“Where are we in our efforts to clean up our precious Chesapeake Bay? What is the status of our waters and living resources, our trajectory towards achieving clean water? And what can we, local citizens, do to move the effort forward?” On Thursday, November 12, the Garden Clubs of the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula will welcome keynote speaker Ann Swanson, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, to their annual Conservation Symposium. The public is invited to a stimulating discussion of vital waterfront issues at 10:00 a.m. at Marston Hall, on the campus of Christchurch School, Saluda, Virginia.
For over three decades Ann Swanson has worked in the Chesapeake Bay region, first for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, then for the last 27 years as the Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. The Commission is a legislative authority composed of five legislators, one cabinet secretary, and one citizen from each of the three Bay states of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The Commission is a signatory to the Chesapeake Bay agreements and coordinates Bay restoration activities among the state legislatures and the U.S. Congress. In her position as Executive Director, Ann has been a leader in the region. Over the last 20 years, there is hardly a piece of conservation legislation in the Bay region that does not have Ann’s mark on it. Understandably, she has been recognized with awards, honors, and resolutions by many conservation groups and legislative bodies.
The morning program, free and open to the public, will offer refreshments, exhibits by conservation and sustainability groups, and a plant sale, all beginning at 9:30 and continuing after the 10:00 a.m. program. The choice of Christchurch School as the venue for this event highlights its curricular focus on sustainability and stewardship of the Rappahannock River. For those interested but unable to attend on November 12, or for schools and civic groups who wish to share this important speaker’s message with a greater audience, the program will be videotaped and available at no cost. Christchurch School is located at 49 Seahorse Lane, Christchurch, Virginia.
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