Last update: 23 October 2006
HRD held its annual meeting at The Highland Center in Monterey on Sunday 8 October 2006. About 40 people attended and heard reports on the past year’s activities and future plans.
President Charlotte Stephenson chaired the meeting and called on other members for specific reports. “It has been a very busy year for this organization of volunteers. I will briefly review the accomplishments that represent thousands of volunteer hours from this board and many of you,” Stephenson said upon opening the meeting. Webmaster John Sweet then reported on the status of this web site. John Walters and John Vinson reported on the beekeeping and organic farming workshops held earlier in the year.
We received formal IRS approval for our 501(c)3 non-profit status, which officially allows donations to HRD to be tax deductible. HRD is a member of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce and The Virginia Conservation Network. We also supported and donated to the Regional Commission for the Greater Alleghany Highlands for its tourism-trail concept development project. This is a feasibility study for a trail in our area following the concept of “The Crooked Road” in southwestern Virginia, which features country-music destinations. The Highland Board of Supervisors had declined to endorse this study. Rich Holman presented some additional information on the economic importance of tourism for Virginia and for Highland specifically.
We have written letters on various topics to our Federal and State Senators and Representatives. Currently we are scheduled to meet with Senator Mary Margaret Whipple to discuss energy needs and renewable portfolio standards. Energy will be a priority topic for the 2007 session of the Legislature. Conservation is our method of choice to reduce fossil-fuel use, clearly a better means than the construction of wind turbines on our ridges. Larry Held offered some thoughts on conservation and energy policy.
Wind power continues to be the main focus of HRD as the Highland New Wind project has worked its way toward the final SCC hearings at the end of this month. Working jointly with Friends of Beautiful Pendleton County, we sponsored a Ridge Top Festival to raise money and focus attention on HNWD here and the Liberty Gap project in neighboring Pendleton County. Several hundred people enjoyed home-cooked food and participated in an auction of donated items. The two groups raised roughly $10,000 from the event. Debora Ellington reported on the financial aspects of this and other events. Larry Thomas brought us up to date on the Liberty Gap project, which is undergoing the same process in West Virginia as HNWD is here. A guest from California spoke about wind power and renewable energy in that state. Randy Richardson reported on wind-power developments in other countries. Fran Davenport completed the wind discussion with information on the upcoming SCC hearings in Richmond.
Although the concept is certainly not new, locally we have no form of mentorship program for upcoming seniors at Highland High School. Fran Davenport reported on our efforts toward developing such a program.
Sandy Hevener and Patti Reum reported on their Eagle Watch project. The presence of both Bald and Golden Eagles in Highland County has been documented over the past nine months. The report presented at the meeting has been updated to include fourth-quarter data, so it is now complete for the whole year 2006.
Stephenson ticked off a list of goals for the upcoming year, including:
In closing the meeting, Stephenson said, “Finally, I want to thank our Public Relations Committee for the extraordinary efforts they have made to promote and develop so many of this year’s events and I want to recognize the members of the board for the many hours of work that I have mentioned and much more that I do not have time to mention. Thanks so much, each of you.”
H R D welcomes your input and your support.
Write to P O Box 685, Monterey, VA 24465
Or contact the President of HRD by e-mail.