600 to Gather at VMI for Environment Virginia Symposium   LEXINGTON, Va., March 27, 2014 – Approximately 600 environmental leaders will gather at Virginia Military Institute’s Center for Leadership and Ethics March 31-April 2 for the 26th annual Environment Virginia Symposium, “Making Connections: Environmental Quality, Health, and Prosperity.” Registration is still open. “The Environment Virginia Symposium has a long-standing tradition of bringing together diverse stakeholders from the public and private sectors to network, share experience, and develop valuable partnerships key to the overall improvement of our environment,” said Col. David Gray, Center director. The conference will open with an awards ceremony presenting the Governor’s Environmental Excellence and Erchul Environmental Leadership awards, followed by a reception welcoming participants to the conference. Sandra Postel, who directs the independent Global Water Policy Project, will give the keynote address April 1. Postel is a Freshwater Fellow of the National Geographic Society and the author of books including the award-winning Last Oasis, which has been published in eight languages and was the basis for a PBS documentary. Rob Watson, CEO and chief scientist of the ECON Group, will speak later that day. Watson is the founder of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – LEED – green building rating system. Also speaking April 1 will be Daniel Hill, president of the Green Impact Campaign, a nonprofit organization that offers free energy audits by student volunteers to reduce the environmental impact of small businesses and enhance the professional skills of the next generation of climate leaders. The conference will conclude with a panel discussion on the train derailment and oil spill that occurred last April in Lynchburg. Panelists are Michael Gillett, mayor of Lynchburg; James Golden, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality deputy director for operations; Pat Calvert, James River Association Upper James Riverkeeper; and Brett A. Burdick, Virginia Department of Emergency Management deputy state coordinator. More than 49 exhibitors will represent state and federal agencies, industries, and nonprofit organizations, while more than 37 breakout sessions will address a range of topics including water resource and water supply management, policy and regulations, energy, conservation initiatives, stormwater, climate change, student engagement, and innovation and sustainability. Other events include a 5-kilometer/1-mile walk; donations will benefit the VMI Keydets without Borders nonprofit organization. Hosts for the symposium are Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Environmental Quality, and the Virginia Environmental Endowment. Online registration is open until Wednesday at www.vmi.edu/Conferences/EV/Registration/. Walk-in registration will be open throughout the conference, though single-day rates are not available. Fees are $50 for undergraduates; $250 for general public, non-profit or non-governmental group members, and academics; $350 for government employees; and $400 for businesses.

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