By Al Benson
Thursday, March 21, Gary Zwick gave a speech to Aurora Lions Club members on fixing the Fox River.
Zwick, Friends of the Fox River president, presented “Meet Your Friend, the Fox River” at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Aurora.
“Friends of the Fox River has been working to protect and restore the Fox River for more than 30 years,” Zwick said. The Elgin-based nonprofit’s mission is to preserve, restore and protect the Fox River watershed’s resources by connecting people with nature through education, research, restoration and advocacy.
The organization is made up of citizens and organizations taking action to protect and maintain the quality of the Fox River and its tributaries. “Through our programs and activities, we encourage both adults and students to become involved in protecting the river and its watershed,” Zwick said.
“Each year, we have over 4,500 citizens participating in our programs. They include a water quality monitoring program, river and stream cleanups, river habitat improvement projects and water quality education events.”
Zwick invited Aurora Lions to join “It’s Our Fox River Day (IOFRD)” Saturday, Sept. 21, at times designated by local celebrations. According to Zwick, IOFRD is intended to be both an individual and collective event that offers residents an opportunity to say to say thanks to their Fox River. The concept originated as a 200-mile cleanup from Wisconsin to Ottawa to symbolize the need for a unified approach to protect and restore the watershed.
Celebration options he listed were a cleanup of shoreline, water, park, roadside; flower ceremony, government proclamation, native blessing, shoreline yoga, business specials, specialty beer and a paddle event.
Founded in 1922, Aurora Lions Club (formerly Aurora Noon Lions Club) is celebrating its second century of community service.
Open to men and women interested in community service, the club meets at noon on the first and third Thursdays at St. Mark’s Lutheran
Church, 27 E. Edgelawn Drive in Aurora. Prospective members are invited.
Call (630) 921-1307 or visit auroranoonlions.org for more information.