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	A Personal Perspective on Your Board of Directors by Carl Grobe, WRWA Board Member As I look back on my nearly four years as a member of the Board of Directors of the WRWA, I feel a sense of both privilege and pride to have been involved in such an outstanding organization. And, in case this reflection is misinterpreted as a farewell message, let me stress that I hope to have many more, equally rewarding years in the future. As members, we each have our reasons for supporting the WRWA. Some of us have dedicated additional time to our organization and have become members of our Board of Directors. Each of us on the Board brings a unique perspective to the Association. Personally, serving as a member of the Board has been a rewarding experience. I had never heard of the WRWA when I first moved to Westfield in 1998. In October of that year, I noticed an announcement in the newspaper seeking volunteers for an Annual River Cleanup. I decided to spend my Saturday morning helping to remove debris and trash from the River. And, to my pleased surprise, my young son decided to come along. This was my first contact with the WRWA, and it led me to join the organization as a member. Some time later, a member of the Board of Directors spoke with me and mentioned that there was an opening on the Board. I began attending monthly meetings of the Board as a guest. I was impressed and a little overwhelmed by the expertise and commitment of the Board members. Soon, I decided that I would like to join the Board. I was very pleased to be recommended and subsequently elected to the board the following June. Ironically, one of the activities in which I have been most actively involved is the Annual River Cleanup. I not only spend that Saturday in October dragging trash out of the river (I am delighted to report that my son has been a volunteer each year as well), I also coordinate the trash pickup by the DPW, acquire donations of cleanup supplies, and drum up as many volunteers as possible to assist with the effort. Although I take the lead in organizing and coordinating this effort, I get plenty of valuable help from other members of the board with publicity, recruiting, and donations. In addition, most of the board members turn out to get a little bit dirty and a little bit sweaty for the benefit of our beautiful River. This past October, over 100 of you generously donated your time and toil. Coordinating this effort has been extremely satisfying, partly because this is one of our most public activities. I have also involved myself in our annual River Symposium held at Westfield State College (upcoming on March 29; see the article by Kathy Meyer in this issue). The Symposium is a fabulous compilation of educational displays, field trips, speakers, and people. Particularly if you have not yet attended one of these events, I urge you to join us this year to learn more about the River and the Watershed that is such a vital and beautiful part of our local environment. There are many other activities in which your Board members are involved. Some of these activities attract public attention, while others are less visible. Our Newsletter, our Canoe Cruise, the River Cleanup, the Annual Dinner, the River Symposium, sponsored lectures and educational activities, salmon stocking, and educational activities in local schools are just a few of the more visible activities pursued by the WRWA and supported by your membership contributions. Coordinating and encouraging local conservation efforts, working with similar organizations, sharing information with government agencies, maintaining contacts and lines of communication with government officials, studying environmental issues that may impact our Watershed, supporting land conservation and trails projects, assisting with biodiversity surveys, and assisting in the maintenance and operation of local fishways are some of the less publicized activities in which our board members have participated on a regular basis. So what is it like to be a member of the WRWA Board of Directors? We meet monthly through most of the year. These meetings generally take place on the fourth Monday of each month. In addition, we have a yearly "planning meeting" during a Saturday in January. Our year begins and ends at our Annual Meeting, which is a dinner meeting for our entire membership. Members of the Board are elected at this meeting, awards are presented, and a scintillating speaker complements the fine food and conversation. Most of the members of our Board function as members of one of three standing committees. These committees (Education, Membership, and Stewardship) allow our directors to focus on particular issues that are of specific interest to each of us. Our Board meetings are open to members of the WRWA. If you are interested in attending a meeting, contact one of the Board members listed in this Newsletter. We are also continuously looking for volunteer members to help us with a variety of activities from fundraising to mailings. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Mike Young, our president. I hope that, as a member of the Board of Directors of your organization, I will be able to continue to help guide the WRWA in directions that will directly benefit our Watershed and our members, both present and future. I hope to meet you at the Symposium in March, the River Cleanup in October, and our other events throughout the year. Thank you for supporting the WRWA through your dues, volunteer assistance, and by reading this Newsletter.