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02/12/2008

Volunteers are needed to collect some quick data and share information about a River Trail - the longest in one state - the Alabama Scenic River Trail - 631 Miles - which will be media announced next June 6th. This River Trail is from where the Coosa enters Alabama, to it's connection to the Alabama River, and that to the Mobile delta and onward along the East shore of Mobile Bay to the Gulf. Similar much shorter trails in other states produce over $100 million in tourism dollars every year. We want to do even more here.

We have 'divided' the Trail essentially into 4 equal sections and are producing 4 full color, waterproof paper, Trail Guidebooks, between December 15, 2007 and March 31, 2008, to have motor boaters and paddlers to use enroute. I have already obtained $76,000 in a Grant to produce them.

We are in the process of establishing a web page. Currently our office address is 60 Sunset Drive, Anniston, AL 36207; my email address is Fredcanoes@aol.com. Some of our working partners thus far represented are the Alabama Bureau of Travel and Tourism; Army Corps of Engineers; Alabama Power Company; Alabama Alliance of the Resource, Conservation, and Development Commissions; Ala. Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources; U. S. Fish and Wildlife; National Park Service; Bama Back Paddlers Club, and we have been endorsed by Governor Bob Riley, Senator Jeff Sessions, Senator Richard Shelby, and Senator Del Marsh.

To announce the ASRT, next May a famed long distance paddler, Richard Grove, will begin and paddle the entire length, interviewing with media daily. On June 6th he will arrive in Montgomery for a 'Grand Opening' Ceremony with Governor Riley, and other dignitaries at Riverwalk. You and anyone you know are welcome to paddle, or motor near him, for any distance. He will be charging a small leadership fee. I need the volunteers of each Retired Teacher's District to coordinate for the River section they choose and send their findings to me before Dec. 15 on the lower section, which we will print first, and the upper three sections by Jan. 15, 2008. You may call me at any of the numbers below; the fax is where I work. My business card with my color picture on it is attached below as well. People interested in joining Richard may email or fax me as well, until March 31, 2008.

Have a wonderful day, Fred Couch, President, ASRT

Fred Couch, Jr., President www.couchs.com
Couch's Jewelers, Anniston and Oxford, Alabama
work 256-237-4638 or 256-831-4628 or 1-800-844-4128
cell 256-591-0437, fax 256-237-4626 or 256-841-4612

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