Thanks to all members of the conservation community that joined us for our 2025 Virtual Summit and Annual Meeting on Wednesday, September 10th. This year’s meeting featured over 50 AVCC members representing nearly 30 conservation commissions from across Vermont. We were greatly enthused by the turnout and pleased to have this opportunity to talk to and receive feedback from our members, supporters and friends. A special thanks goes out to our three CC presenters – Sue Stasny of Monkton, Jamie Kurowski of Cambridge, and Mark Naud of South Hero – as well as our two partner presenters – Jim Arbruster with the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) and Kevin Tolan with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) – for their contributions. The full agenda and recording of the 2025 Annual Meeting can be found below.
12:00 pm: Introduction and Board Business
Programming Update and Agenda Rundown: Bill Dell’Isola, Board Chair
Membership/Financial Update: Mead Binhammer, Board Treasurer
Board Elections: Marian Wolz, Board Secretary
Proposed Bylaw Changes: Bill Dell’Isola, Board Chair
12:15 pm: Monkton Conservation Commission
Sue Stasny, Co-Chair, shared the commission’s work to assemble and circulate birdwatching kits through the Russell Memorial Library, reducing the hobby’s barrier of entry for lower-income residents and spreading awareness and appreciation for the diversity of bird species in Addison County.
12:25 pm: Cambridge Conservation Commission
Cambridge’s Jamie Kurowski presented the commission’s efforts to expand and deepen community engagement and outreach, specifically with its “BYOCutlery” incentive program at the Jeffersonville Farmers Market and “Welcome to Cambridge” packet for new residents.
12:35 pm: South Hero Conservation Commission
Mark Naud, Chair, talked about the commission’s American Kestrel project, which included an educational presentation from a VINS naturalist and the construction and installation of nesting boxes throughout town. Read the “Success Story” here.
12:45 pm: Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS)
Jim Armbruster, Lead Biologist, discuseed VINS’ work on the American Kestrel Research Project, an effort to reverse the decline in American Kestrel populations by building, installing and monitoring nesting boxes.
1:00 pm: Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE)
Kevin Tolan, Staff Biologist, spoke about VCE’s Vernal Pool Atlas, and how CCs can plug into the effort to identify and monitor the health of these unique wetland ecosystems.
1:15 pm: Closing Remarks and Member Feedback
All conservation commission members who attend the meeting were automatically entered into a drawing to win an AVCC t-shirt. Congratulations to our winner, Karen McKnight of the Underhill Conservation Commission!
Annual Summit Presentations
- Birdwatching Kit Lending Library – Sue Stasny, Monkton Conservation Commission
- Expanding Community Engagement Around Conservation – Julie Kurowski, Cambridge Conservation Commission
- American Kestrel Nesting Boxes – Mark Naud, South Hero Conservation Commission
- American Kestrel Research Project – Jim Armbruster, Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS)
- Vermont Vernal Pool Atlas – Kevin Tolan, Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE)