This year’s annual meeting marks a real turning point for the Buckingham Pond Conservancy.   We start a new era as Harry Ermides takes the helm as president.   I hope all of you will join me in welcoming Harry to his new role!

Felton McLaughlin will take over Harry’s former role as Vice President  and Mark Bechard and Marsha Penrose remain as Secretary and Treasurer.  We also welcome new board members John Caplis and Marjorie Geiger who join Tara Caligure and Brian Davis as at-large members.  I’ll still be on the board as the “past-president” – happy to take a back seat to Harry’s leading role.

My three year term as the founding president showed me how much we can accomplish in a short time – big things like reconfiguring the path on the South side and little things like getting the plexiglass repaired on the interpretive signs.    Taken together our many accomplishments have made the pond an even more lovely attraction in our neighborhood.  There is still much to do – especially on our primary objective of ensuring that the pond’s water quality and ecological health is secure – but we’ve done an amazing amount for a small, all volunteer group with an annual budget of not much!

At the annual meeting on 3/10, we presented a list of highlights from this year and inclucded pictures of some of the highlights in the meeting slide show.  Highlights | Slideshow.

If you weren’t able to join us at the meeting you might like to review the presentation from Scott Kisbaugh from the NYSDEC.  Each summer Conservancy volunteers sample the water from the pond under the auspices of the DEC’s Citizen Statewide Lake Assesement Program.  The basic summary is that the pond continues to have high nutrient levels.  Scott recommended focusing on three main sources of nutrients:  storm water runoff, waterfowl, and lawn fertalization.  Scott complimented us on the implementation of the “no mow zone” which over time will allow native species to help filter storm water before it gets to the pond, and encouraged us to keep working on these and other mechanisms for limiting nutrients in the pond.

It was inspiring to see 50 or so people at the annual meeting despite the absolutely glorious weather that day.  Whether you were able to come to the annual meeting or not, I hope you will find time to join us at one of the upcoming events listed at the right.

Regards,

Anne Savage
Buckingham Pond Conservancy Past President

Upcoming Events

Walk Around
Sunday April 14, 1:00 PM

Walk the pond with the board to identify priorities for 2013.  Meet at the playground.

Spring Cleanup/Work Day
Sunday 4/21 1:00 – 3:00 PM
(Rain Date 4/28)

Help get the pond and park ready for the new season.  Lots of projects large and small.

Board Meeting

Tuesday April 23, 6:30 PM
Pine Hills Library

Board meetings are the best way to get involved and are always open to the membership.