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Illustration by
Thomas W. Ford

Advocate Mentor Program

Freshwater Future is thrilled to announce the launch of our Advocate Mentor Program in conjunction with our Grants Program! The Advocate Mentor Program will be a unique opportunity for new and experienced advocates to share strategies, approaches and past experiences on an ongoing basis.

How It Will Work:
Beginning in May 2008, we will connect each of our 2008 grant recipients with an experienced grassroots advocate who will serve as a mentor. The Mentors and Mentees will communicate regularly to discuss topics related to their projects as well as subjects common to grassroots efforts in the Great Lakes basin. The Program will have a particular focus on sharpening the participants' advocacy, technology, fundraising, and organizational management skills.

Time Commitment:

• We ask that all participants agree to a one-year commitment. For Spring Cycle grantees and their Advocate Mentors, the year would be May 2008 - April 2009. The Fall Cycle timeline will be announced later this year.
• During the one year, participants will speak monthly with their matches and/or the group through one-on-one conversations, a blog and an online forum.
• In addition, all participants are expected to attend Freshwater Future's Grassroots Symposium to receive training and meet their matches. Spring Cycle grantees and their Mentors will attend the 5th Annual Symposium in Huron, Ohio on May 2, 2008. Fall Cycle grantees and their Mentors will attend the 6th Annual Symposium, on a date to be determined. Freshwater Future will provide scholarships and travel reimbursements for Advocate Mentor Program participants to attend the Symposium.

Goals of the Program:

We hope that by providing this additional resource to each of our grantees, our grantees will

• Find solidarity in learning that they are not alone in their efforts,
• Avoid common pitfalls, and
• Complete their projects more efficiently.

Similarly, we expect the Program will aid our Mentors by

• Providing them with opportunities to use the knowledge they've gained from their own grassroots efforts,
• Enhancing their skills, and
• Reenergizing them.

We believe the Advocate Mentor Program will improve the effectiveness of new advocates, strengthen connections within our grassroots network, and enhance the Mentors and grantees' enthusiasm for protecting the Great Lakes Basin.

For more information about the Advocate Mentor Program, please contact Kate Duggan at (231) 348-8200.

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Freshwater Future builds effective community-based citizen action to protect and restore the water quality of the Great Lakes basin. We work toward this goal by providing financial assistance, communications and networking assistance and technical assistance to citizens and grassroots watershed groups throughout the Great Lakes basin. Through these efforts we work with over 1,800 grassroots watershed groups and citizens to protect and restore the rivers, lakes and wetlands in their communities. Freshwater Future, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

For more information, please contact:

info@freshwaterfuture.org
P.O. Box 2479, Petoskey, MI 49770
PH (231) 348-8200