Saving Land Newsletter - Fall 2016

Saving Land FALL 2016

|

Vol. 20, Issue 2

20

YEARS

blueridgelandconser vancy.org

Blue Ridge Land Conservancy Promoting the conservation of western Virginia’s natural resources- farms, forests, waterways, and rural landscapes

FROM THE DIRECTOR

The Days of our Lives The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy Turns 20

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Betty H. Lesko, President William M. Hackworth, President-Elect F. Fulton Galer, Treasurer Whitney H. Feldmann, Secretary C. Whitney Brown Frank G. Carter Diana K. Christopulos Stephen M. Claytor M. Rupert Cutler Ruth T. Dickerson Thomas M. Dunkenberger, Jr Broaddus C. Fitzpatrick Joshua C. Gibson Anne M. Jennings George A. Kegley Nelson W. Lafon Linda W. Pharis

ADVISORY COUNCIL Lucy R. Ellett Liza T. Field Talfourd H. Kemper Robert B. Lambeth, Jr.

STAFF David C. Perry, Executive Director Meagan R. Cupka, Project Manager Deborah Ullmer, Office Manager Erica Reed, Outdoor Educator 722 First Street SW, Suite L Roanoke, VA 24016 540-985-0000 blueridgelandconservancy.org COVER PHOTO:

20 years of local conservation

There are milestone birthdays in all of our lives. They usually revolve around new things you get to do that you couldn’t do before.

For example, take age 16—you get your driver’s license. You can vote at 18. You can have a drink (legally) at 21. The AARP paperwork comes in the mail when you approach 50. Partial Social Security benefits are available at 62, and full benefits at 66.

But 20?

Dave Perry

A speaker at a conference once told me that no one will care if your land conservancy is celebrating a birthday that just happens to end in a zero or a five. He’s probably right.

Still, 20 years is a pretty long time, especially for a small non-profit that began in a tiny office in South Roanoke on a shoestring budget and a staff consisting of Rupert Cutler and…Rupert Cutler.

The speaker did say that people do appreciate longevity. 20 years really is a long time. It’s two decades of making payrolls, talking to folks over the hoods of pickup trucks, integrating ourselves into southwest Virginia and becoming a part of the community fabric.

20 years means we have staying power. Farmers and rural landowners can trust that we’re not going to fold up the tent overnight and move the team to Indianapolis, or the office to Norfolk. We’re here, we’ve been here and we’re going to stay here.

There have been ups and downs, but more ups than downs. Some things have changed— the acres of land we protect have grown to 17,000, with 39 miles of streams in our care.

The office is bigger. There are two full-time staffers and two part-timers. There’s a company car, thanks to Coca-Cola Bottling. The budget is bigger.

And some things have stayed the same—it might be a “two shoestring” budget these days, but we still sweat making ends meet, along with the development committee and the finance folks. We still spend a lot of time on 81, 460, 11, 221, 122, 220, 24, 311, 43, 8 (hike!) and all of the many, many back roads in between. Thank goodness for GPS! We still have pretty much the same talk with people across southwest Virginia, explaining the benefits of saving their land and answering most of the same questions they asked back in 1996. Rupert is still around, but he’s a board member now.

Yep, the big two-oh. It’s not sweet sixteen, but we’re still throwing a heck of a party on October 9 at the Glen in Roanoke County (read more about the Conservation Celebration on page 10). Officially, that’ll be 20 years and two days. Come join us—I can promise a giant birthday cake, great food and drinks, mountain music, inspirational speakers and 250 of the best friends we can find.

See you then, and wear your party shirt.

Summer Intern a Big Help

By Meagan Cupka One of the neat things we are able to do at the land conservancy is offer internships to local students. These are young adults who want their careers and studies to include the environment as they move forward. From Virginia Tech to Roanoke College to Hollins University, students (like myself, a few years ago) have been able to gain practical experience in the world of conservation. They are always top-notch individuals and bring helpful insight and new energy to the office!

This summer we were happy to have Lauren Mathews from Virginia Tech join us as a summer intern. A senior at VT, she is studying public relations and writing as well as environmental conservation, and will graduate this fall. Over the summer months she helped staff with public relations projects such as gathering local media contacts, and drafting press releases. You may have even received one of her emailed newsletters, and you’ve received the Conservation Celebration invitation which she helped design. But don’t worry, we didn’t keep Lauren cooped up in the office the whole summer. She assisted us on

Lauren Mathews (center) is pictured with Project Manager, Meagan Cupka (left), and Executive Director, David Perry (right).

monitoring visits, making sure the conservation agreements BRLC is a part of are honored. She also helped us complete groundwork on an easement in progress and we always looked forward to her fresh ideas.

Thank you, Lauren for your excellent work this summer! From all of us at the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy, we wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

TA B L E OF C ONT E N TS • FA L L 2 0 16

Expanding Education........................................4 Achieving Re-accreditation............................5 A Conservation Giant.......................................6 Well-rounded Conservationist.......................8 Celebrating Twenty Years..............................10 Conservation Celebration Sponsors.......... 12

Fall 2016

|

3

“If your plan is for one year, plant rice.

If your plan is for ten years, plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years, educate children.”

–Confucius

Planning for the Future

A

s the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy celebrates its past, we are ever mindful of the future. Knowing that the best way to make sure the environment is protected in the future is to raise children who value the environment, we decided in 2012 to start the Chesapeake Bay Day program in Botetourt. For three years, there have been hands-on learning events where all the Botetourt County fourth grade students could come and get in the creek, find crawdads, learn why clean water is so important, and how they can help the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Now in its fifth year the Chesapeake Bay Day will take place again this fall, thanks to a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund.

But wait, there’s more! We’ve expanded the program to Floyd County, with its first event having been in March. Because the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy received grants from the Roanoke Kiwanis Club, and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland

Fall 2016 |

4

By Meagan Cupka

Fisheries, we’ll be expanding the Bay Day program to select schools in Roanoke County, Roanoke City, and Salem.

Of course, we know that the water in these areas doesn’t flow to the Chesapeake Bay, but it does drain to the Roanoke River. Therefore, we are proud to announce the first-ever Roanoke River Days will take place this October!

At each event, we’ll work with Clean Valley Council, Camp Bethel, the Western Virginia Water Authority, Apple Ridge Farms, Mountain Castle Soil & Water Conservation District, and the U.S. Forest Service to provide hands-on learning activities which cover SOL-based topics touched on in the classroom. It will also provide some of the first times in a creek or on a farm for many students. We believe that these positive experiences will make wild and beautiful places more important for students now and as they grow older.

MORE THAN A PIECE OF PAPER Land Conservancy’s reaccreditation is about people’s lives

I

could tell you that the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy was just awarded a renewal of its national accreditation from the Land Trust Alliance—but I won’t.

Or that it means we adhere to 12 stringent standards, broken into 88 detailed practices about how a top-notch land trust should be run.

Or that only about 350 of the 1,200 land trusts nationwide are accredited—but those that are accredited protect 75 percent of privately conserved land in America.

But I’ll skip all that too.

I’ll skip the boring details. Because even though being nationally accredited through 2021 is very exciting to us, it’s more than a plaque on the wall or piece of paper.

Being nationally accredited is about people’s lives.

It means that when the cattle farmer in Buchanan trusts us to protect his land from becoming a subdivision or shopping center, he can have faith that the very best organization possible has his back.

It means that when the retired insurance agent in Catawba asks us to safeguard the river and cabin where he spent his childhood summers, and where his parents and son are buried, we’ve done all we can to uphold that promise.

And it means that when the citizens of Roanoke ask us to protect their water supply and their iconic mountain with the star on top, we stand ready to ride to the defense.

By David Perry

That’s what land conservation is all about. It’s not about statistics on acres preserved, or miles of streams saved, or the number of children we’ve taught about clean water, or how many families joined us on a Saturday morning hike.

It’s not about dollars raised, visits to our website, Facebook likes or board meetings.

It’s all about people, and the special places that people love.

That’s why the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy is here.

Our unofficial slogan is “We save land.” We save the land you love—the breathtaking views, the deep, green forests, the cold, rocky streams, the tall brush that hides a baby deer, the far-flung mountaintops where bears roam, the rolling pastures, and the corn growing in the loamy creek bottoms. The places you can hike or enjoy on a Sunday drive or bike ride. The farms that grow local fruit and vegetables, the grass that cows turn into fresh local milk, and the quality of life that brings businesses to our area and calls our young people back to raise their families and make their homes.

That’s why accreditation is important. Because when you’re entrusted with a job that big, you have to make sure you’re doing it right.

And we are.

To learn more about accreditation for land trusts and the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, visit landtrustaccreditation.org.

Fall 2016

|

5

Janet Scheid A VICTOR THOMAS ENVIRO It was there that she “became knowledgeable about conservation, preservation, and the science behind ecology.”

J

anet Scheid, recipient of the 2016 A. Victor Thomas Environmental Stewardship Award, will be recognized for her hard work at the annual Conservation Celebration on October 9, 2016. The annual A. Victor Thomas Award is the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy’s highest honor to those who have made significant contributions to the preservation of the natural heritage in western Virginia.

Growing up in the country outside the Washington, DC suburbs in Northern Virginia, and hiking and camping as a child gave Janet an early appreciation for the outdoors.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from American University and then a master’s degree in planning from Virginia Tech. Her respect for the environment led to her first professional career with the Environmental Protection Agency where she helped regulate and educate about air quality.

6

|

Fall 2016

Janet’s dedication and involvement with conservation resulted in the planning of Roanoke Valley’s Greenways when she worked as the Greenway Planner with Roanoke County Parks and Recreation.

“When we moved here, it’s kind of a no-brainer because it’s such a beautiful place. There was talk about forming a land trust, and I wanted to be involved,” Janet says. In 1996 she became one of the first board members of the fledgling Western Virginia Land Trust (now the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy).

One of her many contributions while a founding board member of BRLC was pushing to get it accredited by the Land Trust Alliance. The long and arduous accreditation process, not seeming worthwhile to many, stuck out to Janet, and has since resulted in the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy being accredited in 2011 and again in 2016. Only one-fifth of the land trusts in the US are accredited, but

they have conserved over 75% of the land that’s been protected with conservation agreements.

Janet was also the driving force behind the conservation agreement on Cahas Mountain. When the Bernard farm on the iconic Franklin County landmark went up for auction in 2001, Janet worked with auctioneer Jim Woltz and the Friends of the Rivers of Virginia to save 25 acres on the eastern peak with a conservation easement.

Known as House Rock, the rugged outcrop atop the mountain features a wide-angle view of the Roanoke Valley and a menagerie of plants and wildlife, including wildflowers such as the Lady’s Slipper, stunning mountain laurels and rhododendrons, and even bears.

Today the land conservancy leads hikes each spring to House Rock to share the splendor of the privatelyowned mountain with the public.

Janet served as vice president and then president of the land conservancy before leaving the board after two nine-year terms.

Now she’s serving on the Vinton Town Council, the board of directors

NMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD

Janet Scheid speaks atop Mill Mountain in 2009

of Susan G. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge, and the board of trustees of the Virginia Museum of Natural History.

Janet says she’s most proud of the conservation work to save Mill Mountain, Carvins Cove, Read Mountain, and Cahas Mountain, because they are all important landmarks for the Roanoke valley.

Janet lives with her husband Bud LaRoche, a long-time land conservancy and greenways volunteer, in Vinton.

Their son Colby has started his first physical therapy practice in Lynchburg.

Executive Direc tor Dave Perry , Janet Scheid donor Dr. Milt talk with easem on Miller in F ent ranklin Count y

Fall 2016

|

7

David Hurt LA N D SAV E R AWA R D Truman made all these decisions. I pestered them into it but they made their own call about what to do.”

G

rowing up on a family farm in Franklin County, David Hurt spent his young years running around in the woods, playing in creeks, listening to an older generation’s stories, and developing his understanding of conservation. David will be recognized with the annual Land Saver Award, given to those who save their own land while also advocating for land conservation, at the October 9 Conservation Celebration for the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy.

A graduate of Roanoke College, David has been everything from a bluegrass instrument salesman and a seventh-grade English teacher to his current career as farmer and Realtor in Franklin County. Notable past positions include being the project manager in the early 2000s with the Western Virginia Land Trust, now the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy. He has also served as a board member for the land conservancy, an Easement Director for Conservation Partners LLC, and a Franklin County Supervisor.

“I spent eight years on the Franklin County Board of Supervisors, and fought lonely battles with conservation preservation issues,” David recalls. “I think I had a positive impact on a few zoning issues there when the county was going through a major growth phase.”

In addition to his work on the board of supervisors, David was named the 2012 Virginia Department of Forestry Outstanding Forest Steward for his sustainable timber management. Now in his profession as a Realtor, David works with owners of conserved lands to find potential buyers and future stewards of the properties.

“My parents, and especially my aunt, had a strong stewardship ethic,” David said. “It came from the belief that they are just temporary stewards and must take care of what they’re given while they’re here.”

David’s father and aunt protected hundreds of acres on either side of Lynville Mountain between 1998 and 2006, at David’s prodding.

“My family really does deserve a lot of the credit,” David said. “My mother, father, and late Aunt Louise David Perry, BRLC Director, interacting with the most recent herd of hogs at the Truman Hill Farm.

8

|

Fall 2016

David Hurt talks to Franklin County landowner Johnny Angell about land conservation.

With two properties on either side of Lynville Mountain, David now successfully operates Truman Hill Farm. The goal of this farm is to provide sustainably-raised, grassfed and grass-finished beef while protecting water quality of nearby streams. They have also raised grassfed pork Truman Hill Farm is his original family homestead, having

been in the family since the 1800s.

David is also on the board of directors of the Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority, charged with managing Explore Park as part of being on the Explore Park’s Board.

David’s father-in-law, Gary Duerk, was treasurer of the Western Virginia Land Trust from 2001-2008. David

lives with his wife Katrina and their children in a restored farmhouse in Hardy. The Hurts’ oldest son, Henry, starts college at the University of Richmond this fall. For more information on David’s grass fed beef raised on Truman Hill Farm and available for sale to the public, visit trumanhillfarm.com.

Fall 2016

|

9

It’s a Part

When: October 9, 2016 Time: 4:00–7:00 pm Where: The Glen at Glenburn Farm

10

|

Spring 2016

ty!

Celebrating 20 Years of the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy

By Meagan Cupka

T

here is a LOT to celebrate this fall. Whether it’s our local conservation heroes, our expanding elementary school field trips, more land and water protected than ever, or successfully navigating a non-profit through 20 years (including making it through the Great Recession), there is so much to raise a glass to this October at our annual Conservation Celebration.

Join us October 9th from 4-7 pm at The Glen at Glenburn Farm and kick up your heels as we honor all that we’ve accomplished, and the people who got us here. For this special event, Jay Leutze, noted conservationist and author of Stand Up That Mountain, will share his story about his parents founding a land trust in his living room when he was a boy. He’ll also share snippets from his book about a town which banded together to protect the mountains around their homes from a mining company.

Throughout the night, you’ll enjoy live music, a catered dinner, local Virginia wines and of course Deschutes brews on tap! We’ll have our silent and live auction again with lots of entertainment, outdoor activities, and other items to bid on.

This year, we’ll recognize the work of Mrs. Janet Scheid and Mr. David Hurt. Janet, a Vinton resident and current town councilwoman, will be presented with the A. Victor Thomas Environmental Stewardship Award. In her role as the former Greenway Planner and on the board of trustees of the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy, she’s helped conserve some of the most important places in the area – including the top of Cahas Mountain. She also pushed the land conservancy to complete the accreditation process, ensuring that BRLC adheres to the most stringent standards in land conservation.

Hailing from Franklin County, David Hurt has not only worked for the land conservancy in the past, but has also helped conserve two family properties through BRLC. Working with Conservation Partners and BRLC, David has worked on over 100 conservation agreements in 15 counties, and continues to grow his own farm business, showing that working landscapes and conservation are a good match. For his endless dedication to conservation, we are proud to present David the Land Saver Award.

You’ll have received a save-the-date postcard as well as an invitation to the Conservation Celebration. Don’t forget to reserve your ticket before October first for the early bird price.

Tickets will be sold at the door. All food and beverages are included in the ticket price, and children ages 12 and under are free.

For more information or to make your payment online, please visit brlcva.org/events. We’re looking forward to spending a fantastic night with you celebrating 20 years of conservation!

Fine food and fun at the 2015 Conservation Celebration

Spring 2016

|

11

THANK YOU to our corporate sponsors who have made the 2016 Conservation Celebration possible!

You’ll find a special message from each of them across the next few pages. Their generous financial support helps save land in our region, which boosts southwest Virginia’s tourism, agriculture and timber industries and supports a healthy local economy.

Please take time to look over our sponsor messages, and if you have the opportunity, thank them for helping save the places you love!

Conservation Celebration invitations printed in-kind by:

319 McClanahan St. SW (540) 345‐0936

Roanoke, VA 24014

www.BEcpas.com

C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S

| C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S |

C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R

R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R V AT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R V AT I O N C E L E

Banks work to make profits for shareholders. Member One works to improve the financial lives of residents in the communities we serve.

And we do that willingly. After all, our employees live in your community.

We’ve probably exchanged greetings in the grocery store. Your kids and our kids go to the same schools. Our

livelihoods depend on each other.

And that’s why Member One invests in our communities, not just through sponsorships (although we do a lot of that), but by reinvesting earnings so that we can give you lower loan rates and higher deposit rates.

People before profit: that’s what drives us.

in County, oke Valley, Frankl an Ro g in rv se y dl Prou and Lynchburg.

New River Valley,

MEMBERONEFCU.COM • 800-666-8811 Member One Federal Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.

B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N

We’d rather improve lives than balance sheets.

S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N

Real Estate Services

Farms • Land • Estate Properties • Conservation Easement Properties Licensed in 16 States from Ohio to Florida.

Conservation Minded Real Estate Company

Supporting conservation, energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.

AppalachianPower.com/environment

Jim Woltz

800-551-3588 • woltz.com 4” x 2.5” Ad (2014)

Roanoke Animal Hospital

2814 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24014

(540)343-8021

Mark. R. Finkler, D.V.M. Thomas Blaszak, D.V.M. Tyson Brummer, D.V.M. Sara Taetzch, D.V.M. Hannah Hart, D.V.M. Accredited by: American Animal Hospital Association

Grow Forward

Proud Sponsors of the Conservation Celebration

Find out how we can be your guide forward cbh.com

Richard Hedley, Partner 540.342.6911 | rhedley@cbh.com

421 S. College Avenue

n

Salem, VA 24153

n

540.444.2930

partnersinfinancialplanning.com

Hampton Roads | Richmond | Roanoke | Tyson’s Corner

C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S

| C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S |

C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R

R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R V AT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R V AT I O N C E L E

MKB, REALTORS Congratulates the

Blue Ridge Land Conservancy Conservation Celebration

RISK MANAGEMENT

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

SURETY BONDING

PRIVATE CLIENT

mma-midatlantic.com Copyright © 2016 Marsh & McLennan Company. All rights reserved.

mkbrealtors.com

3801 Electric Road Roanoke, VA 24018

Proud to be...

Locally Owned, Locally Operated, Locally Involved

B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N

Rutherfoord is pleased to be a sponsor of the 2016 Conservation Celebration and proudly supports Blue Ridge Land Conservancy efforts to conserve and protect natural resources.

S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N

| C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S |

C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R

All Natural No Preservatives

Forest

Rest

NATURAL CEMETERY

If you want to go simply, when you go, call or click today.

(540) 334-5410 5970 Grassy Hill Road, Boones Mill, VA 24065 ForestRestNaturalCemetery.com A Member of the Evergreen Memorial Trust 4563_BNC_BlueRidge_Concerv_Ad copy.pdf

2 BRLC Ad PrinterOL.indd 1

1

7/22/16

9:32 AM

8/17/16 12:51 PM

Proud Sponsor of

Blue Ridge Land Conservancy 9 Locations in Roanoke, Vinton and Salem to Serve You! For other banking offices throughout Virgina and the Carolinas, visit our website or call 800.262.7175

bncbankva.com C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S

R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R V AT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R V AT I O N C E L E

B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N

Long Hollow, LLC

Compliments of

S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N

Committed to the Environment.

Our products contribute directly to the environmental movement, as they are produced from 100 percent recycled materials.

Proud Supporter The Dunkenberger – Waskey – Nash Group at Morgan Stanley Proudly Supports The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy The Dunkenberger – Waskey – Nash Group Thomas M. Dunkenberger, Jr. Senior Investment Management Consultant First Vice President, Financial Advisor 10 S. Jefferson St . STE 1600 Roanoke, VA 24011 540-345-1555

Steel Dynamics Roanoke Bar Division P.O. Box 13948 Roanoke, VA 24038-3948

© 2016 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. SUP021 CRC 978742 08/14 CS 7903060 08/14

Woods Rogers PLC recognizes the significant work Blue Ridge Land Conservancy does to promote the conservation of western Virginia’s natural resources, farms, forests, waterways, and rural landscapes.

From hands-on education events, to guided hikes and more, thank you for making outstanding contributions to our community.

( 5 4 0 ) 9 8 3 - 7 6 0 0 | ROA N O K E Ad d i t i o n a l O f f i c e s : C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e | R i c h m o n d | D a n v i l l e

woodsrogers.com |

C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S

| C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S |

C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R

R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R V AT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R V AT I O N C E L E

How often can you say that a gift you give will last forever?

The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy’s Bedrock Society is a special group of people like yourself who have made a significant gift to the Conservancy in their will or through another planned giving method.

For more information, visit blueridgelandconservancy.org/bedrock-society.html or contact David Perry at (540) 985-0000 or dperry@blueridgelandconservancy.org.

Be a True BLUE Friend Join a special group of land savers: As a True Blue Friend, you’ll make a small, tax-deductible gift to the land conservancy each month. It’s simple, convenient and helps all year long.

To learn more, visit blueridgelandconservancy.org/true-blue-member.html or contact David Perry at dperry@blueridgelandconservancy.org or by phone at (540) 985-0000.

B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N

YOUR GIFT CAN LAST FOREVER.

S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N S P O N S O R R E C O G N I T I O N S | C O N S E R VAT I O N

The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, a mark of distinction in land conservation. BRLC is also a proud member of the Land Trust Alliance, the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Conservation Network.

722 First Street, SW, Suite L Roanoke, Virginia 24016-4120 Phone/Fax 540-985-0000 www.blueridgeconservancy.org Member of:

Save Land While You Shop!

Supporting BRLC is as easy as swiping your Kroger Plus Card!

Over the past year, the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy received money every time you scanned your Kroger Plus card. Kroger needs you to re-enroll your Kroger Plus card to the Kroger Community Rewards program, because last year’s enrollment ended August 31st.

When re-enrolling, make sure to choose BRLC as the beneficiary so Kroger will continue to donate money to us every time you scan your Kroger Plus card at check-out.

FAQs Does it cost anything?

No, it is FREE to sign up and earn money for the land conservancy!

Where do I sign up?

You can sign up today at Kroger.com/communityrewards

How do I enroll with BRLC?

You’ll enroll your card with us under the “Find your Organization” page. In the search box, enter 82395 or type “Blue Ridge Land Conservancy”.

Thanks for taking the time to support your local land conservancy! If you have any questions, please contact us at mcupka@brlcva.org or 540-985-0000