Virginia Conservation Network General Assembly Preview at The Frontier Project

In preparation for Virginia’s 2019 General Assembly session, Virginia Conservation Network and its Network partners are convening for a preview of what’s in store for our natural landscapes and resources. Volunteers, board members, and staff of partner organizations — as well as those interested in getting more involved in Virginia’s conservation community — are invited to learn about priority environmental topics and discuss our collective approach to advancing policy in the upcoming legislative session.

Traditionally, this annual event has taken place only in Richmond, VA. In order to better accommodate the vast majority of Virginians who live outside of the region, we are hosting six watch parties across the Commonwealth, in addition to hosting the regular in-person event.

Coffee and light breakfast will be served at all locations. All attendees will also receive a copy of the 2019 Environmental Briefing Book, which displays the breadth of conservation issues our community is prioritizing in the coming year. Additionally, attendees at all locations will have the opportunity to ask questions at the conclusion of each panel.

Questions? Contact Sheri Wood at admin@vcnva.org or (804) 644-0283.

Purchase tickets HERE.

SCHEDULE
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Sign-in / light breakfast and coffee

9:00 – 9:15 a.m. Welcome

9:15 – 10:00 a.m. Presentations: A review of statewide conservation priorities

• Achieving safe and responsible closure of coal ash ponds
• Fighting climate change and sea level rise by joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
• Securing funding in the budget for our conservation priorities, including Chesapeake Bay cleanup programs, land conservation, and natural resources agency funding

10:00 – 10:40 a.m. Panel: Other statewide conservation issues we expect

• Protecting Virginians from the costs of unnecessary fracked gas pipelines
• Ensuring the Commonwealth provides localities with appropriate tools to address the high cost of new development
• Breaking down barriers to small-scale solar

10:40 – 11:00 a.m. Tools and strategies for being an effective conservation advocate in 2019

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Regional discussions

INFORMATION
Additional information about regional watch parties:

Richmond In-Person Preview
Hosted by Virginia Conservation Network
The Frontier Project: 3005 West Marshall Street, Richmond, VA 23230

Charlottesville Watch Party
Hosted by Piedmont Environmental Council + Appalachian Voices
CitySpace: 100 5th Street NE, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Danville Watch Party
Hosted by Roanoke River Basin Association
Institute for Advanced Learning & Research: 150 Slayton Avenue, Danville, VA 24540

Harrisonburg Watch Party
Hosted by Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
Ice House (JMU), Room 104: 127 West Bruce Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Reston Watch Party
Hosted by Choose Clean Water Coalition
National Wildlife Federation Reston Office: 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190

Roanoke Watch Party
Hosted by Blue Ridge Land Conservancy
Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke: 2015 Grandin Road SW, Roanoke, VA 24015

Virginia Beach Watch Party
Hosted by Lynnhaven River Now
Virginia Wesleyan University, Greer Environmental Sciences Center: 5817 Wesleyan Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Warrenton Watch Party
Hosted by Piedmont Environmental Council
PEC's headquarters: 45 Horner Street, Warrenton, VA 20186