Delaware Nature Society to host 51st Annual Meeting April 13
Delaware Nature Society will host its 51st Annual Meeting from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, at Ashland Nature Center in Hockessin.
The Annual Meeting will be open house style from 6 to 7 p.m., when attendees can enjoy complimentary beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres while mingling with guests. The Annual Meeting program will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m., followed by presentations of 2016 annual awards. Gov. Jack Markell will be the keynote speaker, and is receiving the Conservation Award. Many of this year’s award recipients are to commemorate community partners working with Delaware Nature Society in its Clean Water Campaign.
“For the past 50 years, Delaware Nature Society has worked to preserve and protect natural resources - the water that we drink, the air we breathe, the lands where our food comes from and the outdoor places that we love. Water connects us all, providing a framework that bridges our conservation, education and advocacy work. In this year’s Annual Meeting, we are highlighting partners that have helped us to make clean water a priority in our work for benefit of all who live, recreate and visit in Delaware. Recognizing his work on behalf of the citizens of Delaware, we are pleased to announce one of our highest awards, Conservation Award, to Gov. Jack Markell for his leadership in environmental causes,” said Brian Winslow, Delaware Nature Society executive director.
Markell has been a champion of environmental causes for the State of Delaware and this year, the governor will receive Delaware Nature Society’s Conservation Award. At Delaware Nature Society’s 2009 Annual Meeting, Markell unveiled his plan to put environmental health and welfare at the center of the public policy debate. Through his eight-year tenure, Markell and his administration have followed through on his promise to bring environmental issues to the forefront. Through publication of the Delaware Climate Framework, passage of statewide recycling, establishment of the Environmental Literacy Plan, creation of bikes and trails initiative, and beginning the dialogue around improving Delaware’s waterways, Markell has been a leader on conservation issues.
Markell has promoted quality of life initiatives that include major investments in libraries, and bicycle and walking paths. Delaware has moved from 31st to third in the annual rankings of bicycle-friendly states by the League of American Bicyclists. Thanks to his statewide recycling initiative, Delaware has nearly doubled its recycling rate since 2006. The state also reduced dirty air emissions faster than any other state, serving as a national model for improving the environmental through efforts that also boost the economy. More recently, Markell has highlighted the connection between clean water and quality of life for all Delawareans, stating in 2014, “Clean water is essential for a healthy and prosperous Delaware.”
Other 2016 Annual Award recipients include: Mary Osman from Mt. Pleasant High School with the Outstanding Environmental Educator Award; Erin Lynch, University of Delaware undergraduate student with the Outstanding Youth Award; Jeff Montgomery, retired journalist from the News Journal with the Environmental Steward Award; Chris Bason, executive director of Delaware Center for the Inland Bays; and Jen Adkins, executive director of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary will receive the Water Warriors Award.
Delaware Nature Society’s Annual Meeting is open to members of the Delaware Nature Society. Tickets are $20, and guests can register online at www.delnature.org.
