Roanoke River Currents Conference

Friday, August 14, 2009
Ferrum College

This one-day conference will explore trends and issues that impact the Roanoke River watershed. Topics to be covered include water quality and quatity, land use management, citizen action and government policies. Displays and presentation will be available throughout the day. Attendees will be given the option of six breakout sessions and can attend tours of the Blue Ridge Institue and Farm Museum and the Titmus Agricultural Center. A continental breakfast and buffet lunch will be provided.

Keynote Speakers

Mr. Brand was raised in Salem, VA, and following graduation from VMI served in World War II, where he worked to implement the Marshall Plan. After his military experience, he took over the family shoe sales business, expanding it into a public company selling stock on Wall Street, and eventually merging the company with the Home Shopping Network at the time of his retirement in 1986. Throughout his years in business, Mr. Brand set aside time each week for community service. This commitment provided many opportunites to network with decision-makers from Salem to Costa Rica. He developed Total Action Against Poverty (TAP) in the Roanoke Valley (1965), the Childrens Health Investment Project (1992), and was the chairman of the Virginia State Board of Health (1989-1993), among many other responsibilities and honors. Mr. Brand's new book, If Not Me, Then Who?, is a discussion of his belief in community service and his concerns on the current isues of poeverty, education, healthcare, racial justice, and peace in the United States.

Dr. Cutler was raised in Michigan and received his doctorate in environmental litigation from the University of Michigan. He began his career as an environmental journalist and moved into the administration of important environmental organizations, serving as assistant executive director of the Wilderness Society, senior vice president of the National Audobon Society, executive director of Population-Environment Balance, and president of Defenders of Wildlife. President Jimmy Carter appointed Dr. Cutler as assistant secretary of agriculture for conservation, research, and education. Since 1991, Dr. Cutler has resided in the Roanoke Valley serving as the executive director for both Explore Park and the Western Virginia Land Trust. Dr. Cutler is presently on the board of directors for the Western Virginia Water Authority and serves on the Roanoke City Council.

Breakout Sessions

• 1. Land Use Management
• 2. Citizens Activities
• 3. Governmental Policies
• 4. New Ideas and Current Reserch
• 5. Sustainability
• 6. Water Planning Issues

Registration

Registraion is closed.

Sponsors

• Upper Roanoke River Roundtable
• Ferrum College
• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation