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| Sam Howell, Betty Howell, Richard Johns, Melanie Johns, Suzie Wilkerson, David Murphree and Ken Wilkerson (not pictured) |
15 YEARS AND FLOWING
Our 15th birthday party was a blast. We ate very well, saw old friends and fellow river rats, networked and enjoyed ourselves. The party was beautifully designed by Sharon Cook, Susie Wilkerson, and Debra Gordon-Hellman.
Our esteemed president, Sam Howell, presided, and paddled us down Memory Branch along with first president, Betty Howell. He also applauded us, updated us and challenged us.
He pointed out that FLFR has lasted longer than the usual “avert immediate danger” group. Yes, the first dam threat subsided, in no small part due to pressure applied on the Birmingham Water Works Board by FLFR efforts. In fact, the exposure led to the 1994 indictment and subsequent resignation of the board’s chairman. The pressure also raised questions about certain of the board’s expenditures, and lack of open conduct of public business.
But he also reminded us that the Locust Fork has won the dubious honor of “Waterman’s Dream”. Those watermen will never go away; hence the vital necessity that FLFR sustain its efforts, remain vigilant, and continue the long haul of educating those who do not yet understand the immense value of our river.
After the dam proposal quietly went on back burner, FLFR lost steam, regrouped, and formed new goals, Sam observed. To maintain the river free-flowing is larger than simply preventing damming. FLFR’s mission statement, actually formulated at the onset, charges us to “preserve the natural integrity of the river in its free-slowing state, and to that end, the lifestyle of the community surrounding it.”
That means our task really includes maintaining the integrity of the whole watershed: riverbed, floodplain, ridges, human, four-legged, scaly and feathered residents all.
As Sam reminded us, FLFR is largely about education now, not just a dam. We need to instill in residents and decision-makers alike how valuable this river is to our area, just how much its beauty, biodiversity, clean waters and ecosystem enhance our lives. We need to promote among all residents healthy practices that do not introduce litter, the likes of discarded paint and oil, sediment and excessive nutrients into the river.
We’re doing a good job and we can do more and better, Sam told us. And we can only do it with your continued support. Thank you for flowing with us all these years.
- Nancy Jackson
BETTY’S TAKE
- If a group is devoted enough to stay the long haul against the stone wall,
- shine a glimmer of light on abuse of power,
- with a professional focus on facts and common sense,
- the public will rally support,
- the allies of the discredited will disassociate, and the seeming monolith of power will weaken, even crumble.
In sum, that’s what I learned from FLFR First President Betty Howell’s remembrances and analysis of the first years of protecting the river. She spoke at our great 15th Birthday celebration Apr. 8.
We can all be ever grateful those first pioneers in FLFR mustered just the right qualities. Thank Goodness!
The impetus was one man, Ken Wilkerson, wanting to know more information. Then two men, Ken and Richard Johns, requesting information, only to be dismissed by the Birmingham Water Works Board.
As Betty pointed out, this juncture is critical: when information is not forthcoming, ask more questions, especially ones like, Who says? What are their facts? We owe it to Don Elder, then executive director of Cahaba River Society, to have posed those essential questions.
The pioneers proceeded to a big picture: the issue was the overall health of the river and its surroundings, and eventually that led by common sense to advocating for conservation of resources.
The pioneers also established higher ground with professionalism, debating facts, not emotions.
As BWWB and the U.S. Corps of Engineers proved uncooperative with requests for information, the public began to rally behind those few concerned citizens standing up for their American rights of participation in a public works project.
The pioneers responded to that support by expanding their public reach through annual river festivals and monthly outings: invite everybody to gather at and enjoy the river, indirectly drawing attention to its implicit place in their lives.
Eventually abuse of power became visible; Horace Parker’s unmetered sprinkler system, exorbitant expenditures.
In other words, as Margaret Mead put it: “Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world…indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”
--Nancy Jackson
