1,500 beach grass plants will reinforce important dune

Virginia Beach Rotary, Boy Scouts to plant them December 9

VIRGINIA BEACH, November 14, 2006 -- Two service organizations will plant 1,500 dune plants from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. at the Lesner Bridge City Boat Ramp.

The Virginia Beach Rotary Club will team with the Boy Scouts to conduct the community service project designed to help the environment, as well as the city of Virginia Beach and its citizens and visitors.

The project satisfies two needs.  "Virginia Beach Rotary wanted to do an environmental project, and the city needed some beach grass planted," says Wayne McCoy, project coordinator for Virginia Beach Rotary Club.

The city will provide the materials -- approximately 1,500 plants. The plants will help stabilize the dune and keep the sand from blowing into the waterway, says McCoy, who is the senior vice president of environmental sciences, MSA P.C. in Virginia Beach.

McCoy says it's a labor-intensive job that will save the city money and time.  And that's exactly why he likes it.  "Virginia Beach is unique because of the tremendous amount of support and partnerships between volunteer organizations like Rotary and the city.  This kind of teamwork and cooperation helps the city thrive and remain a great place to live."

Rick Scarper of the Virginia Beach Planning Department agreed. “This is another outstanding example of the partnership between the city and private organizations to make the environment in Virginia Beach, better for us all."

Besides helping the environment, McCoy says the dune project will also have an aesthetic impact.  "Our citizens and visitors will have a beautiful area to launch their boats and enjoy the city and its waterways."

"The Rotary motto is 'Service Above Self' and we strive to consistently accomplish that whether it's in Virginia Beach or the Third World," says George Sabol, the club's president and an orthodontist with Drs. Savage, Sabol & Visser.  "We touch lives -- that's what Rotary is all about."

About Rotary

Rotary has over 1.2 million men and women members globally in over 32,000 clubs in 168 counties.  Rotarians provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in their businesses and lives, and strive to build goodwill and peace in the world.

David Rourk contact

david@rourkpr.com, (757) 478-0150

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