enclosed is a review of Illinois River Sweep 2007.

JOIN ILLINOIS RIVER SWEEP
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2007
REGISTER ON-LINE!