“When you press the pause button on a machine, it stops. But when you press the pause button on human beings they start,” argues my friend and teacher Dov Seidman, CEO of LRN, which advises global businesses on ethics and leadership. “You start to reflect, you start to rethink your assumptions, you start to reimagine what is possible and, most importantly, you start to reconnect with.” 

—Thomas L. Friedman, “Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations”

It’s kind of interesting to apply that logic to a human “pause” to visit an Iowa Water Trail, contemplate the change of seasons, keep your eyes focused on the scenery, your fingers unmoving on a paddle, your mind following the natural flow of the river.

QUICK REMINDERS:
Set your clocks back & replace smoke alrm batteries Nov 5.
Fly your flag on Veterans Day Nov 11.

There will be a lot of emphasis on the “holiday season” during the last two months of 2017, but this is also a good time to anticipate and plan for the challenges and opportunities welcoming us in 2018. It’s a good time to learn more about Iowa water quality and quantity issues, connect with groups like IEC, IRR, & watershed coalitions, join a “friends of the river” group, volunteer to assist your local county conservation organization, or contact your representative or senator. Now is the time to get involved.

Our November 2017 issue includes a quick look back at some interesting events from 2017. If you are looking for 2018 event ideas, we suggest that you also check out the IWTA Calendar and back issues of the IWTA Newsletter, both found on this IWTA Website.