Thank you to those of you who attended the April 13 Annual General Meeting. Even with two postponed dates, about a week’s notice of the rescheduled date, and on a beautiful sunny Sunday, we still had 126 people attend. Thank you.
Here are a few highlights of the meeting:
- Outgoing President of the Board, Kathy Hunt, opened the meeting.
- Past Executive Director Mark Bisset spoke in memory of the Conservancy’s first Executive Director Ron Reid who passed away in December.
- Incoming President, Jane Bonsteel, presented minutes of the last AGM.
- Outgoing Treasurer, Jack Booth, shared some key financial updates – the Conservancy had a strong financial year thanks to strong return on investments held at the Community Foundation of Orillia and Area and also increased donations (specifically two bequests). This is the first time the Conservancy has exceeded $2 million in total revenue. Of the expenditures, $750,000 accounted for acquisitions of property. The Conservancy continues to be in a strong financial position with no long-term debt. You can see the full audited financial statements on our Annual Reports & Financials Documents page.
- Outgoing President of the Board, Kathy Hunt, shared her remarks. She commented that it was a year of ‘getting set’ for great outcomes and continued success. The Conservancy is in a strong financial position, has a solid staff, increased youth involvement and has great community support.
- Board member, Bob Sullivan, offered an update on the Heartwood Fund and invited Joan Vincent and Roland Rehhorn to tell their story of their decision to make a gift today to the Fund.
- We recognized two volunteers – Pam Paylor and Patrick Jones.
- Thanked two outgoing Board members, Neil Gray and Jack Booth.
- The new Board of Directors was voted in: President, Jane Bonsteel. Directors, Kathy Hunt, Bob Sullivan, Dale Leadbeater, Janet Machan, Susan Crowe, Morris Ilyniak, Tom Wilson, and Lisa Neville.
- Incoming President Jane Bonsteel shared remarks and thanks.
- Executive Director, Dorthea Hangaard, presented a report which included an explanation of staff and their roles, and announcements of the Conservation Excellence Certification, the Agnew-Melnyk Nature Reserve and the Eldridge Nature Reserve. She also informed the audience on the transition from the Corridors Campaign to the Land for Life campaign, and premiered a campaign video. She shared the motivating question of the campaign, how we do land acquisition and explained what is next.
- Ethan Pressey, a part of our Youth Council, shared why conservation matters to him and his reasons for being involved.
- Dorthea announced the next property we are working to protect – the Blackwell Brady Clark property.
- We premiered our first documentary, Wild Routes – Traversing the Minesing to Matchedash Corridor, which followed a three day trek by our Biologist Toby Rowland. Toby answered questions about the trek and what will be next.
Our thanks to photographer Joseph Horne. Thank you to the 20 volunteers who helped with the event.
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