Download - Cascade Land Conservancy

message from the president ////////////////////////////////////
Mark Twain wrote that “distance lends enchantment
to the view.” It also gives a perspective and sense
of depth. That is why so many of us climb mountains
and gaze at the world around. It also played into
my thoughts as I attended a land and conservation
conference in Aix en Provence, France. Participants
were from France, Spain, USA, India and Australia. I left
with a conviction that our region has much to offer as
we all work to become more sustainable. We also have
much to learn from companion efforts around the globe.
After the conference, my wife Carolyn and I spent time walking to various hill
towns in the Luberon and then a few days with French family members. It turned
out to be a busman’s holiday to some extent. I pondered what made these French
cities and towns click? How do our relatives spend their time away from work? The
response of course is hugely complex, but it is answered in part by the vitality of
the French Café Culture. The communities put considerable value in their central
meeting places. They are places to appreciate the company of neighbors, discuss
life and politics and whatever else; places that create that special something that
makes a community a desirable place to live. We refer to these as third places –
not our home or work, but that third necessary place to round out our social lives.
That deep sense of place has defined many cultures for centuries. It is something
Forterra thinks hard about as we help create great communities where our families
celebrate living, which allows us to conserve our spectacular wild and working lands.
In this issue you’ll read about our partnership with several cities and tribes on
the Olympic Peninsula to define the ingredients of a great western town. From
the eastern side of the Sound, Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow and Tukwila Council
Member De’Sean Quinn’s articles reflect on the importance of a strong sense of
community and gathering spaces. In addition, you’ll read about the Green Everett
Partnership (the sixth and newest Green City), our Urban Forestry Research, the
conservation of Kittitas County’s Triple Creek Ranch, our Washington Conservation
Corps crewmembers and much more.
Several weeks ago, we did our own place making and moved to a new main office.
The office space is in a LEED certified building and was designed from the ground
up with consideration to who we are and how we work. The space demonstrates our
long term commitment to make this region all it can be. It also puts into architectural
form what is within our organizational DNA—that we have a fresh and demonstrably
successful approach to solving serious problems of sustainability for our region. For
our employees, it provides a foundation to be even more collaborative and successful
than we are today. It provides an even crisper sense of our mission and culture so we
stay laser focused on creating great communities and conserving great lands. And, it
simply will be a more fun space for us to do our work.
So from traveling around to hill top villages in France to travelling a few blocks
across town to a new central office space, this summer has been eventful and has
offered many lessons about how to be both livable and sustainable. Forterra is
committed to putting these lessons into action. I also have squeezed in a few days
to scramble to some of my favorite nearby peaks. I am happy to report the view
remains enchanting indeed.
POLICY
Skip Swenson, Senior Managing
Director, Policy, 206-905-6935
Alison Van Gorp, Urban Policy
Director, 206-905-6892
Leda Chahim, Government Affairs
Director, 206-905-6922
STEWARDSHIP
Hayes Swinney, Interim Managing
Director, 206-905-6950
Kory Kramer, Green Cities Manager,
206-905-6923
DEVELOPMENT & OUTREACH
Giyen Kim, Managing Director
Development and Marketing,
206-905-6930
Natalie Cheel, Marketing Director,
206-905-6927
Jodie Galvan, Major Gifts Officer,
206-905-6950
Kristen Kosidowski, Outreach
Program Manager, 206-905-6931
BUSINESS SERVICES
Teresa Macaluso, Executive Vice
President & Chief Operating
Officer, 206-905-6949
Ann Gygi, General Counsel,
206-905-6938
Melissa Laird, Controller,
206-905-6918
Christopher Walter, GIS Director,
206-905-6898
Gene Duvernoy, President
FALL 2012