Prevent Extinction of Pitcher Plants in Virginia!

[meadowview]

This year Pepsi is giving millions of dollars to non-profit organizations and persons with ideas to 'refresh' their community. Thousand of applications are being accepted every month and each submission, once approved, is posted on Pepsi's www.RefreshEverything.com website. Each proposed idea undergoes a month long voting process that will ultimately decide whether grant money is awarded to that project. There are four grant categories; $5K, $20K, $50K, and $250K. Only the top ten ideas in each category will be awarded the monies. 

Meadowview will be submitting an application May 1st with intentions to purchase 5 acres of the Hall property that is home to the northern most native pitcher plant site in Caroline County, Virginia (see our 2009 newsletter at www.pitcherplant.org for the Central Virginia Preserve Plan and details). The small colony of Sarracenia purpurea on the land was first discovered in 1990. Initially 10 plants were present on the Hall tract, but due to inadequate light and succession from overcrowding vegetation, only two remain today. We prevented imminent extinction of this population by clearing brush locally around the plants and have now managed to obtain seed. Four flowers have been produced this year and our controlled pollination will provide thousands of seedling pitcher plants for restoration work. The way to protect this population long-term is to purchase the property and restore the bog to appropriate environmental conditions. We are asking for $50,000 from Pepsi to purchase this land in Caroline County, Virginia. Acquisition of this land is critical to the success of the Meadowview Central Virginia Preserve Plan, and to the preservation of these plants.

We are asking you to help Meadowview by voting for our project. Please find our submission beginning June 1 on RefreshEverything.com website. Pepsi allows participants to vote once a day, everyday for the month of June. Remember, only the top ten ideas, by vote, will be awarded the grant so voting each day for this project is crucial. To vote, go to www.RefreshEverything.com and type "Meadowview" in the search box at the top right of the page. Find our page and be sure to check out all the information and video about the project. Click on "Vote for this idea", provide your email, name, birth date, and create a password. You will then be allowed to vote and revisit the page daily! If you have a question, ideas, or need help please contact [e-mail].

Meadowview is now on Facebook! Please join our Facebook fan page to receive information on this Pepsi Refresh Grant, as wells as pictures and video of other events, projects, and happenings. 

[ICPS-bob]

Great idea. Be sure to remind everyone on the "start" date.

[mksmith]

Here is a great video with more information on the northern-most pitcher plant site in Virginia.

[Carnivorous Ken]

If all we have to do is vote, we can save S. purpurea in Virginia! I'm thinking about all the thousands of people in the US who love their carnivorous plants and will want to give back.

Lets be real though. I know first hand the Pepsi Refresh Project grant is going to be tough to win. The nonprofit I work for tried to win the same $50k and failed unceremoniously.

Here is what I've learned:

1. You need a highly motivated network of voters who a have stake in the cause to win. That's us! If we won't vote to protect S. purpurea who will?

2. Pepsi allows people to vote once per day, so 30 days = 30 potential votes. Vote and vote often. Hey, it's easier than opening your wallet!

3. Voters will need to tap their personal social networks to vote and to spread the word. This will create a snowball effect, which hopefully will create an avalanche of votes. This should be easy considering people LOVE their carnivorous plants.

4. It's not winner takes all. Pepsi awards 50k to the top 10 most popular causes in the $50k category. Remind voters that they're always 10 positions closer to winning than they think.

I'm committed to helping Meadowview win the $50k. After all, How can I enjoy these plants knowing knowing full well they're going extinct in the wild. If clicking a "vote here" button for 30 days is what it takes to Save S. purpurea from extinction in VA, I think I can do that. : )

By the way, here's the link to Meadowview's facebook page. tinyurl.com/2a7fchy

[Brian Barnes]

Hi Ken,

You took the words right out of my mouth... ;D

This is definitely a fantastic opportunity to help our beloved CP and our good friends at Meadowview! I encourage everyone to vote profusely. I know I will.

Happy Growing,

Brian Barnes,
ICPS Director of Conservation.

[philgreen]

I've spread the word in the UK. Lets hope everyone else is on their local forums.

[petmantis]

Are people outside of the U.S. allowed to vote? If so, count me in

[meadowview]

Hi Petmantis:

Pepsi apparently has restricted this contest to US votes only. I appreciate the interest and show of support, however. If you purchase the McPherson books you do support the effort through his book sales donations.

Sincerely,

Phil Sheridan
Meadowview

[Carnivorous Ken]

Hi all.

I'm very sorry to report that due to the overwhelming volume of submissions, the Meadowview Pepsi grant team was unable to submit an application to complete for the grant this June.

We're down, but not out.

The Pepsi Refresh competition renews every month until the end of the year. Which means we still have at 6 more tries to get our foot in the door. Meadowview volunteer, Michael Smith, stayed up all night to try to submit our application at the exact second submissions were being accepted — 12:00:01 AM May 1st. But, so were a tsunami of applicants across America doing the same thing. Only 1,000 applications are accepted each month.

We've already done a lot of work marketing and courting CP nurseries with a strong conservation ethic, so we're definitely not going away. The next opportunity for us to submit is June 1st, 12:00:01 Am. We'll keep you posted on developments as they arise.

Wish us lots'o LUCK!

Thanks for everyone's support thus far.

Cheers,

Ken

[meadowview]

Hi Folks:

I have an update on the Pepsi Refresh Grant. We have repeatedly tried to log onto the Pepsi site and every time we have been unable to get our application submitted. We'll keep trying but this funding effort to purchase and protect the northern most pitcher plant bog in Virginia is not looking good.

On a brighter note, we have had a conservation buyer come forward from Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Ernest Wilson, retired botany professor from Virginia State University, is purchasing the 13+ acre Gatewood tract that is the head of the native pitcher plant bog. The purchase cost is $95,000. He is donating a conservation easement on the property to Meadowview and we will be responsible for restoring the property and reintroducing native Sarracenia purpurea, raised from seed, from the two plants on the adjoining Hall tract (please see our 2009 newsletter on the newsletter link at www.pitcherplant.org for maps of the Central Virginia Preserve). We also purchased in June the 3 acre tract adjoining Meadowview for $19,000. We have raised $6000 on this land purchase and have a note from our local bank for $15,000. We hope to negotiate a deal with Chuck Hall so we can actually purchase the native pitcher plant colony.

So.. a very busy spring and summer for us. I'll keep you posted on additional details.

Sincerely,

Phil Sheridan, Ph.D.
Director
Meadowview Biological
Research Station

[Dave Evans]

Wow, Phil that is some really good news; regarding the conservation easement donated by Dr. Ernest Wilson. It looks like your plan for expanding Meadowview headquarters into a preserve of its own are progressing quite well!


I have viewed the Pepsi Grants as quite a long shot since I had heard about, sort of like winning a lottery for non-profits. Great if it happens, but it isn't something that can be "relied" upon. Just making the monthly list for voting is an accomplishment, apparently.