Please join the Buckingham Pond Conservancy Steering Committee for the First Annual Meeting of the Conservancy on Sunday 1/31/2010 at 2:00 PM at the Bethany Reformed Church on New Scotland Avenue at Lenox Avenue. The Buckingham Pond Conservancy is a non-partisan group, founded in January 2009, devoted to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Buckingham Pond and its surrounding green space. At the meeting, the Steering Committee will provide an update on the Conservancy’s activities and ask for your help in setting priorities for next year including adopting bylaws and electing a board of directors. If you would like to become a charter member of the Conservancy, please bring your $5 annual membership dues with you to the meeting. Everyone is welcome at the meeting, but only members will be eligible to vote. The bylaws are available for review here: bpcbylawsdraftfor1-31-2010, and at the circulation desk of the Pine Hills Branch of the Albany Public Library starting Friday January 22, 2010. The annual meeting will also mark the kick off of four Working Groups for the conservancy:

• Water Quality and Pond Ecology Working Group to address water flow, water quality, water testing, erosion, runoff issues, neighborhood education, runoff abatement, species protection, invasive plant/animal issues, educational outreach to all constituents of the park, interface with appropriate governmental entities, address usage and over-usage issues.
• Public Spaces and Safety Working Group to maintain the green space of the area in accordance with the BPC goals. Includes traffic issues in roads immediately adjacent to the pond, playground issues, walkway safety and enhancements, litter, washout issues, lighting, interface with appropriate governmental entities.
• History and Research Working Group maintain written records and repository of pond history, research, advocacy groups, BPC Steering Committee and BPC Committee, presentations and findings of governmental agencies vis a vis the pond and surrounds. Verify, archive and establish a repository of all written, spoken and filmed items pertaining to Buckingham Pond. To include any applications, grants, donations, etc. Will also establish organizational records of the newly formed BPC, including compliance with non-profit reporting and recordkeeping.
• Outreach and Membership Working Group Build, expand and maintain contact lists of all those interested in the pond, its surrounds and the BPC. Keep records of BPC member status/standing. Help promote BPC efforts through media contacts and governmental relations. Work with other committees in educational outreach and grant proposals. Build public awareness of the BPC and its goals and successes. Establish partnerships with other like-minded organizations and agencies

Please join us – the Conservancy has done a tremendous amount in one short year. We look forward to sharing our progress with you and working together to make this special part of Albany everything it can be! If you can’t come, but would like to participate, let us know at [email protected].