Letter to Supporters from Executive Director Bob Bugert

Dear Supporters,

Happy New Year! As we gear up for another productive year with the Land Trust, I wanted to share some exciting news with you. During the past year, the Board and Staff have put together an ambitious Strategic Plan, based on guidance we received from our Leadership Circle and from our survey of members and the community at large. To implement the aspirational goals of our new Strategic Plan, we have received three-year grant funding to increase our staff capacity.We are coming across opportunities at an astonishing rate in our grassroots work to create healthy and sustainable lands, waters, and communities. The prospects are boundless and increasing our capacity will allow the Land Trust to do even more of what we do best.

That’s why we’re undertaking some internal restructuring at the Land Trust.I have had many discussions with our Board of Directors about how we can achieve all of our ambitious goals during the next several years. It has become increasingly clear that my highest and best value to the organization is to continue the kinds of things that engage strategic partners—not only locally, but regionally and nationally—and that includes potential funding partners. To that end, a new half-time position, Director of Strategic Partnerships, is part of our 2016 operating plan and I will fill that position. The Board will hire a new Executive Director to run the organization and continue to move it forward. 

Freeing up my time to focus on partnerships makes the most of my background, experience and passion, to increase our impact and effectiveness in our mission of “engaging communities in conserving, caring for, and accessing the natural lands and waters that sustain North Central Washington.” Now, we have a chance to further this journey to foster a culture of conservation and livable communities here, in this region of remarkable beauty.

We are beginning our search (at local, regional, and national levels) for our next Executive Director. We seek someone who understands that healthy landscapes and robust local economies are inextricably linked—and can articulate that philosophy. She or he will build on the vision of an interconnected and sustainable land base in our region—with a growing focus on healthy forests, healthy kids, and healthy communities.

And this is only the start; we are making great strides to protect large tracts of natural areas of ecological and economic significance. In addition, as part of our Strategic Plan, we hope to expand our ever-popular Trails Program by hiring another staff person for the Trails Program work. Expect to see that happen in the near future, after the dust has settled with the hiring of the new Executive Director.

My transition into the role of Director of Strategic Partnerships is a sign of the new evolution of Chelan-Douglas Land Trust’s work. We are forging new partnerships that provide fresh resources and new, incredible opportunities for undertaking larger landscape-scale projects that we haven’t had the means or the capacity to protect in the past.

This work can only be done because of your ongoing support. On behalf of our Board of Directors, thank you for all that you have done to make conservation a keystone of our livable community.

Sincerely,

Bob Bugert, Executive Director