What a great day we had on Sunday, June 8, at the Ida Lee Park Recreation Center as we celebrated Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting with nearly 150 members and friends, our largest attendance ever!

Phil Daley.

We recognized and honored some inspiring, difference-making awardees, including:

• International Environmental Science Olympiad gold medalist Sid Sankar
• Loudoun County Regional Science and Engineering Fair winners Jaynelle Bergin, Jhanvi Patel, and Smera Ayyagari
• The Environmental Commission’s Environmental Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Phil Daley
• Joe Coleman Award Winner Peter Lyttle
• Youth Conservation Award Winner Karen Jimenez
• Volunteer of the Year Award Winner Jesse Edwards

Peterson Young Naturalist Program.

Our Peterson Young Naturalist Program Coordinator Miriam Westervelt recognized this year’s Peterson Award Winners. She was joined by teacher and Peterson volunteer Jennifer Pitzen and a Cardinal Ridge Elementary student who shared her Peterson journal.

Paula Whyman, author of the book Bad Naturalist, delivered an engaging keynote on her experience attempting to restore 200 acres of farmland in the Blue Ridge Mountains (an experience on which her book is based). Paula also signed copies of her book (which you can purchase on our online store) during our social half-hour intermission. During that time, participants also visited Loudoun Wildlife’s program, merch, and exhibit tables and enjoyed some light refreshments.

LWC co-founder and Birding Activities Coordinator Joe Coleman kicked off the second portion of the meeting by announcing the winning teams of our 2025 Birdathon, also our largest ever.

• FIRST-TIMERS AWARD went to HHMI/Janelia’s Taking Terns, with team members Justin and Gwendolyn Ellis-Joyce, Ryan Christensen, Carla Nicolini, Thomas Ravenscroft, and Laren Warning.
• MOST SPECIES IN 24 HOURS, with 82 species, went to the The TowHEE-HEE’s team, with members Sean and Porter Blackford, Danielle Wilkinson, and Rachel Cates.
• MOST SPECIES BY FAMILY, with 80 species, went to the Flying Kites, with team members Eric, Kiersten, Abigail, Rua, Sadie, and Henry Anderson.
• MOST SPECIES IN 48 HOURS, with 118 species, went to Fully-palmated Birders, with team members Michael Sciortino, John & Kevin Denice, Mer Mietzelfeld, and Mike Scott.
• MOST MONEY RAISED, with over $6,700 donated, went to Gone Pishing, with team members Allison Gallo, Bryan Henson, Gerco Hoogeweg, and Jane Yocom.

Karen and Joe Coleman.

During our business meeting, we expressed heartfelt gratitude to our outgoing board members, including Julie Borneman, Allison Gallo, Jane Kirchner, Peter Lyttle, Jim McWalters, and Pat Whittle. We also welcomed seven new members to our talented, dedicated Board of Directors, which now includes: Amy Ulland, President; John Denice, Vice President; Michael Sciortino, Treasurer; Brian Magurn, Secretary; Joe Coleman; Nida Davis (new member); Kristine Dejarnette (new member); Libby Devlin (new member); J.W. Glass (new member); Scott Harris; Emily Hayba (new member); Bruce Hill; Ben Kota (new member); Holly Means; Mike Scott; and Brad Wilson (new member).

We drew the winner of our Sparrow Quilt raffle, generously donated by sisters Ellen Tanner and Lynn Tolson. New board member Kristine DeJarnette earned the coveted prize. We also debuted and distributed our 2024 Annual Report, which celebrated last year’s biggest accomplishments, including a record of nearly 15,500 hours of volunteer service from 625 volunteers!

Jesse Edwards

Finally, we closed the meeting with the premiere of a new video — “30 Years of Loudoun Wildlife” — celebrating our history and looking forward to our future.

Thanks so much to everyone who came out to make this day so special, and SPECIAL thanks to our amazing volunteers who helped us in so many crucial ways behind the scenes. You are so appreciated, and we couldn’t have done it without you!

Many current members attended the event, but many lapsed members, too. If your membership has lapsed, or if you’ve never been a member, please consider joining or renewing. We truly need you on the next phase of Loudoun Wildlife’s journey.

In the meantime, thanks again for a truly inspiring day, and big thanks also to Wegman’s of Leesburg for their generous sponsorship! We look forward to an even bigger meeting in 2025 with great new accomplishments to celebrate.

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