Southern New England Chapter 2003 Annual Meeting
Thursday, July 17, 2003
Bristol, Rhode Island

Snowy egret. Courtesy of Rhode Island Audubon.

Welcome to the Ocean State! 
Exploring and Restoring Habitat in Rhode Island

10:00 a.m.  Welcome and Registration, The Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI
The Environmental Education Center is situated on the 28 acre McIntosh Wildlife Refuge on Narragansett Bay.  Environmental exhibits represent every one of RI's diverse habitats, from upland woodland and meadow, a cornfield at night, wetlands, salt marshes and the Narragansett Bay shoreline. It features a life size model of a Right Whale, aquarium, and tide pool tank.  The new and beautiful boardwalk trail links the center to the Narragansett Bay shoreline.

10:30 a.m. Guided Tour of the Environmental Education Center
An Audubon Center Guide will lead us on a tour of the Center and a discussion of Audubon activities around the state.  Andrew Lipsky, Biologist, RI NRCS, will discuss partnership efforts to restore eelgrass beds in Narragansett Bay as well as other habitat restoration sites in the state.

12:00 p.m. Lunch and Networking -- Welcoming New Conservation Professionals to SWCS! Colt State Park, Bristol
 From the Center, we will carpool 1 mile further south on Route 136 to Colt State Park for a Picnic Lunch.  The focus of the session will be to introduce new Conservation Professionals to the members of the Southern New England Chapter, chapter activities, and opportunities for new professionals to get involved in the SWCS and connected with other conservation professionals.

2:00 p.m. Business Meeting

3:00 p.m. Adjourn

Directions to Environmental Education Center and Colt State Park: From Providence and Fall River:
Take Route 195 to Exit 2 (Route 136).  Follow Route 136 South for approx. 3.4 miles.  Turn right at Historic Warren Exit and follow to traffic light.  Left at traffic light onto Main Street (Route 114 South).  Center is approx. 1.4 miles on right immediately after Warren/Bristol town line.  Colt State Park is another mile south on the right.  Phone (401) 245-7500 or visit the Audubon's web site at www.asri.org

Bristol, RI area map

REGISTRATION FORM

Name:  __________________________________  Company: ____________________________________

Phone: __________________________________   Email: _______________________________________

Registration Fee:  Includes Admission to Environmental Education Center and Lunch
_____ $5 for SNEC-SWCS Members      ______ $7 for non-members

Please return this form with your check payable to:
SNEC-SWCS, P.O. Box 7641, Cumberland, RI 02864-0897
by July 11, 2003.

For more information, contact Jackie Pashnik at 401-225-4117 (cell).