As you are aware, the summer's floods in Germany and the Czech Republic have been devastating. But besides damaging historic towns and buildings, the floods had a big impact on the Czech Greenways. Daniel Morek with Friends of Czech Greenways recently sent out an urgent appeal for financial assistance to help restore the environment, historic monuments, and damaged parts of his country's greenway system.

Currently, an assessment of damage is being prepared and will be made available for public review. I have made contact with the Friends of Czech Greenways, a nonprofit charity registered in Brooklyn, NY, and have arranged for a special fund inside their organization that will accept financial contributions from American greenway advocates for this restoration effort. I am hoping that you will be able to join me in making a contribution, in what ever amount you feel comfortable with, to help our greenway friends in the Czech Republic.

Contributions can be made directly to "Friends of Czech Greenways," earmarked for the "Greenways Flood Fund." Your contribution is tax deductible. You can mail your contributions to Friends of Czech Greenways, 515 Avenue I, Suite 1B, Brooklyn, NY,11230-2632. Ms. Halsey, at the Friends of Czech Greenways in Brooklyn, will keep track of all contributions that are made to this fund. She will be happy to share this list with anyone upon request. Also, a list is being compiled that will denote how the money will be used and what projects will benefit from this and other funding sources.

I have been part of three devastating flood relief efforts in Louisville, KY, Grand Forks, ND and Eastern North Carolina. I know that this effort on the part of greenway advocates in the United States will be greatly appreciated. I hope that each of you will act quickly and send a contribution at your earliest convenience.

For more information on the Czech Greenways see the Web sites at www.pragueviennagreenways.org and www.nadacepartnerstvi.cz.

New resources and publications for trails

Equestrian Land Conservation resources

Getting Organized: Creating an Equestrian Trails Organization provides step-by-step ideas on how to gather people and resources, create goals and by-laws, prepare and hold an initial meeting, and establish regular meeting formats. An appendix has sample forms and reading lists.