ICPS-Meadowview donation...

[Brian Barnes]

Hello Friends,

I'm pleased to announce that the ICPS Conservational Fund has just donated $1400.00 to Meadowview Biological Research Station to aid in their expansion of the Joseph Pines Reserve.

Phil Sheridan and his team have been doing a wonderful job in acquiring and maintaining threatened CP habitats including Joseph Pines Reserve, so that they may be enjoyed by future generations...

Phil, we salute you for your wonderful efforts!

Happy Growing,

Brian Barnes,
ICPS Director of Conservation.

[meadowview]

Hi Brian:

We are pleased and delighted to accept this donation and want to thank the ICPS for their support! The balance on our Joseph Pines Preserve note is $12,428 and this donation will be directly applied to principal. We have $3400 in preserve savings leaving a payoff balance of $7600.00. If anyone is in a position to donate to help pay off this note please contact me privately.

The Joseph Pines Preserve is 100 acres and is owned by the non-profit 501(c)(3) organization Meadowview Biological Research Station. We bought the property in 2004 and have now almost paid off the real estate note in five years (the 100 acres cost $100,000). We have a loan application pending with the Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to purchase two adjoining tracts of 36 acres (appraised value 95K) and 98 acres (appraised value 195K), more than doubling the preserve and significantly expanding the acres of sphagnum bog that could be restored! The purchase price will be $290,000 with a note over 20 years at 3%. We recently got a call from DEQ that they are trying to fit our application in and I am hoping for a successful outcome. If this application fails, we have already met with our local bank and qualify for a $75,000 loan and will have to work a little harder but will be able to buy at least one of the properties.

We are also working on an option to purchase 3 acres (20K)contiguous with the Research Station headquarters. This acquisition property will launch our bid to preserve the northern most pitcher plant bog in Virginia (down to 2 plants! - We hand pollinated the sole flower this year and have seed for restoration). The 3 acre parcel will also allow significant local volunteer involvement in bog restoration (there is a sphagnum seep on the property).

To pull all this off we need to retire the original Joseph Pines note ($477.00/month) to enhance our monthly cash flow for debt service. One ICPS member has already pledged $1000.00/month towards the Joseph Pines expansion and debt service. Our estimated monthly payment will be $1600.00/month. If you are interested in considering a pledge please contact me privately for a discussion and prospectus of the preserve expansion.

All of this financial talk boils down to real time conservation and restoration of the premier pitcher plant habitat in Maryland or Virginia. To see the finished product that we will have, you would have to go to some of the best managed habitats by TNC in North Carolina near Wilmington, hundreds of miles to our south.

I invite you to come see the Joseph Pines Preserve (please schedule an appointment to visit) and see first hand the progress, habitat, and authentic Virginia pitcher plant ecosystem restoration we are doing.

Sincerely,

Phil Sheridan
Director
Meadowview Biological
Research Station

[GregNY]

wonderful donation Mr. Barnes, and wonderful effore put forth by you Mr Sheridan on the whole project you have going on down there in Virginia. Wish I could be of help, as of now it isnt possible, but I hope to make a trip down their soon to see your efforts. Great job everyone....

[Sockhom]

Hats off to the ICPS and to the Meadowviews crew!


François.

[Brian Barnes]

Hey Socky,

Thanks on the behalf of the ICPS!

But....we couldn't do anything at all, be it not for our cherished ICPS Members and donatees.

Hat's off to them too! ;D

Brian.

[Dave Evans]

Dear Brian,

It is great to know when I donate to the ICPS conservation fund, these monies are being used wisely.

Thank-you,
Dave Evans