Annual Report

2018 ANNUAL REPORT
2018 Annual report
potomac valley audubon society
...people dedicated to preserving, restoring, and enjoying
the natural world through education and action.
www.potomacaudubon.org or 681.252.1387

ABOUT US
Potomac Valley Audubon Society (PVAS) is a non-profit conservation and education organization
serving Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan Counties in WV and Washington County, MD.
PVAS staff and volunteers made more than 6,000 contacts in 2018 to build science literacy and
a community of knowledgeable, motivated, and capable environmental stewards. Programs included guided
hikes, environmental science lessons in schools and in the field, lectures, community events, and more.
PVAS also partners with land trusts, public agencies, governmental entities, and other non-profits to steward
the local landscape and reach additional audiences.
Since 1982 PVAS has been meeting its mission by “preserving, restoring, and enjoying the natural world
through education and action." This is our “Impact Report” for 2018.
6 acres of pollinator meadow
were established at Cool
Spring Preserve, and four acres
were established at Stauffer’s
Marsh with brush hogging and
prescribed burns, respectively.
24 solar panels will be
installed at Cool Spring by year’s
end, supplying 90% of the
nature center’s energy needs and
promoting sustainable energy
programs and practices.
159 volunteers contributed
122 hours over 32 official
work days at our preserves.
pvas team,
fall 2018
PVAS is now responsible for 536 acres at four
nature preserves: Cool Spring Preserve, Eidolon
Preserve, Stauffer’s Marsh, and Yankauer Preserve.
These preserves not only provide valuable wildlife
habitat, but also have trails and are open to the
public for hiking and quiet contemplation.
PRESERVING

RESTORING
Habitat restoration and wildlife conservation were at the forefront of PVAS activities
this year:
The demolition of Sara Cree Hall, once the largest Chimney Swift roost in the state,
launched our “Raise the Roost” campaign to build a new chimney to restore the lost
habitat. This campaign will continue into 2019 when we plan to build a new chimney
on Shepherd University’s campus. In the meantime, a smaller nesting tower has been
built at Cool Spring Preserve as an Eagle Scout project.
RESTORING
Grassland Birds Initiative added 53 acres to the program in 2018,
bringing the total enrollment to 216 acres.
The Monarch Alliance funded seven monarch waystations; provided funds for the
Thomas Kennedy Memorial Park butterfly garden in Hagerstown; and held ten public
monarch tagging events.

ENJOYING
PVAS promotes getting people outside to enjoy the natural world. We launched a new website and
e-newsletter to help publicize our programs and activities. Over the last year:
Over 200 people came out for our annual “Fireflies, Fiddles and Frogs”
family picnic where PVAS promotes exploring and discovering the natural world as a family.
ENJOYING
79 field trips, including bird walks, owl banding, and nature walks, were held to provide opportunities for
694 people of all ages to get outside and learn about the natural world.
PVAS continues to offer benefits to members including free or discounted entries to nature centers
across the country to encourage outdoor exploration everywhere our members go.
PVAS’s Bird Seed Sale provides fresh seed so our members and friends can enjoy backyard birds all winter.
195 runners enjoyed “This Race is for the Birds!” at its new location at Broomgrass in Berkeley County. The
new venue featured the community’s trails through the forests and fields along Back Creek.
A natural playspace at Cool Spring was installed featuring a tipi of bamboo, a natural loom,
a canoe, and balance logs.
A family-oriented Bioblitz was held at Cool Spring to encourage families to discover nature
together. Scientists were stationed throughout the preserve to examine and identify insects, birds,
macroinvertebrates and plant life.

EDUCATING
Educational programs have become the keystone of our organization. Providing science education for youth
and adults allows citizens to make informed decisions. Our outdoor programs for kids have the added benefit of
combating childhood obesity, asthma, and attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorders. This year:
Nearly 4,000 children participated in school programs. Over 1,000 of these visited a
PVAS preserve as part of the program. Over 200 kids were served through our Homeschool
and Wee Naturalist programs at Cool Spring Preserve. 344 kids attended camp over
6 weeks at either Cool Spring Preserve, Yankauer Preserve, or Shepherd University.
81 Master Naturalists are currently certified in our Chapter of the program.
450 participated in lectures provided in Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan and Washington
Counties, learning about topics of interest to our members and local community.
11 in-depth workshops were held serving 125 people. Topics included natural mandalas,
ecopsychology, nature photography, mushrooms, Birding 101, and others.
PVAS prepared a statement to inform local policy makers of the potential environmental
impacts associated with the Rockwool factory proposed for Jefferson County.
“We participate in the
Watershed Program
because it gives students
the opportunity for not only
fun hands-on activities, but
it also gives them a chance
to look back on how they can
make a difference in their
world. They become more
mindful about taking care
of our community and this
paves the way to
having a better future.”
– Megan Mossburg, 4th grade
teacher at Ranson Elementary
School
wv schools served in 2018:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
MORGAN COUNTY
Warm Springs Intermediate School
BERKELEY COUNTY
Back Creek Elementary School
Bedington Elementary
Berkeley Heights
Eagle School Intermediate
Mill Creek Intermediate
Mountain Ridge Intermediate
Opequon Elementary
Orchard View Intermediate
Rosemont Elementary School
St. Joesph School
Tomahawk Intermediate School
JEFFERSON COUNTY
13. Blue Ridge Elementary
14. CW Shipley Elementary School
15. Driswood Elementary School
16. Morgan Academy
17. North Jefferson Elementary School
18. Ranson Elementary School
19. Shepherdstown Elementary School
20. South Jefferson Elementary School
21. TA Lowery Elemnetary School
22. Wee Disciples Christian Academy
23. Wright Denny Intermediate School
68
522
68
1
70
2
9
7
81
6
9
12
340
70
3
5
10 8
11
4
20
22
17
21
18
23
81
19 16
15
14
13
9
340
EDUCATING

INVESTING
This year PVAS invested donor dollars and grant funding
to strengthen its educational programs, conservation
initiatives, and preserve stewardship. PVAS continues to
have extremely low administrative costs, 7.3% in the last
fiscal year, demonstrating that most funding supports
programming. We couldn’t have nearly the impact
without your support.
Fiscal Year July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018
PVAS Income: Chart Title $386,430
Contributions
$207,970 (54%)
Programs
$89,847 (23%)
Grants
$49,602 (13%)
Special Events
$24,916 (6%)
Memberships
$7,289 (2%)
ntributions Grants Programs
ecial Events Membership Rental
estment Income
Rental
$6,000 (2%)
Investment
Income
$806 (

Jeffrey &
Maryanne Ludy
Jen & Corey Markovits
Kirsten Martin
Tracy McCleaf
Michael &
Beverly Miller
Grant & Sarah
Moerschel
Kathleen Morotti
Wendell Ogden
Thomas Panebianco
Herb & Christy
Peddicord
Jeffrey & Carol
Plautz
Becky Pomato
Robert Poole
Press Room
Kaitlyn Price
Karen & Bill Rice
Ralph Richmond
Steve & Tina
Roach
Henri Roberts
Randy Robinson
Karli Rogers
Elinor Ross
Debbie Satorius
Jennifer Saxton
Lois Schiffer
James & Melinda
Schmitt
Denise Schumacher
William E.
Senseney
Ivan Severson
Timothy & Susan
Sheehan
Anne & Dennis
Small
Mary Helen Staley
Shirley Stanton
Bruce Staskiews
George Stebbins
Allen & Cheryl
Swope
Jane & Cam Tabb
Bruce Goldstein &
Robin Talbert
Jane Tarner
Christopher
Tawney
Donald Taylor
Janene Thomas
Roger Tingley
Barbara Kracher &
Joel Tinsley
Brad Udvardy
Joan Van Brunt
Marie Van
Valkenburgh
Jennifer Vant Wout
Virginia Lodge No.
1, International
Order
of Odd Fellows
Kathryn Vosburg
Harry Wagaman
Dale & Hank
Walter
Susan Walter
Walter Washington
Brittany & Matthew
Wedd
Harvey Weiner
Rebecca Wertime
Ed Wheeless
Kathryn & John
Whitcomb
Flo Wilbik
Amanda Wilson
Mike Wiltshire
Alan Wolcott
Rodney & Cindy
Woods
Margaret Young
Nancy Zapotocki
Bruce & Wendy
Zimmerman
memorial
donations
Anonymous
In memory
of Marge W.
Zapoleon
Eldridge Barr
In memory of
Carl O. Barr Sr.
Linda Benedict
Colvin
In memory of
Mark Benedict
Jill Daniel
In memory of
Patricia “Pat”
Brown
Sandra D’Onofrio
In memory of
Paul Alcorn
Courtenay Elder
In memory of
Katherine Elder
Julie Flaherty
In memory of
an incredible
experience with
Chimney Swifts in
Shepherdstown
Friends of Deb
Pathoff
In memory of
Deb Patthoff
Karen Fuegi
In memory of my
mother and father
William Hale
In memory of
Aunt Jeanette
Hale
James Horner
In memory of
Martha Barnhill
Horner
Linda Hutchings
In memory of
my father, Paul
Hutching
Greg & Larry
Makovina
In celebration of
Ruth Ann Dean
Ella C. Mose
In memory of
James A. Mose
Rachel Pardo
In memory of
Elle Maddox
Potomac-Mecklenburg
Garden Club
In memory of Joy
Pardue
Mary Jane Puckett
In memory of Deb
Patthoff
Frank & Annette Van
Hilst In memory of
Dan and Anne Fisher
honorary
donations
Duane & Marianne
Alexander
In honor of Jean
Neely
Patty Bain-Bacher
In honor of Bertha
Bachner, John’s
mother
Alice Barkus
In honor of Jean
Neely
Bill & Vicki Bonifant
In honor of Susan
& Joe Brookreson,
Gretchen & Craig
Meadows, and Jane
& Ray Vanderhook
Rosalie Borzik
In honor of
Joette Borzik
Susan and Joe
Brookreson
In honor of Susan
Brookreson’s
completion of the
Appalachian Trail
William Drennen
In honor of Jean
Neely
Marilyn England
In honor of the “Old
Squaws” Christmas
Counts/Birdathon
Team
Ruben Gomez
In honor of Jane
Vanderhook
Kevan and Amy Hirsch
In honor of Susan
Hirsch and Michael
Sullivan
Jennifer Janus
In honor of
Marilyn Cox
Georgia Jeppesen
In honor of Skylar
J. Benedict, Bill
Ashforth
Bill Ashforth &
Georgia Jeppesen
In honor of the staff
and volunteers of
PVAS
James E. Keel
In honor of Jean
Neely
Eugene Kelly
In honor of
Patty Bachner
Mary H. Kinnie
In honor of
Justus Kinnie
Philip Lowe
In honor of
Potomac Farms
Nursery & Greenhouses
David Miller
In honor of Nan &
David Miller
Stauffer Miller
In honor of Elinor Miller
Patricia Mulkeen-Corley
In honor of Jean Neely’s
birthday
Ellen Murphy
In honor of PVAS staff
Jean Neely
In honor of Liz Neely
Dana Phelp
In honor of
Ellen Murphy
Barbi B. Richardson
In honor of Liz Neely
Elisabeth Staro
In honor of
Peter Smith
Jane Vanderhook
In honor of
Bridget Tinsley
Frank & Annette Van Hilst
In honor of
Renny Smith
Ron & Lyn Widmyer
In honor of Jean Neely
If any of the information
above is inaccurate or
incomplete, please get
in touch with us so we
may correct our records.
Thank you for your
generous support!
2018 grants
City of Ranson
$2,000 towards
programs for Ranson
Elementary
Eastern West Virginia
Community
Foundation $2,500
towards PVAS
programs in
Title 1 Schools
The Nora Roberts
Foundation $16,000
towards PVAS youth
programs
Community Foundation
of Washington
County
$2,000 from the
Agnita Stine
Schreiber Fund
West Virginia
Rivers Coalition
$6,400 for
watershed programs
for schools
in Shenandoah
watershed
Appalachian
Stewardship
Foundation
$24,700 towards
going solar at
Cool Spring