RURAL
NELSON ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, March 7,
2002
Shipman Community Center
Following a potluck dinner, Joyce Burton
gave the Treasurer’s Report noting that Rural Nelson is now their own
501(c)3 organization. She reported a balance of $10,500 returned from the
Piedmont Environmental Council. By the end of February, Rural Nelson had spent
$3,000 and taken in $1,600 in donations. Noting that we are spending more
than we are taking in, she reminded everyone of the need for donations.
Mike Tapager, on behalf of the members,
thanked Al Weed for his service over the past year as President. Mike noted
that many of Al’s valuable contributions take place behind the scenes but
enable a complex group to achieve its goals.
Al thanked everyone involved in arranging
the Annual Meeting:
Setup – Tim & Penny Geelan and Mike Tapager
Flowers – Blossom’s
Votives & candles – Denise Lair
Music – Adam & Richard Smith of Wolcott Marinara
Al then presented the Annual Report noting
the some of the accomplishments of the past year including:
*providing a presence at all county meetings and generating objective reports
to its citizens
*attention to the development of the proposed Comprehensive Plan
*pertinent and timely monthly meetings, many of which have had concrete,
positive results
*the useful information generated by our intern, JessieSmart
*the excellent information source provided by our website
Al noted that our greatest challenge would
be determining how we take our vision from the small group to a much broader
portion of the public. He identified preservation and strengthening of
our agriculture industry as a priority. Al also suggested that preserving
a way of life in Nelson for our children, providing a place for them to raise
their own children, should be a priority. He noted that rural
preservation involves valuing the intrinsic talents and natural resources found
here and finding ways to harness them for general prosperity. Quoting
from the final report of the Rural Prosperity Commission, “…each community
needs to define for itself what prosperity means and to assume primary
responsibility for taking positive steps to achieve its goals. Even if it were
possible to define prosperity for all communities, prosperity could not be
achieved with out grassroots efforts. Hence the most appropriate
strategy…is to empower community leaders to enhance economic activity and
achieve prosperity in their own way.”
Al thanked the following Rural Nelson
supporters, board members and officers for their work over the past year:
Amelia Williams – copyediting our first two newsletters
Serelda Elliot – copyediting our last newsletter
Conny Roussos – webmaster
Mike Tapager – landlord providing us office space on Front Street,
attendance at thecounty meetings
Uri Levi – providing supervision for our intern, Jessie Smart
Joyce Burton – Treasurer
Mary Buford Hitz – accurate and timely minutes for meetings, author of the
Member Profiles
Dave Cole – Board Member
Charlie Wineberg – Board Member
Denise Lair – Board Member
Foxie Morgan – Board Member
Barbara Strauss – Former Board Member
Kim Cash – Field Officer
The Nominating Committee of Mike
Tapager and Tim Geelen presented the following slate of candidates for officers
and two Board seats:
Directors: Dave Cole and Barbara Barton
Officers: Al Weed, President
Conny Roussos, Vice President
Joyce Burton, Treasurer
Mary Buford Hitz, Secretary
All were approved by consent.
Member Announcements:
Al reported that Chris French with Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water
Conservation had indicated that a variety of hardwood, bare-rooted trees are
available for planting through the Rivanna Conservation Society.
Chris has asked that the trees be planted in riparian areas if possible.
Contact Chris at chrisfrench@va.nacdnet.org
Michael LaChance reported that he had just attended a VA Tech workshop on the
use of GIS systems, including the use of new and satellite imagery. He
said that the new imagery could be useful in determining future agriculture and
forestry possibilities in the county. Michael also announced that the
Extension Service would be hosting a series of programs on sustainable
practices for forest landowners. The series will be held each of four
Mondays in May. Contact Michael at lachance@vt.edu
Connie Brennan, Central District Supervisor, thanked Rural Nelson for their
work over the past year, noting that the Supervisors do appreciate what we do.
Peter Agelasto reported that Mr. Dave Rosgen from Colorado will bring 40
students in his field study group to the Rockfish Valley on Tuesday (3/12) to
study the streambank problems and possible remediation at Elk Hill on
Rt. 151. He invited anyone who would like to observe to attend. Contact
Peter at Agelasto@mindspring.com.
Peter also suggested that each member work to reach the goal of 500 email
addresses for Rural Nelson’s list. The emails are currently sent to over
300 addresses.
George Nolting with Rural Virginia, Inc said that Rural Nelson is an
inspiration to his group, representing the “coming home”, grassroots community
effort. He said he is hopeful that the two groups can work together.
Rural Virginia’s website is www.ruralva.org
Mike Tapager noted that an effort has begun to talk with people in Lovingston
to develop a vision for the town proper. He asked that anyone interested
in helping with that effort contact him at tapager@aol.com.
Mike also noted that while Rural Nelson is informational, many of our
members are also involved in other projects including Grown In Nelson, Keep
Nelson Beautiful and the ongoing Soundscapes Project. The Soundscapes
Project, a grant-funded project with Wintergreen Performing Arts, will use
musical themes and sounds in an original composition by Composer Judith Shatin
to facilitate landuse dialog in the county. Mike said that there would be
two performances, one at the end of June at Tye River Elementary and one over
the 4th of July weekend at Wintergreen.
Joyce Burton applauded a program that involved school students planting
hundreds of trees along the riparian buffer at Shannon Farms. Michael
LaChance noted that the work had been done through the Conservation Reserve
Program and credited Nelson High teacher Lisa Wixtead for involving the
students in active environmental work.
Goals & Objectives for 2002:
Al noted the ongoing work on the proposed Comprehensive Plan,
reminding everyone that the Plan still must go before the Board of Supervisors
for consideration. He said that while we don’t know what the final Plan
will be, the current draft is a strong plan. He reminded everyone that we
need Zoning & Subdivision Ordinances that work with the Plan and
suggested that citizens will want to be involved in that process. Al also noted
the development of Design Ordinances as a goal. He said that
Ordinances can be done in Nelson without hurting businesses, but making a big
difference in the future of the county. Al suggested that developing a process
and criteria for a PDR (Purchase of Development Rights) program should
be a goal. Although the county does not have funding for PDR’s,
establishing the system costs nothing and would facilitate the process if
funding became available.
Noting some of the upcoming Rural Nelson programs, Al said that there
has been interest in learning more about the biosolids issue. He said
that biosolids have been an emotional issue in several surrounding counties and
suggested that we learn the facts before it becomes an issue for Nelson.
He also noted the May meeting with speaker Steve Talley from Canaan
Valley Institute, who’s group works with some of the same issues as Rural
Nelson and the Friends of the Rockfish Watershed (FORW). Michael LaChance
suggested that due to the prolonged drought and the ongoing problems with the
domestic water supply, water issues should continue to be a focus. Al agreed
saying that certain issues such as water and conservation easements should be
meeting focuses each year. Al announced that information on our upcoming
April meeting is now pending as our speaker, Mr. J. Glynn Loope, has cancelled
following the termination of his consulting arrangement with the county to
study economic development needs. Final arrangements on the April meeting
will follow as soon as possible.
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This report, sent to over 300 Nelson County citizens, was
made possible by the generous donations of Rural Nelson members.
Kim T. Cash
Field Officer
Rural Nelson, Inc.
P. O. Box 401
(622 Front Street)
Lovingston, VA 22949
434-263-5000
email: info@ruralnelson.org
www.ruralnelson.org