Page 25 - NovDec2021 Vol39No5

most amazing rivers,” said Chad Pregracke, Founder of LL&W and 2013
CNN Hero of the Year.
Gibi said that it was the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), that originally
challenged KTNRB to celebrate an awareness month for the Tennessee
River. The awareness month was launched in the state of Tennessee in 2018
and has now expanded into a seven-state awareness campaign in 2021.
Proclamations from governors and mayors within all seven states (TN,
AL, MS, KY, GA, VA, NC) of the Tennessee River watershed were pursued
during the month.
TVA and Keep Tennessee Beautiful, funded by the Tennessee Department
of Transportation (TDOT) were the founding partners who initiated the
formation of KTNRB as a nonprofit that would champion support and
protection for the 652-mile Tennessee River. As KTNRWB Month was
celebrated in different states, Keep Tennessee Beautiful, Keep Alabama
Beautiful, Keep Mississippi Beautiful, and the Land Between the Lakes
served as acting co-organizers. Local nonprofits such as other Keep America
Beautiful affiliates and the Friends of Land Between the Lakes also were
supporting partners.
Ripple Effect Awards
Coupled with the ‘Keep the Tennessee River Watershed Beautiful
Month’ river cleanups, the 3rd annual Ripple Effect Awards were presented
by Yamaha Rightwaters.™ Judges from national-level organizations and
companies were enlisted to select from nominated outstanding champions
for the Tennessee River to be recognized and awarded glass-blown trophies.
Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful is the first Keep America Beautiful
affiliate in the nation to focus solely on a river. They aim to rally
communities along the river to preserve, improve and protect the river for
generations to come. To date, more than 1,500 volunteers have helped the
organization to remove more than 125,000 lbs. of trash.
www.KeepTNRiverBeautiful.org

With the Tennessee Chapter of APWA you can:
• Share common goals, challenges, and solutions with other
public works professionals throughout North America
• Participate in Tennessee Chapter programs, meetings and
social activities. Membership in your local chapter is
automatically included with national membership.
• Gain exposure to more than 30,000 public works professionals,
opening up opportunities for your future
• Tap into the experience of other members
• Save money on the best education and training programs
in public works, covering all public works disciplines and
management topics with ability to receive CEUs and PDHs
• Save money on resources on all the subjects you need
Who May Join? Membership in the association is open to anyone
with an interest in public works.

Contact Mark Miller, TCAPWA Chapter Administrator
markmillertcapwa@gmail.com or 865-429-7312
or visit tennessee.apwa.net

View online at tnpublicworks.com 25