Conservation/NAL

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Conservation and National Affairs and Legislation (NAL) are two committees that work together to enhance GCA’s purpose to restore, improve, and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement.

NAL

The National Affairs and Legislation (NAL) Committee is very active on a national level. Our members are regularly updated on policy initiatives in the New York area by representatives from PGC who also attend a national NAL conference held every February in Washington D.C.

NAL links>

Conservation

The PGC Conservation Committee, in addition to working closely with NAL, keeps members informed on current conservation issues. It provides numerous environmental education programs and workshops which are free to members as well as the general public. The workshops are appropriate for all ages and often include student presenters. They focus on our responsibility for environmental stewardship.

Conservation links>

Community Outreach

Many groups in the area share our vision of stewardship and work with us to provide coherent, pro-active messages to the community. Co-sponsorships of workshops and events are initiated with local organizations where the focus of our missions are aligned.

Outreach links>

GCA’s National Native Plant Month Initiative

This nation-wide initiative was launched by GCA on October 1 st and our New York State Coordinators, PGC’s Carol McPeek and Pamela O’Connor-Chapman (Rochester Garden Club) have been hard at work on it for months. The request for a proclamation designating April as Native Plant Month in New York was submitted to Governor Kathy Hochul on January 1, 2023. Carol reached out to newly elected District 95 Assemblywoman, Dana Levenberg, who took the lead in the process, and notified Carol and Pamela on March 29 th that she had the Assembly’s full support and that she would bring forth a
resolution for vote at the next Assembly Session. On Tuesday April 25 th that meeting took place, and the resolution was passed. Carol and her co-coordinator Pamela were joined by Joy Flynn Westhampton G.C.), Zone III’s Conservation Representative, and colleague Kate Brittenham (Fort Orange G.C.) as the guests of Assemblywoman Levenberg at the Assembly session. Use this link to read the Press Release issued by the Assemblywoman’s office that contains direct
quotes from Carol.

Joy Flynn, Pamela O'Connor-Chapman, Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg, Carol McPeek and Kate Brittenham in the Assembly

With NYS Senator Chuck Schumer

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Native Plant Month Resolution appearing on electronic billboard

NAL

Following are links to activities and information on current position papers which are hosted on the GCA website:

CONSERVATION

Following are links to important conservation initiatives on the GCA website as well as a list of workshop projects conducted by the PGC Conservation Committee over the years:

Healthy Yard Pledge

Partners for Plants

Publications

PGC Workshops/Projects:

2023:

The Chestnut Chronicles

2019:
Gardening in the Age of Climate Change

C-Climate Conversation Primer

Second Community Eco-Action Day

Solitary Bee House Workshop

2018:

C-Change Conversation Primer

First Community Eco-Action Day

Creating a Sustainable Home

Leave Your Leaves Alone

GCA Club Conservation Award presented to Mike Leonard, Councilman, Town of Philipstown, for his contribution toward making Philipstown a Climate Smart Community

2017:

Conservation Tea with Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney

2016:

How to Raise Solitary Bees

Forum: Crude Oil Transport with the Hudson Valley

Cornell Lady Bug Project

Community Choice Aggregation Information Workshop

Healthy Yard Project

Town of Philipstown signs the NYS/DEC Climate Smart Pledge and becomes a Climate Smart Community

2015:

Strategies for Controlling Invasive Plants

Town of Philipstown signs the “How Green is My Town Pledge”