Keeping the Northwest wild Spring-summer 2014 3
See our video celebrating
25 years at youtube.com/
ConservationNW
"What makes us possible
is a community of support.
We share a passion and a
love for the wild Northwest."
–Mitch Friedman
Protecting and empowering
ViEW FROM tHE DiRECtOR
I have a faded memory of a conference hosted by Conservation Northwest
in its early days, at which the emcee introduced me as the enfant terrible of the
conservation movement. Maybe now I'm a journeyman.
We've had some success in protecting and connecting the Northwest's larger
wildlands, and in bringing back native wildlife that had been missing. But since
I'm the only one who's been here throughout that whole quarter century, I also
remember a lot of projects that went splat. My lips are sealed!
I've learned enough to have no interest in writing a strateg y book. From what
I've observed, there aren't many boilerplate tips I could stand behind. So much
depends on circumstances, which vary wildly.
Persistence is good, and oen patience, though sometimes impatience is better.
ere's a case to be made for boldness and big dreams. It's amazing that over
time they can actually come true. Few heard of habitat corridors 25 years ago or
dared dream of returning fishers or wolves to Washington. Who knew that people
would give generously to pay the state not to log lynx habitat or that you could
actually fix the rip in the Cascades along the I-90 corridor?
What enabled me, at the age of 25, to harbor such bold dreams? Part of it must
have been my experience in the ancient forest wars, where I saw the big idea of
saving an ecosystem—even one in the clutches of a rich, powerful industry—take
root and grow. So much of my experience as a young, fire-breathing activist was
not just educational but empowering.
Yes, I'm proud of the wins we've had and the wild places and critters we've pro-
tected. And I'm proud that we've lasted a quarter century, somehow raising our
budgets and never missing a payroll, allowing good people to earn middle-class
wages while pursuing their dreams.
But I'm even more proud of the people we've helped empower, and I'm inspired
still to watch empowered people work. Maybe that is the secret of Conservation
Northwest.
Boldness and big dreams. Mitch Friedman,
photo by Gary Ide
mitch Friedman Executive director,
mitch@conservationnw.org
have a chance to express what we care most deeply
about in our estate plans. e recipient charity
will be tremendously grateful for any gi you
choose to leave on behalf of the cause, whether it
be $500, $5,000, or $500,000.
When you include Conservation Northwest
in your estate plans, you are expressing the values
you hold dear while helping build a solid fund-
ing base to support this work far into the future.
If you currently have a will, you can easily add
an amendment, or codicil, to include a bequest
25th anniversary
to the charity of your choosing. If you
don't have a will, this is the time to pre-
pare one. Your will is fully revocable
while you live—you retain control and
can easily make revisions should your
circumstances or wishes change. Please
consider naming us in your will, and we
hope you will let us know if you do!
For more information, please call
Chris at 206.675.9747 x 204 or email
her at chris@conservationnw.org
