Showing posts with label fund. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fund. Show all posts

Monday, December 29, 2008

Happy New Year!

As 2008 draws to a close, and 2009 looms on the horizon, it seems time to stop and take stock of where we've been, where we are today, and where we are heading, doesn't it?

Despite the economic downturn, our members and supporters have been wonderful, and we are finishing the year in good shape financially. Thank you!

From a conservation standpoint, it was a blockbuster year with some amazing projects completed: the key 40 acres at West Woodstock Prairie (still looking for a knock-out name for the site!), 53 acres of beautiful oak woods across the road from MCCD's Marengo Ridge preserve (thanks to Dale Shriver and Judy Rogers), and a 3 acre addition to the protected area at Barber Fen in Greenwood (thanks to Marty & Lynn Sobczak).

As we look into the early days of 2009, we see several other land protection projects coming together - perhaps as early as the Annual Meeting on January 25th! Be sure you join us at Bull Valley Golf Club at 11am that day for brunch and to hear our speaker, Batavia author Gina Olszowski, as she tells her story of suburban sprawl. It's just $35 for members (and if you are not yet a member, $45 which includes a special introductory membership in TLC)!

Looking further into 2009, we will be continuing to build our local support through a matching grant from the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation. For each new dollar we raise through increased giving levels from existing members, brand new members and returning members, the foundation will provide matching funds up to a total of $35,000 over two years.

In 2009, you can expect to hear more stories from TLC - stories of people and the land - as world renowned storyteller and author (an new TLC board member) Jim May helps us put the right words together to help convey the magic that occurs when someone loves the land so much that he or she chooses to permanently restrict the development of that land.

Also in 2009, you'll see TLC planting many more oak trees as we start a program to assess our easement properties for their oak reforestation potential, and then working to help them realize that potential!

Friday, August 31, 2007

Third Generation Oak Fund created

On August 4th, an amazing thing happened at Glacier Oaks farm west of Harvard. Two families decided to hold a party to start raising money for a permanent endowment to help restore and preserve the County’s once vast oak-hickory woodlands in perpetuity.

People from throughout the Chicago region attended the party, and offered their financial, intellectual, and physical support to the cause. After the dust settles, it is expected that the event will have raised $4,000 to kick-off the 3rd Generation Oak Fund that will be managed by The Land Conservancy for the purpose of ensuring there will be a third generation of oaks for future county residents to enjoy!

When European settlers began moving into McHenry County in the 1830’s, nearly 37% of the landscape was wooded – primarily with oaks and hickories. This was the first generation of oaks (since settlement). During the 40 years following European settlement, nearly 60% of those trees were cut to clear lands for farming, for fuel and for building purposes. The oaks that grew in their place were the second generation. Today, the second generation of trees covers just four percent of the landscape. These remaining trees are reaching 150-200 years old, and they are under enormous stress. Experts estimate that within 20 years, the remaining oaks could be gone, other than the ones that are found at managed, public natural areas like MCCD’s Glacial Park and Moraine Hills State Park.

The 3rd Generation Oak Fund will help ensure that these trees will be a lasting and significant part of the local landscape forever.

Donations to the Fund can be made through TLC’s website: www.conservemc.org, by clicking on the Third Generation Oak Fund link on the right hand side of the window. Or, if you prefer, you can send a check made out to TLC (PO Box 352, Woodstock, IL 60098), and write 3rd Generation Oaks in the memo line. Thank you!