You might not have heard of Voice of the Wetlands, a homegrown group – to be precise, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization – dedicated to the preservation of one of Louisiana’s most valuable – and endangered – resources. But the members of the fall 2009 Writing for Public Relations class (CMMN A317) do. They’ve taken on VOW as their semester client and are working to develop media materials that will help VOW spread the word about the need for aggressive action regarding the wetlands.

Jodi Forte, Garlyn Gryder, Dominic Moncada, Kelsey Morris, Constance Thompson, Marimar Velez and Dominique Webb can quote statistics and present facts about the wetlands and its impact on people, property and prosperity in Louisiana and beyond.

Here are a few things they can tell you about VOW in particular and the wetlands in general:

Tab Benoit, the Grammy-nominated singer, founded VOW to raise awareness of and interest in the fate and future of the wetlands. Tab, a native of Baton Rouge and long-time resident of Houma, determined that VOW would be a different kind of environmental group, one that brings together not only those passionate about environmental issues but folks from the communities that are part of the wetlands and, perhaps surprisingly to the public, the oil and gas industry.

Louisiana’s coastal area produces $67 billion in oil and gas annually. That fuels not just Louisiana or even the Gulf Coast but much of the nation. Louisiana ranks first in the country in crude oil and second in natural gas production.

VOW partnered with Music for Relief to “Send Dirt.” For each text of the “dirt” to 90999, a $5 donation is made to the cause.

The Mississippi River controlls 2/3 of the USA’s watershed, based in the wetlands, and Louisiana’s commercial fishing comprises 1/4 of the nation’s total fishing industry.

VOW sponsors the University of VOW, an interactive discussion on the need for awareness and cooperation among all the interested parties. Tab Benoit travels to college campuses to get students fired up about the issues, often showing “Hurricane on the Bayou” and singing to bring attention to the cause.

More than 2 million people (more than 47% of Louisiana’s population) live in Louisiana’s coastal parishes. This important geographical area provides storm protection for about 25% of the waterborne trade.

And the list goes on. The class members work every day to learn as much as they can so they can help VOW speak for and about the residents (both human and non), the industries and the concerns related to the wetlands.

One of the projects the class will pass on to VOW executive director Christina Kogos, a Loyola alum, at the end of the semester is an on-campus event that will bring the University of VOW to Loyola. It’s called “The Wetlands - A Disappearing Act.”  Watch for details.

If you want to know more about VOW, visit www.voiceofthewetlands.org.

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