Coordinators Report - November 2005

Coordinator’s Report

November 14, 2005

Project Activity

Rural Economic Vitality:

Met with Winchester Farmer’s Market representatives on Sept. 21 to discuss workshop for local farmers’ markets
Began planning workshop on strengthening/starting local farmer’s markets with Libby Oliver, Williamsburg Market manager, and getting feedback from Jane Beasley, Woodstock
Met with Rural Innovations group in Berryville Oct. 14 to discuss spring event in Winchester
Preliminary discussions with group of farmers in Edinburg interested in bottling/processing facility for fruit
Began planning for potential biodiesel for fleet use in public schools workshop

Open Space, Forestry, and Farmland Preservation and Community Development:

Met with Bob Blair, Volunteer Farm executive director, and Lee Jette, board member, Nov. 3, to discuss possible Agua Fund support for personnel
Teleconference Oct. 20 with Environmental Finance Center/ECA re: financing natural resources protection workshop/charettes
Teleconference with committee Nov. 7 to discuss EFC/ECA funding/charettes project

Water Quality/Quantity:

Attended “Fish Kill” meeting October 3 and conference Oct. 24 at JMU
Arranged meeting and met with Ed Merrifield, Riverkeeper for the Potomac River, on Oct. 20 about getting a Shenandoah Riverkeeper

Nutrient Management:

Met via teleconference and meetings Sept. 23, Sept. 28, Oct. 7, Oct. 12, Oct. 20, Nov. 1 and Nov. 9, Waste Solutions Forum follow-up committees and steering committee for project and grant opportunities follow up.
Attended Soil and Water Conservation Society meeting Oct. 27 to hear about Council “scales” project
Met with potential candidate for marketing position that the RC&D is applying for through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Education and Information:

Grants/Funding

Completed and submitted combined grant report to the Tides Foundation and Agua Fund
Submitted grant proposal to the Agua Fund for $55,000 for 2005/6; was funded
Grant proposal rejected from the Sand County Foundation
Submitted RC&D subcontracting portion of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation pre-proposal to Virginia Tech (Waste Solutions Forum group proposal)
Completed Beirne Carter Foundation grant report and mailed to foundation
Began work on Virginia Environmental Endowment grant
Attended Chesapeake Bay Funders group meeting in Washington, DC, Oct. 11
Attended National Fish and Wildlife Foundation pre-proposal meeting in Washington, DC, Oct. 18
Conference call with independent consultant for the Agua Fund to provide feedback Oct. 31

NRCS Activities

Performance reviews for Kathy and Lorraine completed; new training plans completed; new performance plans entered
Worked with Lorraine and Joan Comanor on Area Plan update, including timeline for completion, initial survey distribution, and mailing list
OGE form required for coordinators completed and sent to Pat Bragg
Career Track seminar in Harrisonburg Nov. 1 on supervising

Other