NEWS
ITEMS
GOVERNOR
WARNER NAMES NEW SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION RICHMOND
Governor Mark R. Warner announced today that he has elevated
Deputy Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer to serve
as Virginia’s Secretary of Transportation. Homer succeeds
Secretary Whittington “Whitt” Clement, who earlier announced
his plan to resign at the end of this month to return
to the practice of law. Prior to joining the Warner Administration
in January 2002, Homer served as deputy county executive
in Prince William County.
“Whitt Clement has been a strong partner as we have worked
to restore fiscal discipline to our transportation program
and improve the performance at VDOT, and I wish him well
as he returns to the practice of law,” Governor Warner
said. “Whitt and Pierce have worked as a team to help
find innovative solutions to Virginia's transportation
challenges, including enhanced rail and mass transit options,
airport improvements, and the use of public-private partnerships
to build some critical highway projects. Pierce Homer
is a creative thinker and a consensus builder - attributes
that have become basically a job requirement in this role.”
“Pierce Homer has worked hard on these challenges for
three years as my Deputy Secretary, and I have full confidence
he will tackle this expanded role without any disruption
to our transportation program,” Secretary Clement said.
“He was instrumental in winning legislative support this
year for the Governor’s transportation initiative, which
provides historic levels of one-time funding to jump-start
promising public-private partnerships, promote greater
use of rail and transit, encourage local oversight of
road projects and permanently eliminate deficits on completed
projects in Virginia’s six-year transportation program.”
The Secretariat of Transportation has oversight of developing
and implementing Virginia’s transportation program, including
management and budgetary responsibilities for the Departments
of Transportation, Motor Vehicles, Aviation, and Rail
and Public Transportation as well as for the Motor Vehicle
Dealer Board and the Virginia Port Authority. These six
agencies employ over 12,000 people with an annual budget
in excess of $3.3 billion. In addition, the Secretary
of Transportation serves as Chairman of the Commonwealth
Transportation Board.
MEMBER ORGANIZATION REQUESTS
AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
VCN
CELEBRATION OF 35 YEARS OF SERVICE, APRIL 28, 2005
Thursday, April 28th, 2005, 6:00PM-9:30PM
The Richmond Omni Hotel
12th Street ~ Richmond, Virginia
Keynote Speaker:
The Honorable Christie Todd Whitman
Former EPA Administrator
Former New Jersey Governor
Remarks by:
Ukrops/ First Market Bank
The Honorable Linwood Holton
Former Virginia Governor (Invited)
Awardees:
Blue Ridge Award: Christopher G. Miller
An award presented to an individual for significantly
contributing to the protection and enhancement of Virginia’s
Environment
Mighty Oak Award: Bunny Murray & Bessie Carter
An award presented to individuals for continued focus
on the environment and for support of the CCVA (1969~1990)
Cardinal Award: Patricia A. Jackson
An award presented to an individual for continued focus
on the environment and for support of the VCN (1991~present)
Dogwood Awards:
Virginia League of Conservation Voters (Non-Profit)
SmithLewis ARCHITECTURE (Private)
Virginia Outdoors Foundation (Government)
An award presented to an organization for contributions
to improve the environment in three categories: non-profit;
private and government
Thank You to Our Sponsors:
Hero of the Planet:
Ukrop’s/First Market Bank
Earth Defenders:
Piedmont Environmental Council ** Mr. & Mrs. Robert
Sledd ** Southern Environmental Law Center ** Martha and
Lynn Wingfield
Nature’s Champions:
Circuit City Foundation ** Dominion ** Smithfield Foods,
Inc.
Forest Friends:
American Lung Association ** Better Housing Coalition
** Mr. & Mrs. Karl Bren ** Chesapeake Bay Foundation
** Green Visions Consulting ** James River Green Building
Council ** Moseley Architects ** National Wildlife Federation
** The Nature Conservancy in Virginia ** Partnership for
Smarter Growth ** Sue Rowland Consulting ** Trane ** Virginia
Community Development Corporation ** Virginia League of
Conservation Voters
Reply
Please Reply By: Monday, April 18, 2005
Please mail check to:
Virginia Conservation Network, 1001 East Broad Street,
Suite LL35-C, Richmond, Virginia 23219
Name: _______________________________________________
Organization: _________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________
Phone: ( )_____________________________________________
E-Mail:________________________________________________
_____I would like to Host a table of ten: $2,500
_____I would like to be a Sponsor (5 dinner tickets):
$1,000
_____I would like to be a Patron (2 dinner tickets): $500
_____I would like to attend the Celebration:
_____# tickets @ $75 each
_____I am unable to attend, but have enclosed a tax deductible
contribution: $_____________
VCN is a non-profit organization. A portion of your ticket
price will be considered a contribution and may be tax
deductible to the fullest extent.
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Omni Richmond
through March 28 at $115 a night. Call (804) 344-7000
for reservations.
For More Information Contact VCN at (804) 644-0283 or
vcngeneral@aol.com
SMART
GROWTH WORKSHOP-APRIL 9 IN ROANOKE
Three local
groups have joined together to hold a Smart Growth Workshop
on Saturday, April 9th The session runs from 10am to 5pm
and will be held at the Roanoke City Main Library. The
workshop is free to the public. The Blue Ridge Environmental
Network, the Roanoke Group of the Sierra Club, and Citizens
for Smart Growth are the sponsors. The morning session
will focus on smart growth principles and achieving goals
through community planning. The group will discuss strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats to our local area.
The afternoon discussion explores how to implement these
ideas. The format will include a video on the concepts
of New Urbanism and the need for a community Images Survey.
If you can't come for all day, come for the part that
you can make!
Jonathan Brown, of the Virginia Sierra Club Chapter will
moderate a panel of presentations at one o'clock. Presenters
include:
Joe Guthrie, Pulaski farmer- loss of farmland including
capital gains tax , inheritance, impact on rural society,
land use status;
Bob Stauffer, Roanoke College- economics of property development-costs,
benefits, compensation, value of green space;
Joe Yates, City of Salem -impact of zoning- consistent
regulations, enforcement, planning, citizen input;
Pam Berberich, Citizens for Smart Growth- expanding infrastructure-
extending utilities, roads, public vs private costs, sprawl,
should we promote development;
Gregg Lewis, Cradle to Cradle, Smith & Lewis
Architects -designing for smart growth- infrastructure,
greenways, infill, cluster ordinances, new urbanism.
All are welcome and admission is free, but pre-registration
is requested- contact anniekrochalis@swva.net (Sierra
Club) or pberberich@hotmail.com (Citizens for Smart Growth)
EARTH
DAY AT VCU-APRIL 22
Virginia Commonwealth University
Celebrates the 35th Anniversary of Earth Day!
Date: Friday, April 22nd
Time: 10:00 am-3:00 pm
Location: Student Commons, (Outside Courtyard)
907 Floyd Avenue, Richmond, VA
Event Coordinator: Steve Heinitz
VCU-Recycling Coordinator, Ph# 828-2487
e-mail: srheinit@vcu.edu. RSVP by 3/11/05
GOVERNOR’S
CONFERENCE ON GREENWAYS, BLUEWAYS, and TRAILS: MAY 1-4
Join us in Richmond
for the 2005 Governor's Conference on Greenways, Blueways
and Trails,
May 1-4. Register
now at http://www.bikewalkvirginia.org/conference/index.html
COMPREHENSIVE
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION STRATEGY COMMUNITY MEETINGS
Comprehensive
Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) Community meetings
have been scheduled. Go to http://www.vawildlifestrategies.org/community.html
for additional details. Click on the "Community Input"
link in the left sidebar that provides information about
the fall meetings, access to the summary report prepared
by Greg Brittingham, and the upcoming schedule and expected
accomplishments.
The CWCS Web site is located at www.vawildlifestrategies.org;
the Community Input information may be found directly
at: http://www.vawildlifestrategies.org/community.html.
ALLIANCE
FOR JUSTICE ANNOUNCES NONPROFIT AND FOUNDATION ADVOCACY
BLOG
Alliance for
Justice is pleased to announce the kickoff of another
resource for the foundation and nonprofit communities
– the Nonprofit and Foundation AdvocacyBlog at http://nonprofitadvocacy.blogspot.com.
The blog will be updated every day with news and views
impacting our communities’ ability to advocate. The blog
will also feature our Nonprofit Advocacy Network and Foundation
E-Bulletin alerts and articles.
New features will be rolling out through the blog throughout
2005, so stay tuned to allianceforjustice.org
and nownonprofitadvocacy.blogspot.com!
The Alliance for Justice is a national association of
public interest organizations spanning a range of issues,
including civil rights, social justice, and consumer and
environmental protection. The Alliance promotes a fair
and independent judiciary and strengthens public interest
advocacy.
JOB
OPPORTUNITIES
SOUTHERN
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER--STAFF ATTORNEY, LAND & COMMUNITY
PROJECT
Charlottesville, Virginia
ABOUT SELC: SELC's mission is to protect and improve the
quality of the Southeast’s natural areas and resources.
Working closely with state and local partners, we provide
legal advocacy and leadership on priority regional issues
relating to forests, the coast and wetlands, air and water
pollution, and transportation and land use. Over its 19-year
history, SELC has earned a reputation as one of the leading
environmental organizations in the country. Headquartered
in Charlottesville, VA, SELC also has offices in Chapel
Hill, NC and Atlanta, GA, and satellite offices in Asheville,
NC and Sewanee, TN. We currently have a staff of 65, including
29 lawyers. Additional information regarding our work
and our staff is available at www.SouthernEnvironment.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT & POSITION: SELC’s Land & Community
Project uses legal advocacy, policy reform, and public
education to promote sensible growth and better land use
and transportation decisions, preserve natural and rural
landscapes, and build better communities throughout the
Southeast. A significant amount of our regional work in
this project area has focused on Virginia, where nationally
recognized rural and historic landscapes are under intense
development pressure.
The new staff attorney will work closely with Land &
Community Project Leader Trip Pollard and other attorneys
to expand our work in Virginia with a special focus on
the Charlottesville/Albemarle area. Charlottesville has
much at stake in balancing the pressures of growth with
the natural beauty and quality of life that make it a
unique and desirable place to live, and SELC is making
an institutional commitment to enhance our role in leading
a community-wide effort to maintain its special qualities
and character.
The work will include policy analysis and advocacy before
state and local governments and agencies; litigation and
legal advocacy in state and federal courts and regulatory
agencies; and legislative work as needed. It also will
involve extensive coordination with other organizations,
and research, writing, and public speaking to help educate
citizens and decision makers.
This new position is a tremendous opportunity to be a
part of an experienced and expert Land & Community
team, and to bring new resources to bear at this critical
time for the future of Charlottesville/Albemarle and Virginia.
REQUIREMENTS: Candidates must have a strong academic background,
training in and/or experience with land use and transportation
issues; outstanding writing, analytic, and speaking skills;
and a firm commitment to SELC’s mission. The successful
candidate will be a talented, multi-faceted lawyer with
at least four years of legal experience.
COMPENSATION: $59,000-$74,000 salary, excellent benefits
package, and a positive working environment.
TO APPLY: All applications must be in writing and include
a letter of interest, resume, law school transcript, and
at least three references. Applications should be sent
as soon as possible to Hayley Parrish, Southern Environmental
Law Center, 201 West Main Street, Suite 14, Charlottesville,
VA 22902, or e-mailed to hparrish@selcva.org. SELC is
an Equal Opportunity Employer and is continually seeking
to diversify its staff. We strongly encourage applications
from persons of all racial and ethnic backgrounds.
COALITION
FOR SMARTER GROWTH-OFFICE MANAGER/ COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT
Position Description
The Office Manager/Communications Assistant is the glue
that holds our efforts together. This person will ensure
smooth office operations, maintain a current and effective
web site, manage communication among the Coalition’s members
and partners, and direct our volunteer and intern programs.
Responsibilities fall into two main areas and include,
but are not limited to:
Office Management
Manage computer system & equipment and provide intermediate
level computer troubleshooting support to staff; provide
administrative support; recruit and manage volunteers
and interns; general office management; organize meetings
and events; and ensure the office run smoothly.
Communications Assistant
(Focused on
our Websites) Overall management of Coalition for Smarter
Growth websites including: issue, calendar and action
updates; exploring e-advocacy improvements; working with
partners on internet marketing strategy; providing assistance
to staff updating campaign sites; and writing and managing
our e-newsletter. This person will have the opportunity
to learn about organizational management, campaign strategies,
grassroots organizing, fundraising and transportation
and growth issues.
Qualifications:
This position requires someone extremely well-organized
with excellent communication skills who can manage multiple
projects in a small, fast-paced office. The candidate
must be willing to take initiative and work independently
as well as function as a member of a team. The administrative
elements of this position are substantial and crucial
to our success, but we are interested in a candidate who
also possesses excellent communication skills, especially
writing abilities and has experience updating websites.
The successful candidate should have strong administrative
skills and facility with a variety of software programs,
including word processing, spreadsheets, database applications
and dreamweaver or other similar web software as well
as an ability to troubleshoot software and hardware problems.
Experience with growth and transportation issues is preferred,
but not required, though candidates must have a serious
desire to fulfill our mission. An understanding of Maryland,
DC and Virginia culture and politics is plus. An ability
to work some evenings and weekends will be necessary.
Salary is dependant on experience; the range is $28,000
- $32,000.
Position is open until filled, though we hope to fill
by mid-April.
To Apply:
Please email a resume and letter outlining your interest
and qualifications to: jobs@smartergrowth.net
Coalition for Smarter Growth
4000 Albemarle Street, NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20016
Phone: (202)244-4408
ALLIANCE
FOR CHESAPEAKE BAY-PROGRAM ASSISTANT
The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay seeks a Full time
Program Assistant for its Richmond, Virginia office to
help advance the Citizen Monitoring Program, James River
Sojourn, wetland restoration and other projects and programs.
Responsibilities include training volunteers to perform
water quality testing, organizing and maintaining monitoring
equipment, computer database entry, and writing training
manuals and other documents. The Program Assistant must
enjoy working with people and have outstanding interpersonal
skills, good writing abilities, verbal communication skills
superb organizational skills, attention to detail and
the ability to work on multiple projects. The Assistant
must also have computer experience including word processing,
spreadsheets and PowerPoint. A Bachelors degree is required
- one in ecology, biology, chemistry, environmental sciences
or related is preferred. Some experience in the environmental
field is also preferred.
Salary range of $27-28 K. The position is funded for one
year; successful candidate must be willing to assist with
fundraising for future years.
For information on Alliance programs, go to www.alliancechesbay.org.
To apply, submit letter and resume to Alliance for the
Chesapeake Bay, PO Box 1981, Richmond, VA 23218, Attn:
Program Assistant Position. Email: smoulds@acb-online.org.
Fax: 804-775-0954. Deadline for applications is April
15th.
Stacey Moulds
Senior Program Coordinator
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
PO Box 1981
Richmond VA 23218
or
530 East Main Street, Suite 501
Richmond VA 23219
phone: (804) 775-0951
fax: (804) 775-0954
email: moulds.acb@verizon.net
www.AllianceChesBay.org
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VCN's mission is to protect the Commonwealth's air, lands,
and waters for the benefit of the people, as guaranteed
by the Virginia Constitution.
If you have an item that should be included on this list,
please send it to Ellen Shepard at ellenshepard@yahoo.com.
VCN E-NEWS is emailed the second and fourth Friday of
every month, except during the session when it is weekly.
Deadline for submissions is Thursday.
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