WeConservePA Board Elections a Highlight of Annual Member Meeting

WeConservePA’s annual member meeting took place shortly before their annual winter lecture.

Meeting highlights included congratulating new executive level leaders of member organizations in 2023 Fritz Schroeder (Lancaster Conservancy) and Amber Atwood Levy (Radnor Conservancy), a brief programming review, a financial overview from board treasurer John Conner, the adoption of a few short by-laws revisions, and the election of new board members for the upcoming year.

Board Elections

Board member Kyle Shenk’s (The Conservation Fund Pennsylvania) term of office expired, so he rolled off the board with thanks and appreciation for his time and service to WeConservePA.

Returning board members Reneé Carey (Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, also current WeConservePA board president) and Kim Murphy (Berks Nature) were re-elected for an additionally eligible consecutive term.

Newly elected board members Tom Saunders (Western Pennsylvania Conservancy), Ellen Ferretti (North Branch Land Trust), and Chris Kocher (Wildlands Conservancy) return to the WeConservePA board of directors after all having previously served terms before.

Current WeConservePA board members whose terms continue in 2024 are: Jeff Swinehart (Lancaster Farmland Trust, also current board vice president), John Conner (current board treasurer), Oliver Bass (Natural Lands, also current board secretary), Stephanie Armpriester (Brandywine Conservancy), Chris Beichner (Allegheny Land Trust), Gail Farmer (Wissahickon Trails), and Fritz Schroeder (Lancaster Conservancy).

Winter Lecture

This year’s winter lecture (“The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corp: Workforce Development for the Benefit of Conservation & Outdoor Recreation​”) was given by Mike Piaskowski of DCNR. Mike manages the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps, a volunteer initiative designed to educate and utilize teams of youth and adult volunteers to help support outdoor community stewardship projects and more. Mike invited the land trust and nonprofit conservation community in Pennsylvania to connect with the PA Outdoor Corps to try to set up assistance projects and collaborations.