Izaak Walton League Of America Inc

CONSERVE, PROTECT AND RESTORE THE SOIL, FOREST, WATER AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE US.

CHAPTER RELATIONS AND MEMBERSHIP: AT THE HEART OF IWLA ARE MORE THAN 200 LOCAL CHAPTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THESE CHAPTERS FORM A GRASSROOTS VOLUNTEER NETWORK OF CONSERVATIONISTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS WHO ARE FIGHTING TO PROTECT THE NATURAL RESOURCES THEY LOVE AND ENJOY. IWLA SUPPORTS ITS LOCAL CHAPTERS THROUGH MEMBER RECOGNITION AND AWARD PROGRAMS, COMMUNICATION TOOLS, MEMBERSHIP MARKETING MATERIALS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS AND WORKSHOPS.

GENERAL CONSERVATION: THE GENERAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM ADVANCES IWLA'S CONSERVATION POLICY AGENDA BY PROVIDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO CONGRESS AND STATE LEGISLATURES; KEEPING MEMBERS INFORMED ABOUT FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ISSUES AFFECTING NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT; EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT IMPORTANT CONSERVATION ISSUES; AND ASSISTING MEMBERS AND CHAPTERS IN IMPLEMENTING LOCAL CONSERVATION PROJECTS. AGRICULTURE: SINCE 1937, IWLA HAS PROMOTED FARMING METHODS THAT SUSTAIN PEOPLE AND NATURAL RESOURCES. TO THEIR CREDIT, AMERICAN FARMERS FEED THE COUNTRY AND MUCH OF THE WORLD. HOWEVER, CURRENT FARM PRACTICES, ENABLED BY OUR FARM POLICY, ARE POLLUTING OUR WATER, ERODING OUR TOPSOIL, AND DEGRADING SOIL HEALTH. INVESTMENTS IN CONSERVATION OVER THE PAST HALF CENTURY, PAID WITH TAX DOLLARS, HAVE HELPED, BUT TODAYS PROBLEMS AFFECT ENTIRE LANDSCAPES AND THEY ARE ACCELERATING. THROUGH NATIONAL POLICY ADVOCACY, IWLAS GOAL IS TO EXPAND AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND FUNDING TO SCALE UP CONSERVATION PRACTICES ACROSS MILLIONS OF ACRES OF LAND TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF OUR FOOD, REDUCE POLLUTED RUNOFF, AND COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE BY SEQUESTERING MORE CARBON IN SOIL, WETLANDS, AND GRASSLANDS. MISSOURI RIVER INITIATIVE: IWLA WORKS WITH FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS IN IOWA, NEBRASKA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA TO ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FACING THE MISSOURI RIVER ECOSYSTEM, RESTORE THE RIVER'S NATURAL FLOWS, IMPROVE FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND PROVIDE INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION. AS PART OF THIS ONGOING EFFORT, IWLA COORDINATES RIVER CLEANUPS AND HOSTS EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ALONG THE RIVER. CONVENTION: IWLA'S ANNUAL CONVENTION PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT GOVERNS IWLA AND TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADVANCE IWLA'S CONSERVATION, OUTDOOR RECREATION AND EDUCATION MISSION.

CLEAN WATER: ALL OVER AMERICA, VOLUNTEERS ARE STEPPING INTO THE GAP TO ENSURE OUR WATER IS SAFE AND IWLA IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION TRAINING, EQUIPPING, AND COORDINATING THESE VOLUNTEERS ON A NATIONAL SCALE. THE SAVE OUR STREAMS PROGRAM IS THE ONLY NATIONWIDE PROGRAM TRAINING VOLUNTEERS TO PROTECT WATERWAYS FROM POLLUTION AND BRING INFORMATION ABOUT WATER QUALITY TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA: OUTDOOR AMERICA MAGAZINE IS IWLA'S FLAGSHIP PUBLICATION AND THE PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR COMMUNICATING WITH IWLA'S MEMBERS ABOUT CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS. EACH ISSUE INCLUDES HIGHLIGHTS OF CHAPTER ACTIVITIES AND ARTICLES THAT FOCUS ON KEY CONSERVATION AND OUTDOOR RECREATION ISSUES. OTHER PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED BY IWLA INCLUDE A MONTHLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER, ANNUAL REPORTS AND SUPPORT MATERIALS FOR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, IWLA'S STAFF WORKS WITH THE MEDIA TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED ABOUT NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL CONSERVATION ISSUES AND PROJECTS.