2008 Annual Report and Summer 2009 Newsletter - Columbia Land ...

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008
2008 | ANNUAL REPORT
2 0 0 8 H I G H L I G H T S
Critical Support
The work of a local land trust relies on the generous
support of the community it serves. At CLC we are
very fortunate to have a broad base of individual
donors and local businesses who share an appreciation
for the working farms, forest lands, and wildlife habitats
that are so abundant in Columbia County and that
make this such an exceptional area to live and work.
In addition, we wish to acknowledge the following
foundations, which made grants to assist us with implementing
key elements of our new strategic plan: the
David Rockefeller Fund, Ellsworth Kelly Foundation,
J.M. Kaplan Fund, New York State Council on the Arts
(NYSCA), and the Pershing Square Foundation.
Private Land Conservation
With the protection of a 64-acre ridgeline parcel in
New Lebanon, CLC’s conservation easement program
reached a new milestone, having helped 143 families
protect more than 20,000 acres of land in Columbia
County. This achievement was celebrated in August at
Willowdale Farm in Claverack at a gathering of many
of the conservation easement landowners who have led
this voluntary effort. Through their work with CLC,
these landowners have ensured that the conservation
resources of their farms and forest lands will be maintained
over time, helping to protect the natural and
rural heritage of the county.
Public Conservation Areas
In 2008, the Schor Conservation Area in Red Rock was
formally opened for year-round public recreation. This
233-acre property was part of Jon Schor’s estate bequest
to CLC at his passing in 2004. Schor was a long time
CLC trustee, serving as vice-chair of the Conservancy’s
board, and a vigorous advocate for public lands. In
creating the conservation area, CLC honors Schor’s
legacy and contributions to the local community. The
two-and-one-half miles of woodland trails lead visitors
around the shores of a beautiful pond before enticing
them to climb a high overlook with spectacular views
of the entire Hudson Valley.
Bob Herron’s legacy gift to Austerlitz.
Echoing the leadership legacy of Jon Schor, another
individual stepped forward last year to make his own
generous gift to the community. Bob Herron, a
life-long resident of Austerlitz, finalized his plans for
39 acres along the Green River. Herron has generously
made provisions in his Will that will allow CLC to
establish a new public conservation area on the land,
opening it to the public for hiking, fishing, and enjoyment.
The parcel will also be available for special
events held by the Austerlitz Historical Society.
Environmental Education
CLC’s free outdoor education programs reached over
3,775 children, adults and seniors in 2008. We offered
217 programs, partnering with eight public schools,
four libraries and numerous other organizations
ranging from Head Start to senior homes, providing
opportunities for people of all ages to connect with
nature, explore the rural landscapes around them, and
learn about land stewardship, forestry, and agriculture.
The reach of our programs was greatly enhanced by
our dedicated co-educators who provided additional
programs and supplemented our staff’s knowledge and
skills. Highlights from 2008’s programs include creating
a native wildflower garden at the Hudson Middle
School, Hudson River Snapshot Day, spur of the
moment snowshoe hikes at Hand Hollow and Schor
public conservation areas, exploring the Hudson River
Estuary by kayak, building nest boxes for bluebirds, and
wildflower walks with the Farmscape Ecology Program.
and the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, CLC’s offices were
updated using environmentally friendly “green” materials.
The result is an efficient workspace with room to
grow, and a much needed public facelift of our Main
Street façade. A standing room only crowd came to
tour the new offices in November when we hosted a
Business After Hours networking event for the
Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. If you have
not visited, stop by and we’ll gladly show you around.
Local Support
As everyone knows, last year was the most challenging
year in recent history from an economic standpoint.
CLC was not exempt from the painful realities this
shift brought about. Among other things, we lost
almost $200,000 of anticipated earnings from our
endowments. And we had several disappointments in
anticipated foundation support, as those institutions
were as hard hit as everyone else. Despite the gloomy
news, however, CLC’s supporters demonstrated that
even in hard times, conserving the farms that feed us,
protecting habitat for wildlife, and teaching young people
respect for our natural resources remains a priority.
This came across by the tremendous show of support
we received through our year-end appeal, setting an
all-time record, and for that we are very grateful.
Of course not all gifts are financial in nature. CLC
also relies on volunteers who contribute their time,
expertise, and passion for conservation. In 2008, 100
volunteers donated 631 hours of their time, helping
with special events, education programs, office mailings,
and trail work at our public conservation areas.
2 0 0 8 H I G H L I G H T S
Help Support Local Conservation
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The Schor Conservation Area is now open to the public for year-round recreation.
Outdoor programs connect people to the land.
A Green Home
As a conservation organization, we are conscious of the
importance of finding ways to lessen our impact on
the environment. This principle was demonstrated in
2008 with the completion of a year-long renovation
and restoration of our offices at 49 Main Street in
Chatham. Thanks to an extraordinary lead gift from
Barbara and Michael Polemis, with additional support
from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)
Cows grazing on a hillside; morning mist lifting
off an open meadow; the quiet serenity found in
a stand of hemlocks - these are the fragile images
that draw people to Columbia County. In these
days of slowed economic growth and surging
support for local agriculture, CLC has tremendous
opportunities to expand its role as a catalyst for
conservation in the community.
With the help of our supporters, we will
continue to serve as a conservation resource for
Columbia County, hosting hundreds of free
outdoor education programs, providing access to
3,000 acres of scenic natural areas, and accepting
and stewarding conservation easements for
private landowners while implementing exciting
new initiatives under our strategic plan. We
cannot do all that needs to be done without
sustained and generous support from those who
believe in the value of our work.
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