The Green Tie Gala returns
For the second year, the Little Forks Conservancy will host its Green Tie Gala, a light-hearted twist on the more formal black tie affair. A fundraiser to support the acquisition of 419 acres of land along the Tittabawassee River in Homer Township, the event will be held at the Holiday Inn in Midland on Friday, September 10 at 7 p.m.
Last year’s Green Tie Gala raised about $7,000 toward the $1.5 million Riverview Natural Area project. With $1.1 million raised thus far, the Conservancy is in the final stretch of what will be a three and a half year campaign.
Joining the Green Tie Gala in its second year is Empty Canvas. The local duo of Scott and Mike Mc Math will perform with an expanded band while lead singer and artist Mike McMath creates a painting inspired by the Riverview Natural Area live on stage.
McMath’s painting will be auctioned that evening. The live and silent auctions will include items that emphasize the outdoors, such as a walleye fishing trip, a float boat fishing trip, a canoe trip on the Au Sable River and a variety of nature-inspired artwork by local artists.
“We had a lot of fun last year,” said Douglas Koop, executive director of the Conservancy. “For those who are passionate about nature, this is a chance to have a lot of fun while helping to permanently protect nearly two miles of river, 300 acres of mature forest, wildlife habitat and 110 acres of local farmland.”
The Green Tie Gala is generously sponsored by several local businesses including Members First Credit Union, Garber Chevrolet, Mead Family Dental, The Dow Corning Corporation, and Wolverine Bank. Mike Furlo of Furlo Auction Service will be the evening’s auctioneer. Business sponsorships are still being accepted along with nature-inspired auction items.
The evening will feature hearty hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and great music. Tickets will be $50 each or $90 for couples and will be available in early August. Tickets may be reserved in advance by calling the office of The Little Forks Conservancy at 989-835-4886. Please visit the Conservancy’s website at www.littleforks.org for additional information and to learn more about Riverview Natural Area.
Green ties (or dresses) are encouraged.
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Give $20 in '10
The Little Forks Conservancy’s Board of Directors wants people to know that it doesn’t take a lot to ensure the forests, fields and rivers of our community are healthy and vibrant for generations to come. The Board is asking first-time donors to “Give $20 in ’10.”
New members who give before Labor Day 2010 will have the first $20 of each tax-deductible gift matched 2 to 1 by the Board. That essentially triples your donation!
“By matching each gift and combining it with gifts from people throughout our community, we can make a tremendous difference now for the future of our natural resources,” said Board President Geoffry Kusch.
The Board officially launched the “Give $20 in ‘10” membership drive on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
Be a part of protecting our region's natural resources, “Give $20 in ‘10” today.
Little Forks welcomes new board members
The Little Forks Conservancy is pleased to announce the addition of Jill Gushow and Dan Rader to its Board of Directors.
Eric Brubaker, president of the Little Forks Conservancy’s Board of Directors, said, “We are delighted to welcome two such talented individuals to our board. They add to the tremendous amount of leadership skills and professional knowledge brought by each of our dedicated board members.”
Jill Gushow, an accomplished attorney and business professional, is currently Chief Strategic Officer for Wolverine Bank. Her career includes Director of Staff Relations at SVSU, Associate General Counsel at Vertis (Baltimore, MD), Associate General Counsel and General Counsel at Trilogy and related companies (Austin, TX), and Director of International Legal Affairs at Quark (Denver, CO).
Gushow is a native of Auburn and has been actively involved in the Great Lakes Bay Region since her return to Michigan. Her current service includes serving on the Board of Mid-Michigan Home Health Care, the Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum Saints & Sinners Event Committee, as well as having been a 2009 United Way Loaned Executive and graduate of Leadership Midland. Outside of work, Gushow is a published author, a triathlete, a 2009 RUBY Award recipient, and was appointed by the Governor as a 2009 Fitness Ambassador. Jill and her husband Michael are the parents of two very high-energy children.
Dan Rader is The Dow Chemical Company's Environmental Health & Safety Responsible Care Leader for Michigan Operations. In this capacity Rader is responsible for all aspects of EH&S performance as well as supporting the Site Leader in providing overall leadership and direction for the site.
During his 24 years at Dow, he has held various roles in Manufacturing and Engineering including Production Leadership and Project Management as well as roles in EH&S and Quality Performance. From 2000 until 2006, he served as President of DHCompounding, a previous 50/50 joint venture between Dow and PolyOne Corporation. Rader’s assignments have spanned multiple sites across the United States, Japan, Germany and Mexico.
Rader was born in Plymouth, Indiana in 1963. He received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN and began work for Dow full time in 1986. He has attended executive education programs at Thunderbird School of Global Management. Rader and his wife Shelly have two daughters and a son. He enjoys running, scuba diving, golfing, bird watching and home improvement projects.
Rader and Gushow join board members Eric Brubaker, Maureen Craig, Judy Enger, Carol Feider, Bill Gebo, Bethany Goodman, Geoffry Kusch, George Lane, Jan McGuire, Elyse Rogers, Glenn Sanford, and Jerry Ziarno.
Conservancy receives land acquisition grant
The Little Forks Conservancy has received a $75,000 grant from the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation to aid in the purchase of 419 acres along the Tittabawassee River.
The Conservancy’s Riverview project is a $1.5 million campaign to purchase and preserve two adjacent parcels of undeveloped land along two miles of the Tittabawassee River in Homer Township, Midland County. The Riverview Natural Area includes vernal ponds, extensive wetland complexes, mature woods and 120 acres of highly productive farmland. The Conservancy will hold Riverview Natural Area as a place where families can hike, cross-country ski or just enjoy the beauty of nature.
“We greatly appreciate the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation’s support of this project,” said Douglas Koop, executive director of The Little Forks Conservancy. “Their contribution moves us one step closer to ensuring that this important natural space is available for our community for generations to come.”
Since the start of fundraising in July 2008, the Conservancy has raised nearly $1.1 million. The Conservancy has received several foundation grants for the project. This includes a $200,000 pledge from The Dow Chemical Company for the Riverview Natural Area. In order to permanently hold all 419 acres, the Conservancy must raise an additional $425,000 by December 2011.
“For every $1,000 we now raise, that’s one more acre that we can keep,” said Koop.
The Conservancy has begun laying out trails and offering guided visits to the property. Full access will be available when the fundraising for acquisition is complete and a parking area and trailhead is established.
Donations to Riverview can be made online at the Conservancy’s web site, www.littleforks.org, or sent to The Little Forks Conservancy, 105 Post St., Midland, MI 48640. The Conservancy is a nonprofit organization formed in 1996 to protect the Tittabawassee River watershed and preserve the region’s unique natural features. To learn more, call the Conservancy at (989) 835-4886 or visit its web site.
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