Natural Lands - The Magazine of Natural Lands Fall/Winter 2018, Issue 153 | Page 2

N ATUR A L L A NDS . WI NT ER 2 018 –2 019 1 a goodbye… and hello contents 6 10 natural lands number 153  •  winter 2018–2019 small wonder. editor  Kirsten Werner art director  Holly M. Harper principal photography  Mae Axelrod contributors  Brittni Albright, Oliver Bass, Lori Erb, MACHAC, Molly Morrison, Erin McCormick, Gary Nelson Saving America’s rarest turtle. a career in conservation. Molly Morrison’s achieve­ments have forged a legacy that will last for generations. 23 leadership and vision. Welcoming a new Board of Trustees member. Natural Lands Hildacy Preserve 1031 Palmers Mill Road, Media, PA 19063 t 610-353-5587  |  f 610-353-0517 [email protected] | natlands.org 3 NEWS 16 SAVING OPEN SPACE recent land conservation successes. The official registration and financial information of Natural Lands Trust, Inc. may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. 22 CARING FOR NATURE recharging batteries. naturally. A railroad mechanic gets his nature fix through volunteering. Information filed with the Attorney General concerning this charitable solicitation and the percentage of contributions received by the charity during the last reporting period that were dedicated to the charitable purpose may be obtained from the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey by calling 973-504-6215 and is available on the internet at www.state.nj.us/lps/ ca/charfrm.htm. Registration with the Attorney General does not imply endorsement. When I was about nine or 10, I had an ambition—to be President of the United States. It was during the Kennedy administration, so there may have been a bit of glamour reflected in my ambition. But, in looking back, my goals had nothing to do with politics and power. It did, however, have everything to do with what I per- ceived as the best part of the job: the opportunity to meet really interesting people. In my fantasy, world leaders, astronauts, scientists, and many others with won- derful and inspiring stories were always available for a chat or a cup of tea. Today, I know better than to aspire to be President. But when I reflect on my career, I realize that my dream of having fascinating, interesting, and passionate people in my life is exactly what happened. People who are passionate about nature, land, and the environment have been the highlight of my professional life. And there are so many of you who deserve my thanks: • Natural Land’s board and President’s Council members, who make generous gifts of the most precious thing that they have: their time; • My friends and colleagues in the day-to-day trenches of saving and caring for land; • Elected and appointed officials at all levels who consistently promote a policy of balanc- ing growth with conservation, a critically important perspective; • The visionaries and donors who made the profound decision to protect their own spe- cial places, preserving the magic for those who come after, including Gerry and Margue- rite Lenfest, the Haas family, and many, many others; • Our members and donors who make transformative gifts—every day—by believing in and supporting our mission to save open space, care for nature, and connect people to the outdoors. • And, the Natural Lands staff—what a treasure—a true gift to conservation and this region. They are dedicated, skilled, creative… matchless in their abilities. I have learned much over the last 40 years, so before I lose my captive audience, I’ll take this last opportunity to share a few lessons that I’ve taken to heart, some adapted from the reflections of writer and literary critic Maria Popova: • Expect anything worthwhile to take a long time. “The flower doesn’t go from bud to blos- som in one magnificent burst, yet we seem to be disinterested in the tedium of blossom- ing. But that’s where all the character unfolds.” • Seek out nature; it magnifies the spirit. And visit nature frequently.   facebook.com/NatLands       twitter.com/natlands       instagram.com/natural.lands … continued #naturallands