 The
Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) is devoted
to advancing a common, environmentally sound vision
for Virginia. Created in 1990, the Network's
membership is comprised of more than 100 groups committed
to protecting Virginia's natural resources. VCN
is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization supported by
membership dues and grants.
Mission
Member Services
Public Policy
Education and Training
Outreach
Our
Mission: VCN is made up of over 115 member organizations
committed to protecting Virginia's natural resources.
VCN facilitates greater effectiveness of all its member
organizations by:
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Disseminating vital information through
its newsletter, e-mail networks, website (www.vcnva.org),
issue papers, and action alerts for citizen involvement.
Coordinating legislative information
during the General Assembly so that the environmental
community can work together to achieve common
goals for the benefit of all Virginians. -
Tracking environmental legislation,
development of regulations, and opportunities for
the public to participate in the public decision-making
process.
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Sponsoring the Virginia Environmental
Assembly, environmental seminars and road shows
so that community leaders can stay up-to-date on
environmental issues important to their communities
and our state.
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VCN ensures that member organizations
and Virginia citizens are kept up-to-date on legislative
and regulatory matters that affect their families, their
health, their communities and their state.
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VCN rallied support for a successful
effort to grant judicial standing to citizens to
challenge pollution permits that don't protect public
health or the environment.
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VCN promotes legislative and budgetary
initiatives to correct identified problems at the
Department of Environmental Quality and to increase
the money available for environmental
protection.
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VCN advocates for additional
funding to pay for water quality
improvements in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and
throughout the state.
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VCN alerts its members and citizen activists of initiatives, actions, public comment periods, and more to ensure that environmentalists throughout the state are aware where they can effectively participate in protection of the commonwealth's environment.
- VCN acts as a catalyst for important
initiatives including Chesapeake Bay protection, citizen
"standing" to challenge pollution permits, protecting citizen involvement in environmental regulations, and defeating anti-environmental
legislation.
- Analyzes state legislation, regulations, and
budget items that affect Virginia's environment
and communicates its analysis to member organizations.
- Tracks and educates its members on
important environmental bills and holds weekly update
meetings on legislation during the legislative session.
- Monitors and reports on regulatory
agency actions throughout the year.
- Builds coalitions among member organizations
in areas of mutual interest through issue based workgroups. Issues include Water, Air, Forestry, Energy, Land Use & Transportation, and Land Conservation & Rural Issues.
- VCN hosts an annual Citizen Legislative
Day during the General Assembly session in Richmond
to educate and inform citizens about the legislative
process.
- Offers a variety of training sessions
to give members greater skills in influencing public
policy, establishing a grassroots network, and other areas.
- Sponsors an Environmental Assembly
every year that features the oppportunity to network, attend workshops, hear noted speakers, and view member exhibits.
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VCN offers its expertise and collaboration with member
organizations.
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Maintains a environmental directory at www.vcnva.org/members.php to ensure rapid
responses on important conservation issues.
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Pursues opportunities to strengthen
and support member organizations.
2007-2008 Virginia Conservation Network
Board of Directors
OFFICERS - Executive Committee
President, Martha Wingfield, Hanover County - marlridge@aol.com
Vice-President, Skip Stiles, Norfolk - skipstiles@att.net
Secretary, Jerry Gray, Clintwood - ggray@dcwin.com
Treasurer, Lisa Guthrie, New Kent - virlcv@aol.com
Past President - Chris Miller, Arlington - cmiller@pecva.org
Members of the Board
Peter Agelasto, Virginia Beach - agelasto@mindspring.com
Karl Bren, Richmond - karl.bren@comcast.net
Henry Broaddus, Williamsburg - broaddus@mac.com
Roger Diedrich. Fairfax - rdiedrich@cox.net
John Eckman, Harrisonburg - john@valleyconservation.org
Steve Herbert, Suffolk - r.s.herbert@hotmail.com
Cale Jaffe, Charlottesville - cjaffe@selcva.org
Howard Kittell, Winchester, hkittell@shentel.net
Margaret O'Bryan, Mechanicsville - heron329@aol.com
Paige Weiss Pollard, Suffolk - paigelw@verizon.net
Harrison Rue, Charlottesville - hrue@tjpdc.org
Michele Satturlund, Richmond - msatturlund@macbur.com
Stewart Schwartz, Alexandria - stewart@smartergrowth.net
Sallie Sebrell, Suffolk - intothewoods@whro.net
Christine Thompson, Virginia Beach - cptaiken@aol.com
VCN Staff
Nathan Lott, Executive Director - nathan@vcnva.org
Suzanne Ankrum, Policy Programs Coordinator - suzanne@vcnva.org
Dana Roberts, Outreach and Capacity-Building Coordinator - dana@vcnva.org
Virginia
Conservation Network Member Organizations
As of May 5, 2008
Bald Eagle
Cheaspeake Bay Foundation * Garden Club of Virginia
Piedmont Environmental Council * Southern Environmental Law Center
Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club
Cardinal
Audubon Naturalist Society * The Nature Conservancy * Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited
Virginia League of Conservation Voters * Virginia League of Conservation Voters - Education Fund
Tiger Swallowtail
American Lung Association *Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore
Coalition for Smarter Growth
Episcopal Diocese of Virginia Committee on the Stewardship of Creation
Elizabeth River Project * James River Association * National Parks Conservation Association
Scenic Virginia * Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation
Southeastern Rural Community Assistance Project *Trust for Public Land
Valley Conservation Council * Virginia Native Plant Society
Western Service Area of the Virginia Recreation and Parks Society
Wetlands Watch *
Wildlife Center of Virginia
Dogwood
Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation * Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Appalachian Voices * Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation
Audubon Society of Northen Virginia *
BikeWalk Virginia * Blue Ridge Environmental Network Cabell Brand Center *
Cape Henry Audubon Society * Capitol Region Land Conservancy Chesapeake Bay Foundation-York Chapter *
Citizens for a Fort Monroe National Park *
Civil War Preservation Trust
Conservation Park of Virginia *
Dan River Basin Association * Flora of Virginia Project *
Friend's of Daniel's Run Park *
Friends of Powhatan Creek Watershed * Friends of Rockfish Watershed
Friends of Stafford Creeks *
Friends of the Rappahannock *
Friends of the Rivers of Virginia
Goose Creek Association * Hands Across the Lake
Highlanders for Responsible Development * Northern Neck Audubon Society
Northern Virginia Conservation Trust * Partnership for Smarter Growth
People’s Alliance for Clean Energy * People Protecting Watershed Headwaters
Potomac Conservancy * Rail Solution
Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection * Richmond Audubon Society
Rockbridge Area Conservation Council * Rockfish Valley Foundation
Rural Nelson *
Upper Tennessee River Roundtable
Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts * Virginia Audubon Council
Virginia Bicycling Federation * Virginia Bluebird Society * Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust Virginia Forest Watch *
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Virginia Sustainable Building Network *
Virginia Wilderness Committee *
Western Virginia Land Trust *
Wild Virginia! *
Garden Club Groups
Albemarle, Ashland, Augusta, Boxwood, Brunswick, Fauquier & Loudoun, Fairfax, Norfolk,
Northern Neck, Hunting Creek, James River, Leesburg, Martinsville, Mill Mountain, Nansemond River, Nelson County, Norfolk, Northern Neck, Rappahannock Valley, Spotswood, Three Chopt, Tuckahoe, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg
Sierra Club Groups
Blue Ridge Group, Chesapeake Bay Group, Falls of the James, Great Falls Group,
Mount Vernon Group, New River Group, Piedmont Group, Rappahannock, Roanoke Group, Thunder Ridge Group,
York River Group
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