by Russ Anderson

Happy New Year! Coming off the heels of a very successful joint conference and annual meeting this past October, the Colorado Riparian Association has much to look forward to this coming year. I invite you to check out our new 2007 Board and Officers. We have a lot of new faces and great energy and ideas. I look forward to working with this promising group.
The annual conference and meeting in October marked the culmination of efforts over the past few years to collaborate with like-minded organizations and leverage resources to present an expanded and comprehensive program. I lost track of the number of folks who have expressed their view to me that the 2006 meeting was an absolute success and one of the best conferences in many years. Many thanks to the CRA Program Committee and Board and to our colleagues at the Colorado Watershed Assembly, the Colorado Watershed Network, and the Central Rockies Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration for moving forward and creating this extraordinary event.
2007 brings new opportunities and this year we look forward to building on the incredible education and outreach efforts of Corie Schott in Grand County and to continuing education and outreach collaboration with groups such as CWA, CWN, and CRCSER. Also, among many other things, we look forward to continuing our ongoing relationship with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers, and we will also be working to bring members together in a venue outside of the annual meeting, such as at a workshop or seminar. Stay tuned.
Finally, I’ll close with an appeal to renew your membership, if you haven’t already done so. We greatly value your support of our efforts in promoting the conservation, restoration, and preservation of riparian areas and wetlands in the beautiful and diverse state of Colorado. Please return the membership form, located on the back cover page of this issue today.
My best wishes for a fulfilling and successful new year. Feel free to contact me (randerson@telesto-inc.com             970.484.7704      ). I am always interested in hearing your thoughts and comments.

Colorado Riparian Association