PRESS RELEASE: ORK announces the winners of the annual photography contest

OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST
Professional photographer Parker Stewart helped choose winners

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) has chosen the best photographs from across the 5,500 square mile watershed submitted for the annual photography contest. Judges sorted through images that highlighted what makes the Ogeechee and Canoochee Rivers, and the surrounding areas, ecologically and aesthetically remarkable. This year, guest judge and photographer Parker Stewart led the selection process.

Stewart is based in Savannah, Georgia, and is currently focusing his time photographing the coast of Georgia and the river basins that flow in the region. “I was so excited to be asked to judge the Ogeechee Riverkeeper’s annual photography contest,” Stewart said. “The Ogeechee is such a beautiful and diverse expanse. There’s nothing better than exploring and photographing the winding black water rivers which flow out towards the most pristine barrier islands on the east coast.”

The 2021 winners are: 

Black and White –  Winner: Scarboro Landing, Janet Strozzo Anderson; Runner-up: River Rain, William Harrell
Funny Wildlife – Winner: Tree Climber, Wesley Hendley; Runner-up: Cormorant, Janet Strozzo Anderson
Landscape – Winner: Kings Ferry Landing, Ted Grey;  Runner-up: White Chimney Creek, Claude Howard
Plant life – Winner: Tree, Near Morgans Bridge, James Maddox; Runner-up: Stump, Kathleen Kuehn
Portrait – Winner: New Friends, Montana Tohm
Wildlife – Winner: Barred Owl, William Harrell; Runner-up: Pileated Woodpecker, Wesley Hendley
Honorable Mentions – Heart Tree, Tamara Shurling (Plant Life); Kayak Trail, Brett Tatom (Landscape); Free, Gretchen McLeod (Landscape); Big Daddy, Merritt Garrett (Funny Wildlife)

Winners receive a one year ORK household membership and official ORK swag. All winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions can be viewed here or via the viewer below.

2021 Annual Photography Contest


About Ogeechee Riverkeeper: Ogeechee Riverkeeper 501(c)(3) works to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality of the Ogeechee River basin, which includes all of the streams flowing out to Ossabaw Sound and St. Catherine’s Sound. The Canoochee River is about 108 miles long and the Ogeechee River itself is approximately 245 miles long. The Ogeechee River system drains more than 5,500 square miles across 22 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

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PRESS RELEASE: ORK to hold panel discussion on plastic pollution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/18/21
Ogeechee Riverkeeper
Contact: Meaghan Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 6 p.m. It will be held virtually and is open to all. Registration is required. The meeting will begin with organization updates before launching into a panel discussion on plastic use and pollution. The panelists are:

  • Hermina Glass-Hill — Field Representative, Oceana (Georgia)
  • Jennette Gayer — State Director, Environment Georgia
  • Don Bates — Founder, Osprey Initiative

The discussion will be led by ORK staff.

When attendees register, they will receive a link to stream the documentary film The Story of Plastic. Attendees will watch the film before the panel discussion and will be able to ask questions of the panel. The Story of Plastic takes a sweeping look at the man-made crisis of plastic pollution and the worldwide effect it has on the health of our planet and the people who inhabit it. The panel discussion will also offer specific ideas and actions that can help combat plastic pollution in our watershed.

For registration links and more details, visit


About Ogeechee Riverkeeper: Ogeechee Riverkeeper 501(c)(3) works to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality of the Ogeechee River basin, which includes all of the streams flowing out to Ossabaw Sound and St. Catherine’s Sound. The Canoochee River is about 108 miles long and the Ogeechee River itself is approximately 245 miles long. The Ogeechee River system drains more than 5,500 square miles across 22 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

RELEASE: OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/15/21
Ogeechee Riverkeeper
Contact: Meaghan Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST
Multiple categories will put on a spotlight the beauty of the area

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) is soliciting the best photographs of the year 2021 from across the 5,500 square mile watershed. Judges will be looking for images that highlight what makes the Ogeechee and Canoochee Rivers, and the surrounding areas, remarkable.

“From the Ogeechee Shoals to the wide estuaries, pine forests to coastal marshes, our watershed is home to an incredible variety of ecological features,” said Meaghan Walsh Gerard, communications director for ORK. “We are also a habitat for more than 160 rare species of plants and animals. By displaying the amazing ecological wealth we have, we hope to inspire more people to protect it.” 

Photographers can enter in multiple categories: Landscape, portrait, wildlife, plant life, underwater, aerial, black and white, and funny wildlife. Since this will be an annual event each December, ORK requests that any images submitted be taken within the same calendar year. ORK hopes to see entries from across the 22 counties encompassing the watershed. 

Submissions are due by November 5, 2021. Winners will be announced early December 2021. Complete rules and submission guidelines are available at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/annual-photography-contest.

About Ogeechee Riverkeeper: Ogeechee Riverkeeper 501(c)(3) works to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality of the Ogeechee River basin, which includes all of the streams flowing out to Ossabaw Sound and St. Catherine’s Sound. The Canoochee River is about 108 miles long and the Ogeechee River itself is approximately 245 miles long. The Ogeechee River system drains more than 5,500 square miles across 22 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

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PRESS RELEASE: ORK announces inaugural photography contest

Winners have been announced for the 2020 contest.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/2/20
Ogeechee Riverkeeper
Contact: Meaghan Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL PHOTO CONTEST
Multiple categories will put on a spotlight the beauty of the area

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) is soliciting the best photographs from across the watershed. Judges will be looking for images that highlight what makes the Ogeechee and Canoochee Rivers, and the surrounding areas, remarkable.

“From the Ogeechee Shoals to the wide estuaries, pine forests to coastal marshes, our watershed is home to an incredible variety of ecological features,” said Meaghan Walsh Gerard, communications director for ORK. “We are also a habitat for more than 160 rare species of plants and animals. By displaying the amazing ecological wealth we have, we hope to inspire more people to protect it.” 

Photographers can enter in multiple categories: Landscape, portrait, wildlife, plant life, underwater, aerial, black and white, and funny wildlife. Since this will be an annual event each December, ORK requests that any images submitted be taken within the same calendar year. ORK hopes to see entries from across the 5,500 square miles of the watershed. 

Complete rules and submission guidelines are available at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/annual-photography-contest. Submissions are due by December 20, 2020. 

About Ogeechee Riverkeeper: Ogeechee Riverkeeper 501(c)(3) works to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality of the Ogeechee River basin, which includes all of the streams flowing out to Ossabaw Sound and St. Catherine’s Sound. At 245 miles long, the Ogeechee River system drains more than 5,000 square miles of land. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

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Press Release: ORK joins #GivingTuesdayNow efforts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
04/21/20
Contact: Meaghan Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org 

OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER® JOINS #GIVINGTUESDAYNOW EFFORTS 

Savannah, Ga. –  Ogeechee Riverkeeper® (ORK) is participating in #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving and unity, set to take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The day is designed to highlight generosity, citizen engagement, business and philanthropy activation, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world. 

ORK has continued its work of monitoring waterways, advocating for legislative priorities and finding new ways to reach citizens of the Ogeechee River basin. However, ORK has had to postpone events like the popular paddle trips and educational classroom visits. 

“We need to continue our work in the field now and make sure we are ready to ramp up our outreach efforts in the future,” said Damon Mullis, riverkeeper and executive director. “Financial support means once the crisis subsides, we can get back that much quicker. We can accept major sponsors as well as individual donations.”

“We are keenly aware that some people are unable to donate money at this time so we have set up easy ways people can help ORK that don’t cost anything,” said Meaghan Gerard, communications and administrative director. “We have a social media ambassador program, simple ways for people to contact legislators, and more on our website. We also have ideas for volunteering even while we can’t get together for group clean-ups.” 

#GivingTuesdayNow emphasizes opportunities to give back to communities and causes in safe ways that allow for social connection even while practicing physical distancing. 

“As a global community, we can mourn this moment of extreme crisis while also finding the opportunity to support one another. We each have the power to make an impact with acts of generosity, no matter how small, and to ensure the sustainability of organizations and services that are crucial to the care and support of our communities,” said Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday.

Follow the hashtag #GivingTuesdayNow or visit bit.ly/ORKgivingtuesday.

Ogeechee Riverkeeper and Executive Director Damon Mullis is available for interviews and appearances. 

About Ogeechee Riverkeeper: Ogeechee Riverkeeper® 501(c)(3) works to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality of the Ogeechee River basin, which includes all of the streams flowing out to Ossabaw Sound and St. Catherine’s Sound. At 245 miles long, the Ogeechee River system drains more than 5,000 square miles of land. More information, volunteer opportunities, live data, and blog are at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org. 

About GivingTuesday: GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. #GivingTuesdayNow is organized by GivingTuesday, in partnership with its global network of leaders, partners, communities and generous individuals. GivingTuesday is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.