Conservation Northwest protects and connects old-growth forests and other wild areas from the Washington Coast to the British Columbia Rockies, vital to a healthy future for us, our children, and wildlife. Since 1989, Conservation Northwest has worke
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Keeping the Northwest wild Spring-summer 2014 11 Most of The Cascades Conservation Partnership team, who in 2000-2004 protected 45,000 acres of wildlife habitat linking the Cascades across the I-90 corridor. top, from left Demis Foster, Heidi Eisenhour, Jill Arango. bottom, from left Joseph Losi, Mitch Friedman, Julie Albertson, Fred Munson, Kim Haley, Pat Powell, Jen Lamson, and Kelly Muzeroll. Conservation NW files lisa McShane, Bellingham I stumbled into a job at Conservation Northwest because I loved to organize people and was passionate about restor- ing wild salmon to our waters. For 10 great years I worked to protect Blanchard Mountain for recreation and the Lake Whatcom watershed for drinking water and protection from landslides. Conservation Northwest is a regional and national powerhouse: smart, lean, strategic and with a laser focus on goals. I love the organization. In 2008 I le to run the Gre- goire statewide field campaign, but I didn't go far. I contin- ued to work on our goals to protect 9,000 acres around Lake Whatcom, resulting in the new park benefiting everyone in Whatcom County. Seth Cool, Spokane I had the pleasure of working at Conservation Northwest for a decade, specializing in state and local policy. When I first started, it was before smart phones and Mitch would to call from the road to have me check his email. I helped on many projects including cattle grazing, invasive species, Blanchard Mountain, the Lake Whatcom Preserve, and wildlife issues. I'm currently wrapping up a Master's in urban planning at the University of Idaho and hope to get a job soon building bet- ter bike paths. Here's to another 25 years of leadership from Conservation Northwest! Alexandra loeb, Seattle I have been with Conservation Northwest since the Loo- mis campaign, and joined the board in 2003. Every year I continue to be impressed by the scale of Conservation North- west's work and their unique and effective approaches. Over the years I have gotten to know Mitch and all the staff—and am continuously blown away by their passion, dedication and smarts. I can almost even follow Jen's rapid fire talks now! I look back over the years and can't believe all that we have ac- complished and I'm excited by all that we will continue to do. Jennifer Ferenstein, Missoula I worked for Conservation Northwest, then Northwest Eco- system Alliance in the late 1990s where I was hired to do out- reach around ecosystem management. I was lucky to work with Mitch, Joe, Evan, and Dave and several other very lovely staff people. Luckily for me I had the chance to help launch the Loo- mis State Forest work and to live in a great house in 'I' Street in Bellingham and to make good friends. However, I succumbed to the siren song of Missoula (where I had previously lived) and returned to continue my conservation work for e Ecology Center, the state of Montana, Sierra Club, and e Wilderness Society. I always loved working for Northwest Ecosystem Alli- ance (aka Conservation Northwest) and still miss the camara- derie and good cheer. "I look back over the years and can't believe all that we have accomplished and I'm excited by all that we will continue to do." Emily Barnett Highleyman, Bellingham Conservation Northwest is like the best older sibling one could imagine for the environment—fun, smart, rooted in val- ues, loyal, and always looking out for its best interests. As former staff and board member, I've watched the organization grow and adapt over the past 18 years and I remain wowed by its con- sistent focus, expertise, and creativity in the face of challenging politics and economics. If you care about natural places and all the interconnected parts of our ecosystem (as well as our own sanity and quality of life) you can do no better than to support Conservation Northwest. I am proud to be part of its family! Jim Clark, lake Stevens I'm proud to be a part of the Cascades Citizen Wildlife Monitoring Project. I'm especially honored to have a wolverine named aer me. To learn that four wolverines have now been identified is awesome! It is amazing what the wildlife biologists can discover through the camera photos and DNA hair snags and how it fits into the larger picture. It's rewarding to know that the effort to create and maintain these camera sites is im- portant and really does make a difference. 25th anniversary More Testimonials, next page