2008 Annual Report Potomac Valley Audubon Society

P.O. Box 578 Shepherdstown, WV 25443www.potomacaudubon.org

2008 Annual Report

Potomac Valley Audubon Society

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMSOur outreach to area children continues to flourish under the leadership of Ellen Murphy, PVAS’s Director of Youth Programs. During 2008, a record 2,496 kids participated in one or another of our children’s programs, which serve children of all ages from preschoolers to teens.

Thanks to generous grants from the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service’s Project FLOW (Future Leaders of Watersheds) program, we’re reaching more and more children through our Watershed Education Initiative, our environmental education program for fourth graders. Now in its fifth year, this program helps students understand the importance of protecting water resources, which is one of our area’s most pressing environmental issues. This year, 850 students from nine different Jefferson and Berkeley County schools were enrolled, up from 550 students in five schools in 2007. Traditionally, this program has spanned 16 weeks during the late winter and spring and included classroom sessions as well as field trips, for a total of 10 hours of instruction. This fall, we’re pilot testing an expanded version of the program that will provide 18 hours of instruction and activities over the entire school year. More than 600 students from four schools in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties are participating in this new pilot program. The idea is to cover the same topics, but in more depth and with more time for hands-on activities and service-learning opportunities. We’ll also continue to offer our traditional 16-week program next spring.

We’re also reaching more and more children through our other school programs—the environmental education programs we’ve developed for all the other elementary grades from kindergarten through sixth grade. In all, over 1,000 students from eleven different schools and a home school group participated in these programs this year. Most of these programs utilize our Yankauer Nature Preserve as a field laboratory and include pre- and post-visit classroom activities to enhance and reinforce the field experience. We received grant help here, too, from the City of Ranson, the National Audubon Society, and the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation’s Jane P. Snyder Youth Fund and C. Scott and Elizabeth C. Shade Youth Fund.

Our summer Audubon Discovery Day Camp at the Yankauer Preserve continues to be one of our most popular children’s programs. This year, all our camp sessions were fully booked by the beginning of April and more than 200 different children participated. To meet the heavy demand, we expanded this summer’s camp to include three sessions for preschoolers and four sessions for campers entering grades 5-8. This was in addition to our usual six weeks for children ages 6-10! Some children came for all six weeks, and there were so many children signed up for our Camp Survivor sessions that we added an extra week

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to accommodate them. In addition, thanks to the generosity of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center, PVAS was able to use the Center’s campus as a satellite “overflow” site and schedule three weeks of camp sessions there

We annually use the proceeds from our fall birdseed sale and donations from individual sponsors to provide summer camp scholarships to area children. In the summer of 2008 we helped send campers to the Audubon Youth Camp at Hog Island, ME; Trout Unlimited’s Conservation and Fishing Camp in Syria, VA; the Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies in Capon Bridge, WV; and the Oglebay Institute Junior Nature Camp, near Wheeling, WV. Fifteen campers also attended our own Audubon Discovery Camp on scholarship thanks to a generous donation from Mrs. Jeanne Baden in memory of her daughter, Joanne.

This summer for the third year in a row, we partnered with the National Conservation Training Center to offer a special digital nature photography camp for teenagers. Ten students were enrolled this year, using Nikon Digital SLR cameras donated by Nikon last year. NCTC Training Specialist Matt Poole once again coordinated and instructed the camp. In addition to learning about composition, lighting, and other skills, campers were able to spend lots of time practicing in the field. NCTC’s grounds provided wonderful scenery, and campers also traveled to the Antietam Battlefield, the Trego Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, and Longwood Gardens. Throughout the week, the campers had access to NCTC’ state-of-the-art computer labs. A slideshow of some of the spectacular images taken by this year’s campers is available on the PVAS website. In addition, each camper now has a photo framed and

on display in one of the instructional buildings at NCTC. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regards this camp as an important new tool for getting teenagers more involved in nature, and it’s used the camp as the basis for a special training video that’s being distributed nationwide. The goal is to get other USFWS facilities—and other conservation-minded organizations—to establish similar programs of their own

You may remember that last year, with a $2,000 grant from the Nora Roberts Foundation, we developed a series of Nature Explorer Backpacks designed to help children explore the natural world on their own. The backpacks contain a variety of books, field guides, supplies and activity ideas. They’ve been distributed to area libraries, and children can check them out and use them in company with an adult. This year, with another $2,000 grant from the Foundation, we’ve developed new Nature Explorer Teacher Kits that are similar in concept but designed to be used by school and library instructors (the kits contain enough materials and supplies for an entire classroom of children). We’ve now completed two kinds of kits: one that focuses on birds and another on insects. Like the backpacks, the kits were designed and put together by Suzi Taylor, of Sharpsburg, MD, who’s a veteran PVAS camp director and who has a degree in environmental education. Starting early in 2009, the kits will be housed at Shepherdstown Public Library and available not only to area teachers and librarians but to teachers and librarians throughout West Virginia through interlibrary loan. The Nora Roberts Foundation has also given us an additional $5,000 grant this fall to continue to expand our Backpack program and to grow our summer camp program. We’re very grateful for this foundation’s continuing support.

We continue to partner with the National Conservation Training Center and the Jefferson County Schools for their annual sixth grade Science Olympiad. This year, PVAS provided two activity stations: one led by PVAS volunteers and the other led by volunteers from our Potomac Valley Master Naturalist Program.

Every year, both on our own and in partnership with other organizations, we offer a variety of special events and activities for children. Highlights this year included our first-ever Egg Hunt at the Yankauer Preserve in March. The event was designed

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for children ages 3-7, and some 35 children and their families participated. Unlike traditional egg hunts, this one combined fun with an educational experience because the eggs used were colored to resemble real eggs of wild birds. Upon returning from the

egg hunt, all children exchanged their eggs in return for a snack and lemonade. Students from Martinsburg High School painted the eggs for the day’s event.

A committee from our Potomac Valley Master Naturalist Program (PVMN) has been working this year in partnership with the Oglebay Good Zoo in Wheeling, WV, to develop a Junior Naturalist Program for area children. As part of this effort, PVMN members piloted a set of “Junior Naturalist” activity stations at the National Conservation Training Center’s Open House in October. The activities were well received by participating families. Stay tuned!


ADULT PROGRAMSOur Potomac Valley Master Naturalist Program continues to thrive in its second year. Nineteen people were enrolled in this year’s courses, and we already have a waiting list for next year. Our program is a certified chapter of the West Virginia Master Naturalist Program, which is administered by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The program is patterned after the Master Gardeners program but focuses on natural history topics. After participants complete their training, they’re certified as Master Naturalists and must perform substantial volunteer service each year to remain certified. PVAS sees this program as a good way to promote greater public knowledge about natural history and to train a strong cadre of volunteers for natural history education and research. So far, a total of 26 individuals have been certified as master naturalists through our program. We’re grateful to the National Conservation Training Center and Cacapon State Park for letting us use their wonderful facilities for this program.

For the first time this year, the Potomac Valley Master Naturalists began to offer special Master Naturalist Workshops that not only fulfilled members’ continuing education requirements for recertification but were also open to the public for a small fee. Eight of these workshops were offered this year and covered topics from box turtles to nature readings. A total of 86 people participated in these new workshops.

Our Potomac Valley Nature Photographers group also continues to be popular. This organization of nature photography enthusiasts was founded in 2006 under PVAS’ auspices and has continued to meet monthly at the National Conservation Training Center. In addition to learning from the talent within its own membership, the group this year enjoyed presentations by professional, award winning nature photographers including Joe and Mary Ann McDonald of Pennsylvania and Bruce Haley of Charleston, WV.

Wil and Donna Hershberger conducted another wonderful nature photography workshop for PVAS this year, this time hosted by Cacapon State Park. These workshops are always kept small to ensure everyone gets hands-on instruction. This year, 13 people were enrolled, and one came from as far as Annapolis, MD to participate!

We offered our introductory birding course, Birding 101 again this year (for the 21st time!) with expert instruction by Bob Dean, Wil Hershberger and Matt Orsie. Fifteen people registered for the four-week course that includes four evening sessions and four weekend field trips. Participants continue to rave


about the experience and quality of the course’s instructors.

This year’s monthly field trips ranged near and far. With the help of our new volunteer field trip coordinator Sheri Fedorchak, PVAS members and others had a wide variety of trips to choose from. Trips to nearby locations included guided walks at the new Eidolon Preserve with Joe Gentile, insect walks with Wil Hershberger at both at Cacapon State Park and on the C&O Canal, and observation of the Perseid meteor shower between Martinsburg and Shepherdstown. More distant locations visited included Cathedral State Park in Preston County, WV; the Allegheny Highlands in Pocohontas County, WV; and the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge in Laurel, MD.

Our regular monthly meetings were once again hosted by our generous partners at the National Conservation Training Center. Thanks to the efforts of Vice President Nancy Kirschbaum, who coordinates these meetings, this year’s presentations covered a wide variety of topics from bird population trends, to wildlife habitat restoration, to rattlesnakes. We also partnered with NCTC to cosponsor a talk by author Wil Stolzenburg about the ecological impacts of declines in large predator populations.

We continued to hold occasional programs in Morgan County hosted by another generous partner, Cacapon State Park. This year’s lectures at the Park included wildlife rehabilitation, conservation management of grassland birds, spring bird songs, and intersex fish in the Potomac.

WILDLIFE RESCUEPVAS continues to assist with wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts. A specially licensed PVAS member, assisted by volunteers as needed, takes calls and coordinates the transport of injured and orphaned wildlife to wildlife rehabilitation facilities. In 2008, PVAS handled about 45 rehabilitation cases including birds, mammals and reptiles.



CONSERVATION ACTIVITIESPVAS continues to support a variety of conservation activities. As in previous years, this spring we publicized local stream cleanup efforts and encouraged our members to participate. In June, we helped coordinate a streambank restoration project on Tuscarora Creek in Berkeley County, along with The Nature Conservancy, the Opequon Creek Project Team, and the Cacapon Institute. In October, PVAS helped organize a meeting of organizations involved in land-conservation efforts in Morgan County. The group agreed to work together to better coordinate their activities, and further meetings are planned. PVAS will continue to act as the convener for these meetings. Also in October, we hosted tree-seed-collection events at our Yankauer and Eidolon nature preserves as part of the Potomac Conservancy’s “Growing Native” program. The seeds collected through this program are sent to state nurseries and used for stream bank restoration efforts in the Potomac River watershed. PVAS continues

to coordinate two Christmas Bird Counts, one in Jefferson County and one in Berkeley and Morgan counties, and PVAS volunteers also continue to participate in the annual C&O Canal Midwinter Bird Survey. This year for the first time, PVAS participated in “A Swift Night Out” by counting chimney swifts roosting at Shepherd University. All of these bird counts are entered into national databases that assist ornithologists with conservation efforts.

NATURE PRESERVESThe Eidolon Nature Preserve has come a long way in a year! Thanks to a grant from the Carl M. Freeman Foundation (and the labor of dedicated volunteers), a new, permanent welcome sign has been installed near the entrance to the Preserve and perimeter signs have been posted along the preserve’s borders. Meanwhile, The Nature Conservancy has approved the transfer to PVAS of about 8.5 acres of land within the Preserve so we can make the infrastructure improvements necessary to conduct educational programming there. This transfer is now finalized and these improvements will begin shortly. The first step will be the development of parking facilities. Then, hopefully next summer, we’ll restore the Preserve’s old stone cottage. The Martinsburg architectural firm of Grove and Dall’Olio has generously provided PVAS with plans for all this work. The Carl M. Freeman Foundation’s grant will also help fund improvements at the Preserve, as will another grant from the Seely Foundation, funds from an endowment that came with the Eidolon property, and community contributions. In other developments, various kinds of field work continue at Eidolon. Last summer, we completed a survey of the invasive plants on the Preserve, and two ecologists

from the West Virginia Natural Heritage Program inventoried all the flora at several sites along the eastern side of the preserve. The Piedmont Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society undertook a survey of the Preserve’s native plant populations, a job that’s expected to take about a year to complete. Volunteer Marcyanna Millet has been digitizing an extensive set of card files on Eidolon’s flora and fauna which had been maintained for nearly 50 years by the Preserve’s longtime owner, Mrs. Marguerite Zapoleon. This fall, Eidolon was included as a United Way Day of Caring project site for the first time: five volunteers helped coordinator Joe Gentile trim back vegetation along the road within the preserve so school buses and other vehicles can navigate the road more easily.



The Yankauer Nature Preserve also got a new sign this year—a replacement for the old one marking the entrance to the Preserve from Whiting’s Neck Road—and the informational kiosk inside the preserve was refurbished. All this work was coordinated by volunteer Tim Murphy. LDH Contractors, of Falling Waters, donated three ceiling fans that will make the Yankauer pavilion more comfortable for our summer camp participants and summer concert attendees. The fans are being installed by volunteer Wes Dilly. Yankauer was the site of several Eagle Scout projects this year. Luke Fleri built and placed four nest boxes at appropriate sites around the preserve: one each for a screech owl, kestrel, flying squirrel, and bluebird. He also hung examples of these boxes inside the Preserve pavilion and developed pamphlets with nest-box building instructions that visitors can take with them. Ryan Kubic built benches in one of the waysides at the preserve so visitors can sit and enjoy the natural sights and sounds around them. He also hung in the pavilion the bird of prey silhouettes made

last year by Eagle Scout Thomas Neville. Elsewhere in the Preserve, the wildlife habitat garden and rain garden planted by last year’s Day of Caring volunteers flourished this year thanks to the spring rains we had! This year’s United Way Day of Caring brought in 60 volunteers to weed the gardens, remove invasive plants, clean signs, trim and mulch trails and clean up and trim back the parking lot area.

SPECIAL EVENTS

We held our Fourth Annual Wildflower Festival at the Yankauer Preserve in mid-April. This year’s festival included a new Poetry Walk—poems from local poets about spring and wildflowers posted all along the Kingfisher trail. Volunteer Judith Treesburg coordinated this effort and the poems contributed included submissions from an English class from Harpers Ferry Middle School! Another highlight of this year’s event was performances by dancers from the Goose Route Arts Collaborative. About 100 visitors attended and enjoyed guided walks, children’s activities, and refreshments.

We also held our annual This Race is for the Birds! 5K run/walk in April at the National Conservation Training Center. A total of 89 runners participated and the event raised nearly $8,000—a new record! Most of the runners were from the region but some came from as far away as Ohio, Missouri and Louisiana. Many children participated in a shorter children’s “fun run” as well. The volunteers who coordinate this event continue to impress us with their hard work and dedication: Diana Gaviria (Race Director), Susan Brookreson, Jean Neely and Carolyn Thomas.

Our Music in the Cedars concerts continue to be very popular in the community. For the second year we held concerts during both August and September. An average of 25 people showed up at each with several new faces each week. A sincere thank you goes out to all the musicians who provided fantastic

Photo by Laura Rowe


performances for audiences free of charge: Satch Alwin, Grigorio Lacerda and Friends, Terry Tucker and Ardyth Gilbertson, The Reasons Why, The Outpatients, The Rolling Coyotes, The Dilettantes, Daryl Bryarly, and Steve Cifala.

This year PVAS held a special Wine Tasting and Strawbale House Tour to replace the Potomac Arts Festival done in previous years. The event featured the “green” home of PVAS Executive Director Kristin Alexander and her husband, Jeff Feldman. Guests were able to view the home’s many green features, including a massive masonry stove, countertops made of recycled paper, concrete floors with in-floor radiant heat, passive solar design; a grey water system that utilizes wetlands to clean water from sinks and showers; and composting toilets. The wine tasting was generously provided by Cheryl Gallery of Grapes and Grains Gourmet in Shepherdstown. In addition,

guests enjoyed a variety of wines and foods provided by the coordinating committee: Alice Barkus, Susan Brookreson, Gretchen Meadows, Deb Patthoff, and Jane Vanderhook.

FINANCESLast year’s annual appeal yielded a record $26,855. Thanks to this and other support from our members and friends and some large grants over the last year, our programs have continued to flourish and grow. Our FY 2007-2008 budget was our largest in history, with income totaling $208,345 and expenses totaling $185,573*. As usual, the surplus income was invested in short-term certificates of deposit at locally owned banks.

The income breakdown was very balanced between various funding sources this year. Special events accounted for 25% of our income. Revenues from programs accounted for 25% of our income. Grants accounted for 33%, and donations accounted for 14%. The remainder of our income came from membership dues (2%) and earned interest (1%).

The majority of PVAS’s expenses were for programs (66%), a category that includes staff salaries. Another 12% went to support special events, many of which are mission-related. Administrative costs, which include payroll taxes and worker’s compensation among other administrative expenses, accounted for 11% of expenses, and preserve maintenance accounted for 9%. Fundraising expenses accounted for only 1% of expenses, and miscellaneous expenses, including inventory, accounted for 1%.

PVAS’s overall financial position is strong. We continue to have no debt and maintain a cash reserve that meets the best-practice standards for nonprofit organizations of our size.

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society Fund endowment has now reached over $12,000. This endowment was established in 2004 through the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation’s “Spirit of the Panhandle” award program, in honor of PVAS founder Jean Neely. The Bank of Charles Town provided $5,000 in seed money for the endowment and has contributed $500 in matching funds annually. The endowment is controlled by the Foundation and managed by the BCT Trust Department. In addition to adding new money to the endowment each year, PVAS has established a policy to reinvest all proceeds from the fund to facilitate its growth.

PVAS continues to employ a part-time bookkeeper, Elizabeth Lowe, who assists our treasurer with disbursements, payroll, tax reports, and monthly financial statements. We have retained Chad Lawyer, CPA, of the Martinsburg firm of Ours, Lawyer, Lewis & Company, as our accountant. Our first professional audit was completed in 2008 and found that our books and procedures were in good order.

* All income and expense figures in this report are preliminary and subject to change when this year’s audit is completed.



Special Events: $ 52,495

Program Income: $ 51,198

Grants: $ 68,968

Donations: $ 29,177

Membership Income: $ 4,372

Earned Interest: $ 2,135

PVAS INCOMEJuly 2007-June 2008

OVERALLJuly 2007-June 2008

Overall income: $208,345

Overall expense: $185,573

PVAS ExPENSESJuly 2007-June 2008

Program expenses: $ 121,603(includes staff salaries)

Special event expenses: $ 21,899

Administrative costs: $ 20,716 (includes payroll taxes, workers comp, not salaries)

Preserve maintenance: $ 17,252

Fundraising expenses: $ 1,806

Miscellaneous: $ 2,297 (includes inventory)


LOOKING AHEAD

There are several new projects and activities that we are looking forward to in the next year:

• Anewwheelchair-accessibletrailwillbeinstalledatthe Yankauer Nature Preserve thanks to a grant from the West Virginia Division of Highways. The trail will improve the existing Cedar Loop, which is a short, 0.2-mile loop trail near the parking lot. This will make the Preserve available for use by senior centers, special needs classes from local schools, the Martinsburg Veterans Administration hospital, and individuals with physical disabilities. The new trail will also be useful for families with small children in strollers.

• Aswasnotedearlierinthisreport,wehopesoonto begin making infrastructure improvements at the Eidolon Nature Preserve. Once these initial improvements are in place we can begin offering educational programs at Eidolon.

• Forthefirsttime,we’llbeofferingourWatershedEducation Initiative to fourth grade school children in Morgan County. Over time, we hope to become more and more involved with Morgan County schools.

• OurPotomacValleyMasterNaturalistsgroupwillbe hosting the 2009 annual conference of the Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs, the national organization that oversees and provides assistance to the various Master Naturalist Programs across the country. The conference will be held at the National Conservation Training Center.

GOVERNANCEPVAS continues to be committed to transparency and adherence to the highest best-practice standards for non-profits. This year, in consultation with our accountant, we developed and officially adopted a new Fiscal Operations Policy Manual to guide all aspects of our financial practices. We also developed and adopted a comprehensive, new five-year strategic plan for the

organization. This process of developing this document was guided by board member Wayne Braunstein, who worked with a committed group of board members and members at large. This plan will be reviewed and updated annually, and the review for 2009 is already underway. We also strengthened our management practices in 2008 by adopting new employee grievance procedures and new non-discrimination and drug and alcohol policies.


IN CONCLUSIONThe next year may be a challenging one for everyone if the economy continues to struggle. But we remain optimistic. We’ve got an excellent, dedicated staff and an efficient and effective management structure. We have many loyal members and friends. And we know that our programs are meeting real community needs, and are respected in the community.

One of the ways we get so much done and still keep our overhead low is through our extensive network of volunteers. PVAS continues to rely on a large number of committed, generous and loyal community members who never cease to amaze us with their dedication. They pull us through each and every program and event we take on.

Much of our success also stems from our wonderful institutional partners. The National Conservation Training Center continues to be an extremely supportive partner and provides meeting space, professional expertise, volunteers and much more. Cacapon State Park also generously provides space for a variety of PVAS activities and has been very supportive of our efforts in Morgan County. We are,

of course, closely involved with The Nature Conservancy through our co-management of the Yankauer and Eidolon nature preserves, which they own, and we appreciate their help and support. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources continues to partner with us on our Potomac Valley Master Naturalist Program. The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute continues to support our rain-garden efforts at local schools and provides expert assistance as required. The Izaak Walton League in Berkeley County continues to host field trips for our fourth grade Watershed Education Initiative program, and the Shepherdstown, Martinsburg, and Berkeley County sewage treatment plants provide tours for the same program. The United Way of the Eastern Panhandle continues to offer guidance on non-profit matters, supports our efforts financially, and coordinates their annual Day of Caring which benefits our nature preserves tremendously.

Many thanks to all of those who have helped us accomplish so much in this past year.

If you have any questions about this report or any of the projects and programs mentioned, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We always enjoy hearing from our members and friends.

Sincerely,

Peter Smith Kristin Alexander President Executive [email protected] [email protected] 304-676-3397

Potomac Valley Audubon SocietyContributions Received November 2007-November 2008

2007 PVAS ANNUAL APPEAL DONORS(December 1, 2007-March 31, 2008)

Advocates ($2,500 and up)Peter and Vicki Smith, Shepherdstown

Supporters ($1,000-$2,499)John and Jenny Allen, Shepherdstown Jeanne Baden, Bunker Hill (in memory of Joanne Baden)Alice Barkus, ShepherdstownMina Goodrich, ShepherdstownMona L. Hayford, InwoodJean Neely, ShepherdstownGary and Diane Sylvester, MartinsburgJane and Ray Vanderhook, Shepherdstown (in memory of Paul B. Puckett)

Patrons ($500-$999)Wayne Braunstein and Dannie Wall, Kearneysville Gat and Susan Caperton, Berkeley Springs Rob Hoxton, ShepherdstownBob and Linda Reynolds, ShepherdstownHenry K. Willard II, Shepherdstown

Sponsors ($100 to $499)Duane and Marianne Alexander, Ellicott City, MDAnonymousAnonymousBill Belton, Great CacaponGeorgia Jeppesen and Skylar Benedict, Martinsburg (in memory of Dr. Mark A. Benedict)Barbara Bergman, ShepherdstownCharles and Margaret Biggs, Berkeley SpringsLaurie Smelter and Alan Biggs, Shepherdstown (in memory of Edgar H. “Hal” Biggs)Bill and Vicki Bonifant, Martinsburg (in honor of Susan and Joe Brookreson, Jane and Ray Vanderhook, and Gretchen and Craig Meadows)Beth Batdorf and John Bresland, ShepherdstownBonnie Sitman and Don Briggs, ShepherdstownSusan and Joe Brookreson, MartinsburgDan and Margaret Cogswell, Shepherdstown

Bob and Ruth Ann Dean, HedgesvilleMichael Dell-Colle, Summit Point (in honor of Carol Del-Colle)Sara P. Denby, Annandale, VA (in memory of Ruth Tomsuden)Clark and Ora Dixon, RansonSandra and Tom D’Onofrio, ShepherdstownDavid and Mary Sue Eldridge, ShepherdstownElizabeth Eller, Greensboro, NCKristin Alexander and Jeff Feldman, MartinsburgSue and Tony Frank, Charles TownKaren Fuegi, GerrardstownJon Pike and Donna Gaviria, MartinsburgJoe Gentile, Berkeley SpringsJoseph and Virginia Hankins, ShepherdstownDon and Kathryn Henry, ShepherdstownFrank Hill III, ShepherdstownJoan F. Hopkin, ShepherdstownMrs. A.R. Hoxton, Jr., ShepherdstownHarry M. and Carol Kable, Charles TownKitty and Ed Kelly, ShepherdstownNancy and Elliot Kirschbaum, ShepherdstownRobert Landis, Falling WatersNorberta Schoene and Bill Lands, Berkeley SpringsThomas Leslie, DDS, Berkeley SpringsJohn and Judy Lilga, Sharpsburg, MDLolly and Tom Martin, ShepherdstownLex Miller, ShepherdstownDiana Mullis, ShepherdstownEllen Murphy, Harpers FerryTim Murphy, ShepherdstownSusan Nash, ShepherdstownJoy Pardue, Shepherdstown (in memory of Dorothy Hughlett Besharse)Don and Deb Patthoff, MartinsburgDave and Shirley Ritondo, Keedysville, MDDara Ritter, Knoxville, MDPhilip Salladay, ShepherdstownAnne and Dennis Small, ShepherdstownGeorge Snider, MartinsburgHope and John Snyder, ShepherdstownElizabeth Sojourner, Richmond, CA (in memory of Ann and Dan Fisher)Janet Stone, Harpers Ferry

John and Nancy Streeter, ShepherdstownBonnie McGregor and Bill Stubblefield, MartinsburgCarolyn and Bruce Thomas, ShepherdstownTom and Ann Trumble, Shenandoah JunctionLynn Truslow, ShepherdstownBrown Truslow, Shenandoah JunctionFrank and Annette Van Hilst, Kearneysville (in memory of Ann and Dan Fisher)Paul and Lisa Welch, Shepherdstown (in honor of Peter Smith)Rodney and Cindy Woods, MartinsburgJames and Francis Yankauer, Sacramento, CA (in memory of Dr. Alfred Yankauer)

Contributors (Up to $100)George Athey and family, Charles TownMary Jo Bennett, HedgesvilleEdwinna Bernat, ShepherdstownDiane S. Brookreson, Karla Brookreson-Owens, and Matt Owens, (in honor of Joseph and Susan Brookreson’s 38th Anniversary)Evelyn Brydges, Berkeley SpringsKathleen Campbell, Martinsburg (in honor of Jean Neely)Dabney Chapman, Shepherdstown (in memory of Maud Burns)W. Joseph Coleman, Jr., Round Hill, VAJ.T. and Betty Crane, Shepherdstown (in memory of Henry Shepherd)Al Davis, Jr., Falling Waters (in memory of Albert E. Davis, Sr.)R. Meade and Honnor Dorsey, ShepherdstownWalter and Mary Duke, MartinsburgDeborah Fetsko, Boonsboro, MDGareth and Gale Foulds, Berkeley SpringsMike Gallup, ShepherdstownChuck Dunkerly and Fiona Harrison, Charles TownBill and Jean Hartgroves, Charles TownVivian Headings, Harpers FerryJesse Hendrix, Shepherdstown (in memory of my father and mother)Barbara Herrman, Berkeley Springs (in memory of Sylvia Ruth Herrman)Beverley Hershberger, Maugansville, MD (in honor of my son, Wil Hershberger)

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Lily and Phil Hill, ShepherdstownMr. and Mrs. Joseph Horkey, ShepherdsdownCatherine Irwin, ShepherdstownLeigh Jenkins, Berkeley SpringsJudith and Robert Keane, Jr., Keedysville, MD (in memory of our son, Robert Keane III, age 37)Karen Kelley, MartinsburgMary H. Kinnie, InwoodCarolyn Holcomb and John Lacey, ShepherdstownRichard Latterell, ShepherdstownKatheline Lauffer, ShepherdstownWinifred H. Lewis, MartinsburgNancy Little, Harpers FerryKim Miles, Harpers FerryDavid Miller, MartinsburgEd and Helen Moore, ShepherdstownDon and Amy Owen, Harpers FerryTom Panebianco, Great CacaponBabulal Pragani, MD, MartinsburgDara Ritter, Knoxville, MDIvan Severson, ShepherdstownAlex and Carline Shaw, ShepherdstownAshley Short, Baltimore, MD (in honor of Peter Smith)Patricia and Alex Short, Baltimore, MD (in honor of Peter Smith)Grant and Renny Smith, Harpers FerryJean Taylor, MartinsburgSharon Tebben, Berkeley SpringsKarl and Joan Van Brunt, ShepherdstownSue Vanderveer, Williamsport, MDDale and Hank Walter, ShepherdstownRie Wilson, ShepherdstownLynne Wiseman, Harpers FerryDennis Wright, Harpers Ferry (in memory of Laura E. Gallagher)Richard Zimmerman, Martinsburg

Sustaining Annual Appeal Donors (Have pledged to contribute a fixed amount for a fixed number of upcoming years)John and Jenny Allen, ShepherdstownAlice Barkus, Shepherdstown Wayne Braunstein and Dannie Wall, Kearneysville Gat and Susan Caperton, Berkeley Springs Clark and Ora Dixon, RansonMina Goodrich, Shepherdstown Fiona Harrison and Chuck Dunkerly, Charles TownTom and Lolly Martin, ShepherdstownDiana Mullis, Shepherdstown Susan Nash, Shepherdstown Joy Pardue, ShepherdstownPeter and Vicki Smith, ShepherdstownElizabeth Sojourner, Richmond, CA

Jane Vanderhook, Shepherdstown Rodney and Cindy Woods, Martinsburg

2007 POTOMAC ARTS FESTIVAL SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERSGold ($2,500-$4,999)Jefferson Security Bank

Bronze ($500-$999)Centra BankMary Edna Teague Memorial Fund

Arts Festival Patrons ($250-$499)City National BankNichols, DeHaven & Associates, PLLCWilliam Belton, Great CacaponStan and Sarah Corwin-Roach, Craig and Gretchen Meadows, Shenandoah JunctionJean Neely, ShepherdstownJohn and JoAnn Overington, MartinsburgDon and Deb Patthoff, MartinsburgJon Pike and Diana Gaviria, MartinsburgPeter and Vicki Smith, ShepherdstownJane and Ray Vanderhook, Shepherdstown

Patron of the Arts ($200-$249)William and Vicki Bonifant, MartinsburgMichael and Carole Del-Colle, Summit PointLarry Dean and Mina Goodrich, ShepherdstownMary Jane Puckett, Potomac, MDPaul Rhymer, Point of Rocks, MDDean and Betty Russell, MartinsburgWilliam and Bonnie Stubblefield, Martinsburg

Arts Aficionado Donors ($150-$199)Alice and Neal Barkus, ShepherdstownJoe and Susan Brookreson, MartinsburgTom and Toni Leslie, Berkeley SpringsJohn and Diane Mayhew, Harpers FerryErica Patthoff and Ryan McCarthy, GerrardstownNick RyanJohn and Hope Snyder, Hagerstown, MDCarolyn and Bruce Thomas, Shepherdstown

Friends of the Festival (up to $149)Martinsburg JournalMinghini ConstructionJanet Ady, Myersville, MDKristin Alexander and Jeff Feldman, MartinsburgJohn and Jenny Allen, Shepherdstown

Adam Auel PhotographyKate Bale, KearneysvilleJanet and Gordon BartelsWayne Braunstein and Dannie Wall, KearneysvilleJohn Bresland and Beth Batsdorf, ShepherdstownCarmela Cesare, ShepherdstownDabney Chapman, ShepherdstownFaye Davenport, Charles TownClark and Ora Dixon, Ranson Walter and Mary Duke, MartinsburgErdem and Carole Ergin, ShepherdstownEmilie GillisNatalie HopkinGeorgia Jeppesen and Skylar Benedict, MartinsburgLaura JonesNancy and Elliot Kirschbaum, ShepherdstownMary Lowe, ShepherdstownDiane Mason, Falling WatersDiana Mullis, ShepherdstownAmy Owen, MartinsburgJoyce Pardue, ShepherdstownSue Pellish, ShepherdstownSherman and Elinor Ross, ShepherdstownSheila ShafferAlex and Carline Shaw, ShepherdstownAnne Small, ShepherdstownJohn and Nancy Streeter, ShepherdstownFred and Lois Turco, ShepherdstownHank and Dale Walter, ShepherdstownPaul and Lisa Welch, ShepherdstownEldon and Virginia Winston, MartinsburgRodney and Cindy Woods, Martinsburg

Donors of items for Arts Festival preview party silent auctionTracey Alfaro, Four Paws GlassAverie Giles-Allnock; Averie Giles Nature PhotographyBogdan Bakiewicz, Contemporary Jewelry DesignJocelyn Beatty, Jocelyn Beatty StudioJoel Boches, PhotographyBeth Carey, Beth Carey JewelryFrank Cervalo, Vista LandscapesZbigniew Chojnaki, SculptureDiana Contine, Dakota MoonJulie Corcoran, Front Street StudiosSharon Daugherty, Daugherty–Wiley Artworks Al Dornisch, Al Dornisch PaintingsJohn Doughty, Nature ImpressionsHeather Dressler, Silver Lining DesignsJane Frenke, Fiesta FibersJohn Furches, John Furches Gallery

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Wil and Donna Hershberger, Nature Images and SoundsChris Hoke and Al Tuttle, WoodGlenn Horr, Highland ForgeGeraldine Kiefer, Mixed MediaSharon Kincheloe, Mixed MediaMona Kissel, Mona Kissel Polymer ClayLisa Kovatch, Lisa Kovatch PotteryJim Lawther, Lawther’s Nature PhotographyDon Maiden, PhotographyKathy McClung, Bee is for BasketMichael McNelly, GlassGretchen Meadows, Shenandoah JunctionDiana Mullis, ShepherdstownMerrianne Nichols, LeatherworksKaren Romine, Shadow Mountain ArtSally Rowe, QuiltingCheryl Sonnabend, Sonna Llama Fiber GroupKathy Strauss, ImagewerksTamra Trafford, Jewelry DesignJane Vanderhook, Shepherdstown Deborah Weaver, Fern Hill StudioJulie White, JAW DesignsBrad Wiley, Daugherty–Wiley ArtworksLinda Wohlberg, Pennsylvania Wildflower PortraitsKim Young, Jewelry

2008 RACE FOR THE BIRDS SPONSORS$1,000 SponsorsHoxton Financial Jefferson Security Bank

$750 SponsorFriends of Mark Benedict

$500 SponsorUSFWS National Conservation Training Center

$100 SponsorsAssociated Oral & Maxillofacial SurgeonsBavarian InnBlue River of ShepherdstownDr. Joseph Brookreson, DDSCaribbean Islands Travel Service, Paris, VADavid Miljour, D.C.Dickinson and Wait Craft GalleryDream HouseDrs. Donald and Erica PatthoffEdward Jones Investments of ShepherdstownGerman Street Coffee and CandleryGrapes and Grains GourmetGreentree RealtyHealthway of Martinsburg

J. Cooper Gallery, LLCJefferson Chiropractic Center, Inc.Law Office of D. Frank Hill, IIILaw Offices of Lauren ClinganLinda Spunich, ShepherdstownLynne E. Wiseman, Harpers FerryDavitt McAteer and AssociatesMedical Management Solutions, Inc.Medicap PharmacyPaul Davis, DDSPotomac-Mecklenburg Garden ClubPotomac PortablesThe Press RoomProgressive Printing (in-kind)Ray P. Vanderhook, DDS, MSRoach EnergyShenandoah Valley Runners ClubShenandoah Veterinary HospitalShepherdstown Opera HouseShepherdstown Sweet Shop BakeryThe Shepherdstown ChronicleSpecialty Business SuppliesStone Soup BistroYellow Brick Bank Restaurant

Under $100 SponsorsMartin’s Supermarket

OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED NOVEMBER 2007-NOVEMBER 2008Supporter level ($1,000-$2,499)Faye and Henry Davenport, Charles Town—Half stipend for PVAS Audubon Discovery Camp Intern

Stan and Judy Jones, Shepherdstown— Half stipend for PVAS Audubon Discovery Camp Intern

Jean Neely, Shepherdstown—Stipend for PVAS Audubon Discovery Camp intern

Patron level ($500-$999)Bank of Charles Town—Matching contribution to the Potomac Valley Audubon Society Fund.

National Conservation Training Center Employees’ Association— Cash contribution.

Sponsor level ($100 to $499)Elizabeth H. Hyman, Falls Church, VA—Cash contribution.

Lee E. Stine, Jr., Sharpsburg, MD— Cash contribution.

On the Wings of Dreams store. Shepherdstown—Cash contribution.

Wanda Raczkowski, Shepherdstown— Cash contribution.

Contributor level (Up to $100)Anonymous—Cash contribution.

William and Doris Agee, Martinsburg— Cash contribution.

Elizabeth Barthlow, Great Cacapon— Cash contribution.

Margaret Beyersdorfer, Bethesda, MD—Cash contribution.

Linda S. Buzzerd, Berkeley Springs— Cash contribution.

Chris Craig and Edwin Wheeless, Harpers Ferry—Cash contribution.

Georgia Jeppesen, Martinsburg— Cash contribution.

Karen Wagoner—Cash Contribution

Brooke Parker, Shepherdstown— Cash contribution.

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONSSatch Alwin, Grigorio Lacerda and Friends, Terry Tucker and Ardyth Gilbertson, The Reasons Why, The Outpatients, The Rolling Coyotes, The Dilettantes, Daryl Bryarly, and Steve Cifala—All donated musical performances for the Yankauer Nature Preserve’s 2008 “Music in the Cedars” free community concert series.

Berkeley County Air Force Jr. ROTC, ITW Sexton, OPM, National Conservation Training Center, Sir Speedy Printing, WVU Extension Office, Panhandle Builders and Excavating, Potomac Valley Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners—All provided volunteers for United Way Day of Caring activities at the Yankauer Nature Preserve.

Berkeley County Sewage Treatment Plant—Donated tours of facilities for Fourth Grade school program field trips.

Butler’s Farm Market, Martinsburg—Apples for Potomac Arts Festival artists, volunteers and patrons.

Cacapon State Park, Berkeley Springs—Donated space for Potomac Valley Master Naturalist Program training, photo workshop, and occasional PVAS public programs.

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The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute—Technical services related to the development and implementation of the school rain-gardens component of PVAS’s Fourth Grade school program. Technical services related to the development of a land management plan for the Yankauer Nature Preserve.

Wes Dilley of W.D. Maintenance, Martinsburg—Electrical work in the Yankauer Nature Preserve pavilion.

Luke Fleri—Completed four nest boxes and plans for display at the Yankauer Nature Preserve pavilion and four nest boxes for wildlife use on the grounds of the Preserve (Eagle Scout project).

Historic Shepherdstown—Donated space in the Entler Hotel for semi-monthly PVAS board meetings.

Izaak Walton League of Berkeley County—Provided facility for Fourth Grade school program field trips.

Grove and Dall’Olio Architects, Martinsburg—Architectural services related to development of site plans and construction blueprints at the Eidolon Nature Preserve.

LDH Contractors, Falling Waters—Donated three outdoor ceiling fans for the Yankauer Nature Preserve pavilion.

Ryan Kubic—Completed three benches and mulched a new wayside at the Yankauer Nature Preserve. Also hung bird of prey silhouettes from the rafters of the Preserve pavilion (Eagle Scout project).

Martinsburg Sewage Treatment Plant—Donated tours of facilities for Fourth Grade school program field trips.

Ellen and Kevin Murphy—Donated LCD projector to Potomac Valley Master Naturalist Program.

Kevin D Murphy and Associates—Developed and donated an interactive Flash show about PVAS for Web or standalone use.

Progressive Printing & Graphics, Martinsburg—Provided regular discount on all printing projects.

Shenandoah Valley Runners Club—Loaned timers and other equipment for 2008 Race for the Birds.

Shepherd University—Donated space for Potomac Valley Master Naturalist coordinating committee meetings.

Shepherdstown Sewage Treatment Plant—Donated tours of facilities for Fourth Grade school program field trips.

Shepherdstown Sweet Shop Bakery—Lunches for Potomac Arts Festival volunteers.

Gary Sylvester, Martinsburg—Lent tractor and post hole digger for erecting signage at Eidolon Nature Preserve.

Lyle C. Tabb II—Roll-off container for cleanup day at Yankauer Nature Preserve and mulch for trails and flower gardens.

Trinity United Methodist Church, Martinsburg—Donated its Orchard House at Trinity Center facility for December meeting and August meteor-watching party.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center—Donated space for 2007 Potomac Arts Festival, Potomac Valley Master Naturalist Program training, monthly Potomac Valley Nature Photographers meetings, 2008 Audubon Discovery Camp sessions, 2008 Digital Nature Photography camp, PVAS monthly membership meetings, and other occasional meetings. Hosted 2008 Race for the Birds.

Karl Van Brunt, Shepherdstown—Prepared plans for improvements to the road within the Eidolon Nature Preserve.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Natural Resources Program—Technical services related to the development of a land management plan for the Eidolon Nature Preserve.

GRANTSCarl M. Freeman Foundation—$5,000 for infrastructure improvements at the Eidolon Nature Preserve.

City of Ranson—$1,500 to provide nature education programming to students at Ranson Elementary School.

Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation’s Jane P. Snyder Youth Fund and C. Scott and Elizabeth Shade Youth Fund—$2,500 to provide programs and transportation for second and third graders at disadvantaged schools.

National Audubon Society—$672 to provide transportation for Ranson Elementary Students participating in PVAS school programs.

National Audubon Society—$1,652 for general program support.

Nora Roberts Foundation—$2,000 to support Nature Explorer Backpack program in December 2007, and $5,000 in September 2008 to support teacher kits and Audubon Discovery Camp.

Tom and Virginia Seely Foundation—$1,000 for infrastructure improvements at the Eidolon Nature Preserve.

United Way of the Eastern Panhandle—$3,599 in donor-designated dollars for general program support; $3,158 grant to support PVAS’s Fourth Grade school program.

West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service FLOW (Future Leaders of Watersheds) Program—$45,789 to support PVAS’s Fourth Grade school program.


Thanks to all of youfor your generoussupport of PVAS!

Documents

2008 Annual Report Potomac Valley Audubon Society