Rural Nelson Report

for Annual Meeting, 3 March 2004

submitted by

Constantine Roussos, President

Events of the past year have made it clear that we stand at a crossroads for the future of Nelson County. Will we mindlessly take the path of unrestricted development that so many others have followed or will we consciously determine the way we live out lives and interact with our environment? For many of those of our grandparents’ era, living in a housing project nearby the factory where they worked or engaging in little better than subsistence farming was the best life they could hope for. Today, more than at any other time in our history, we have the power to make our world what we want it to be. We may not be able to construct an ideal society but we know many important ideals that we can strive for.

Certainly, agrarian activities are our lifeblood, supplying food and other essentials and must be supported. Nurturing an appreciation of history is important as it serves as a guide for our future. Perhaps, most importantly, we must protect the natural environment in which we live or ultimately perish. Of course, we must also consider the practicalities of modern life. People need quality housing and good job opportunities. And the greater the population density the more difficult it is to attain all of these goals. But we have the tools and technology to achieve what we want. In order to be successful, however, a majority of our citizens must have the resolve to refine these tools and apply them. Education is the key and that is Rural Nelson’s primary activity. Let’s see how our mission statement relates to these ideals.

The Mission of Rural Nelson is to preserve and enhance the rural quality of life enjoyed by Nelson County residents by developing broad-based support for informed growth policies that:

• Support agricultural and forestal activities;
• Preserve our historic heritage and the integrity of our natural resource systems;
• Protect affordable housing opportunities for Nelson residents;
• Encourage commercial development and design appropriate to Nelson's rural character.

We believe that change in all these areas, while inevitable, can take place in a way consistent with the intrinsic value of Nelson's rural character.

Specifically, how did Rural Nelson promote its primary activity, education, during the past year? Certainly, our monthly meeting programs contributed greatly. Education has two components – teaching and learning. Each month Rural Nelson engaged experts to help us understand how their particular fields relate to the quality of life in Nelson County. Areas addressed for 2003 were the following.

Programs for Monthly Meetings:

“Wireless Internet and Rural Economic Opportunities”

“Affordable Rural Housing” (Habitat and NCCDF)

“GIS (Graphical Information Systems) Program – Benefits to the County and Its Citizens” (Doug Coleman, Wintergreen Nature Foundation)

“Nelson’s Zoning Ordinance” (Frank Cox)

“Non-traditional Farming in Nelson” (vineyards, organics)

“Solid Waste in Nelson” (KNB)

“Rural Rustic Roads Program” (VDOT)

“Purchase of Development Rights” (Albemarle Co Farm Bureau)

As one can readily see from the programs listed here Rural Nelson values partnerships. Speakers at our monthly meetings have come from County Government, the Wintergreen Nature Foundation, Keep Nelson Beautiful, the Virginia Department of Transportation, Habitat for Humanity, the Nelson Co. Community Development Foundation and the Albemarle Farm Bureau. And that only covers the past year! Partnerships facilitate exchange of information and ideas and help generate a consensus among County residents. We have accomplished much through our approach of using information gathering and dissemination as a tool to achieve consensus building. It is now a proven strategy and will continue to be our hallmark for 2004.

As informative and important as these monthly information sessions are they only directly reached a small fraction of County residents. In order to bring the news to as many citizens as possible Rural Nelson maintains a mailing list of over 500 individuals. Announcements and recaps of the most important points covered in these monthly meetings were e-mailed to each person on the list. Make no mistake, this is not spam. Every person on our mailing list has requested to be placed on the list and to receive our mailings.

But, what good is all of this education and information if it is not put into action? Well, the “action” takes place at official County meetings. This is where ordinances are discussed, rulings made and laws created. Rural Nelson representatives attended every Board of Supervisors (BOS), Planning Commission (PC), Zoning and Industrial Development Authority (IDA) meeting held in 2003 with full reports filed on each. The reports were e-mailed to all of those on our mailing list and posted on the Rural Nelson website.

In addition to the meetings mentioned above, a Rural Nelson representative covered an important court trial on land use. For Nelson County this was a landmark decision. Rural Nelson worked long and hard to promote citizen involvement in the development of the County’s Comprehensive Plan. Ultimately the Planning Commissioners approved and the Board Supervisors adopted a plan that most agreed would help us create a living environment that we would be proud to pass on to our children. The judge’s decision in the court trial clearly demonstrated that the Comprehensive Plan alone is not enough. In order to implement the ideas embodied in the Comprehensive Plan the County must create a Zoning Ordinance that is compatible with the Plan. Rural Nelson made the adoption of such a Zoning Ordinance a high priority for 2003 and it will continue to be a high priority until it is put into place.

Rural Nelson engaged in numerous other activities to help disseminate information and put itself in the public eye. These activities include the following.

- An information table at the Nelson County Summer Festival at Oak Ridge

- Open House for Halloween

- An information table at the Montebello Community Market

- An information table at the Rockfish Valley Community Center (RVCC) Christmas Open House

- Participated in the filming of an informational video on watershed protection produced by the Commonwealth’s Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

- Sent a representative to a meeting on county Scenic Byways

Numerous other activities that originated prior to 2003 have continued and been refined in 2003.

Rural Nelson’s website is noted as a source of complete and accurate information on county issues. It is used by County officials and ordinary citizens alike. It was instrumental in the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s decision to use Nelson County as a model of community involvement in an educational video.

Rural Nelson aids Friends of the Rockfish Watershed by using Rural Nelson’s 501(c)3 status to enable donations to FORWatershed to be tax-deductible.

Rural Nelson continues to maintain an office in the heart of Lovingston.

I have saved the most important part of Rural Nelson until last – the people who make it happen. As conscientious as our volunteer force is it would be impossible to accomplish all that we have on a purely volunteer basis. For the past several years we have committed to funding a half-time field officer (who actually works full-time).

Kim Cash has been the engine that drives Rural Nelson. She organizes, attends, schedules, brainstorms, consults, influences, travels, emails, writes and exhibits patience above and beyond human capability.

Mike Tapager, our Vice President, owns the building in which Rural Nelson physically resides. This presence in the County seat gives us exposure and credibility in addition to an office, computer and phone. Mike also finds time to attend meetings when Kim cannot be in two places at once and serves as Kim’s right-hand man.

Joyce Burton, our Treasurer, keeps our books straight, and diligently reminds us of our precarious financial position.

Mary Buford, our Secretary, has contributed to us in so many ways beyond her formal duties of taking minutes at our meetings; the same minutes lauded above as our primary means of communication to the County at large.

The remaining members of our Board of Directors have given time, effort, ideas and support on numerous projects and initiatives.

Many others have faithfully attended our monthly meetings, asking probing questions and carrying the word forth to their communities; even to the hinterlands of Elma and Montebello. Many have also contacted their representatives on the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission to help make our mission statements reality.

Finally, without our substantial army of financial contributors we could not exist. Hard work and ideals can take us far but in this real world financial resources are indispensable.

We are focused. We know what our goals are and we have the strategies and tools to make them a reality. Our supporters are faithful because we are honest with the general public and with each other. And we are proven to be effective. Our mission statement is clear yet not so narrow that there is not room for individual opinions. Our members are encouraged to act independently. Our belief is that reasonable people, when given the facts, will ultimately find common ground. Let’s continue to be a model of planning and reason and make 2004 the best year yet for Nelson Co.