Virginia Millennium Water Conference 2000
From Science to Practice
Fredricksburg, Virginia
March 13-14, 2000

With more than 170 attendees, nearly 60 presentations in 15 sessions, and 22 exhibitors, you would think you would have the ingredients for a successful meeting - and you are right! The VA Lakes and Watersheds Association annual meeting was held at the Holiday Park Hotel in Fredericksburg, VA on March 13-14 in conjunction with the VA Floodplain Management Association and with corporate sponsorship by the American Electric Power Company.

 The Honorable John Paul Woodley, Jr., Secretary of Natural Resources in Virginia, gave the luncheon presentation on Monday, describing new land preservation and conservation programs and educational initiatives.

Prior to the membership meeting, a reception was held among the exhibitors encouraging interaction and developing possible working relationships. After all the cheese and fruit were gone and inhibitions loosened, the group reassembled and VLWA held its annual membership meeting, electing 6 Directors to the Board. Director Jim Rakestraw introduced two budding engineer and future VLWA members and Sherm Garrison provided a brief NALMS report as a NALMS Director. The Board of Directors then convened and the current slate of officers was re-elected.

	By the beginning of the first sessions at 8:30am, most of the 170+ attendees had picked up their registration badges and packets.		Rebecca Francese (Waterways Surveying and Engineering) presents a beneficial use project for dredge spoils - a wetlands creation project in Lake Taylor, Norfolk, VA.
	The VA Secretary of Natural Resources (Hon. John Paul Woodley, Jr.) makes a keynote presentation at the luncheon.		Dr. Carolyn Thomas (Ferrum College) describes some interesting results of the 1999 bacterial monitoring program in Smith Mountain Lake.
	After all day sessions on Monday (and to lubricate the group for the upcoming business meeting), exhibitors, presentors and attendees freely mix, meeting old friends and looking for new business partners.		President Richard Dameron leads the membership and Board  through the annual business meeting. As a reward for a job well done (or their penance for otherwise), all the current officers were re-elected for another term.

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