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Spring Newsletter 2010 Volume 17, Number 1
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OVLC welcomes Brian Stark
as Conservation Director We are pleased to welcome Brian Stark to the OVLC staff. Brian comes to us from the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo where he has served since 1994, filling many shoes along the way from volunteer to Executive Director. Brian’s passion is in conservation, specializing in watershed protection. When not in the office, he enjoys mountain biking, fishing, and playing bass and guitar. “I’m excited about the opportunity to join the OVLC team in Ojai. With a close community and a vibrant local landscape, the opportunities for success seem limitless.” Learn more at www.ovlc.org/staff.
j Ojai Valley Land Conservancy P.O. Box 1092 • Ojai, CA 93024 Office location • 370 Baldwin Rd. A-4 Tel. 805.649.OVLC • Fax 649.8913 Email • info@ovlc.org
www.ovlc.org Board of Directors Jan Blakslee, President Larry Rose, Vice President Stefanie Coeler, Secretary Cari Guerrero, Treasurer Mary Bergen Jesse Grantham Jim Combs Paula Power Allan Jacobs Cricket Twichell
Staff
Greg Gamble, Executive Director Rick Bisaccia, Preserve Manager Darcy Gamble, Development Director Lynn Malone, Member Services Brian Stark, Conservation Director Marti Reid, Bookkeeper
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Spring showers bring MAY flowers OVLC MEMBERSHIP MONTH NOW IN MAY Often our members ask, “is my membership current? I can’t remember what month it’s due.” Renewal letters we mail are often, with the best of intentions, put in the “later” pile sometimes never to resurface. This week, while preparing his taxes, a dedicated member called to ask if we had a record of his 2009 donation. He was sad to realize that his last donation was received in 2008.
We’re rolling out a new plan that we think will help. Instead of different renewal months for each member, we’ll have just one annual membership drive in May of each year. To help you remember just think: “Spring showers bring MAY flowers.” When you see the Ojai Meadows Preserve awash with yellow, or the delicate blue and white of the Ceanothus in bloom on the Ventura River Preserve, think OVLC membership time! We’ll still send you news of the membership drive via e-news and postal mail. However, to help save resources, if you would prefer to receive your membership renewal information by email only, send us an email (info@ovlc.org) to opt out of regular mailings. Leading up to the May membership drive we’ll have a flurry of spring activities to encourage members and community
friends out to enjoy OVLC preserves. Please take this opportunity to invite your friends and neighbors to one of our spring hikes or tours to help us grow OVLC membership. On April 24th, we’ll kick off this year’s membership drive with our first annual EarthPlay on the Meadow, a community Earth Day celebration in our own backyard. It’s a FREE family event. Come on out to show your support and help us spread the word. (details inside)
Membership is the foundation of what we do. Like building a house everything depends upon a strong foundation. Your membership support keeps the doors open and the staff working to leverage every membership dollar for $10 in public funding fpr our work to protect and restore Ojai’s views, trails, water and wildlife. Renew your membership between now and the end of May to continue receiving member benefits like our Wild About Ojai programs. Use the enclosed envelope, or renew online at www.ovlc.org.
Ceanothus on the Ventura River Preserve