Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions Annual Meeting

Saturday, March 1, 2008
Annual Environmental Conference
at Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA

MAAC 2008

The MACC Annual Environmental Conference is the largest regular environmental conference in New England. Over 1000 Conservation Commissioners, other local officials, state and federal environmental officials, consultants, attorneys and others enjoy a full day of activities. The Annual Environmental Conference includes an Opening Session with speakers; presentation of the MACC Environmental Service Awards, and the business session including the election of officers and directors. Over 40 workshop and training sessions are offered, all taught by recognized experts.

There are over 40 exhibits and displays. State and federal agencies, and providers of environmental products and services find the Annual Environmental Conference to be a great opportunity to reach a large number of environmental activists.

Sara Monicchi, Fletcher School of Government graduate student, and Rob Moir “person” ORI’s table at the Mass Association of Conservation Commissions Annual Meeting in Worcester. A winter snowstorm made travel treacherous and may have reduced attendance a bit. On display are two color reprints of the half page advertisement introducing the work of the Ocean River Institute in the MACC conference program book. The Rushing River Institute shared our table. Once again, Conservation Commissioners from across the state signed in support of comprehensive ecosystem-based ocean management for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The 2008 MACC Annual Environmental Conference will be held on March 1, 2008 at the Hogan Campus Center, Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts.

MACC’s Top Ten Excuses for Filling Wetlands

Every Commission has been presented with various explanations of why a particular wetland was or should be filled. We thought it might be fun to solicit the best reasons. We received nearly 50 suggestions. Printed below are the most interesting and creative.

10. My truck always gets stuck in the mud.

9. No one told me it was a wetland.

8. It's not habitat -- it just breeds snakes and mosquitoes.

7. Haven't you heard of equine encephalitis?

6. It really isn't much of a wetland.

5. Those frogs kept me awake all night.

4. It wasn't wet when I filled it.

3. I had to put it somewhere -- that's why it's called "fill."

2. It's much neater without all those bushes and weeds.

1. It needs fill to hold the water table down.