Page 78 - TNC AR 2018_Digital Demo

FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Consider the Power of “And”
It’s It’s a a a a a a a a funny little word “and ”
But it’s our secret sauce It’s It’s the core capability that makes TNC so distinguished and and e e e e e e e e e ective at at delivering impact Local and and global global The ability to to straddle the grass-roots and and global global dimensions to to strategically integrate those two at at at at at scale is is unprecedented With all all humility it it it is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a simple fact that no other environmental organization in the the world does this as as as well as as as The Nature Conservancy People and place We have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a science-based approach driving a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a shared conservation agenda around the the world which asserts that we can simultaneously meet the the the needs needs of of humanity and the the needs needs of of nature nature nature Our strategy is is not to to simply protect nature nature nature from people people it it is is to to enhance nature nature nature for people people Once again unprecedented The The organization and and its volunteers We are very fortu- nate to have outstanding people working for for The The Nature Conservancy: the the the chapters the the the sta sta and and the the the executive team—all extraordinary professionals deeply commit- ted ted to our mission But TNC TNC would not be TNC TNC without its extensive network of dedicated volunteers We simply could not deliver results without their tireless e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e orts With more than 1 300 volunteer volunteer trustees in in in the the the countries where we work including all 50 of the the the United States volunteers open doors raise money and bridge the the the political gap that too often divides us these days Last fall I I experienced TNC in in action I I joined a a a a a a a group of of of trustees on on on Capitol Hill rst at the o o o o o o o o o o o ce ce of of of Sen Mitch McConnell of of of Kentucky The Republican majority leader appeared and explained that he he he he had a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a very busy day ahead of him I said “Senator we have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a gift gift for you ”
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“A gift?” he he he he responded “Your work on on the Green River in in Kentucky saved that river ”
I explained as we presented him with a a a a a a a a a framed photograph of the Green River owing free after a a a a a a a a a a a a a dam and and lock were removed He He just looked at at that photo- graph and and smiled He’s been working with us us on this project for 15 years And our work work together isn’t nished—there are two more dams he he he he he he wants out and a a a a a a a a a refuge he he he he he he hopes we can help create He sincerely cares An An hour later we we were sitting in in in in in the o o o o o o ce ce of Sen Angus King from Maine Maine an independent who was once a a a a a a a a trustee in in in in in the Maine Maine chapter He perked up when someone said that that we we we had just come from Senator McConnell’s o o o o o o o o ce and and he he said “Really?” He could see that that we we we were straddling these these these two apparently di di erent worlds nding and and nurtur- ing ing common ground Yet both both both these these these these gentlemen both both both these these these these senators both both both both these these these leaders are—at their their core—conserva- tionists They both both care care about about place place their their their constituents care care about about place place and and they they are are are doing what they they can do do in in their their own ways to lend a a a a a a a a a hand The Nature Conservancy brought the the power of “and” into these relationships We bridged that gap because we we represent the the the big tent Join us us nd nd nd nd common ground and and collaborate for the the the the good of our communities and and and planet Together let’s embrace nature and and share the the the the soulful experi- ences that that unite us all at at at at our core We witnessed the the the impact of common ground in in in in in in action during that that day in in in in in in Washington D C C last year This is is classic TNC: bringing people together in service of our planet Several months ago our our first grandchild was born— Grant Christopher Tierney This life milestone has prompted both boundless joy and deep re re ection How do do we respond to to the the generations that follow when they ask us questions like “What are you doing to to help protect our environment? To To ensure we have clean water and healthy green cities? To To combat climate change?” Here is my answer: We can can say that we we actively support the world’s most signi cant environmental organization That our dedication will will not not waver and we we will will not not fail Because at at at at at at the the the the the end of the the the the the day what matters most are the the the the the people we we we love and and whether or or not in some way we we we helped leave the the the the the world better o o o o o o o o than we we found it Indeed future and and and family may be be the biggest “and” of all Thomas J Tierney Chairman of the Board
78 Our Our World Our Our Story