Dear Friend,

Buckingham Pond Conservancy needs your help.

We’re a small, all-volunteer, not-for-profit, and we have done so much with our very limited resources.

In 2018 we saw several long anticipated plans come to fruition with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the fabulous new playground and the installation of new guard rails protecting the playground from traffic on Berkshire Boulevard. 2018 also saw a new beginning in our participation in the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP) water testing program coordinated with NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation to closely monitor the water quality in the pond.

We’re proud of our 2018 accomplishments and are looking forward to 2019.  This coming year will see more improvements to the park – the installation by the playground of the commemorative bricks that many of you bought, the dedication of the permanent donors’ sign at the playground, and 3 more park benches (2 by the playground and 1 by the shore near the north Euclid entrance).  Lastly, we are working with DGS on some erosion-prone test areas of the walking path to replace the stone dust with a greener and more erosion-resistant solution.  In partnership with the City of Albany, the Conservancy has made great strides towards protecting, preserving, and enhancing Buckingham Pond. And of course, we will continue to foster strong relationships with City departments and the Pond’s neighbors.

But we can’t do it without the support of the people who care about the pond.

How can you help?

• Get Informed – Join us at the Annual Meeting on Sunday 4/7, 1:00 – 2:30m. at the Pine Hills Library Large Meeting Room.  A great way to meet your neighbors and get an overview of the Conservancy.
• Get Connected – Pitch in and help us at our next clean-up – Sunday April 14th from 1:00 to 3:00, or attend our next Board meeting Monday March 25th at 7:30 pm at the Bach Library on New Scotland Avenue.
• Share your skills – We can use all kinds of help and are particularly looking for people with skills in marketing, ecology, environmental engineering, grant writing and web development. We are excited to be voting on two new board members at the Annual Meeting, but we have room for more. Our bylaws permit any voting member to apply for open board seats up to 15 days before the Annual Meeting. If any interest, please contact us about the process. You can reach us at info@BuckinghampondConservancy.org.
• Join or Renew – We hope that you believe in what we are doing and will support the Conservancy with a $25 tax-deductible annual membership donation (or more if you can!).  Our membership year runs April 1 to March 31, so if you are a current member, it’s time to renew.  You can join or renew for 2017 at the meeting, online here or by mail at PO Box 8352  Albany, NY 12208.

Your contributions of time and of money are the key to keeping our neighborhood jewel thriving for generations to come. I look forward to working with you to help our pond.

Thanks for your support!

Felton McLaughlin
President
Buckingham Pond Conservancy