PHOTOS & RECAP: 2022 Annual All Member Picnic
SOLC’s annual Member Picnic reminded us of why coming together – in person – makes conservation possible, and the many ways that our individual curiosity and commitment combine to achieve lasting impact. From this year’s Conservation Award, presented to the founders of the Willow-Witt Ranch, to the Volunteer of the Year Award presented to Linda Kappen, to the assembly of 150+ members, staff, and board (old and new), this picnic marked the progress we have made across 44 years of collaborative, community-based work.
SOLC Board Vice Chair Dan Thorndike described how Suzanne Willow and Lanita Witt transformed a hard worn 440-acre ranch into an example of restoration and stewardship, bringing back the wetlands and making room for a group of high altitude native turtles. Stewardship Director Kristi Mergenthaler summarized Linda Kappen’s dedication and contributions to butterfly monitoring, as a self-taught expert whose thorough observations have helped document the variety of species on SOLC preserves and throughout the region.
Executive Director Steve Wise summarized SOLC’s additional preserves, transferred from The Nature Conservancy, and new conservation works in progress that will continue to extend SOLC’s conservation footprint over the next few years. He mentioned the expansion of field education programs piloted at Rogue River Preserve, now also beginning in Jacksonville Woodlands and Central Point, that allow young people to quietly observe nature.
Recognizing that SOLC’s board and supporters include the children of our founders, and that picnic attendees included the grandchildren of current members, he said, “Conservation is truly the work of generations. We are building and sharing this love of nature with youth, whose help we will need to carry forward. This is truly work we can only accomplish together, and we’re grateful for your help and participation.”
We thank the volunteers who show up, some every year, to make this event happen, including hike guides like Molly Morison, Shannon Rio, Amanda Alford, Vanessa Roberston-Rojas, Kathryn Prive, Tuula Rebhahn, Randy Frick, Brian Barr and Bill Shaupp who add to the fun. Thank you to our volunteer photographer Linda Thomas for capturing all of the fun. And we thank all of you, our dedicated supporters for celebrating with us and keeping us inspired to conserve even more lands, forever. Please enjoy a photo gallery of the day taken by a team of fellow community members and professionals.
Thank you!
