Our State legislation
Connecticut League of Conservation (CTLCV) works to promote pro-environment legislation at the Connecticut General Assembly. Visit Connecticut League of Conservation Voters for legislative updates on many issues.
national affairs
The GCA hosts The Annual National Affairs and Legislation Conference in Washington, D.C. every February. The main events are two days worth of compelling speakers ranging from conservation nonprofits to congressmen and women from both sides of aisle. Presentations focus on important topics from the GCA's Position Papers as they pertain to relevant legislation, federal administrative actions, and pending judicial issues.
From the GCA website: "The NAL and Conservation Committees work in tandem to enhance the GCA mission to 'restore, improve, and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement.' Although NAL and Conservation committees meet together, their purposes and functions are different. NAL follows in detail legislation that ultimately affects the above purpose, while Conservation provides education on the environmental issues themselves. Conservation Committee members work with youth, member clubs, and the general public to promote local conservation projects and responsible environmental stewardship."
From the GCA website: "The NAL and Conservation Committees work in tandem to enhance the GCA mission to 'restore, improve, and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement.' Although NAL and Conservation committees meet together, their purposes and functions are different. NAL follows in detail legislation that ultimately affects the above purpose, while Conservation provides education on the environmental issues themselves. Conservation Committee members work with youth, member clubs, and the general public to promote local conservation projects and responsible environmental stewardship."
GCA hosted the 2020 Annual National Affairs and Legislation Conference on February 23rd through 26th. The conference agenda included an advocacy training session, a day of expert speakers relating to environmental issues covered in GCA position papers, a day of updates from our elected officials and a day of advocacy in support of issues that impact member’s local communities and the country at large. Self-guided field trips were available for those who came early or chose to stay late. The meeting culminated in a banquet where attendees celebrated the good works that had been done and tipped their hats to the 2020 special anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. Here is a LINK to the NAL Committee page on the GCA website.
Report from Grace Yagtug.
It was an honor and a pleasure to be our delegate for the 2020 NAL conference in February. With over 300 women attending, it was an incredibly rich and informative experience! Taking the 6 hour train from New Haven to Washington DC was an easy and peaceful journey, and the cherry trees along the Potomac Tidal Basin were all ‘in bud’ still too early to be in bloom. It is appropriate here to remember how those cherry trees came to be planted in Washington DC. See image below.
In 1885, travel writer and photographer, Eliza Ruhama Scidmore, had the idea of planting cherry trees after her trip to Japan and recommended that our government purchase the trees. Finally in 1909 she approached First Lady Helen Taft, who was enthusiastic about the idea, with the result that First Lady Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted the first two Yoshino cherry trees of the now 3,750 cherry trees, all donated by the Japanese government over 100 years ago. What a remarkable result of focused women speaking through their love of nature - a conservation miracle! See image below
And this is what is at the very heart of the NAL conference - focused women speaking through their love of nature. One of the highlights of the trip was Zone II’s meeting with Senator Blumenthal and Senator Chris Murphy at the Capitol. Zone II representatives, over 20 women, were in our meeting with Senator Blumenthal, and each woman who spoke was respectful, calm, and very specific about the bill being discussed and what element of the bill GCA was championing for support. Our discussions ended with sharing our deep concerns about the environment we are leaving for our children and our grand children. See image below
The 2020 NAL focus was supporting the approval of the following 6 pieces of legislation.
Check back later for a comprehensive report on the 2020 NAL conference
Hover over images for captions
It was an honor and a pleasure to be our delegate for the 2020 NAL conference in February. With over 300 women attending, it was an incredibly rich and informative experience! Taking the 6 hour train from New Haven to Washington DC was an easy and peaceful journey, and the cherry trees along the Potomac Tidal Basin were all ‘in bud’ still too early to be in bloom. It is appropriate here to remember how those cherry trees came to be planted in Washington DC. See image below.
In 1885, travel writer and photographer, Eliza Ruhama Scidmore, had the idea of planting cherry trees after her trip to Japan and recommended that our government purchase the trees. Finally in 1909 she approached First Lady Helen Taft, who was enthusiastic about the idea, with the result that First Lady Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted the first two Yoshino cherry trees of the now 3,750 cherry trees, all donated by the Japanese government over 100 years ago. What a remarkable result of focused women speaking through their love of nature - a conservation miracle! See image below
And this is what is at the very heart of the NAL conference - focused women speaking through their love of nature. One of the highlights of the trip was Zone II’s meeting with Senator Blumenthal and Senator Chris Murphy at the Capitol. Zone II representatives, over 20 women, were in our meeting with Senator Blumenthal, and each woman who spoke was respectful, calm, and very specific about the bill being discussed and what element of the bill GCA was championing for support. Our discussions ended with sharing our deep concerns about the environment we are leaving for our children and our grand children. See image below
The 2020 NAL focus was supporting the approval of the following 6 pieces of legislation.
- Land and Water Conservation Fund
- Restore our Parks and Public Lands
- Save Our Seas 2.0
- American Transportation and Infrastructure Act and the Moving Forward Framework
- Monarch and Pollinator Highway Act
- The Native Plant Species Pilot Program
Check back later for a comprehensive report on the 2020 NAL conference
Hover over images for captions
The Annual National Affairs and Legislation Conference (NAL) Meeting 2019 was held February 24th through February 27th in Washington DC. The Conference was a resounding success this year and coincided with legislative environmental victories. One being the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) which won permanent authorization in the House with a vote of 363-62. Here is a LINK to the NAL Committee page on the GCA website.
Martha Phillips report for the The Garden Club of America Annual National Affairs & Legislation conference sponsored by GCA convened the week of February 26 through March 1, 2018 in Washington DC. Attendees from all zones were present.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent the Litchfield Garden Club at the NAL meeting this year. As always, it was a great chance to renew acquaintances and make new friends. And learn a great deal.
The meeting was packed – 27 delegates from Zone II clubs attended and several hundred from across the country. So many historic as well as recent hard-won environmental and conservation accomplishments are currently under challenge and at risk of being overturned that the level of energy and concern among delegates was noticeably higher than usual.
Read Full Report -
Thank you for the opportunity to represent the Litchfield Garden Club at the NAL meeting this year. As always, it was a great chance to renew acquaintances and make new friends. And learn a great deal.
The meeting was packed – 27 delegates from Zone II clubs attended and several hundred from across the country. So many historic as well as recent hard-won environmental and conservation accomplishments are currently under challenge and at risk of being overturned that the level of energy and concern among delegates was noticeably higher than usual.
Read Full Report -
The Garden Club of America’s committees on conservation and national affairs and legislation keep an eye on developing conservation issues and federal legislation and regulations pertaining to them. The GCA has adopted position papers on half a dozen topics. These papers form the basis for lobbying and advocacy issues undertaken on behalf of the GCA. To see to position papers - visit the GCA website, click here.
GCA PUBLICATIONS:
Conservation Watch (Con Watch) - Spring, 2020
Legislative Update - 2020
National Affairs and Legislation - A Call to Action, Support The Land and Water Conservation (LWCF)
A History of Conservation and National Affairs & Legislation - by the GCA
Compilation of GCA Position Papers
GCA PUBLICATIONS:
Conservation Watch (Con Watch) - Spring, 2020
Legislative Update - 2020
National Affairs and Legislation - A Call to Action, Support The Land and Water Conservation (LWCF)
A History of Conservation and National Affairs & Legislation - by the GCA
Compilation of GCA Position Papers