[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 124 (Thursday, September 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOWER MERION CONSERVANCY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 2005

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Lower Merion 
Conservancy during its 10th anniversary celebration. The Lower Merion 
Conservancy was formed in 1995 when the Lower Merion-Narberth Watershed 
Association merged with the Lower Merion Preservation Trust.
  The Conservancy focuses on education, conservation and the 
preservation of historic resources and open space in Lower Merion 
Township, Montgomery County, PA. The Conservancy actively engages 
members of the community to participate in conservation through 
programs such as Stream Watch, in which individuals adopt a stream to 
monitor, and Bird Watch and Butterfly Watch, in which people identify 
and number species near their homes.
  Additionally, the Conservancy has an easement program to protect 
Township properties and has forest restoration and native plant 
gardening programs. Folks from the Conservancy partner with school 
groups for educational programs with children, the highlight of which 
is the Children's Earth Day Forest. These projects emphasize to our 
young people the responsibility we all share to protect our natural 
resources.
  I want to especially recognize the Conservancy's Executive Director, 
Mike Weilbacher. His leadership and efforts in educating the public 
about the environment and conservation have earned him awards from the 
Pennsylvania Resources Council, the Pennsylvania Wildlife Association 
and the Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Education.
  I am proud to represent an organization that has spent so many years 
in service of our environment and our community. I wish to extend my 
appreciation, and that of all those who have been helped by members of 
the Conservancy. I encourage my colleagues to join me in saluting the 
Lower Merion Conservancy on reaching this milestone.

                          ____________________