2009 Annual Report

Dear Friends,

At the beginning of 2009 and throughout the year, the economic outlook was bleak. We acted early, making cuts in our budget where possible in order to better ensure that we were able to end the year with a positive operating balance.

We were taken by surprise by the outpouring of support that you, our members, gave us throughout 2009. Despite the poor economic conditions, the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy ended 2009 with a small surplus of income over expenses!

We recognize the magnitude of this accomplishment, which would not have been possible without your generous support. We are indeed grateful to each and every one of you and promise to uphold the trust you have placed in us. Thank you!

We also recognize the talented and dedicated staff who played a large part in this success. Our Conservation Coordinator, Dom DiPaolo, completed two conservation projects and monitored all 42 properties we protect. Michael Stringer, our Development Director, took the name of the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy and made it prominently known in over 15,000 households in Jackson and Josephine counties. Seventy-five new members joined our family in 2009 as a result of those outreach efforts - increasing our membership by nearly 20%.

In addition to our members, community partners, and staff, we are grateful to the Board of Directors, Lands Advisory Board and Trustee Council for giving their time and expertise in helping us protect more land and connect with those individuals and businesses who can help us do that.

We are entering the third year of our capacity building program made possible with support from the Meyer Memorial Trust and the Oregon Community Foundation. By 2011, we plan to fully support our programs and conservation work through membership gifts alone. It’s a challenge we believe we can achieve based on the past year of giving and your commitment to the land and to our efforts to preserve it for future generations.

We hope that each of you will stay as passionate about our work as you have been in the past and help spread the word that land conservation is as vital to our communities as the air we breath, the water we drink and the food we eat.

To all our members, supporters, partners, and friends, thank you. We value your support and will continue to work hard to keep it.

For the Land,

Diane Garcia
Executive Director

Bill Morrish
President