2009 Aiken Garden Show a BIG Success

ALC extends a BIG "Thank you" to everyone who attended the 2009 Aiken Garden Show. Proceeds from the show will benefit the Conservancy and the Aiken Garden Club Council. The weather for this year's show was wonderful and the featured gardens were beautiful. A variety of vendors provided one-of-a-kind plants, art, and those "must have" garden tools. Special thanks go to ALC Board members David Scott--who spoke about Carolina Bays and provided a tour of the animals and plants indigenous to Aiken's own Carolina Bay Nature Reserve, and Harry Shealy--who led a guided tour of Hitchcock Woods. "Thank you" also to the ALC members who volunteered to help with the show. Your assistance was critical to the success of the show!

Conservation Bank Receives $2 Million in SC Budget

The Conservation Bank received $2 million dollars plus operating expenses in the 2009-2010 state budget that passed the Senate and the House. This critical funding would allow the Bank to live up to its obligations and maintain the relationships that have protected more than 152,000 acres since 2002. Although this version of the budget has been vetoed by the Governor, please thank your Senators and Representatives for their support of conservation in South Carolina.

News from the Land Trust Alliance

An amazing 117 Representatives have signed on as cosponsors of the Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2009 (H.R. 1831). This bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the tax deduction for charitable contributions by individuals and corporations of real property interests for conservation purposes. Similar legislation in the Senate (S. 812) now has 7 cosponsors. Check the LTA website to see which Senators and Representatives have signed-on as co-sponsors of this legislation in the new congress. 

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