It was great to see so many new faces at the Semi-Annual Meeting in Memphis last spring. New people are vital to the growth of this organization. They bring energy, fresh ideas, new perspectives and they allow the organization to carry on its mission into the future. That’s why it is so important for our more experienced members to reach out and connect with new members. Take time to share the history of the organization, answer questions and act as a resource.

At each national meeting, we hold a new member orientation. The session is usually led by a past pilot and it’s the perfect way for new members - or anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the MRPC - to become better acquainted with our organization and its history, technical committees and strategic plan.

See you in Red Wing, MN, for the Annual Meeting, September 25-26.

This year’s geocaching contest, organized through the Marketing Committee, takes a fun and exciting new twist this year. For participants to qualify for this year’s contest drawing, they must find caches in at least three Mississippi River states. The MRPC caches are considered “featured caches” on the website, but any cache in any county along the Great River Road can be used to qualify for the drawing. That opens up a tremendous number of caches and really helps to showcase the outstanding geocaching opportunities that exist along the Great River Road. Last year’s geocaching contest was very successful and the sport of geocaching continues to grow in popularity. Continuing our geocaching contest helps the MRPC to reach out to this diverse and active group of outdoor enthusiasts who love to travel and explore.

Find more information on the Great River Road Geocaching Event 2009

2009 Annual Meeting — September 25 & 26, Red Wing, Minnesota. Explore this beautiful river town, selected as one of the 2008 Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and named one of the Top Historic Destinations in the World by National Geographic Traveler Magazine. Meeting highlights include a scenic boat tour and a picnic on the Mississippi River. Choose from four outstanding mobile workshop choices: a tour of the National Eagle Center, a trolley tour of historic Red Wing, a trip to a breathtaking bluff-top orchard, or a bus or bike tour of 22 historic properties along the Great River Road. Don’t miss this exciting Annual Meeting. Early-bird registration deadline is September 4. Hotel registration deadline is August 13. Get your registration in today.

Arkansas Wins Award – The Arkansas MRPC received the Arkansas Delta Byways Award for Tourism Person of the Year for the 70th Anniversary geocaching project. The award was given at the annual Delta Byways Banquet on May 29. Congratulations to the Arkansas MRPC.

Garland Hayes and the General – Commissioner Hayes Reports Earlier this year, I received an invitation from the Army Corps of Engineers to join Brigadier General Michael Walsh, President of the Mississippi River Commission and others on board the Motor Vessel Mississippi for an annual high water inspection trip. General Walsh is also Mississippi Valley Division Commander of the USACE. I have been invited on this trip before, but have declined. This time, I decided to go.

Three days before departure, I received a call from a Corps secretary telling me I was invited to join the General for lunch, and to wait at the dining hall door for a waiter to escort me to the General's table. I told the young lady that I was not interested in chowing down with the General. We argued. She won.

At lunch, I seized the opportunity to explain the purpose, work and accomplishments of the MRPC. The General talked about the importance of interaction between the MRC/USACE and organizations like the MRPC. I was surprised at his interest in the MRPC interpretive centers. He was very familiar with the centers in Dubuque and Tunica. The General told me that The Corps and Mississippi River Commission want to work with the MRPC whenever possible.

Also on the inspection trip was Sam Angel, a Mississippi River Commissioner since 1979. This gave me another opportunity to thank Mr. Angel for his generous gift of the Lakeport Antebellum Plantation home to Arkansas State University. The restored home is now one of Arkansas's most beautiful and newest interpretive centers.

The MRPC Endowment Fund — Learn more about how you can help sustain efforts to preserve, promote and enhance the Great River Road and the Mississippi River Corridor for generations to come. Download the Endowment brochure.

On a sad note, John Wood, a MRPC commissioner representing the Minnesota Historical Society passed away in early June. More information on John's contributions will be included in the next enewsletter.

Great River Road Focus of Travel Blog — A writer for the San Francisco based website SF Gate has been chronicling her family’s long summer trip down the Great River Road on her widely-read daily blog, 'The Mommy Files'. This is an interesting form of viral or word-of-mouth advertising, which offers an enormous potential for reaching a young target audience. Read the blog.

Latest Mississippi River Country E-newsletter — See the June edition of the e-newsletter.

Meeting Reminders
Annual Meeting - Hotel reservation deadline – August 13
Annual Meeting - Early bird registration deadline – September 4
Annual Meeting in Red Wing, MN - September 25 & 26

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines
Deadline for Submitting State Annual Reports - July 27. Click here.
Deadline for Nominations for Distinguished Service Award - July 27
Deadline for Nominations for Interpretive Centers - August 1.
Deadline for Nominations Honorary Membership - August 25.

Other River-Related Organization Meetings
Visions of a Sustainable Mississippi River - August 10-13 in Collinsville, Illinois. Learn more.

Please contact the national office with information for future enewsletters.