Save Our Necks has had a website running now for two years. During that time we have seen consistent growth in the number of site visitors and dozens of different articles and reports published describing what is going on in Accomack County Government. We have, through this effort, raised awareness on countless issues that might never have seen the light of day, were it not for our efforts as a group and the many contributions from all of you.

Articles on Groundwater, Land Use, the Comp Plan and water quality have had the highest hit counts. Aerial photos have told a story that words sometimes cannot describe and sometimes that cannot be believed. They act credibility to our actions by showing what is really going on. Surveys and interviews, meeting reports and decision analysis have all made this website one of the top five in the County for hits.

The message: People care.

When we started, our hit numbers were consistently around 250-300 per month. Now our average number of monthly hits in the preceding year is almost 3000. We saw monthly hit counts in excess of 3500 leading up to the election. That represents a tremendous endorsement of what we are doing and, more importantly, what you care about.

Ted Shockley, ES News Editor, in a piece run just before the election, commented (and I paraphrase) that never before had a citizens group had such an influence on County politics and County issues and that they (we) had done so through our reporting on issues on this website.

We are committed to keeping issues in front of you through this tool. It works. It is not the only thing that works, however. We still need your financial contributions, your participation in public meetings and your willingness to write for the website and to the newspaper as matters of importance occur.

You may look forward to more of the same. Updates in the near future will include comments on the lawsuit, our agenda with respect to adopting the Bay Act on the Seaside and discussions with other County officials about specific challenges.

Thank you for your support and KEEP READING!

George Parker
Craddockville