VWC Newsletter - July 1999
Annual Meeting Plans Strategy
A small but enthusiastic group assembled for the Annual Meeting at the Murray's house on June 6th. Besides the nuts and bolts of VWC business, the participants discussed the development of the land use plan for the Jefferson National Forest and the coming campaign for additional wilderness designations.After what seems like an eternity of meetings and planning sessions, the Jefferson plan is coming close to decision time. This summer should see the preparation of a "Preferred Alternative" describing the proposed management for every acre on the forest. (Indeed, the last of the public session on specific themes, this one on timber and recreation, has since been held at Hollins on June 24th. Eight "alternatives" were presented, none slated to be the preferred one.) The appearance of the preferred alternative will be the signal for all of you to pay attention. It is imperative for the VWC to be well represented at the public hearings to let the Forest Service know in no uncertain terms that the public needs more wilderness.
The greater part of the meeting was devoted to canvassing ideas for pushing a head with a campaign for more wilderness designation. In the George Washington National Forest possibilities are somewhat limited by the announced opposition to any more wilderness, of the congressman from the 6th district. However there are two prime candidates for wilderness in the 5th, where the congressman is at least neutral. The Priest and Three Ridges, both in Nelson County, have been recognized in the GW plan as candidates for wilderness designation. Strategies were discussed for building up public support in Nelson County.
On the Jefferson, the meeting anticipated the appearance of "Virginia's Mountain Treasures" (see below) which will identify those areas that have potential for wilderness designation. Not all the areas included in the booklet will be recommended for wilderness, since other designations such as scenic areas or research natural areas may be more appropriate for some, but this is the list from which our candidates must be chosen.
On a more mundane note, the Nominating Committee presented a slate of officers for the coming year:
President - Jim Murray
Vice-President - Chris Bolgiano
Secretary - Lynn Cameron
Treasurer - Julie Simpson
As there were no further nominations from the floor, the slate was adopted by acclamation.
The Treasurer's Report revealed that the VWC is in good financial shape going into the year. We have the reserves to carry out a vigorous wilderness campaign.
Virginia Mountain Treasures
The much anticipated appearance of the Wilderness Society's Virginia Mountain Treasures is out and generating publicity for all the roadless areas left in the Jefferson National Forest. This publication, produced by Shireen Parsons and Peter Kirby through the Wilderness Society's Atlanta office, is a goldmine of information about the last, best places on the forest. It will be invaluable for the coming review of the Jefferson Plan and for the ensuing wilderness campaign. The VWC has been sent a number of copies which we can distribute. If you plan to be involved this fall, let Bess Murray know (1601 Bentivar Farm Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22911),and we will see that you get a copy.
Ernie's Memorial
Good news on the VWC publication in memory of Ernie Dickerman. Bess Murray has collected a large number of tributes and pictures from Ernie's many friends and associates. The Wilderness Society has agreed to help, both technically and financially, with a publication celebrating Ernie's lifelong contribution to wilderness preservation. We plan to distribute copies to all of you when the booklet appears. If you would like to help with the finances, it would be much appreciated, since it does not seem appropriate to use the memorial contributions for this purpose. Ernie would want those funds to go straight to the wilderness campaign.
Kirby Wilderness Walk
Local arrangements are going ahead to welcome Peter Kirby as he passes through this area in mid- November on his Wilderness Walk. He will be hosted in Charlottesville by VWC and the Murrays, assisted by SELC and SEDG, and we are contacting the Wintergreen Nature Foundation to invite their collaboration and support, since Peter's route passes right by the front door of Wintergreen Resort. In Charlottesville, Peter will give a free public lecture at the Ivy Creek Natural Area, Education Building on November 11th at 7pm, and we wuld like to see a big turnout for him, so please spread the word. We have brochures about the walk. Let Bess Murray know if you would like to have some. We shall also be arranging for Peter to meet with the local media. If anyone else has ideas on how we can help to publicize his walk and raise the profile of wilderness conservation, we're always receptive to hearing about them. We shall also be re-stocking Peter with provisions. He hasn't asked for any money for his trip, but has agreed to accept food and supplies for his journey. The Murrays plan to walk with Peter for the Burke's Garden part of the trip in late September (a favorite area going through the Beartown proposed Wilderness addition that VWC is especially keen on), and will also be accompanying him over Three Ridges and The Priest. We shall be inviting a few local officials and politicians at least to meet with Peter and walk some way with him, if they will. It's a good opportunity actually to SEE some of this wonderful Virginia wildland we're always talking about!
Membership:
Membership in the VWC is open to anyone who believes in the need for preservation of wilderness. To join, send a recent letter supporting wilderness written to a public official, OR send $5 or more per year to the VWC Treasurer, address below. The date opposite your name on the mailing label indicates when you last made a contribution to VWC. Please check it and if the date is more than one year old, a new contribution from you will be warmly welcomed.
A small but enthusiastic group assembled for the Annual Meeting at the Murray's house on June 6th. Besides the nuts and bolts of VWC business, the participants discussed the development of the land use plan for the Jefferson National Forest and the coming campaign for additional wilderness designations.After what seems like an eternity of meetings and planning sessions, the Jefferson plan is coming close to decision time. This summer should see the preparation of a "Preferred Alternative" describing the proposed management for every acre on the forest. (Indeed, the last of the public session on specific themes, this one on timber and recreation, has since been held at Hollins on June 24th. Eight "alternatives" were presented, none slated to be the preferred one.) The appearance of the preferred alternative will be the signal for all of you to pay attention. It is imperative for the VWC to be well represented at the public hearings to let the Forest Service know in no uncertain terms that the public needs more wilderness.
The greater part of the meeting was devoted to canvassing ideas for pushing a head with a campaign for more wilderness designation. In the George Washington National Forest possibilities are somewhat limited by the announced opposition to any more wilderness, of the congressman from the 6th district. However there are two prime candidates for wilderness in the 5th, where the congressman is at least neutral. The Priest and Three Ridges, both in Nelson County, have been recognized in the GW plan as candidates for wilderness designation. Strategies were discussed for building up public support in Nelson County.
On the Jefferson, the meeting anticipated the appearance of "Virginia's Mountain Treasures" (see below) which will identify those areas that have potential for wilderness designation. Not all the areas included in the booklet will be recommended for wilderness, since other designations such as scenic areas or research natural areas may be more appropriate for some, but this is the list from which our candidates must be chosen.
On a more mundane note, the Nominating Committee presented a slate of officers for the coming year:
President - Jim Murray
Vice-President - Chris Bolgiano
Secretary - Lynn Cameron
Treasurer - Julie Simpson
As there were no further nominations from the floor, the slate was adopted by acclamation.
The Treasurer's Report revealed that the VWC is in good financial shape going into the year. We have the reserves to carry out a vigorous wilderness campaign.
Virginia Mountain Treasures
The much anticipated appearance of the Wilderness Society's Virginia Mountain Treasures is out and generating publicity for all the roadless areas left in the Jefferson National Forest. This publication, produced by Shireen Parsons and Peter Kirby through the Wilderness Society's Atlanta office, is a goldmine of information about the last, best places on the forest. It will be invaluable for the coming review of the Jefferson Plan and for the ensuing wilderness campaign. The VWC has been sent a number of copies which we can distribute. If you plan to be involved this fall, let Bess Murray know (1601 Bentivar Farm Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22911),and we will see that you get a copy.
Ernie's Memorial
Good news on the VWC publication in memory of Ernie Dickerman. Bess Murray has collected a large number of tributes and pictures from Ernie's many friends and associates. The Wilderness Society has agreed to help, both technically and financially, with a publication celebrating Ernie's lifelong contribution to wilderness preservation. We plan to distribute copies to all of you when the booklet appears. If you would like to help with the finances, it would be much appreciated, since it does not seem appropriate to use the memorial contributions for this purpose. Ernie would want those funds to go straight to the wilderness campaign.
Kirby Wilderness Walk
Local arrangements are going ahead to welcome Peter Kirby as he passes through this area in mid- November on his Wilderness Walk. He will be hosted in Charlottesville by VWC and the Murrays, assisted by SELC and SEDG, and we are contacting the Wintergreen Nature Foundation to invite their collaboration and support, since Peter's route passes right by the front door of Wintergreen Resort. In Charlottesville, Peter will give a free public lecture at the Ivy Creek Natural Area, Education Building on November 11th at 7pm, and we wuld like to see a big turnout for him, so please spread the word. We have brochures about the walk. Let Bess Murray know if you would like to have some. We shall also be arranging for Peter to meet with the local media. If anyone else has ideas on how we can help to publicize his walk and raise the profile of wilderness conservation, we're always receptive to hearing about them. We shall also be re-stocking Peter with provisions. He hasn't asked for any money for his trip, but has agreed to accept food and supplies for his journey. The Murrays plan to walk with Peter for the Burke's Garden part of the trip in late September (a favorite area going through the Beartown proposed Wilderness addition that VWC is especially keen on), and will also be accompanying him over Three Ridges and The Priest. We shall be inviting a few local officials and politicians at least to meet with Peter and walk some way with him, if they will. It's a good opportunity actually to SEE some of this wonderful Virginia wildland we're always talking about!
Membership:
Membership in the VWC is open to anyone who believes in the need for preservation of wilderness. To join, send a recent letter supporting wilderness written to a public official, OR send $5 or more per year to the VWC Treasurer, address below. The date opposite your name on the mailing label indicates when you last made a contribution to VWC. Please check it and if the date is more than one year old, a new contribution from you will be warmly welcomed.