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by Arthur Harrington, event co-host and
Gathering Waters Board President
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it is the only
thing that ever has” Margaret Mead,
Good Evening, my name is Arthur Harrington. I
have the privilege to serve as President of the Board of Trustees
of Gathering waters. Gathering waters and all of our friends here
tonight are exactly the small group of thoughtful committed citizens
that Margaret Mead had in mind when she made this statement about
changing our world for the better here in Wisconsin.
My co-host, tonight, John Torinus, is also one
of those citizens that Margaret Mead had in mind when she made that
statement. John, as many of you know, is CEO of Serigraph, a prominent
Wisconsin business located in West Bend. Under John’s leadership,
Serigraph was recently awarded a Green Tier certification by the
DNR under its new certification program. John also serves on the
board of the Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin. Along with his wife,
Kine, they are energetic supporters and funders of the Ozaukee Washington
Land Trust. It is a privilege for me to share with him the hosting
of this event and the introduction of tonight’s award winners
Before John and I begin the awards ceremony. Permit
me to take a few minutes to review the great year that we have experienced
for land conservation in Wisconsin and some of the challenges we
will face in the near future.
Let me briefly highlight some of the positive
developments during this year:
• Land trusts in Wisconsin have now protected over 200,000
acres of pristine land in our state.
• A new, improved federal tax incentives law was recently
passed (Find the details on our Gathering Waters web site)
• State-wide media coverage about land conservation has gained
momentum. At least every week there is an article in the Journal
Sentinel about Land Conversation at the state and local level.
• The Current Administration is seriously considering creating
a statewide Purchase of Development Rights program.
• With the support of Gathering Waters, Land trusts in the
Lake Michigan Basin continue to work together to make progress toward
their regional goals.
• Gathering Waters is kicking off our Stewardship reauthorization
Campaign.
There are so many ways that these developments
mean so much to each of us in this room. Let me give you just one
example of a project, among many in every corner of our state sponsored
by Wisconsin Land trust that envisions these important developments.
The Ozaukee Washington Land Trust’s Lion’s
Den project:
• This 79-acre parcel of undeveloped Lake Michigan Shoreline
property is located in the Town of Grafton, one of the fastest growing
regions in the State.
• The project consists of .approximately 4,000 feet of 90
to 100 foot bluffs offering spectacular viewing opportunities for
the public.
Each of us in this audience could offer their
own lists of land trust projects that embody spectacular natural
features. Indeed, the award recipients all are responsible for projects
with these features. All of these projects have at least one thing
in common: they have been made possible by the unique public/private
partnerships offered by land trusts in this state.
I think everyone in this room can agree on one
thing, no matter what your party affiliation during this very political
season. All of these projects would never have been possible without
the assistance of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund.
I know I am preaching to the choir, when it comes
to this audience, about the Stewardship fund It is our holy grail!
:
• The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund is authorized at $60
million per year though 2010.
• At a cost of less than one-half of one percent of the state
budget, the Stewardship Fund is saving the best of what remains
of outdoor Wisconsin
• To date, the program has permanently protected 450,000 acres
statewide from development pressures.
• This investment is critical to our state’s tourist
economy and the essence of what defines the high quality of Life
in Wisconsin
• The Stewardship fund is the largest dingle source of duns
for land purchases by Wisconsin Land trusts.
• The principle reason that Land trusts have been able to
raise $55 million dollars in private funds is the leveraging ability
offered by the matching capacity of the Stewardship fund.
So, why am I spending so much time talking about
the State Stewardship funds in these opening remarks? The reason?
The fund is up for reauthorization in 2010. About three years from
now. Ladies and Gentlemen, if you are not concerned about the reauthorization,
you should be. We are living in a new age of financing public budgets
during this current climate concerned about high taxation. Any available
significant fund is a convenient target for state elected officials
for balancing a state budget where tax receipts are declining. I
need only site the recent example of the tobacco settlement fund
as one recent example that evaporated in a rush to balance the budget.
Well, we can tell you that this is not going to
happen if Gathering Waters and our members have anything to say
about the importance of the Knowles-Nelson fund during this reauthorization
fight. For this reason, we are announcing tonight the most significant
campaign ever undertaken by Gathering Waters. Tonight we are announcing
a campaign goal to raise $450,000 over the next three years to fund
a vigorous campaign. This campaign is designed to ensure that no
elected official seriously will consider a proposal to adversely
impact the stewardship fund during the reauthorization fight.
This campaign will have the following important
features:
• Raise the profile of the Stewardship Fund across our state
to members of the public.
• Ensure that cutting the fund is not politically viable on
both sides of the political aisle
• Organized a powerful, pro stewardship coalition across all
segments of Wisconsin society.
This is going to take money and volunteers. How
can you help?
• Think about the role that the fund has played in your favorite
land trust projects.
• Support our efforts with a substantial financial contribution
• Sign up for volunteer efforts in our Reauthorization Campaign.
Finally, let me ask you this question? Who is
missing in this award presentation that has been present every year
during the past award ceremonies? Vicki Elkin. Well, we have some
good news for everyone here tonight. Vicki has not left the organization.
She in fact will be leading this state stewardship fight on behalf
of Gathering Waters, our members and the citizens of the state of
Wisconsin.
However, to do this she had to leave her role
as Executive Director of Gathering Waters to perform this important
new role. And in order to gracefully assist her in this transition
and to recognize Vicki’s past extraordinary efforts as Executive
Director of this organization, Please join me in providing a warm
welcome to the founding father of Gathering Waters, Bud Jordahl.
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