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PVAS Monthly Program: What’s A Bee City USA? It’s not what you think.

Thursday, October 10, 2024 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society welcomes Linda Layne, the Chair of the Shepherdstown Bee City USA project!

SCHEDULE

  • 6:30 PM: Social time with light refreshments. In order to reduce waste, we are asking that people bring their own mugs. 
  • 7:00 PM: Presentation begins!
  • 8:00 PM: Approximate end of the program – though it may last longer depending on questions and discussion!

PVMN Continuing Education Eligible

This in-person program is free and open to the public.  All ages are welcome to attend.
We will also be offering this program virtually! Here is the Zoom link so you can join in from home.  If you are not able to attend live, in-person or virtually, you can view a recording of the Monthly Program presentation later! We typically post the recording within several days.

Presentation Description –

Join us for an inspiring and informative event featuring Linda Layne, the Chair of the Shepherdstown Bee City USA project, who will provide an insightful overview of Shepherdstown’s journey to becoming a designated Bee City and offer practical guidance on how you can get involved. Learn about Shepherdstown’s transformation into a Bee City USA and how you can contribute to this impactful initiative as our guest speaker discusses the progress made, the benefits to the community, and ways for you to engage.

Linda will cover:

  • What is a Bee City? Learn about the Bee City USA program and its mission to support pollinators by enhancing habitats, increasing native plantings, providing nesting sites, and reducing pesticide use.
  • Why would your town want to be a Bee City? Discover the benefits of becoming a Bee City, including ecological improvements, enhanced community engagement, and a stronger local environment.
  • Who would initiate it? Find out who can lead the charge in bringing this program to your community, including local leaders, organizations, and volunteers.
  • When should it start? Get insights into the optimal timing and phases for launching a Bee City initiative in your area.
  • How should it begin? Learn the practical steps and strategies for starting and sustaining a successful Bee City project.

Whether you’re a community leader, environmental advocate, or simply curious about making a positive impact, this event will equip you with valuable knowledge and actionable steps to support pollinator-friendly practices in your town.

About the Presenter:

Raised in New Jersey, Linda was a special educator for 22 years and an Educational Diagnostician for 12. Upon retirement she moved to Maryland, at the birth of her first grandson, in 2011. Due to her continued love for teaching, she worked in a reading program at an elementary school in a K-5 autism program.
At this time she met her future husband and continued working until his retirement in 2018. Her relocation to outside of Shepherdstown, West Virginia was, least to say, an adjustment for Linda, but with a newfound love in pickleball and their farm, she started to embrace  and found “almost heaven”. Although her “almost heaven” had lots of corn and soy, it did not have a garden. She became a Berkeley-Jefferson County Master Gardener and began planting gardens and also became a beekeeper. Oh, but there were so many creepy crawlers about that becoming a Master Naturalist just naturally followed.
Upon visiting her, now 3 grandsons, during the summer at their beach house in Berlin, Maryland, she became intrigued by all the bee paraphilia at a local town fair. Come to find out, Berlin was a Bee City USA! After a discussion with Berlin’s Mayor’s assistant and some research, it absolutely became obvious that Shepherdstown would be a perfect place to establish Bee City USA status.
Armed with PowerPoint and Xerces Society references, Linda made a plea to the Town Council for Shepherdstown to become a Bee City. That evening the Mayor and Town Council unanimously and enthusiastically signed the resolution. This is that story.

 

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