I&M Canal Day ~ Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Join the I&M Canal Alliance for the first I&M Canal Day in Springfield at the Illinois State Capitol on Tuesday, February 21, 2012.  I&M Canal Day is an opportunity to meet with elected officials and state agencies to show your support for the I&M Canal.

We have reserved the rotunda and hallways for presentations and display tables representing the various organizations within the national heritage corridor.  If your community or organization is interested in reserving a display table complete the Community/Organization Response Form attached below and return to the Canal Corridor Association.

We have also reserved motor coaches for travel to Springfield, made arrangements for lunch, dinner, and a special living history presentation at the Old State Capitol.  If you would like to attend I&M Canal Day please complete the individual I&M Canal Day form and return to the Canal Corridor Association by Friday, February 3rd.  Join other I&M Canal enthusiasts as we advocate for the I&M Canal.

For more information contact Heather Wickens at 815-223-1851.

I&M Canal Day Agenda

I&M Canal Day Community:Organization Response Form

individual I&M Canal day form

First Canal Alliance Working Groups Meeting Summary

Our initial meeting of the Canal Alliance went well. We had 26 people in attendance and after a short update on the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor; we were able to get down to work! As you may know, the Canal Alliance works best when our stakeholders, partners and advocates come together to focus on single projects. For 90 minutes, the attendees were involved in one or more of the 5 core workgroups that have already been formed. Recreation discussed gathering recreational information for use on the website, while Conservation discussed planning projects that would include new access to the various forms of wildlife throughout the Corridor.  Tourism and Heritage Development discussed the development of a marketing plan, while Resource Protection and Preservation discussed cataloging the historic, cultural, and natural resources within the Corridor. Last, but certainly not least, Education and Interpretation discussed how they could increase awareness of the IMCNHC.

All in all it was a great start to the Canal Alliance. There are still lots of opportunities to participate.

#1 Become a Canal Alliance member

#2 Join a Canal Alliance working group

#3 Participate in I&M Canal Day in Springfield Tuesday, February 21, 2012.

#4 Attend our next Canal Alliance meeting on Thursday, March 29, 2012 from 7:30-9PM at the Joliet Area Historical Museum.

Dennis Bieschke

Canal Alliance Committee Chairman

 

Conservation Working Groups

Do you consider yourself an outdoor enthusiast?  Do you enjoy watching wildlife in their native habitat? Are you passionate about conserving open space or eradicating invasive species? Are you involved in habitat restoration?  Do you belong to a club or organization whose focus in conservation?

If you answered yes, to any of the above questions, then you might consider joining the Canal Alliance working groups Conservation Partners and Conservation Advocates.

Conservation Partners is comprised of staff from Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Cook County Forest Preserve, the Will County Forest Preserve, DuPage County Forest Preserve District and non-profit conservation groups.

Conservation Advocates is comprised of individuals interested in conservation and those who are members of volunteer groups that work towards conserving natural resources.

Both groups work toward achieving the conservation goal of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor.  Conservation Goal:  The stewardship of the Corridor’s natural resources will be improved.  Both the number of stewards and the commitment level and involvement of stewards will be increased.

If your interested in improving resource protection and preservation within the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor join the Canal Alliance first working group meeting on Saturday, November 12^th from 10AM to Noon at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.  If you plan to attend the working group meeting please RSVP to plan@canalcor.org or call 815-223-1851.

For more information on the Canal Alliance or the working groups visit our website at iandmcanal.org.

Tourism Working Groups

Visitors boarding the LaSalle Canal Boat

Do you own a Bed & Breakfast or family owned restaurant?  Do you work for a Convention and Visitors Bureau within the Corridor?   Are you interested in promoting tourism within the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor?

If you answered yes, to any of the above questions, then you might consider joining the Canal Alliance the Tourism Alliance Working Group or the Tourism Partners.

 Tourism Alliance Working Group is comprised of members from the following governmental agencies and organizations: the Illinois Bureau of Tourism, Chicago CVB, Chicago Southland CVB, DuPage County CVB, Heritage Corridor CVB, and Northern Illinois Tourism Development Office.  The Tourism Alliance will develop a coordinated strategy to assist the Canal Alliance in meeting the economic impact goal of this plan.

Tourism Partners are Canal Alliance members who have an interest in the heritage development and or tourism development of the IMCNHC.  Tourism Partners may have sites which are open for tourists, have businesses that cater to tourists such as bed and breakfasts or restaurants, and/or hold events that attract visitors.

Both groups work toward achieving the economic impact goal of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor.  Economic Impact Goal: The Corridor’s economic growth will be built through an increase in heritage tourism and heritage development.  Historical and cultural based venues in the Corridor will be enhanced through increased interpretation, use of new technologies, and increases in visitor services and marketing.  Entrepreneurial and family-owned businesses will be supported with increased tourism strengthening historic downtowns.

If your interested in improving resource protection and preservation within the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor join the Canal Alliance first working group meeting on Saturday, November 12^th from 10AM to Noon at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.  If you plan to attend the working group meeting please RSVP to plan@canalcor.org or call 815-223-1851.

For more information on the Canal Alliance or the working groups visit our website at iandmcanal.org.

 

 

Education and Interpretation Working Groups

Armstrong Family Silhouettes

Are you a teacher or docent in a museum?  Does the museum or historic site you work for tell one or more of the stories of the Corridor through its exhibits?  Are you a college or graduate student looking for a hands-on experience in your field?  Or a retired teacher who would like to use their knowledge base to develop lessons plans that tell the many stories of the Corridor.   Are you are a historic interpreter looking to improve your storytelling or help develop certification program so that the stories being told are accurate, compelling, and interesting?

If you answered yes, to any of the above questions, then you might consider joining the Canal Alliance working groups Storytelling Partners and Education Partners.

Storytelling Partners are Canal Alliance members who are telling the many stories of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor.  Storytelling partners may include sites with programs and/or exhibits, organization or individuals who give programs, and other interested parties.

Education Partners are teachers, college or post-college students, schools, higher learning institutions, and volunteer educators.

Both groups work toward achieving the stories goal of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor.  Stories Goal: The rich and complex stories of the history and continuing importance of the I&M Canal Corridor will be told through increasingly accurate, compelling, and interesting ways to larger audiences.

If your interested in improving resource protection and preservation within the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor join the Canal Alliance first working group meeting on Saturday, November 12^th from 10AM to Noon at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.  If you plan to attend the working group meeting please RSVP to plan@canalcor.org or call 815-223-1851.

For more information on the Canal Alliance or the working groups visit our website at iandmcanal.org.

Resource Protection and Preservation Working Groups

Gaylord Building in Lockport

Are you interested in historic preservation? Do you own or manage a historic, cultural, or unique resource other then the I&M Canal?  Are you interested in recording, preserving, protecting, interpreting, and developing the “special places” in the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor for future generations?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you might consider joining the Canal Alliance working groups Special Places Partners and Special Places Advocates.

Special Places Partners are mangers or publically owned sites (historic, cultural, and unique Corridor Sites) or owners of privately owned sites.  This group will work to develop and implement an action plan for recording, preserving, protecting, interpreting, and developing these resources for future generations.

Special Places Advocates is comprised of interested Canal Alliance members, preservation organizations, certified local governments, and local preservation commissions.  This working group volunteers their time to promote the recording, preservation, and protection of the “special places” within the national heritage corridor.

Both groups work toward achieving the special places goal of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor.  Special Places Goal: The Corridor’s distinctive sense of place and natural cultural, and historic resources will be recognized, embraced and protected.

If your interested in improving resource protection and preservation within the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor join the Canal Alliance first working group meeting on Saturday, November 12^th from 10AM to Noon at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.  If you plan to attend the working group meeting please RSVP to plan@canalcor.org or call 815-223-1851.

For more information on the Canal Alliance or the working groups visit our website at iandmcanal.org.

Recreation Working Groups

Cycling along the I&M Canal State Trail

Do you recreate within the boundaries of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor? Have you ever hiked or ridden your bike along the I&M Canal State Trail? Are you an avid bicyclist or a trail enthusiast?  A member of a recreation organization?  Do you run a recreation business or rent kayaks or bicycles?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you might consider joining the Canal Alliance working groups Recreation Partners or Recreation Advocates.

Recreation Partners are Canal Alliance members who are owners of privately owned recreation facilities or businesses, managers of public owned recreation areas/sites, recreation groups and recreation businesses.

Recreation Advocates are Canal Alliance members whether individuals or organizations that advocate for recreation within the national heritage corridor.  Recreation Advocates work with the Recreation Partners to promote recreation within the heritage corridor.

Both groups work toward achieving the recreation goal of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor.  Recreation Goal:  The recreational amenities of the Corridor will be enhanced and expanded to facilitate their enjoyment by more people.

If your interested in improving recreation within the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor join the Canal Alliance first working group meeting on Saturday, November 12^th from 10AM to Noon at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.  If you plan to attend the working group meeting please RSVP to plan@canalcor.org or call 815-223-1851.

For more information on the Canal Alliance or the working groups visit our website at iandmcanal.org.

Canal Alliance Kickoff Working Group Meeting!

Join the Canal Alliance for its kickoff working group meeting on Saturday, November 12th from 10AM to Noon at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.  Learn how you can participate in the Canal Alliance and help us make the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor a better place to live, work, and visit.
The Canal Alliance working groups are the key to the success of the national heritage corridor. More information about the Canal Alliance working groups can be found at iandmcanal.org. If you would like to attend the Canal Alliance working groups meeting please R.S.V.P. to plan@canalcor.org or call 815-223-1851.

Thanks for your Support!!!

A BIG thank you to everyone who participated in the September Public Workshops! Both workshops went well and we had quite a few attendees become Canal Alliance members. The Canal Alliance Pledge will be posted on our website in the near future.  Our website is currently being revised to better serve the Canal Alliance and promote the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor.

Book Illustrator Needed

The Canal Corridor Association is seeking proposals for an ink and color illustrated book based on original artwork that portrays a single journey along the Illinois & Michigan Canal by a cargo boat in the 1860s. The book will be written for a 5th grade audience but interest both children and adults.  The story will be told through original illustrations supplemented by descriptive words, captions and a minimal amount of text to further the plot line.  The goal is to illustrate/explain exactly what the reader might have experienced traveling along the I&M Canal on a cargo boat circa 1860 including significant structures/places along canal.   Historical accuracy is an essential tenet of the project!

The goal is to have the book ready for distribution before the 2012 Christmas season.  Proposals should be submitted to the Canal Corridor Association by Friday, October 14, 2011.  More information can be found on our website at http://www.iandmcanal.org/