Calling all VOLUNTEERS!

The Aiken Land Conservancy Watershed Committee has an on-going project at the Carolina Bay Nature Reserve, removing invasive non-native vegetation and planting native plant species. Two weekend work days are being planned for April, although specific dates have not yet been determined. If you would like to help at the bay, please send an e-mail to mail@conserveaiken.org and indicate that you'd like to help at one of the bay work days. We'll let you know when the work days are scheduled.

A second volunteer opportunity is available to assist with the Aiken Garden Show, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 8-9. As a beneficiary of the Garden Show, ALC needs to provide volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks, including staffing individual gardens that will be open during the show, manning various tables at the Aiken County Historical Museum, the home base for the show, etc. See the Aiken Garden Show web site for additional information on this year's show. If you are interested in assisting with the Garden Show, please send an e-mail to mail@conserveaiken.org and indicate that you'd like to help with the garden Show. We'll forward your name to the Garden Show committee.

Earth Day 2009

The Aiken Land Conservancy will have a booth at the city's 2009 Earth Day celebration at Hopelands Gardens on Saturday, April 25, from 8:30-11:30 am. Look for the ALC table next to that of the Savannah River Ecology Lab. We'll have information on conservation easements and how you can join ALC's efforts to conserve Aiken's special places.

Also available will be a limited edition ALC Earth Day T-shirt. For just $15, you, too, can "be green" and support ALC. This shirt has a frog and the slogan "be green--celebrate Earth Day"on the back, with a smaller frog and "Aiken Land Conservancy" on the front. Limited quantities and sizes are available.

News from the Land Trust Alliance

On March 4, President of the Land Trust Alliance Rand Wentworth met with new Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who articulated an exciting vision for conserving America's treasured landscapes, including the work that land trusts do with private landowners. He affirmed his commitment to winning full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Secretary Salazar discussed three primary goals for the Obama administration: energy, treasured landscapes, and youth. To read more, click here.

This eNewsletter is provided as a benefit to members and friends of the Aiken Land Conservancy. Please forward this e-mail to your friends to encourage others to join and support the Conservancy and our mission of land conservation in Aiken County. If you wish to unsubscribe to this newsletter, please send an e-mail to mail@conserveaiken.org and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.