Celebrate Our Rivers With Us

Check out our Calendar for more information on all of our activities.

For more information on our celebrations, click here to send the Riverkeeper an e-mail (Riverkeeper@winyahrivers.org) or call 843-349-4007.

UPCOMING CELEBRATIONS

Waccamaw Conference and River Roast South Benefit - Saturday, February 4th

Come to one or both of:

2012 Waccamaw Conference

"Growing Green"

River Friendly Solutions for Homeowners & Communities

8:00am-12:30pm

Waccamaw Higher Education Center in Litchfield Beach

$10pp includes hot breakfast buffet

Call the Riverkeeper at 843-349-4007 to register for the Waccamaw Conference.  Pay at the door (cash, check, credit card).

River Roast South

Sponsored by Litchfield Beach Fish House

All you can eat oyster roast (& southern buffet items)

Beer from New South Brewing Company

Wine

1:00pm - 3:30pm

Kimbel Lodge at Hobcaw Barony

Riverkeeper members $25pp

Advance purchase for non-members $30pp

$35pp at door

PAST CELEBRATIONS

River Celebration - A Benefit for the Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER® Program - Saturday, September 24th, 2011.

The members and supporters of Winyah Rivers Foundation met on the banks of the Waccamaw River in historic downtown Conway for our annual River Celebration, a benefit for the Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER®, on Saturday, September 24th.

This year our event included a fun afternoon event by the Lower River Warehouse. Local craftspeople sold handmade jewelry, painted gourds, and wooden duck decoys. Children participated in the creation of a paper mosaic of the Waccamaw River, courtesy of the Burroughs and Chapin Art Museum. Chicken bog and Pepsi products, generously donated by Donzelle's Restaurant and Pepsi Bottling Ventures respectively, were available for purchase as were RIVERKEEPER® tee shirts, posters and miscellaneous items. The Spots, a local bluegrass band, providing the music resulting in a festival-like atmosphere until the black clouds appeared.

Meanwhile, Frank Eaton and his merry band of Yakkity Yakers organized the participants for our Inaugural Bridge to Bridge Canoe and Kayak Race. The rain delayed the start of the race but did not dampen the spirits of the competitors. Meanwhile, while we waited for a break in the rain, Captain Jim took spectators on a history and nature tour into Kingston Lake on his eco-friendly electric boat. When the rain finally did let up, our paddlers took to the water in a spirited race to claim prizes in various categories. The picture below says it all!

The evening event inside the Burroughs Company's Lower River Warehouse was enchanting as this historic warehouse was transformed with lights, flowers, furniture loaned from Coastal Carolina University Theatre and silent auction items that included awesome art works, bountiful baskets, striking sculpture, gorgeous gems and extraordinary events. Our guests enjoyed heavy hors d'oeuvres prepared by Murrells Inlet Seafood, beer donated by California Dreaming, wine donated by volunteers, and live entertainment with the lovely local singer/musician Lola and supplemented with the musical stylings of Sarah Wellons. A magical evening by the Waccamaw River!

This event was sponsored by local individuals and businesses to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude. These individuals/businesses help support of the education and advocacy programs of the Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER® Program of Winyah Rivers Foundation and our fight for fishable, swimmable, drinkable water for our community.

Don't miss next year's event, scheduled for Saturday, November 10th, 2012. It is sure to be even better!

Waccamaw Conference and River Roast South Benefit - another successful event

2011 Waccamaw Conference - Thank you to all our wonderful speakers, exhibitors and attendees for participating at the 2011 Waccamaw Conference! The event, held on Saturday, February 19th, from 8am to 12:30 pm, at the Waccamaw Higher Education Center in Litchfield Beach, focused on A Decade of Protecting Our Rivers and included the following speakers:

Christine Ellis, Waccamaw Riverkeeper - Welcome, Opening Comments and Closing Comments

Amy Armstrong, South Carolina Environmental Law Project, and Chris DeScherer, Southern Environmental Law Center, speaking about Legal Victories for Environmental Protection

Kelly Muench, Coastal Carolina University, and Ben Powell, Clemson Cooperative Extension, speaking about Educating Our Citizens

Staci Williams, American Rivers, Van Whitehead, PeeDee Land Trust, and Maria Whitehead, The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina, speaking about Protecting Our Land Susan Libes, Coastal Carolina University, and April Turner, SC Sea Grant Consortium, speaking about Protecting Our Water

In addition, local conservation organizations exhibited at the conference.

Thanks to all who participated in this community education event hosted by the Waccamaw Riverkeeper and Sierra Club - Winyah Group.

River Roast South Benefit - Following the Waccamaw Conference, supporters of Winyah Rivers Foundation and the Waccamaw Riverkeeper Program, enjoyed oysters, southern buffet items and iced tea from Litchfield Beach Fish House, beer from New South Brewing Company, and wine on a warm and sunny day at beautiful Hobcaw Barony! Thanks to Bob Mimms, owner of Litchfield Beach Fish House, Dave Epstein of New South Brewing Company and supporters for this wonderful outdoor event!

Celebrate Our Rivers @ Ripley's on Saturday, November 6th was a great success. Special thanks go to:

Our Sponsors (click here for sponsor poster):

Host Sponsor - Ripley's Aquarium

Advocate for the River - Anonymous

Guardians of the River - Hal & Alice Vivian of Murrells Inlet; Center of Obstetrics & Gynecology, LLC; Conway Medical Center; Vaught Eye Associates, P.A.

Protectors of the River - Carolina Radiology Associates, LLC; Crabtree Nursery & Landscaping; Osprey Marina & Grill; Palmetto Chevrolet

Our wonderful donors, companies and private individuals, too many to name, who helped to make our Silent Auction one of the best ever!

Our hardworking volunteers who put a lot of effort into organizing such a wonderful event!

And, last but not least, to everyone who joined us at the event to Celebrate Our Rivers.

On behalf of Winyah Rivers Foundation and the Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER® Program, we thank each and every one of you for your support of Celebrate Our Rivers @ Ripley's and of our mission to protect, preserve, monitor and revitalize the health of the lands and waters of the greater Winyah Bay watershed.

In addition to our fundraisers, our work is supported through membership, donations, and grants.

Membership: Click here to learn more about membership and its rewards.

Donations: We gratefully accept donations of money and/or services in kind. Interested? Click here to send the Riverkeeper an e-mail (wrk@coastal.edu) or call 843-349-4007.

 

Fundraisers: We hold a number of fundraisers throughout the year and rely on our event sponsors and donors to support our ongoing education and advocacy programs. If you or your company is interested in sponsoring, or donating to, our fundraising events, click here to send the Riverkeeper an e-mail (wrk@coastal.edu) or call 843-349-4007.

Grants:: We are grateful for the support of our current grantors including:

The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation for our Waccamaw River Blue Trail Project partnership with American Rivers and Pee Dee Land Trust.

The Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation for its support of our work in Georgetown County.

Coastal Carolina University, through funding provided by the Stormwater Departments of the City of Conway, Horry County and Georgetown County, for our Waccamaw River Volunteer Monitoring Program partnership.

Celebrate Our Rivers!