If you answered "Yes" to the subject line of this email, please forward this email to your address book to help publicize this very important function!  This event is open to the general public!

 

"Loss of open land has been identified as the greatest threat to the future of all equestrian sport, recreation, and industry. By educating horse people and encouraging partnerships with conservationists and other user groups at the local level, the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource is mobilizing thousands of equestrians to work for land access and protection in their communities. We recognize that without such concerted efforts, the equestrian world as we know it is at great risk."  ... Only one national organization is devoted to saving land for horses – Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR).

 

The NVCEO is ecstatic to announce that our guest speaker for our April 18 NVCEO Networking Meeting is Georgiana McCabe, President of the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource.  Northern Virginia is a very dynamic area with a multitude of challenges to our trail needs.  Ms. McCabe will provide a very educational discussion to help us meet and address these challenges.  Her discussion at our April NVCEO meeting will be a two pronged focus.

~ 1. The mechanics and methods of engaging in the public process to secure public equestrian trails

~ 2. Trail Easements - methods and opportunities for developing the much needed trail linkages across private properties

~ 3.  Plus, find out other services and resources available from the ELCR for your equine organization.

 

Members of any NVCEO group are encouraged to attend this event, especially organization leaders and trail stewards. The event is free to attend for members of any NVCEO affiliated organization. (There is a suggested donation of $5 per person for persons not affiliated with any NVCEO group to help cover the cost of refreshments)

 

When:

Wednesday, April 18

Networking: 7:00pm, Meeting starts at 7:30pm

Where:

Where: Sully District Office – Fairfax Co. Gov.

4900 Stonecroft Blvd

Chantilly, VA 20151

(Mapquest is available from our website at www.NVCEO.org )

Email RSVP requested

 

More info about the Speaker and ELCR ( also visit www.ELCR.org ):

Georgiana, a longtime volunteer for the United States Pony Clubs, served as District Commissioner of Greenwich (CT) Pony Club and on the Board of Governors. While living in Connecticut, she was chairman of a Preserve Management Committee for the Nature Conservancy, and on the Board of the Greenwich Audubon Preserve. She served on the Board of the Piedmont Environmental Council (VA) and the Board of the UVA Cancer Center. She is currently a member of the Coastal Mountains Land Trust (ME) and the Greenwich Land Trust and serves on the Advisory Board of the Blue Ridge Foothills Conservancy. Georgiana is co-owner of Snow Mountain Nursery, in Stanardsville, VA, a small, specialty grower of landscape plants. She is the mother of two grown children, Caroline and Nicholas.

The Equestrian Land Conservation Resource, now commonly known as ELCR, was founded in 1997 by a group of concerned horse people who recognized that loss of open land is the greatest threat to the future of all equestrian sport, recreation, and industry.

In 1996, members of the United States Pony Club's Task Force for the 21st Century identified loss of land and access as the greatest threat to the future of that organization because its core curriculum emphasizes riding in the open. Out of that committee came the founders of ELCR. Initially, they worked through The Conservation Fund, a highly-respected conservation organization, which designated ELCR as one of its programs. In January of 1999, ELCR became an independent 501(c)(3) organization with its own offices and staff. Since that time, ELCR has become the national organization to preserve land and promote access for all types of equestrian use. It is governed by a Board of Directors and greatly assisted by numerous volunteers from across the country who are helping to further ELCR's goals.

ELCR was founded with the belief that the loss of open land is a great and urgent threat to the future of equestrian activities throughout this country, and that there is a serious need to take action to preserve land for equestrian use. From its inception, ELCR has recognized that if equestrians are to be successful in the effort to stem the loss of open space, they must take two important steps:

1. Embrace a land conservation focus by educating themselves with regard to key issues and processes related to land conservation, and by making land conservation part of the mission of equestrian organizations.
2. Establish partnerships with individuals and groups outside of their own equestrian constituency, particularly with those groups that represent the conservation community.

Disseminating information may be the most valuable service ELCR provides. In addition to cabinets and computer files full of information, ELCR has published several helpful guides to assist with specific circumstances. Of course, the office staff is always available to answer questions, offer advice, and provide networking assistance.

As ELCR has grown, the need for the services it provides individuals and groups across the country has also grown. Many people simply do not know where to turn or what to do when faced with zoning battles, encroaching development, trail closures, or the like. What ELCR does is help them find the ways and means to be effective. The master planning process, organization, conservation easements, smart growth planning, and other tools can all be used to benefit horse owners while providing a means of successfully coping with sprawl. There is no reason to re-invent the wheel. Land loss, particularly for equestrian use, is a national problem: without places to ride and keep horses, there will be no equestrian sport, recreation, or industry. There is hope, but solutions must involve individual action. No one is going to look out for the interests of horsemen except horsemen. And there is help, but action and success requires personal involvement.

 

We look forward to seeing you at this month's NVCEO open networking meeting.  Please encourage others in your organization and circle of influence to attend this very important meeting for our horse community in Northern Virginia.

 

Jeff

 

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Jeff Shoup

President

Northern Virginia Coalition of Equestrian Organizations, Inc. (NVCEO)

Cell: 703-402-3726

Home: 703-754-4981

Yahoo Messenger ID: jeff_shoup

Email: jeffshoup@...

www.NVCEO.org

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