Hear from our President of the Board of Directors, Doug Christie, on why you should be a member of The Couchiching Conservancy.
We all have our reasons. I know many of you reading this have been strong supporters of The Couchiching Conservancy, and I wanted to share with you my personal reasons for supporting conservation efforts through our local land trust.
In the 1990s I became aware of the Conservancy through friends who were actively involved and passionate about protecting our natural environment. My commitment at that time was modest, but after attending a few annual general meetings I wanted to participate in projects and volunteered to be a team member inspecting a property several times a year.
During this same period, as a lawyer for local governments, I realized the intense pressure on politicians to encourage economic growth in their communities; sometimes at the expense of losing wetlands, forests and grasslands. To help protect our natural resources I agreed to become a member of the Board of Directors in 2012. That really opened my eyes to the myriad of projects the Conservancy undertakes to ensure that future generations will have “green” healthy spaces to enjoy. But this also opened my eyes to the need for community support and funding to make these projects successful. So I have become a strong promoter of membership for the following reasons:
- Members have the satisfaction of knowing that they are doing something that helps preserve, and in some cases enhance, our natural environment.
- The Conservancy owns and manages properties that members can visit and enjoy the serenity of a grassland or a forest with family and friends.
- Membership fees raise money to finance our projects.
- A strong membership gives the Conservancy more credibility when seeking large grants.
- Membership encourages staff and volunteers because it is a tangible way of showing you believe in our mission.
As a member, you help protect some of the most rich and beautiful irreplaceable lands in our area. It’s people like you who can make a difference in our community.
Yours Sincerely,
Doug Christie
President of the Board