<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV><STRONG>News and Upcoming Events Feb 9th to 23</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>News</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>City of Guelph lists dangers to drinking water</DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/594388">http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/594388</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Bottled Water Spending Act, 2009 is a bill to make Ontario the first province to restrict bottled water</DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.polarisinstitute.org/new_bill_to_make_ontario_first_province_to_restrict_bottled_water">http://www.polarisinstitute.org/new_bill_to_make_ontario_first_province_to_restrict_bottled_water</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>CARP SUMMIT at the <SPAN>White House</SPAN></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV>The Obama administration scheduled a summit for February 8 to discuss the Asian carp crisis with Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn. The 2:30 p.m. meeting, closed to the public, will include Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Learn more about the Great Lake Carp Crisis here: <A href="http://www.onearth.org/article/asian-carp-crisis-deepens-243">http://www.onearth.org/article/asian-carp-crisis-deepens-243</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Human Overpopulation and Extinction: Learn the facts, see the link and spread the word.</DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/overpopulation/index.html">http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/overpopulation/index.html</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Environmental Group plans to sue EPA for 400 pesticides that impact over 800 species.</DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/center/articles/2010/los-angeles-times-01-29-2010.html">http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/center/articles/2010/los-angeles-times-01-29-2010.html</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The MOE is looking for public feedback in regards to new Source Water Protection strategies in Ontario.. You can give comments on the Ontario Environmental Registry until March 25th. Here's the link: </DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTA4NjQ1&statusId=MTYzMTY1&language=en">http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTA4NjQ1&statusId=MTYzMTY1&language=en</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"><FONT face="">The January/February issue of GRCA's Grand Actions is available to view on line here: </FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=""><A href="http://www.grandriver.ca/GrandStrategy/2010_janfeb_grandactions.pdf">http://www.grandriver.ca/GrandStrategy/2010_janfeb_grandactions.pdf</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"></SPAN> </DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT color=#7f003f><STRONG>Help for Haiti: Max on your donations!</STRONG> </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"><STRONG><FONT color=#7f003f>If you want to donate to Haiti, the Canadian government will match all donations until Feb 10th so if your thinking of donating, <SPAN>now's</SPAN> the time!</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"></SPAN> </DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"></SPAN> </DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"><STRONG><FONT color=#000000 size=4>Upcoming Events</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"></SPAN> </DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"><STRONG><FONT color=#000000>Thursday Feb 11</FONT> </STRONG></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"></SPAN><STRONG>GRCA Committee of the Whole</STRONG> will begin at 9:30am at GRCA head office located at 400 Clyde Road in Cambridge. Agenda, Reports and Minutes on line here:</FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><A href="http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=13&Sub1=62&Sub2=0"><FONT size=2>http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=13&Sub1=62&Sub2=0</FONT></A></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 9px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 9px; FONT-SIZE: 1.2em"> </DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 9px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 9px; FONT-SIZE: 1.2em"><FONT size=2>Feb 12 to 15th: </FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 9px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 9px; FONT-SIZE: 1.2em"><FONT size=2><STRONG>Join the Great Backyard Bird Count! </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 9px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 9px; FONT-SIZE: 1.2em"><FONT size=2>Bird Studies Canada are the Canadian partner for the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. Anyone can participate, from beginners to experts. You can count for as little as 15 minutes on a single day, or for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy – and it helps the birds! </FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 9px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 9px; FONT-SIZE: 1.2em"><FONT size=2>Just counting the birds at a </FONT><FONT size=2>location near you, tallying the highest number of birds of each species seen together at once, and filling out an on line checklist. As the count progresses, you can visit the GBBC website to view results and share photographs. Visit here for more info: <A href="http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/">http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/</A> Spread the word! </FONT></DIV><FONT size=2>
<DIV>Saturday Feb. 13</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Worms Eat My Compost!</STRONG> <BR>1-3pm, Little City Farm, 508 Duke St W, Kitchener</DIV>
<DIV>Learn what it takes to farm your own worms, to turn your kitchen compost into wonderful soil! Participants take home worms and instructions to start a vermicomposting system. With Jeff Kitchen, of Transition KW - Cost: $25. For more info see <A href="http://www.littlecityfarm.ca/">www.littlecityfarm.ca</A> or call 519-575-9174</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT>
<DIV>Saturday Feb. 13</DIV>
<DIV><B>Overwintering Bald Eagles Along the Grand</B> <BR>With group leaders Josh Shea and Jason Bracey for bald eagle monitoring session outdoors; refreshments and informal discussion about bald eagles, the monitoring project and significance of eagles along the river at rare Administrative Centre; $10, rare event discount card holder $5; 7:45 a.m.; dress in warm clothing; register by Feb. 11, 519-650-9336, meet at rare Administrative Centre, 1679 Blair Rd., Cambridge/Galt</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Friday Feb.19</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><STRONG>A Swift Decline: Conserving Chimney Swifts in Ontario</STRONG> <BR>With Hazel Wheeler, bird studies Canada, project biologist; chimney swift now a threatened species in Canada; providing overview of Ontario SwiftWatch, its links to chimney swift recovery strategies and current challenges to the bird's conservation; $5, rare event discount card holder free; 7 to 8:15 p.m.; register by Feb. 17, 519-650-9336, rare, 1679 Blair Rd., Cambridge/Galt </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Friday Feb 19</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>2009 Edna Staebler Research Fellow Lecture</STRONG> <BR>Lecture by Edna Staebler research fellow, Christopher Yordy; topic: from pioneering stewardship to green enterprise: Mennonite farming and agricultural sustainability in Waterloo Region; cash donations supporting the fellowship received in lieu of an admission charge; 7:30 p.m.; call to reserve, 519-742-7752, Joseph Schneider Haus, 466 Queen St. S., Kitchener</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Monday Feb 22</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>K-W Field Naturalists</STRONG> <BR>Bob Newbery, nature photographer and longtime member of club, presenting slide show of local wild flowers that we can observe through the seasons of the year; 7:30 p.m., Wing 404/Rotary Centre, Dutton Drive, Waterloo</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Tuesday Feb 23</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><STRONG>The Threat of Gravel Pits to Agriculture and Food<BR></STRONG>7-9pm, Kitchener Public Library Main Branch, 85 Queen St N, Kitchener </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN id=_marker><FONT size=2>Over 7,000 acres of the best potato land in Dufferin County has been bought by a company that seeks to mine the land for the mineral aggregates below the surface. Across the province, many more acres of prime agricultural farmland lie on top of valuable aggregates, and existing provincial and municipal policies do little to prevent their conversion to gravel pits. Come hear from a panel of local farmers and activists talk about the threat to our food production and what can be done about it. Sponsored by the Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable. No RSVP needed.</FONT> </SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Have a great week folks!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Lulu :0)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></td></tr></table>