The Nature Conservancy Hosts 2001 Annual Meeting

Columbia, SC—May 8, 2001—The Nature Conservancy (TNC) of SC hosted its 2001 annual meeting on Saturday, April 28, 2001 at Oconee State Park in Mountain Rest, SC to celebrate another year of conservation success.

Dr. Walter Edgar, director of the Institute for Southern Studies at the University of South Carolina, was the featured speaker at the meeting. Mark Robertson, Executive Director of the SC Chapter, highlighted the chapter's accomplishments for fiscal year 2001. Protection work set aside over 2,300 acres valued at approximately $2,066,000. Some of the major projects were: a partnership with the Heritage Trust to protect a well-known landmark in the Southern Blue Ridge known as Bald Rock, an increased number of protected lands in TNC's coastal projects, the successful completion of the first year of TNC's Cooperative Agreement with Brookgreen Gardens, and the passing of the new South Carolina Conservation Incentives Act which will go into effect June 1, 2001.

New Board of Trustees members and officers were elected and several awards were presented. The following individuals joined the SC Chapter's Board of Trustees: Dr. Robert Becker, director of the Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson University; Hal Cottingham of Columbia and Gallivant's Ferry; George Durban of First Citizen's Bank and Trust Company in Columbia; David Maybank Jr. of Charleston; Attorney Tammy McKnew of Greenville; and Jim Smith of Bank of America in Columbia. Jim Cockman of Greenville will serve as Chairman, John M. G. McLeod as Treasurer, and Gordon Gale as Secretary.

Awards presented were: The LaBruce Conservation Colleague Award presented to D. Lindsay Pettus of Fort Mill, in honor of his respect for natural lands, his efforts to protect them, and his efforts to promote conservation in SC; the Volunteer of the Year Award presented to Kevin Fisher of Fisher Communications in Columbia, in honor of his outstanding creative contributions to the SC Chapter's biannual newsletter and other marketing efforts; the Chairman's Award presented to C. Thomas Wyche of Greenville, (the highest SC Chapter award) given in recognition of his actions that have significantly advanced environmental protection, particularly in SC's upstate; the Public Service Award presented to Representative George E. "Chip" Campsen III of Isle of Palms, in honor of his legislative work for conservation; and the Conservancy Hero Awards presented to Joe H. Williams of Spring Island and Eaddy Hayes of Spartanburg, in honor of their long-term inspiration and dedication to TNC.