2023 Spring Landscript - Annual Report

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Our Annual Report SPRING 2023 Volume 77 landscript Protecting significant natural, scenic and farm lands – and advancing stewardship – now and for future generations.
PHOTO: DREW SMITH

A Letter from Glen Chown

Dear Friends,

Call me an optimist, but I feel more hopeful today than ever before. It’s not that I’m unaware of the many challenges the world faces. Often, I’m deeply concerned about them. It’s that the work I am fortunate to do every day makes me feel that, together, we can be part of the solution.

The conservancy’s talented staff, finally working together again after three years apart and mostly alone, are an energizing, intelligent, motivated group. This next generation of conservation leaders is creatively digging in to solve some of our region’s greatest challenges.

The incredible facilities at Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve are already providing opportunities that we previously only dreamed of. The ability to show key aspects of our work right outside every window and door is a tremendous privilege that has brought a new kind of energy

and sense of purpose to our team. Our brand new headquarters, the McMullen Family Conservation Center, is a demonstration site for innovative and efficient ways to conserve both water and energy in the Great Lakes Basin. Be sure to read the articles about some of our activities and explorations beginning on page 24, and mark your calendars for our July 15 grand opening at our annual Preservation Celebration.

Meanwhile, we are working diligently to protect and restore several incredible properties (learn about them on pages 4-23). Given the number of people relocating to the Great Lakes region, where fresh water is abundant, and we are spared the ravages of hurricanes, mudslides, and wildfires, I don’t foresee the pace of our land protection and stewardship efforts slowing anytime soon.

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Our vision for northern Michigan is this: The region’s water will be clean, its forests resilient, its vistas unparalleled. Protected lands will be embraced as an essential element of the region’s long-term prosperity. The health and well-being of the region’s residents and visitors will be enhanced by their use of our protected properties to hike, bike, ski, swim, relax, and otherwise escape into nature. A diverse employment base and talented workforce will be attracted by the region’s natural beauty and quality of life. The region’s unique agricultural heritage will be manifest in viable farms supplying worldclass products, burnishing its image as a travel destination, satisfying local desires for fresh foods, and enhancing food security.

Who doesn’t want clean water, healthy forests, local food, breathtaking scenery, and a healthy, prosperous community that shares these goals? We are truly fortunate to have the opportunity to make our vision for this region a reality. And I am especially grateful to all of you for supporting this vision and the work it takes to bring it to fruition with your time, talent, and treasure. You encourage us to keep going. YOU are part of the solution!

PHOTO: NATE RICHARDSON

Rallying for Turtle Cove

STEWARDSHIP EFFORTS LAUNCH AS FUNDRAISING REACHES FINAL STRETCH FOR PROPOSED TURTLE COVE NATURE PRESERVE

Significant headway is being made to protect and restore sensitive shoreline habitat and create a new nature preserve on one of Grand Traverse County’s most beloved inland lakes.

The proposed Turtle Cove Nature Preserve encompasses 120 acres of northern hardwood forest nestled around a shallow water cove in Arbutus Lake. As a rare, large tract of undeveloped shoreline near Traverse City, the parcel has long been on GTRLC’s radar for protection.

The property’s rich landscape includes upland and wetland habitats that support diverse species, including a nesting Bald Eagle and various fish, amphibians, and invertebrates that rely on the warm, shallow-water nursery provided by its namesake cove.

Surrounding most of this bay with additional frontage on the main body of Arbutus Lake, the proposed preserve would safeguard more than three-quarters of a mile of water frontage–making it critical for water quality on the lake and within the Boardman River watershed.

Generous conservation buyers Casey and Dana Cowell purchased the property with plans to sell it to GTRLC for a bargain price, granting the Conservancy the gift of time and the opportunity to fundraise for its protection. Still, the $2.4 million goal initially felt imposing to GTRLC’s development team when they launched a fundraising campaign near the end of 2021. Yet the response from families around the lake and other supporters was nothing short of incredible.

“We were dreaming about how to save it, and then these angels named Casey and Dana Cowell dropped in the area,” explained Kathi Mudd, who, along with her husband Larry and their two sons, were among the project’s earliest supporters. “Once the Cowells said they were in, this lake just rallied.”

Having owned property along Arbutus Lake for nearly twenty years, the lake has long been close to her heart. “Northern Michigan gets into your blood,” she said, noting the area’s pristine waters and abundant wildlife. Understanding that the same reasons they fell in love with the lake would attract others to the area, the Mudds have kept their eyes on the property as parcels around Arbutus Lake were developed.

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PHOTO: NOAH JURIK

While hiking the property with neighbors Scott and Allyson Tinker, who also pledged their support for the project early on, they were thinking of ways to save Turtle Cove when Kathi noticed a Fowler’s toad. “I thought it was a sign between the toad and the eagle’s nest out there,” she said.

In addition to maintaining the lake’s water quality, Mudd cited supporting high-quality habitats for wildlife as among the project’s most important benefits. In particular, with the proposed preserve adjacent to Pines Park and state land, she pointed to the habitat connectivity it safeguards between protected lands. “It warms my heart to know that all those creatures will always be able to move freely between those properties,” she said.

So far, close to 150 contributors have pitched in to support the project, providing the majority of the dollars needed for the property's protection. At the time of this writing, the Conservancy has just over $470,000 left to raise before the end of December. When this goal is met, the nature preserve and just under two miles of trail will open to the public.

“We have applied for public funding and hope it will help us reach our goal, but we welcome opportunities to talk with supporters about how they can help,” said Senior Charitable Giving Specialist Kate Pearson. “If we don’t reach our goal, we’ll need to ask people who have already given to dig deep and help us. Unfortunately, the grant is not a shoo-in.”

Meanwhile, stewardship work is already underway at the proposed preserve. While GTRLC doesn’t typically invest in restoration projects until after a property has been protected, in this case, time was of the essence.

Unfortunately, a large infestation of oak wilt, a fungal disease that can quickly kill healthy red oak trees, was discovered during a survey of the property. The disease moves through a tree’s vascular system, an interconnected network of conducting tissues that transports water and other nutrients throughout the plant’s body.

While it can spread slowly between trees through their root systems, oak wilt often affects oaks when infected firewood is moved or by insects carrying spores from an infected tree to one that’s been freshly pruned or wounded. For this reason, it’s important to not trim oak trees from April 15July 15, when they are most susceptible to the disease. If left untreated, the infected tree will drop its leaves during the summer and die the following year.

There are injection treatments available to save a single or small number of oaks from succumbing to the disease.

However, these injections are costly and only abate the fungus, so they don’t keep it from spreading to other trees and have varying degrees of success. In this case, with an estimated 400 trees affected–including those within a certain distance of the infected trees–the best course of action is to remove any trees that may carry the fungus before it spreads any further.

“This is never something we hope to find, but we’re glad we were able to spot the problem,” said Land Stewardship Specialist Steve Lagerquist. “If it hadn’t been addressed, the disease would have spread to neighboring areas and could have been much more devastating. We could have lost all the red oak trees there.”

GTRLC began working with a tree expert in February to remove affected red oaks while preserving as many healthy trees as possible, and anticipates a 98% success rate with the removal. To offset the estimated $20,000 undertaking, the oaks removed precautionarily will be repurposed for timber.

As an added silver lining, Lagerquist noted that he expects to see an “explosion of young trees” as the forest recovers. “It will look sparser, but it won’t take long to create different habitats. There are various species that like a more open canopy, such as birds and brown snakes,” he explained. “The habitat there should rebound reasonably well.”

The Conservancy’s stewardship staff are also busy planning the layout of the Beverly and Spencer Silk Nature Trail, a two-mile loop trail that will offer opportunities to observe a wetland bog and seasonal views of Arbutus Lake. The trail will traverse through various habitat types, largely avoiding areas that were affected by oak wilt.

Trail design details are preliminary, but GTRLC expects to partner with a crew from SEEDS to hand-build the trail, beginning this summer. There will also likely be select volunteer workdays at the property to assist with building the trail and controlling invasive species.

To support the proposed Turtle Cove Nature Preserve with a cash donation or pledge, please contact Kate Pearson at (231) 922.1244 or kpearson@gtrlc.org. To learn about volunteer opportunities and find more information, visit gtrlc.org.

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A Neighborhood Effort GREEN POINT DUNES’ NEIGHBORS HELP TO RESTORE BEACH ACCESS, IMPROVE TRAILS

Places like Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve are part of the reason people fall in love with northern Michigan. And what isn’t there to love? Just a short jaunt from Frankfort, the preserve features many native plant species and unique bird habitats, a trail that winds through forests and meadows to stunning views of Lake Michigan, and access to a beach of unparalleled beauty.

“Green Point Dunes has been a wonderful oasis for our family over the years,” said Amy McVeigh, who owns a home near the preserve with her husband, Jeff Braun. The active couple is among those who treasure opportunities to hike, swim, relax and escape into nature at the preserve.

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PHOTO: NATE RICHARDSON After being damaged by high water levels and intense wave action in Lake Michigan, the lower section of the staircase at Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve will be rebuilt to restore access to the beach.

Yet in 2019 and 2020, high water levels and intense wave action in Lake Michigan caused the preserve’s entire beach to erode. As a result, the lower section of the staircase built in 2006 to provide safe, low-impact access to the shore was severely damaged and had to be removed.

While the move was necessary to keep trail users safe and prevent further harm to the infrastructure, would-be beach goers have since been discouraged from accessing the lakeshore and a portion of the dune’s sensitive habitat has been vulnerable to off-trail use.

Fans of the preserve will soon rejoice as a project commences to restore access to the shoreline while protecting the preserve’s critical coastal habitat. Fundraising for the project, which includes revamping sections of the trail system and ongoing stewardship work at the preserve, was expedited thanks to a neighborhood effort spearheaded by Braun and McVeigh.

While they live and work in Indianapolis, the couple escape to their home neighboring the Green Point Dunes preserve as often as possible.

“We are big hikers, bikers, and runners and spend a lot of time outside,” McVeigh said. “So, when we heard about the fundraiser, we decided we should make a significant contribution to recognize the joy we've received from using the preserve.”

The project, which has a $103,000 price tag, caught their attention after they had been hiking at the preserve and wondered when the staircase would be repaired. They contacted GTRLC’s Director of Development Marissa Duque, who explained that the Conservancy hadn’t yet launched the project’s fundraising campaign, but talks were happening behind the scenes.

“We like to use our charitable giving in places that can really make an impact, and we tend to look for local things that will matter,” said McVeigh. “The high water was devastating in a lot of ways, and this is a place where you can access this incredible beauty, but many people couldn’t and shouldn’t do the scramble at the last part of the stairs.”

After brainstorming how they could make the most of a charitable gift, Braun and McVeigh pledged to contribute $50,000 as a dollar-for-dollar matching challenge grant. Not only that–the couple took it upon themselves to reach out to their neighbors about supporting the project.

“We were just thinking about how to kickstart the project,” McVeigh explained. “I’ve always been intrigued by people

doing things to get others to give more. We talked as a family and decided this is something we might be able to do to help get the whole thing done.”

In addition to reaching out to the neighborhood on the Conservancy's behalf, she also suggested placing signage at the trailhead about the matching challenge to garner the support of anyone who uses the trail. “It’s for the good of anybody who wants to use that trail,” she said.

Once the wheels were set in motion, it was only a matter of weeks before the matching challenge was met. Thanks to their initiative, the project was fully funded in early 2023.

“The matching challenge was incredibly successful,” said Duque. “Thanks to Amy and Jeff and all those who contributed to this project, we quickly raised the dollars needed to move this project forward.”

With funding in hand and the lake’s water levels receding, reconstruction of the staircase’s damaged section is slated to begin this spring.

Considering the lake’s history and propensity for future water level fluctuations, the staircase’s components were carefully selected to provide a safe, high-quality structure that will last approximately 30 years. The new staircase balances weather resistance, longevity, and cost-effectiveness by using treated lumber and concrete piers to keep the wood elevated and dry. It will also feature taller guardrails and handrails that meet the current standards for construction.

Given the preserve’s popularity and steep landscape, certain portions of the trail have eroded over time. While plans are preliminary, a more sustainable and navigable trail system is being designed to address problems with erosion. Initial designs call for rerouting some of the steepest parts of the trail, such as the first intersection and the southern section that leads to the beach.

GTRLC will again partner with a SEEDS crew, who will handbuild earthen steps to protect the preserve’s fragile habitats with as little disturbance as possible. This part of the project adds to a long list of meaningful work through which GTRLC has partnered with SEEDS to employ a team of at-risk youth. Though a specific timeline hasn't been nailed down yet, the trail work could begin as early as the late summer.

For a current list of GTRLC’s active projects, visit us at gtrlc.org. To learn more about supporting a project or how you can help, contact Marissa Duque at mduque@gtrlc.org or call (231) 929.7911.

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Fostering a Love for the Land

NEW TRAILS AND INFRASTRUCTURE BOOST RECREATION

AT LOWER WOODCOCK LAKE NATURE PRESERVE

It was a windy, rainy day in October–the kind that makes you want to curl up in the comfort of your home and watch the leaves fall. But with rifle hunting season and winter approaching, a group of volunteers and Conservancy staff members bore the brunt of the elements to finish building a new trail at the Lower Woodcock Lake Nature Preserve.

The workday was the last in a series of 14 volunteer events throughout the summer and fall of 2022, where dozens of volunteers helped hand-build a new 1.5-mile loop trail that encircles the preserve’s namesake lake.

Lower Woodcock Lake, a pristine, undeveloped 22-acre lake surrounded by healthy forests, is unquestionably the nature preserve’s most impressive feature. Yet this ecologically significant property also contains a half-mile of frontage on the Platte River and a variety of habitats that support diverse wildlife.

Protected through the Campaign for Generations for its exceptional conservation value, the Lower Woodcock Lake Nature Preserve opened to the public in early 2020. At the time, hiking opportunities were limited to a short 0.8-mile

PHOTO: KATIE AUWERS

“lollipop loop” through hardwood forests down to the lake, a trail that was constructed with the help of a SEEDS crew and local boy scouts.

As interest grew in the property, it soon became apparent that the preserve’s proximity to Lake Ann and unique natural features made it an attractive destination for outdoor recreation throughout the year. Already, neighbors in the area had been using unmarked trails around the lake for hiking and cross-country skiing.

“We realized people would continue using the property for recreation, so we wanted to figure out how to protect the property’s sensitive features while allowing people to enjoy all the beautiful natural elements out there,” said Selewski. “And then, of course, it really came down to funding.”

With the help of generous supporters, GTRLC launched a multi-phase project to improve recreational access at the preserve. The Conservancy hoped these improvements would offer visitors a chance to better engage with this special property and foster an appreciation for its natural features while protecting the sensitive qualities that make it so remarkable.

In 2021, the trail system was expanded with the help of volunteers, who constructed a second 1.6-mile loop through the beautiful, healthy forests in the southern section of the preserve. The following year, in addition to the loop trail around the lake, the project’s third and final phase installed a footbridge, a floating dock for fishing access and launching kayaks and canoes, and an additional parking area that offers more convenient access to the lake.

“Our volunteers are worth their weight in gold,” said Land Stewardship Specialist Cody Selewski. “We wouldn’t have completed the trail this season without them.”

While the preserve’s trail system offers beautiful views and is enjoyable year-round, a portion of the loop around the lake will be closed from April 15 to July 15 to protect nesting raptors. “During that time, Red-shouldered hawks (pictured, right) are very susceptible to noise and disturbance, and they typically nest in habitat similar to what is found at Lower Woodcock Lake,” Selewksi explained. “As a protected area, the preserve’s lack of noise and infrastructure allows these animals to nest and brood successfully, so it’s critical to close off this portion of the trail at that time.”

Selewski also emphasized how the new infrastructure will help protect sensitive natural features in and around the lake. “The

way we designed the floating dock creates a way for people to limit their impact while still experiencing the preserve,” said Selewski. For instance, canoeists and kayakers can now access the lake with their watercraft without disturbing sensitive species that grow along the shoreline, like the James’ monkey flower and other wetland plants.

An avid angler, Selewski sees the floating dock as a great place to fish for species like bluegill, bass, and northern pike. With multiple biological surveys having shown the lake to be mostly devoid of troublesome invasive species and home to numerous native plants and animals, he stressed the important role people play in keeping the lake pristine. “For anyone who accesses the lake, it’s critical to clean, drain, and dry your kayaks, canoes, and other equipment–including waders–to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species,” he said. “The fact that we have protected the entire lake is huge. The lake may be small, but it is pristine. If we can keep it that way, that would be a big deal.”

For more information about the Lower Woodcock Lake Nature Preserve, visit gtrlc.org.

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PHOTO: MARK ROBINSON A portion of the trail will close in the spring to protect nesting habitat for species like the Red-shouldered Hawk shown here.

Protecting Farmland for the Future

LOCAL AND REGIONAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PRESERVE FARMLAND

After a long winter, it’s hard to imagine spring in northern Michigan without cherry trees in bloom and the first sprouts of asparagus–signs that the growing season has finally arrived. And what would our summers be without local strawberries, which always seem to taste better than you remember, or sweet corn so fresh that its sugars burst with every bite?

With the help of our rich soils, unique landscapes, and unparalleled freshwater resources, northern Michigan’s farmers grow some of the best-tasting and most diverse produce in the country. In fact, the region significantly contributes to the reason our state ranks second only to California in terms of agricultural diversity.

Cherry trees in bloom at the protected Interwater Farms in Acme Township.

And while many of us reap the benefits of farming as consumers, from filling our tables with seasonal produce to knowing where our food comes from, agriculture is imperative to the livelihood of those who work on farms and with food processors, packers, retailers, and other food suppliers.

Yet as crucial as it may be, farming in our region is very much at risk. As northern Michigan continues to attract people seeking access to fresh water and relief from intensifying wildfires, storms, and flooding, it’s critical to balance development with land preservation. Already, thousands of acres of farmland have been gobbled up for various development activities. The West Michigan Fruitbelt, which runs through our service area, is as threatened as it is unique.

Not long ago, American Farmland Trust identified this fruitbelt as one of the ten most threatened agricultural resources in the entire nation.

GTRLC has consistently placed an emphasis on preserving our local farmland. Through hundreds of private conservation easements, critical support of government Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs and other innovative measures, we’ve helped save more than 12,500 acres of farmland.

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PHOTO: NOAH JURIK

Private Conservation Easements

A conservation or agricultural easement is a voluntary legal agreement between GTRLC (or another organization) and a private landowner that permanently restricts development on a piece of land for perpetuity, regardless of the owner.

With agricultural land, an easement restricts future use of the property from residential, commercial, and industrial development, and can allow for agricultural activities like farm-related buildings, and housing for landowners or seasonal labor. When the property transfers ownership, the easement stays with the land.

GTRLC, which either purchases these easements from the landowner or receives them as a donation, is responsible for regular monitoring to make sure the terms of the easement are upheld. GTRLC currently monitors more than 300 conservation easements.

Purchase of Development Rights

Like other rights associated with land, the right to develop a property has a cash value. Under a township’s Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program, a voter-approved millage generates funds so the township can purchase development rights from farmers to preserve open space and scenic character in perpetuity.

Two examples of these programs exist in Grand Traverse County’s Peninsula and Acme Townships, which have each experienced resounding success. GTRLC works with both townships to manage the individual land protection deals, and to monitor for easement compliance in Acme Township.

Last August, Peninsula Township voters approved the renewal of a millage to support farmland preservation until 2041. In addition to assisting with best management practices, GTRLC is presently working with the township board’s PDR Selection Committee to prepare for the next round of applications this spring.

The vote marked the third time a tax levy was approved for the program since it was introduced in 1994. Since then, more than half of the land in Peninsula Township’s Agricultural Preservation Area (APA) has been protected. In Acme Township, which launched its program 10 years after Peninsula Township, nearly a quarter of the APA is protected or under application. Their PDR program was most recently renewed in 2014 for a ten-year term. Currently, GTRLC is involved in ongoing negotiations with the remaining applicants.

Regional Conservation Partnership Program

With the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians serving as the lead partner, the Tribal Stream and Michigan Fruitbelt Collaborative also includes GTRLC, the Leelanau Conservancy, the Conservation Resource Alliance, the Grand Traverse Conservation District and other supporting organizations. The collaborative’s shared goals include protecting farms and forests from development in high-risk areas and restoring connectivity to streams that have been fragmented by roads, dams and other barriers.

The initiative secured a $7.9 million grant from the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) as part of the 2014 Farm Bill and was renewed in 2021 for an additional $4.4 million. About $938,000 of that award has been dedicated to protecting farmland in GTRLC’s five-county service area, with most of it bolstering both PDR programs.

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PHOTO: ART BUKOWSKI

As always, GTRLC will continue pursuing the protection of high-quality farmland within our service area. We currently have approximately 766 acres of farmland easements in our land protection pipeline.

Highlights include:

KIESSEL RIDGE FARM

Fundraising is complete for the protection of this incredible 385-acre farm overlooking Torch Lake. As one of the largest unprotected parcels in proximity to Torch Lake, the farm’s protection is significant to safeguarding water quality, preserving prime agricultural soils and protecting critical viewsheds of Torch Lake and Grand Traverse Bay. Unlike many farms in the area that are dedicated to a variety of fruit operations, Kiessel’s well-drained, sandy soils support a rotationally grazed, sustainable cattle operation. It is also in the early stages of growing rye for local distillery products that are rapidly increasing in popularity and prestige. The purchase of a conservation easement will secure the farm’s protection and support the generational transfer of farmland by extinguishing the possibility of development.

CHERRIES R DA BERRIES FARM

Part of Acme Township’s PDR program, this rolling 72-acre property encompasses an active cherry orchard along U.S. 31 with views of East Grand Traverse Bay. With critical support from the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, Acme Township and GTRLC have been working to protect the farm since 2020. During this time, the assessed value of the conservation easement has risen dramatically, in large part due to substantial demand for properties near a popular horse show venue.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY FARM

Another farm under consideration for protection through Acme Township’s PDR program is an active 80-acre fruit orchard in Williamsburg. The farm features gently rolling hills covered with cherry and apple trees and areas of wetland.

BENZIE COUNTY FARM

GTRLC is in early conversations with the owners of an active 240-acre farm in Platte Township. In the heart of a beloved and scenic viewshed, the thirdgeneration asparagus farm borders Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and contains upland and forested wetland areas. In addition to preserving its farming history, the property’s protection would safeguard valuable wildlife habitat for diverse species and build on nearby land preservation efforts in the Platte River watershed.

BENZIE COUNTY FARM

The Conservancy is speaking with the owners of an active 30-acre farm, which is currently leased for growing hay and contains areas of mixed hardwood forest. Situated between Crystal and Platte Lakes and in proximity to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the property’s protection would sustain its history in agriculture while providing meaningful benefits for water quality and wildlife habitat and preserving Benzie County’s scenic character.

For more information about our farmland programs, contact Farmland Protection Specialist Laura Rigan at (231) 922.1271 or lrigan@gtrlc.org.

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Project Roundup

Thanks to the incredible support of those who have shared their funds, time, land, and expertise, 2022 was a landmark year for conservation across northern Michigan.

As of January 1, the Conservancy and our family of supporters have protected 46,875 acres of scenic natural and farm lands. These lands encompass 153 miles of critical shoreline habitat and 121 miles of trails that enhance our experiences with nature.

With numerous priority land protection projects on the horizon and plans for another busy year stewarding previously preserved parcels, 2023 is shaping up to be a significant year for the region’s lands and waters. Read on to learn more about a few of these projects, and as always, head over to gtrlc.org for a complete list of active projects, their status and how you can support our work.

PHOTO: ANGIE BOUMA

Hoffman Farm

With generous support from the landowner’s bargain sale, the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program and private donors, this 70-acre farm with a rich history and unique natural features has been permanently protected.

Featuring sweeping views of West Grand Traverse Bay, the farm neighbors the Old Mission Peninsula School and St. Joseph Catholic Church. It is in the viewshed of Bowers Harbor, with its forested ridge particularly visible from the vantage point of Neahtawanta. For nearly 150 years, the Hoffman family has produced cherries, apples, pumpkins, and other crops from the land’s unique and locally important agricultural soils.

In addition to its rich farming history and stunning scenery, the farm contains 20 acres of hardwood forest, a pond that originates from a spring, and a creek that flows directly into West Bay. It also features five acres of wetlands that provide habitat for sensitive species and serve the critical role of filtering water before it enters the bay.

The Conservancy placed a conservation easement on the farm to build on the protection of contiguous, previously protected farmland while preserving the property’s critical natural ecosystems and deep agricultural roots. Already, by making the land more affordable and preventing future development, the easement has made it possible for two neighboring growers to purchase the farm and sustain its agricultural heritage.

St. Clair Lake - Six Mile Lake Nature Preserve Addition

The Conservancy is actively fundraising for an important addition to the St. Clair Lake - Six Mile Lake Nature Preserve (pictured, left). Situated east of the existing preserve, this beautiful seven-acre property preserves habitat and safeguards water quality in the Elk River Chain of Lakes watershed–the largest sub-watershed of Grand Traverse Bay.

It includes 416 feet of frontage along St. Clair Lake, along with significant areas of high-quality riparian wetland that provide crucial habitat for aquatic invertebrates, fish, waterfowl, and mammals like muskrats.

The project builds on a decades-long effort between GTRLC, the Little Traverse Conservancy, and a dedicated group of landowners, volunteers, donors, and community leaders that have worked to protect rich, biodiverse habitat in this critical watershed.

Remaining Need: $61,434

Golden Days Loon Nature Sanctuary Addition

Fundraising has surpassed the halfway point to acquire this 28-acre addition (shown in red on the map) that connects the Golden Days Loon Nature Sanctuary to a large swath of previously protected land. The addition would establish a 350-acre tract of protected, contiguous high-quality land that includes nearly 1.75 miles of shoreline habitat on the North Arm of Lake Bellaire.

The lake is currently home to four pairs of nesting loons, which thrive in undisturbed habitat where they can build their nests and raise their young.

The proposed addition includes 650 feet of shoreline that provide critical habitat for waterfowl species and nesting loons. It also contains over 13 acres of undeveloped wetlands that serve a vital role in filtering runoff and protecting water quality in Lake Bellaire and the lower Chain of Lakes. The property would be managed as a nature sanctuary, meaning it would be left wild and undisturbed.

Remaining Need: $292,529

Birch Point Nature Preserve

Fundraising is ongoing for this 114-acre parcel that safeguards critical wildlife habitat and builds on previously protected land in Benzie County.

Surrounded by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, state land and a privately held conservation easement on Rush Lake, this property protects an important migration corridor within the Platte River watershed. By establishing a permanent pathway for wildlife to move between high-quality habitats, the proposed preserve promotes species diversity and flow in an area known for having abundant wildlife.

The property also contains part of a globally rare, 2,600-acre dune and swale complex found near Lake Michigan’s Platte Bay, characterized by a mix of wetlands interspersed with ridges of drymesic forest. Its protection would safeguard critical habitat for the diverse plants, animals and insects that rely on this unique natural community. Plans also call for a short, sensitively designed trail for visitors to experience and learn about this property’s rare habitat.

Fundraising for the acquisition of this property received a boost last fall from a generous supporter who offered a dollar-for-dollar matching challenge of up to $100,000. The Conservancy has until the end of 2024 to raise the remaining dollars.

Remaining Need: $226,916

16 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77 Grass Creek Lynn Rd Bellaire Hwy Dunson Rd Eckhart Rd VandermarkRd Wright Rd Steiner Rd East Torch Lake Dr Clam Lake Dr To Bellaire Lake Bellaire Pinnell Rd GTRLC Protected, Private Other Public Land Gardner Parcel GTRLC Nature Preserves LEGEND 2846 3 Mile Rd N | Traverse City, MI 49684 231.929.7911 www.gtrlc.org protected: acres: frontage: 2007 182.2 1,400’ protected: acres: frontage: 1993 88.9 4,000’ protected: acres: frontage: 1999 9.6 400’ protected: acres: 2001 80 protected: acres: 2005 126 protected: acres: 2017 130 Grass Creek Lynn Rd Bellaire Hwy Dunson Rd Steiner Rd East Torch Lake Dr Clam Lake Dr Lake Bellaire Torch lake ClamLake Intermediate Lake Bellaire Miles GTRLC Protected, Private Other Public Land Gardner Parcel GTRLC Nature Preserves LEGEND PROJECT MAP AREA protected: acres: frontage: 1998 17 1,290’ GOLDEN DAYS LOON SANCTUARY protected: acres: frontage: 2001 31.5 911’ LOON NURSERY protected: acres: frontage: 2020 35 2,500’ GOLDEN DAYS LOON SANCTUARY (STEVENS ADDITION) protected: acres: frontage: TBD 28 650’ GOLDEN DAYS LOON SANCTUARY (GARDNER ADDITION) Dunson Rd Steiner Rd East Torch Lake Dr Clam Lake Dr Pinnell Rd GTRLC Protected, Private Other Public Land Gardner Parcel GTRLC Nature Preserves LEGEND 2846 3 Mile Rd N | Traverse City, MI 49684 www.gtrlc.org protected: acres: frontage: protected: acres: 2001 80 protected: acres: 2005 126 protected: acres: 2017 130 Torch lake Gardner Parcel GTRLC Nature LEGEND protected: acres: frontage: 2020 35 2,500’ SANCTUARY (STEVENS ADDITION) protected: acres: frontage: TBD 28 650’ GOLDEN DAYS LOON SANCTUARY (GARDNER ADDITION)

Pelizzari Natural Area Addition

GTRLC has an opportunity to assist Peninsula Township in acquiring a potential future 15-acre addition (pictured, above) to Pelizzari Natural Area, setting the stage for enhanced recreational opportunities and greenspace at the beloved 62-acre park.

The property consists entirely of northern hardwood forest with beautiful, rolling topography and mature trees. The addition would preserve excellent wildlife habitat, particularly for species that require extensive, mature, contiguous forests with open understories, like the state-threatened Red-shouldered Hawk and Northern Goshawk, a species of special concern.

Additionally, the property’s protection would safeguard against other harms associated with development, including impacts on water quality and the Old Mission Peninsula’s scenic viewshed. It could also secure a valuable asset for the community and potentially catalyze future land preservation.

While the parcel isn’t directly adjacent to the existing Natural Area, the long-range vision of connecting it is a definite possibility. Conservancy and Township representatives have been speaking with neighboring landowners about protecting adjacent properties that could connect this addition to the Natural Area and expand upon the much-loved three-mile network of trails.

Township Officials have agreed to execute a conservation easement so that even if the property cannot connect to the natural area in the future, development is prohibited, and its scenic character and natural features are permanently preserved. The landowner generously made the first gift to the project by agreeing to sell the property for less than its market value, and Peninsula Township has pledged $200,000 toward the total project cost. GTRLC is actively fundraising for this project and has until June 30, 2024, to raise the remaining funds.

Remaining Need: $363,988

PHOTO: NATE RICHARDSON

Improvements at Pyatt Lake: The Bill Carls Nature Preserve

Construction of a new trail, trailhead, and parking area was completed last fall at Pyatt Lake: The Bill Carls Nature Preserve to improve access and enhance recreation at this fascinating and botanically rich property.

The project was made possible by GTRLC’s supporters and the Solomonson family’s generous bargain sale of their 18-acre parcel to the preserve’s northeast. The addition paved the way for a new trailhead and parking area off Peninsula Drive, which provides easier entry to the preserve and alleviates congestion at the original trailhead.

The addition also allowed for a half-mile aggregate trail to be constructed along the north side of Pyatt Lake. If starting from the new trailhead, hikers will be able to connect to the original trail system by walking a short distance along Pyatt Road. Meanwhile, GTRLC is applying for an EGLE permit to install a small footbridge over a seasonal stream. The enhancements improve access to the northern section of the preserve while protecting its sensitive ecological features.

Four Mile Swamp Nature Sanctuary

A new proposed sanctuary presents an opportunity to protect unspoiled habitat, safeguard water quality, and build on critical land protection efforts in the Grand Traverse Bay watershed.

The 26-acre parcel is situated near the heavily developed US-31 corridor in East Bay Township and offers an increasingly rare opportunity to protect undeveloped land in a growing urban area. A stone’s throw from the George & Ada Reffitt Nature Preserve and a short distance from Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve, the property would also enhance conservation work in the Mitchell Creek watershed.

The parcel’s protection would have far-reaching benefits for the region’s water quality. Part of the Acme Creek watershed, the property contains nearly 1,400 feet of frontage on an unnamed creek that flows into East Bay–the source of Traverse City’s drinking water. It also encompasses high-quality wetlands and forests that serve the crucial role of filtering runoff before it enters the region’s precious waterways.

The vast majority of the property comprises high-quality rich conifer swamp, with approximately three acres of mesic northern forest perched atop a steep slope in the southeast corner. These habitats are listed as vulnerable by the State of Michigan and are critical to the survival of many sensitive flora and fauna species.

It is probable the parcel was originally part of the globally rare, wooded dune and swale complex habitat found on adjacent properties. However, it was likely disturbed by nearby development and has transitioned to its current state, which provides many ecosystem services and hosts a variety of native plants and animals like the Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) and Tamarack (Eastern larch).

Remaining Need: $110,759

PHOTO: CLAIRE HERMAN An unnamed creek flows through the proposed Four Mile Swamp Nature Sanctuary.

Brown Bridge Quiet Area Addition

GTRLC is working with the City of Traverse City to acquire two properties adjacent to the Brown Bridge Quiet Area (BBQA), totaling 528 acres of land and a 43-acre lake. The addition includes a 300-acre wooded lot with existing trails (part of the former Camp Greilick) and a 228-acre property encompassing nearly all of Spring Lake.

The proposed addition provides spectacular wildlife habitat for rare species, including the state-threatened Trumpeter Swan, Red-shouldered Hawk, Osprey, Common Loon, and Bald Eagle, a state species of special concern. In addition to safeguarding this critical habitat, the acquisition would permanently establish a contiguous corridor of high-quality habitat from the BBQA to protected private land to the north and east.

The proposed addition would also protect the land surrounding a vital trail corridor connecting the Boardman River Trail to the Brown Bridge Quiet Area, Muncie Lake, and the North Country Trail, and provide an opportunity for expanded hiking trails in the future.

Additionally, the acquisition would enhance previous investments in a broad, community-supported plan to revitalize the Boardman River watershed. The project preserves critical wetlands to filter sediment and pollutants before they enter the river and provides a significant buffer from future development.

With positive support reflected through a public input session this spring, GTRLC is assisting the City of Traverse City with a land acquisition application to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) to cover a portion of the project cost. The City will also seek voter support in the November election to use funds from the Brown Bridge Trust for the required local match. Should the electorate support using these public dollars, the MNRTF will decide on the project’s approval in December.

2

BIRCH POINT NATURE PRESERVE

4

5

6

8

9

The property shares a half-mile boundary with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and provides a link to two isolated parcels of state-owned land and the Rush Lake Conservation Easement, all of which improve wildlife corridors. Property includes rare dune-swale complex habitats.

BROWN BRIDGE QUIET AREA - SPRING LAKE ADDITION $3,098,445

528 acres 1.23 mi shoreline

$

This City of Traverse City assist protects nearly all of 43-acre Spring Lake and expands contiguous protected land by connecting the Brown Bridge Quiet Area to the Camp Arbutus conservation easement, and further connects the Brown Bridge Quiet Area to the adjacent Camp Greilick CE.

73 acres 0.00 mi shoreline

This active cherry orchard contains prime, unique and locally important agricultural soils and seasonal views of Grand Traverse Bay. Its significant road frontage and location place it under immense development pressure. This property is part of Acme’s PDR program.

FOUR MILE SWAMP NATURE SANCTUARY $110,759

27.68 acres 0.19 mi shoreline

The property builds on critical land protection efforts in the Grand Traverse Bay watershed. It contains nearly 1,400 feet of frontage on an unnamed creek that flows into East Grand Traverse Bay and has high-quality wetlands which filter runoff before it enters waterways.

114 acres 0.00 mi shoreline GOLDEN DAYS LOON NATURE

28 acres 0.09 mi shoreline

This critical piece will connect large areas of protected land, creating a contiguous 350-acre tract of high quality habitat. It also boasts 650 feet of frontage, which would bring the total protected shoreline in the North Arm of Lake Bellaire to just over two miles.

HOOSIER VALLEY EASEMENT

80.10 acres 0.53 mi shoreline

$245,705

This property consists of forested uplands and a riparian wetland corridor of rich-conifer swamp along 2,400 feet of an unnamed branch of Beitner Creek, a tributary of the lower Boardman River. The property’s steep slopes and wetlands make it particularly unsuitable for development.

KIESSEL RIDGE FARM EASEMENT

385 acres 0.00 mi shoreline

$1,458,505

At 385 acres, it’s one of the largest unprotected parcels near Torch Lake. While significant due to size alone, it also contains prime agricultural soils and critical viewsheds of both Torch Lake and Grand Traverse Bay, all of which make it a top priority for land protection.

LOWER WOODCOCK LAKE INFRASTRUCTURE $248,447

0 acres 0.00 mi shoreline

This project will provide an expanded trail system and other infrastructure at the beautiful and ecologically important Lower Woodcock Lake preserve, a 230-acre jewel in the Platte River watershed. The goal is to provide a loop around the lake and allow users to experience multiple critical habitat types.

MAPLE BAY HABITAT ENHANCEMENT

0 acres 0.00 mi shoreline

$147,000

The habitat enhancement project will convert 90 acres of agricultural land to native habitat in key areas to improve the balance of agriculture and other uses on the property. The overall design of the new habitat areas will both support agriculture and enhance the natural area and its inhabitants.

20 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77 Bear Creek Pine Creek Little Platte Lake P o r t a g e L a k e L A K E M B i g Bear Cre L i t t l e M a n istee River Crystal Lake Platte Lake B e a r L a k e Arcadia MANISTEE
BENZIE BENZIE Honor Kaleva Beulah Onekama Elberta Benzonia East Lake Bear Lake Manistee Frankfort S eeping BearDunesNationalLakeshore AS OF MARCH 6th MORE
2023 PROJECTS board
Total Project Cost 1
MANISTEE
PROJECTS
approved
CHERRIES R DA BERRIES FARM EASEMENT $929,500
$
3
$717,392
1
SANCTUARY ADDITION $622,020
$
$ 7

LEELANAU COUNTY

Conservancy

PROTECTION TYPES

Since 1991 GTRLC has protected:

46,875 153

total miles of shoreline (rivers, lakes & streams) total acres

But it’s not enough. As development pressure and other factors, such as climate change, put increased pressure on our natural resources and signature landscapes, we must accelerate the pace and scope with which we respond.

LEGEND

Other Public Land Protected and/or Managed by GTRLC

Privately Owned GTRLC Protected Lands, including Farmland (not open to the public)

Other Protected Land

Natural & Forest Land Protection

We have identified properties that simply must be protected. Much is under immediate threat of development.

Farmland Protection

Our goal is that the region maintains a large land base of protected farmland and provides opportunities for viable farms and the next generation of farmers.

Community Conservation and Universal Access

Municipalities in all five counties have requested our support and expertise to leverage natural resources and provide access to nature to enhance the economic viability of, and draw to, their community.

Discussions with community partners and an inventory of our own preserves has established a vision of placing universally accessible infrastructure in several locations so that people of all abilities may enjoy nature.

GTRLC.ORG 21 Betsie River Boardman River Jordan River L o n g L a k e D u c k L a k e G r e e n L a k e M a n s t e e L a k e LAKE ANN I C H I G A N Portage Creek Manistee River B a k C r e k M a n s e e R r Taylor Creek Jaxon Creek P la tte Riv e r L t t l e Betsie River ek M a n s t e e R v e Pine Ri v e r E l k L a k e T o r c h L a k e L a k e B e l l a r e Lake Skegemog F i f e L a k e E a s t A r m G r a n d T r a v e r s e B a y W e s t A r m G r a n d T r a v e r s e B a y G R A N D T R A V E R S E B A Y Acme Williamsburg Alden Rapid City Kewadin Grawn Elmira ANTRIM ANTRIM MANISTEE MANISTEE
BENZIE BENZIE GRAND TRAVERSE TRAVERSE £ ¤ 131 £ ¤ 131 Copemish Lake Ann Kingsley Kalkaska Bellaire Fife Lake Mancelona Ellsworth Elk Rapids Central Lake Thompsonville Traverse City 0 5 10 Miles
KALKASKA KALKASKA
GTRLC Nature Preserves
serviced by Leelanau
5 13 14 12 15 8 WPS 16 17 MCM 10 11 2 6 9 4 7 ACME AREA FARMLAND 3

10

2023 PROJECTS

AS OF MARCH 6th

MITCHELL CREEK MEADOWS - ADDITION III

1.58 acres 0.00 mi shoreline

11

$12,729

This entirely wetland property provides a necessary link to connect the existing portion of the TART trail system that ends just south of Three Mile Rd. through the preserve to the Hammond/Three Mile intersection, and several schools located around that intersection.

MITCHELL CREEK MEADOWS - RESTORATION & UA ACCESS

0 acres 0.00 mi shoreline

12

$1,162,342

This project will add approximately 0.60 miles of Universally Accessible trail to the preserve and resources for ongoing restoration efforts, including autumn olive removal, native plant and seed mixes, greenhouse materials, and a new goat herd.

PELIZZARI NATURAL AREA ADDITION

17 acres 0.00 mi shoreline

13

$ 746,193

$

This property, situated amongst concentrated development, consists entirely of northern hardwood forest that provides excellent wildlife habitat. Should adjacent properties to the south be protected in the future, they could connect this parcel to the beloved Pelizzari Natural Area.

ST. CLAIR LAKE - SIX MILE LAKE ADDITION

7 acres 0.09 mi shoreline

14

$62,681

This property, situated directly adjacent to the existing preserve’s western border, adds 416 feet of protected shoreline along St. Clair Lake while safeguarding a significant area of high-quality riparian wetlands, which provide crucial habitat for aquatic invertebrates, fish, waterfowl and mammals.

TURTLE COVE NATURE PRESERVE

120.52 acres 0.77 mi shoreline

15

$2,473,007

This primarily mesic forest property encompasses a shallow water bay of Arbutus Lake called Turtle Cove and frontage on the main body of the lake, amounting to 4,048 feet of contiguous undeveloped frontage. Turtle Cove and associated upland provide habitat for numerous aquatic and other species.

UPPER MANISTEE HEADWATERS - ADDITION II

70 acres .15 mi shoreline

16

$199,344

This property, situated directly west of Upper Manistee Headwaters: The Milock Family Preserve, has high-quality habitats dominated by dry-mesic northern forest and forested bog. It also has 770 feet of frontage along the North Branch of the Manistee River that support northern shrub swamp habitat.

WILCOX-PALMER-SHAH - JAMIESON ADDITION

11 acres 0.00 mi shoreline

17

$40,930.50

This addition has exceptional ecological quality, with healthy mesic northern forest and northern hardwood swamp. Protecting it will help safeguard water quality, scenic views and wildlife habitat. A preliminarily Floristic Quality Index (FQI) taken of this parcel scored a 43.5 (state average is 20).

WILCOX-PALMER-SHAH - WILCOX ADDITION

10 acres 0.00 mi shoreline

$59,576.50

This ten-acre addition to a beloved and storied preserve along Lake Michigan is the site of the former Elk Rapids Sportsman’s Club. The property’s lead contamination issues from prior land use are completely cleaned up and the property is now ready to be restored to full ecological health.

TOTALS

1,471.88 acres 3.03 miles shoreline

$12,334,576

22 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77 board approved

PLEASE NOTE

• The projects shown here are “in-progress”, so the numbers, while always based on the latest and most accurate information, are subject to change as negotiations, surveys and other official documents are completed.

• All “easement” properties are privately owned and not open to the public.

• “Total Project Cost” may not represent GTRLC’s total fundraising need for a variety of reasons including public funding, property bargain sales, etc.

• symbol indicates projects where some public funding is involved. $

Not shown on this map are more than 17 highpriority projects encompassing over 1,200 acres and nearly 3 miles of shoreline in various stages of our process leading up to board approval. New opportunities continue to arise, and we carefully evaluate and prioritize each potential project.

GTRLC.ORG 23

We Moved!

THE McMULLEN FAMILY CONSERVATION CENTER OPENS, MARKING NEW CHAPTER IN GTRLC HISTORY

When the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy formed thirty-two years ago, it was hard to imagine what we could accomplish over the next three decades.

Initially, with longtime Executive Director Glen Chown as its only staff member–led by a board of committed volunteers passionate about land protection–the nascent conservancy gradually expanded to keep pace with the area’s increasing thirst for development.

In those early days, the team operated out of a small house on Third Street in Traverse City before moving into the office space above Oleson’s Food Store on North Long Lake Road in 1999. The relocation marked a milestone; anticipating the region’s attractiveness would continue driving development, the Conservancy invested in the people and tools necessary to protect our most critical lands and waters.

“We became a family in there,” Chown reflected. “We really came of age in that office.”

Two transformational campaigns took place over those 20-plus years, substantially contributing to the nearly 47,000 acres of land and 153 miles of shoreline protected, and over 121 miles of trail built since 1991. These tremendous accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without the combined efforts of the Conservancy’s generous supporters, dedicated staff, proactive landowners, hard-working volunteers, partners, and other community members who share our vision for a brighter and more resilient future.

Today, at a time when enormous development pressure threatens to outpace the protection of the very natural features that make this region so attractive, we have reached a new milestone; this past January, our team began operating out of the McMullen Family Conservation Center at Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve.

We are grateful for all who have played a role in protecting our beloved lands and for their commitment to facing the challenges ahead. And we are thrilled to work alongside our family of supporters and friends to ensure that opportunities to protect the region’s critical lands aren’t lost.

24 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77

“Honestly, I have been at the helm for nearly 32 years as executive director of the Land Conservancy, and I have never been more excited,” Chown exclaimed. “The facility is just an amazing, collective accomplishment, and we are indeed very fortunate to embark upon this adventure together.”

We have always dreamed of a place where staff, volunteers and the greater community can connect with our mission, each other, and their role in stewarding the land–where visitors feel inspired by our work and understand how and why we do it.

Located in Traverse City, surrounded by schools and neighborhoods–and in the heart of an impaired watershed critical to the quality of our drinking water–the collection of facilities at Mitchell Creek Meadows is a place where people can join together to build a more resilient, engaged, and proactive community.

Guests will be able to come here to connect with our mission and learn about the role each of us can play in caring for our critical lands and waters. Soon, like-minded individuals and organizations can gather at our indoor and outdoor event space to share ideas and learn about various environmental topics affecting northern Michigan. The natural setting sets a beautiful stage for learning, teamwork, and collaboration.

The sustainably designed buildings showcase practices becoming increasingly necessary with the changing climate. Outfitted with green features, it demonstrates how a large facility can be climate-neutral while preserving the natural elements of the surrounding habitat.

Close to half of the facilities' total square footage was repurposed from existing buildings, with renovations and new construction entirely funded by a group of private donors. The facility not only reduces our carbon footprint but also significantly saves energy costs over the long term–meaning more dollars for our core land protection and stewardship mission.

GTRLC.ORG 25
PHOTO: JOHN ROBERT WILLIAMS

Thank you

The extraordinary support for the Campaign for Generations affirmed that this mission is more essential and relevant than ever before–and since its conclusion, the pace of land protection has continued at a rapid clip. Yet as more land is protected, the need for stewardship work has also increased, including building trails, removing invasive species, planting native trees and shrubs, and more.

Having a centralized location where our staff and volunteers can learn from each other allows us to build on these efforts with greater efficiency and expertise, and face the challenges before us. At the Bob and Pauline Young Family Stewardship Workshop, individuals can participate in training workshops and hands-on experiences that will help us build better trails, take on more habitat restoration projects, and better equip our ambassadors with knowledge and skills in every corner of our five-county service area.

Next year, volunteers will also aid in restoring nature preserves throughout our service area and propagating native plants, including rare and sensitive species, at our onsite greenhouse. These vital projects will have long-lasting benefits, like restoring critical habitats for declining bird species, providing pollinator sources for native insects and improving habitat structure that supports wildlife.

Though we are eager for your visit, we ask for your patience as we are still settling in and unpacking this spring. However, we invite you to enjoy the trails at Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve, a stunning property featuring abundant wildlife, diverse ecosystems,

Conservancy's

The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve. Your support will impact our region for generations to come.

Perry and Mary

Catherine Adams

Tripp and Chi Huei Amdur

John and Rebecca Bercini

Les & Anne

Biederman Foundation

Paul and Amanda Brink

Harry and Betsy Calcutt

Robert and Lucinda Clement

Daniel and Linda Cline

Don and Marylou Coe

Rob and Diane Collier

John and Lynn Collins

Martin and Valerie Cotanche

Joyce Delamarter

Elizabeth G. and Stanley F. Dole

Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow Foundation

Debra Edson

Rich and Susan Erwin

Becky Ewing, Rotary

Charities of Traverse City

Frey Foundation

David and Claudia Fry

Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation

Wendy and Paul Greeney

Myrna Hitchman

Jim and Diana Huckle

Dennis and Janice Hudson

Brian and Jennifer Jaffe

Jennifer Jay and Evan Johnstone

Gregory and Audrey Landsfeld

Thomas and Alison Larabel

Roger and Ann Looyenga

Brad Lyman

to the following donors who made generous gifts to support the construction of the
new home at Mitchell Creek Meadows:
PHOTO: ERIN SCHUG

and several streams critical to the Mitchell Creek watershed. To be completed this spring, the nearly three-quarter-mile, universally accessible Looyenga Family Trail, made possible by Roger and Ann Looyenga in honor of their children and grandchildren, includes sensitively-designed boardwalk sections to protect fragile wetland habitats and several opportunities for viewing nature. As GTRLC staff, partners, and volunteers continue restoration work at the property, guests of all ages and abilities can observe the former golf course’s fairways transform into thriving, natural ecosystems.

To learn more about, including how you can become involved, visit conservationcenter.gtrlc.org/.

We look forward to seeing many of our supporters and friends at a very special Preservation Celebration on July 15 – the first held at the McMullen Family Conservation Center and its official grand opening.

Stay tuned for more information about this significant occasion.

Robert and Nancy Marshall

Chip and Sarah May

Susan McCraven and Robert Reider

Thomas and Deborah McMullen

Andrew R. and Janet F. Miller Foundation

Robert and Joyce Mims

Northern Tamarack Foundation

Susan and Tom Palmer

Gail Parry and Norman Bell

John D and Susan K Paul Family Endowment

Kate Pearson and Steve Cruzen

Royce Ragland and Kenneth Bloem

Nate Richardson

Steven and Linda Rogers

Kevin and Lisa Russell

Alan, Erin, Rowan, and Fianna Schug

Gregory Seman and Tracey McVicar

Evan Smith and Cynthia Anderson

Ann and Al Taylor

Chip Visci and Marty Claus

Neal Wankoff

Margaret Ward

John Robert Williams and Terrie Taylor Community Foundation –Ronald and Martha Yocum Family Fund

Robert and Pauline Young

John and Marylou Zaloudek

Pat Zigarmi

PHOTO: ERIN SCHUG An onsite, native plant greenhouse will enhance habitat restoration initiatives throughout GTRLC's service area.

Light of the World

LONGTIME GTRLC CONTRIBUTORS PROVIDE LEADERSHIP SUPPORT FOR CONSERVATION

The first time the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s Glen Chown visited Tom and Debby McMullen at their home, Tom wanted to clear the air.

“You know, Glen, I’m the enemy. Do you know that?” he said, referencing his career as a real estate developer in the Ann Arbor area.

Chown, who was then in his thirties and just starting as the Conservancy’s executive director, knew very well about McMullen’s real estate business. “Absolutely not!” he exclaimed. “You have an interest in the Conservancy, and you’re developing property here in Ann Arbor that will not be preserved.”

Roughly 30 years later, Tom recollects that discussion with a laugh, “So my first time meeting with Glen, he set me straight and said I’m not the enemy.”

Far from it. Since making their first gift to the Conservancy thirty years ago, the McMullens have contributed every year with increasing support and are among those responsible for shaping the Conservancy into the enduring and successful organization it is today.

“They have been absolutely critical to our success,” Chown explained. “And I am forever grateful for their leadership

support and the friendship we have enjoyed over three decades. They’re very caring, and really just special people. I can’t say enough good things about them.”

Despite their success and many accomplishments, the McMullens have remained humble throughout their lives, approaching their giving from their hearts, a deep commitment to their faith, and a sense of responsibility to make the world a better place.

Tom grew up in Ann Arbor and has fond memories of visiting his parents’ small Lake Michigan cottage in Frankfort. As a young man, he made a nice living in Pennsylvania and Chicago for a few years, but decided he didn’t want to work for a big company his entire life. With just $1,500 and a pickup truck, he quit his job and proposed to Debby, a Wellesley College graduate, who worked in Chicago for World Book Encyclopedia for three years until she married Tom.

Shortly after, the newlyweds moved to Walloon Lake, where Tom worked as a home builder and Debby served her community as neighborhood chairwoman of the Girl Scouts for Emmet, Charlevoix, and Antrim Counties. For two winters, Debby managed the Bahnhof Ski Shop in Petoskey and for two

28 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77

summers there, she taught sailing to adults and teens at Camp Michigania on Walloon Lake. They grew more attached to the area while enjoying their free time skiing, sailing, and golfing. "You could ski all of Boyne country, all winter, for just $40!" Debby said, reflecting on that time. "My family came from northern Sweden where the forests were, so I’ve got it in my bones! That gives me my love for winter and snow."

They returned to Ann Arbor a couple of years later and purchased an old farmhouse on the city’s south side–the same home where they raised their children and have lived for the last 57 years. There, Debby became acquainted with legendary University of Michigan professor Bill Stapp, often cited as the “Father of Environmental Education”, and Bill Browning, a beloved outdoor education teacher with Ann Arbor schools. Inspired by these innovators, she became active in environmental education and brought elementary students on field trips to local nature preserves, using traveling time in the buses to teach them all the interesting history of Ann Arbor.

She also became a proponent of the Saginaw Forest, a University of Michigan property used for forestry, research, and instruction. She established an endowment for the property’s preservation, for which she asked Glen Chown to serve on an advisory committee.

While they established roots downstate, the McMullens remained tied to northern Michigan and continued taking trips north to take a break from life in the city. In 1980–after purchasing two vacant lots they had serendipitously discovered on vacation–they built a modest home on Elk Lake. They still visit the same cottage today with their children and grandchildren.

As they grew more attached to the region, they became more concerned about protecting it.

“The whole area–not just Elk Lake, but over to Frankfort, and across Lake Leelanau, Grand Traverse Bay and Traverse City–it’s the best spot to be in July and August of any place on the planet,” said Tom. “We were in favor of preserving land that could be developed, but shouldn’t be developed.”

They went on to make substantial investments in a diverse portfolio of protected lands across the region. Their contributions significantly impacted the Campaign for Generations, providing integral support for remodeling the Maple Bay Farmhouse, the Regional Forest Protection Program, and the protection of priority lands throughout the Chain of Lakes.

Most recently, through a leadership gift in the form of a challenge grant, they supported the protection and

development of a place for conservation hosting the Conservancy’s new office.

Given its proximity to Traverse City, Tom understood just how attractive the property now known as Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve was to a developer. “To see the Conservancy have control of that and build a central facility there was exciting beyond belief,” he said.

When Chown brought Tom and Debby for a tour of the facility and asked if they would like the building dedicated in their honor, they were stunned and humbly noted that many other donors had contributed to the fundraising effort.

Yet according to Chown, their significant gift came at a crucial time. “Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to pull this off,” he explained. “Their challenge grant set a bar and stimulated many other donations.”

Though flattered, the McMullens never sought to bring attention to their name and were initially wary about the idea. After praying on it and mulling over the decision, Debby shared a verse from the New Testament (Matthew 5: 14-16) with Chown:

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill can't be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a bucket. No, it's placed on a lamp stand and it provides light to everyone in the house. In the same way, you should let your light shine before everyone so they can see the good things you do and praise your heavenly Father.”

For Debby, her faith helped guide her decision. “Having my Lord to consult makes me love creation all the more because I know I will get an answer,” she said. “When I get an answer that is nothing I had thought of before, it proves to me He is here for me every time I ask for something. It brings glory to Him and strengthens Him. I don’t want the glory.”

Tom, noting that he has long felt land protection will improve the quality of development, shared his gratitude for the impact their giving will have on future generations. “To set aside properties like Maple Bay and Maplehurst is just unbelievable,” he said. “They will be there next year, in ten years and 100 years. The fact all these properties will never be developed… it’s just exciting to see that.”

To discuss a gift to the Conservancy, contact Marissa Duque at mduque@gtrlc.org or (231) 929.7911.

GTRLC.ORG 29

McMullen Family Conservation Center

RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM

BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE COMMUNITY

Because water is a precious, life-supporting resource, the Conservancy strives to enhance our economic, ecological and social impact through thoughtful water usage. In our view, the McMullen Family Conservation Center is part of a dynamic watershed. By integrating efficiency with respect for water, the facility also uses a system designed to function like one.

The majority of water usage in most buildings is associated with flushing toilets. By harvesting rainwater for this purpose and not using treated municipal water, more of this precious resource is available for drinking and other essential needs throughout the community.

Rather than using stormwater sewers to handle excess rainwater, the bioswales near the Conservation Center mimic the natural function of wetlands. They purify water naturally and recharge groundwater before it reaches East Grand Traverse Bay, the source of Traverse City’s drinking water.

HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS

During rainfall, the first surge of water that enters this system carries the most contaminants, which may include dirt, pollen and other debris that accumulates between rain events.

The first flush diverter prevents these contaminants from entering the Conservation Center’s water supply. When it rains, the “first flush” of rainwater flows from the roof to the first flush diverter to separate the debris. This rainwater is temporarily stored in the diverter and slowly released into the bioswale to be further filtered naturally. Once empty, the diverter is ready to filter water from the next rainfall.

When the diverter becomes full, harvested rainwater bypasses it and flows to the pre-filter before being stored in the basement cistern (see flow arrows). The pre-filter protects the cistern from collecting leaves and debris.

Water in the cistern is pumped through a series of filters before being disinfected by ultraviolet light and used to flush toilets throughout the facility. If the cistern is sufficiently full, the diverter valve closes access to it and directs water into the bioswale, where it is naturally filtered before recharging the groundwater.

When full, water from the roof bypasses the diverter to the pre-filter and cistern (see flow arrows).

FILTER GROUNDWATER WATER TABLE BIOSWALE DIVERTER VALVE SEWER PIPE PREFILTER STOP & TIMED RELEASE VALVE RAINWATER STORAGE CISTERN
FLUSH DIVERTER
FIRST

Cultivating a Better Future

SKILLED VOLUNTEER SHARES EXPERTISE, BOOSTS RESTORATION EFFORTS

When Rick Hager and his wife Patricia discussed where they would retire, the Iowa couple had never been to Traverse City. Yet she had read about the bayfront town in a magazine, and while visiting Detroit over Labor Day, they extended their trip and headed north.

In just three days, Patricia was hooked. Rick took more convincing, but by Memorial Day–following a weeklong stay in Sutton’s Bay–they were making plans to relocate.

Five years later, Rick was greeted with warm hugs and familiar smiles while walking the halls at the McMullen Family Conservation Center on a cold January afternoon. A retired natural resource management professional and one of the Conservancy's most active volunteers, he has become a vital member of the team.

“His willingness to share his expertise, time, and knowledge

has benefited our restoration efforts on numerous properties,” said Senior Conservation Ecologist Angie Bouma.

Hager is no stranger to making fresh starts. He spent four years in the U.S. Air Force before earning a master’s degree in Geology from the University of Iowa. He worked for nearly two decades in the oil industry across the country until layoffs caught up with him. He then returned to Iowa to study parks and natural resource management at a local junior college.

Originally, he planned to launch a career in landscape design and establish a greenhouse. Yet while interning with Carl Kurtz–considered “one of the deans of the great tallgrass prairie revival”–at the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF), Hager’s plans changed once again.

“My idea of a landscape got bigger,” he said of his time helping Kurtz raise his prairie.

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He went on to work with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, where he spent 17 years fighting wildfires across the western United States and raising a 6,000-acre prairie at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.

“I loved every minute of it,” he said. “Essentially, I killed weeds and non-native trees, and was a steward for the bison and elk herds.”

When former INHF president, Mark Ackelson, heard wind that the Hagers were moving to Traverse City, he called Rick and told him, “You’ve got to meet Glen Chown.” On one of their first trips up north, the Hagers connected with Chown, who laid out what the Conservancy did and pointed them in the direction of GTRLC’s volunteer program.

“We decided this would just be a great place to live for a while,” Hager recalled. “That kind of set the hooks into thinking, ‘Well

I know where I’m going to be spending my time.’”

Figuring the best way to get to know an area is to learn from people who knew about it, Hager took geology, botany and other earth science classes at Northwestern Michigan College. Everywhere he went, he imagined how the landscape could improve; he noticed many of the trails needed maintenance, and spotted invasive weeds threatening to outcompete native plants.

“The area lends itself to natural beauty,” he said. “But once you have conservation on your mind, you look at things and think about how they could be better.”

Though northern Michigan’s landscape looks different than Iowa’s vast prairies, Hager has applied his skillset to restoring critical habitats throughout the region. In just a few short years–from building trails to leading invasive species removal

GTRLC.ORG 33
PHOTO: RICK KANE Volunteer, Rick Hager collects goldenrod seeds at Mitchell Creek Meadows to aid in restoration efforts.

work bees–Rick has improved habitats and recreational experiences at dozens of nature preserves and natural areas, totaling almost 600 cumulative hours of volunteer service.

“Everything has its rewards,” he said. “I like seed collecting in the fall because it’s such a great group activity that people seem to really relish. And all the seeds you collect do so much for all the areas the Conservancy manages. In the winter, I enjoy coming out with the chainsaw and removing fallen trees from trails. The spring is sowing season, and of course, removing non-native plants in the summer.”

As volunteers and staff worked to restore habitat at Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve–during what was their busiest field season yet–Volunteer Coordinator Erica DesJardins credited Hager for championing the program. “Rick has brought the technical expertise we needed to kickstart restoration,” she said. “He has been a huge help. He took me under his wing and taught me a lot about working with volunteers.”

Bouma agrees that his unique experience has helped him successfully engage other volunteers in GTRLC’s work. “He’s great with explaining the process and why we’re restoring habitat to volunteers,” she said. “He brought seed collection to another level, and he has been instrumental in getting autumn olive into a more manageable state.”

Rick has provided invaluable guidance behind the scenes, especially as the Conservancy was preparing to move to Mitchell Creek Meadows.

“I see the same things here as we were doing at our wildlife refuge,” he said. “So I hope to keep the Conservancy from making some of the mistakes.”

Among his many contributions to the preserve, he helped mow the Looyenga Family Trail before the aggregate and boardwalk sections were in place and advised on which native plants to add to the landscape. “Natural areas take a long time to restore, but there are things you can do to make them more appealing earlier,” he said. “You want people to turn off Three Mile Road and think, 'I want my property to look like this.'"

He has also been integral in setting up the Conservancy’s onsite greenhouse, where native plants will be cultivated and used to restore critical natural habitats. In addition to advising on how to set up the irrigation system in the greenhouse, he applied his background in prairie restoration to identify local seed sources that have already adapted to the environment–saving the Conservancy time and money. And calling on his past experience at the wildlife refuge, where they grew up to 50,000 plants per year, he has been assisting Bouma in developing a planting system that will set the program up for success.

“Having him around helps me because I know I can trust his judgment,” Bouma said. “He has been involved in most steps along the way.”

While overlooking the grounds at Mitchell Creek Meadows from the Conservancy’s main office, Rick discussed the impact he hopes to have on the region through his volunteer work.

"I hope to make it better than when I got there,” he said. “If we want these pieces of land to be beautiful in the future, we’ve got to do more than stand by and watch. We have to nurture them–we have to help them along.”

For more information about volunteering with the Conservancy, contact volunteer coordinator, Erica DesJardins, at edesjardins@gtrlc.org or (231) 929.7911 and for a full list of opportunities and upcoming events, visit our website at gtrlc.org/volunteer.

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PHOTO: RICK KANE Rick Hager instructs volunteers how to separate native seeds from their pods.

Mitchell Creek Watershed Restoration

Over the winter, our friends from Conservation Resource Alliance and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians joined GTRLC staff at Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve to conduct a large woody debris inventory of streams throughout the property.

Large woody debris, including fallen trees, logs, and branches, is critical to a healthy stream ecosystem. These materials provide cover and safe hiding places for fish and other aquatic organisms. They also provide a surface for algae to grow and trap other food sources for aquatic macroinvertebrates–an essential component of fish diets.

By creating obstacles, large wood slows the flow of water, decreasing its ability to erode streambanks and carry sediment that can impair spawning habitat. It also helps divert high flows from heavy rains and snow melts to the nearby floodplain, which naturally absorbs sediment and nutrients and reduces the impacts of flooding downstream.

The collaborative group will use this initial survey as a baseline for future restoration work. The survey also identified stream reaches needing woody debris to enhance aquatic habitat and reconnect the stream to its floodplain, as well as

areas requiring re-meandering to address slope issues and impediments to fish passage.

Using this information and other data collected, the group’s members are seeking grant funding to address restoration needs at the nature preserve and within the watershed to improve habitat and water quality.

Support for Habitat Restoration

The Conservancy was one of 15 organizations awarded funds from the Wildflower Association of Michigan to encourage the preservation of native plants. GTRLC plans to use the $1,200 grant to prepare a raised bed area with sand for native wildflowers and dunegrass. The site will demonstrate a mini dune garden at the Mitchell Creek Meadows as a microhabitat within the larger native landscaped area. Additionally, signage will provide information about our efforts to protect and restore dune habitats in the region and highlight the diverse flora of these critical landscapes. Accessible to visitors of all abilities, over time, the dune garden will showcase native species that may otherwise be difficult to view in their natural habitat.

GTRLC also received an award from Project Wingspan to support restoration efforts at Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve. The Conservancy will be given a mix of native wildflower seeds and plants to enhance habitat for species like monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, bumble bees, and other important pollinators crucial for our region’s natural and agricultural lands.

According to GTRLC’s Senior Conservation Ecologist Angie Bouma, both awards will boost restoration efforts until plants can be propagated in GTRLC’s Native Plant Greenhouse. “This fall, we hope to have our own plants from the native plant greenhouse ready for installation,” she said. “Until then, these plants will be one year older and the seed will be needed in many areas.”

PHOTO: CHRIS GARROCK PHOTO: NATE RICHARDSON Staff from local organizations collect data from streams flowing through the Mitchell Creek Meadows Preserve.

A Letter from the Board Chair

On a very snowy Tuesday in late February, we held our first working retreat of the entire Board and staff in the new McMullen Family Conservation Center. The cold wind and the icy roads weren’t going to deter us from meeting - our assignment for the day was too important.

The newest committee of the Board, the “2051 Committee,” is charged with engaging in long-range, generative thinking and action to ensure that the Conservancy will be positioned to protect and steward significant lands in the year 2051 at least as effectively as we do today.

The first topic we chose to dig into more deeply is nature-based solutions to climate change. At the retreat, staff shared with us that, because of their land preservation and stewardship work, land trusts like ours are uniquely positioned to provide natural climate solutions. In fact, the work we already do is a small but vital component of solving the most critical issue facing the world today and for generations to come.

We were fortunate to be joined at the retreat by leaders from the Land Trust Alliance, Andrew Bowman, President and CEO, and Erin Heskett, Vice

Board of Directors

President of Conservation Initiatives. From them, we learned that nature - our forests, grasslands, wetlands, and farmlands - can remove more than one-third of the carbon emissions necessary to prevent crossing a critical threshold for our planet if they are protected, well-managed, and restored. Andrew and Erin also identified several innovative natural climate solution projects undertaken by land trusts on the East and West coasts.

The challenge, we concluded, is to dramatically enhance and scale up our existing efforts to effect natural climate solutions in the Great Lakes Basin. Although that challenge is daunting, we believe the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy is well-positioned to become a leader in this critical area. Our existing work already showcases cuttingedge approaches to natural climate solutions. We have the relevant expertise in our supremely talented staff as well as the wherewithal and willingness to add staff as necessary to take on new responsibilities. We have dedicated partners, regionally and in the land trust community, whose strengths will leverage our efforts. And last but certainly not least, the Conservation Center - here, in the heart of the Great Lakes - is an ideal location in which to experiment, demonstrate, collaborate,

GRAND TRAVERSE REGIONAL LAND CONSERVANCY

The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy has protected and cared for the region's natural, scenic, farm and forest lands since 1991. With the help of our supporters, volunteers and friends, nearly 47,000 acres of land and 153 miles of shoreline have been protected along the region's exceptional rivers, lakes and streams.

Fully accredited by the Land Trust Alliance, the Conservancy is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with by-laws, policies, board, budget, and staff.

GTRLC's Directors support our mission through giving hundreds of hours of their time, sharing their considerable talents, and generously dedicating their contributions. Learn more at gtrlc.org/about/board/

educate and help others implement their own natural climate solutions.

So once again, in my role as Board Chair, the work of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy has brought me some hope, strengthened my conviction in our mission, and reinforced the sense of gratitude that I and the entire Board feel for everyone who has supported the mission. As you’ll see on the following pages, the list of people and businesses, and organizations to whom we are indebted is long!

A SPECIAL TRIBUTE

We are saddened by the deaths of former board members Bob Dean and Len Franseen within the last year, two of the Conservancy’s trusted friends and passionate supporters. In addition to serving as a longstanding member of the Rotary Club and former president of Rotary Charities, Bob Dean was instrumental in the Conservancy’s formation. Since the beginning, he served as an important ambassador for GTRLC. Though soft-spoken in his demeanor, he was an influential and outspoken leader who consistently advocated for balancing growth in the region with land preservation. We will greatly miss Bob and will always remain thankful for his significant contributions over the years.

Len Franseen was also a distinguished and vital member of the Conservancy’s family. He served with distinction on our board of directors during the Coastal Campaign, a transformational period of growth and development. A retired colonel with the United States Army, Len epitomized timeless leadership and quiet strength, always conducting himself with grace and dignity. Beyond his service with GTRLC, Len shared his love for northern Michigan’s lakes and forests through serving on the boards of the Grass River Natural Area and Three Lakes Association. He will be missed and leaves an important legacy through his deep commitment to protecting the land and water he loved.

Kevin Russell, Chair

Kathleen Guy, Vice-Chair

Linda Cline, Treasurer

John Bercini, Secretary

Perry Adams

Don Coe

John Collins

JoAnne Cook

Cortney Danbrook

Koffi Kpachavi

Chip May

Paul Moyer

Barbara Nelson-Jameson

Annie Olds

Susan Palmer

Evan Smith

Maureen Smyth

Terrie Taylor

GTRLC.ORG 37

GTRLC Consolidated Statement of Activities for the Fiscal Year

Program Services Including Day-to-Day Operations and Costs Incurred to Protect and Steward Land

GTRLC Long-Term and Endowment Funds

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2021-2022 Annual Report
June 30, 2022
Ended
Private Donations Public Grants Preserve and Easement Donations Non-Cash Public Support Other (fees, events, merchandise etc.) Net Assets Released from Restriction Gain/Loss from Investments Total Revenue and Support $2,810,353 $39,535$29,948 $38,969 $3,342,934 ($552,197) $5,709,542 $9,247,675 $770,182 $774,550 $555,445 $9,100 ($3,342,934) ($2,622,363) $5,391,655 $12,058,028 $ 809,717 $ 774,550 $585,393 $48,069($3,174,560) $11,101,197---REVENUE AND SUPPORT Endowment and Board-Designated Funds for Stewardship Board-Designated Long-Term Fund Endowment Funds that Support Our Mission Board-Designated for Easement Defense Charitable Gift Annuities from Donors $15,433,729 $2,638,850 $813,521 $517,969 $228,040 $19,632,109 78.6% 13.4% 4.1% 2.7% 1.2% 100%
Total Expenses $4,918,214 $6,108,839$4,918,214 $6,108,839 81.7% Management and General Administration $530,810 - $530,810 8.7%Fundraising Including Communication Materials in Support of Raising Funds $589,815 $589,815 9.6% 100% EXPENSES NET ASSETS (Beginning of Year) CHANGES IN NET ASSETS NET ASSETS (End of Year) $14,091,493 ($399,297) $ 13,692,196 $62,052,559 $5,391,655 $67,444,214 $76,144,052 $4,992,358 $ 81,136,410-Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions Net Assets With Donor Restrictions Total Percent
Program Services Including Day-to-Day Operations and Costs Incurred to Protect and Steward Land 81.7% Endowment and Board-Designated Funds for Stewardship 78.6% Private Donations $12.1m 13.4% Board-Designated Long-Term Funds 4.1% Endowment Funds that Support Our Mission 1.2% Charitable Gift Annuities from Donors $809,717 Public Grants $774,550 Preserve and Easement Donations $585,393 Non-Cash Public Support (-$3.2m) Gain/Loss from Investments 8.7% Management and General Administration 9.6% Fundraising Including Communication Materials in Support of Raising Funds 2.7% Board-Designated for Easement Defense $48,069 Other
PHOTO BY NATE RICHARDSON

Donations

Your donations to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy help protect significant scenic, natural, and farm lands from development, ensuring that the most critical lands will continue to provide local food, open space, clean water, and healthy habitat, now and for future generations. You can donate with confidence, knowing that you are contributing to an accredited, effective, and fiscally responsible organization.

A Mark of Distinction

The accreditation seal AFFIRMS national quality standards are met.

Sound Finances

Strong Transactions

Excellent Land and Easement Stewardship

Effective Governance

PHOTO: KATE PEARSON

CONSERVANCY FUND

January 1 – December 31, 2022

The following donors made gifts to the Conservancy Fund between January 1 and December 31, 2022. Your gifts to this unrestricted fund allow us to build a steady, reliable income to keep the momentum of land protection and stewardship moving forward in northern Michigan. We are deeply grateful for every gift we receive. Together, you and fellow passionate supporters have an immediate and a lasting impact that protects the forests, wetlands, dunes, farmland, and fresh water that define our region. Thank you for your generosity!

Gifts of $25,000 or more

Ames Family Foundation

Gary and Susan Bowerman

Community Foundation GT

Regional Land Conservancy

Agency Endowment

Casey and Dana Cowell

EDP Foundation

Barry Hibben

Thomas and Deborah McMullen

Barbara McWilliams and Thomas Piraino

Dan and Lynne Mixer

Charles Stewart

Mott Foundation

Estate of Susan Virginia Ohm

David and Ellen Petrick Foundation

Philip Ruedi and Laura Staich

Carol Stein

Harry A. & Margaret D. Towsley Foundation

Robert and Pauline Young

Gifts of $10,000 - $24,999

Anonymous

Robert and Anna Rita Barron

Dan and Lisa Brickman

Gloria and Leith Butler

Deborah Crowe and Todd Wilson

Marcia Curran

Kate and Rick Dahlstrom

Elizabeth G. and Stanley F. Dole

Bizzy Driscoll

Rich and Susan Erwin

Martha Garber

Robert Gould

Linda and Craig Hanson

Wayne and Ruthanne Kladder

Judy Leege

Estate of T. Grace Macdonald

Josephine Marquis

Ken and Susan Morrison

David and Marilyn Nussdorfer

William Scharf

Monica Schultz

Bruce S. Shannon

Family Foundation

Thomas and Kathleen Volle

Warrington Foundation

Community Foundation

Robert and Pauline Young

Family Endowment

Gifts of $5,000 - $9,999

Carol Adler

Anonymous (3)

Cindy and Gary Barta

Beers Family Foundation

Rosemary Berardi

Dick and Sue Bingham

Bondy Family Charitable

Giving Fund

Cherry Republic

William and Edith Christoph

Nancy Cotcamp

Doris and Donald

Duchene Foundation

Debra Edson

Cathy and Michael Emerson

James and Deborah Fellowes

Carlton and Rondi Fry

Grand Traverse Construction

Steven and Sheila Hamp

Janet and Kirk Hewlett

Blair and Gordon Jones

Linda Kehr

W. K. Kellogg Foundation

Kresge Foundation

Mariel Foundation

Estate of James Meyer

Lisbeth Oana

Monnie Peters

Timothy and Margaret Price

Robert and Susan Rinder

Scott and Jennifer Rodes

Elizabeth Rodgers

Edward and Elyse Rogers

The Edward and Elyse Rogers

Family Foundation

Shaw Family Fund

Paul Stimson

Dori Turner

Greg VandenBosch

GTRLC.ORG 41

Gifts of $2,500 - $4,999

Ann Arbor Area

Community Foundation

Anonymous (2)

Aurealis Foundation

Barbara and Tom Bigalke

Scott and Christine Blackhurst

The Brophys

William and Anne Burleigh

Bruce Campbell

Dr. David and Valerie Canter

Chris and Merrie Corbett

William and Paula Cordes

Nancy Davis

J. Bennett and Tauna Donaldson

Lois Goldstein and John Heiam

Edward Graft

Mike and Anne Groleau

Charitable Fund

Mary Hoiles

Catherine Hudak

Huntington National Bank

Ray and Jane Kendra

Mark and Barbara Kuhlmann

Jackie and Bob Kunnen

Thomas and Alison Larabel

Kathy and Tom Lehner

John and Cynthia Lhost

Nancy Lyon

Jane Maddox and Jim Hopfensperger

Bill and Kathy Main

Ann McPhail 

Phillip and Nancy Meek

John and Nancy Morris

Otwell Mawby, PC.

Robert and Connie Pulcipher

William and Amy Ranger

Dan Remahl

Daniel and Martha Rogalny

Richard and Linda Saslow

Patricia Sharpnack

Barclay Shultz and Lori Amsterdam

Estate of Susan Stearns

David Taft

Sue and Norm Ulbrich

Barbara and James Van Dam

Andrew M. Vander

Molen Foundation

John and Kim Wagner

Gloria Whelan

John Robert Williams and Terrie Taylor

Randi and Mark Woodworth

Gifts of $1,000 - $2,499

Charlene Abernethy and Mike Gill

Helen and Fred Altman

Aaron Anderson

Carl Anderson

Matthew Anderson

Anonymous (2)

Dennis Arouca and Anne Treadway

Nancy Baglan

Randy Baidas and Will Reeves

Peter and Kristine Baldo

Deborah and John Balser

Barton Malow Foundation

Bay View Flooring

Rick and Elizabeth Bellingham

Carl Benner

John and Rebecca Bercini

Jay and Maureen Berger

Brian and Rhonda Bissell

Brian Blood

John Boals

Nena Bonadarenko

Andrew and Alena Bowman

Joe and Elise Brooks

Bruce and Jennie Brown

Robert Buckner

Michael and Sandra Buhrt

Craig and Martha Burns

Jon Bylsma and Jennifer Johnston

Robbie and Archie Carmichael

Carolus Family Charitable Gift Fund

Timothy Carroll

The Cassard Taylor

Charitable Fund

Mark Cerny

Pete and Shari Clason

Roger Clason

Richard and Jill Claybour

Marilyn Cobb

John and Madelyn Coleman

Eleanor Comings

Robert Condon

Chris and Julie Conger

Joseph and Leslie Cook

William Cooper and Mary Wright

William and Romona Crain

Daniel and Gail Dall'Olmo

Lois DeBacker 

Graydon and Sherri DeCamp

Joyce Delamarter

Paolo and Patty DeMaria

Kent and Victoria DesJardins

Paul and Christine Deyo

Zeke Dickinson

Eric and Kathie Dreier

Steve and Betsy Duede

Linda and Jim Ernst

Giving Fund

Michael and Rhonda Estes

Joe Fisher

Jane Fochtman

Dennis Fogarty and Christine Albright

Joanne Folsom

Barry and Julie Foster

Lisa Franseen

Norm and Mary Anne Frey

Dilys Tosteson Garcia and Lola Jackson

James and Lauri Gartner

Gates Foundation

Jim and Lucy Gerlach

Jeremy Gibson and Carolyn McDonald

William Gittlen and Sarah Campbell

Jim and Carol Goetz

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Gifts of $1,000 - $2,499 –continued

Doug and Karen Goodkin

Mark and Elaine Grant

Kathleen and Mark Guy

Michael and Mary Haley

Jim and Leslie Hamp

Liz Hardy and Tom Kienbaum

Katherine Howland Harley

Jack and Ruth Harris

Louise and Larry Haskett

Bill and Kirty Heald

Will Heelan

Stephen and Summer Hennessy

Sharon and George Hermach

Walter Herrick

Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation

Bill and Heather Hewett

Jack and Martha Hicks

Greg Holmes and Katherine Roth

HP Foundation Matching

Gift Program

The Ann and Jonathan Hubbard Charitable Gifts Fund

Beth Hubbell

Dennis and Janice Hudson

Pam and Lance Huffer

Susan Huntzicker

Al and Julie Hurd

Michael and Tafel Hutchison International Monetary Fund

Jackson Family Fund

Jennifer and Brian Jaffe

Rosalind Jaffe and Pat Balmer

Lee Jameson and Barbara Nelson-Jameson

Lee Jasinski

Thomas and Jane Jenkins

John and Joanne Johnsen

Keith and Claudette Johnson

Janet Joslyn

Edward and Ann Kalat

Kegley Family Foundation

Kevin Kelly

Charlotte Knoll

Steven Kraft and Carol Burns

Karen Kuehlhorn

Pauline Lackie and Mary Hoiles

Louise Ladd

Jayme Lahut and Davin Robinson

Mr. Douglas and Joy Landis

Harold and Pamela Lassers

David and Marty Leavenworth

Jeffrey and Marcia Lee

Jan Leuallen

James and Kirsten Levinsohn

Leslie Li and Brian Ahlborn

Gerald Linn and LuAnn Orbeck

Scott and Vickie Lizenby

Craig Locke and Jannine Baker

Brad Lyman

Gregory Lyman

Louise Ann Lyon and John Banks

Dan Mach and Kathy Flynn Mach

The Roderick and Julia MacLachlan Fund

Mark Maddox and Sarah Sutton

Dr. Matthew and Jody Madion

Magagna Family Foundation

Roger and Aimee Mali

Robert and Nancy Marshall

Peggy and Graham Martin

Dave Mathews

John Matz

Suzanne McCarthy

William and Joan McCool

Joan McLay

Michael and Karen McMahon

Ann McPhail

Linda Miller

Robert Montgomery

Eric and Amy Mueller

Kristi & Tyler Murphy

Giving Fund

Dirk and Mary Nelson

Barbara Newman

Nels and Lynda Nichols

Erin O'Connell

Patricia O'Connell and Loren Judge

Olson, Bzdok & Howard, PC

Paradise Family Fund

Gail Parry and Norman Bell

Scott and Frances Parry

Karl Pearson

Jose Perez-Sanz and Catherine Bosher

Ed and Patty Petrick

Gary Pomeroy

Dan and Pam Prevo

Family Fund

Larry and Donna Purcey

Jeffrey Puryear and Myriam Waiser

Carol Rabanus

Lynn Rayle

Polly Rea

Richard Reed

R.M. Young Company

Reynolds-Jonkhoff

Funeral Home, Inc.

Michael Roberts and Phyllis Laine

Patricia and Edward Robinson

Laurie and Dan Roche

Family Fund

Barb and Mike Rodenberg

Pug Rundio

Tom Sampson and Nancy Wonch

Matt and Sara Satkowiak

Schlichting Theisen Fund

Callie Schneider 

Schroeder Family Trust

Nancy Seasholes

Gregory Seman and Tracey McVicar

Elizabeth Sharp

Ellen Shaw

Scribner and Patricia Sheafor

John and Victoria Sheagren

Susan and David Sheldon

Shell Matching Gifts Program

Shift Chiropractic, PLC

Mason Showalter

Siebenthaler Foundation

Michael and Suzette Simpson

Evan Smith and Cynthia Anderson

Anne and Rob Smykal

Maureen and Paul Smyth

Linda and John Spevacek

Matthew Steinmetz

Judith and Fred Swartz

Peter Swartz and Lori Franz

Giving Account

Nancy Swift

Jim Taup

Lester and Joanne Teague

John and Sandra Thorne

Suzanne Tobin

GTRLC.ORG 43  Matching Gift

Gifts of $1,000 - $2,499 –continued

Tom and Mary Torbet

Paul Tousley

Mary and Robert Treadway

H. Triezenberg / E. Mostrom

Charitable Fund

Nancy Vandenberg

John and Jeanne VanderMeer

Nancy and Kent Walton

M. Sue Waltz

Sylvia and Jim Walworth

George Warrington and Drew Gores

Weiner Family

Charitable Fund

JoAnn Weirich

Gifts of $1 - $999

Ross and Emily Abrahamson

Dwain and Christina Abramowski

Glen and Meg Ackerman

Jeff Ackerman

Jane and William Adams

Janis Adams

Jay Adams

Perry and Mary Catherine Adams

Kirk and Cathy Agerson

Liz and Sean Agerson

Carolyn Agosta

Donald Aiken

Thomas and Judy Aja

Alfie Logo Gear

Catherine Alfred

Frances Alfs and Edward Crippen

Jerome and Sharon Allaire

Judy Allen and Patrick Ginley

James and Mary Allender

Terry Almquist

Joseph and Patricia Amalfitano

Amazon Smile Foundation

Nicoline Ambrose

Katherine Amerman

Jim and Roberta Amstadt

Dean and Shawn Anagnost

Gary Ancinec

Barbara Anderson

Carol Anderson

Joe and Kathryn Anderson

John and Kristin Anderson

Lloyd and Wendy Anderson

Maudie Anderson

Richard and Linda Anderson

Sallee and Thomas Anderson

Jeff Andreasen

Roland and Marilyn Andreasson

Thomas and Marsha Andres

Gary Andrew and Jean Braxton

Sharon Andringa

Anonymous (15) 

Katherine Armstrong

Judy and Paul Arnold

Richard and Janice Arnold

Christine Arvidson and Henry Doss

Randy and Margaret Asmus Family Fund

AT&T Employee Giving 

Richard Atterberry

Richard and Patricia Austin

Ellen Auwers

Katie Auwers

Christopher and Vicki Avery

Brian Weisman

Doug and Cheryl Welday

Wells Family Foundation

Whisner Family Fund

Mac and Marilyn Whisner

Joy and Theodore Whittlesey

Bruce and Dorothy Wierman

Bonnie Willings

Mark F. Woodward

Wayne and Sharon Workman

Frank R. and Faye M. Zimmerman Family Endowment

Jeremiah and Kristi Avery

Anna and John Bachman

Backcountry North

Carole Backman

Barbara and Joe Backus

William and Jennifer Baguley

Stephen Bahlke

Randall Baidas and William Reeves

Barbara Baie

Edward and Marlene Bailey

Foy and Joel Baillie

Gary and Janet Baillod

Kathleen J Bair

Walter and Marilyn Baird

Julie Baker

Dianne Baker-Hale and Calvin Baker

Linda Bakke

Mark Baleja

Roberta Ballard

Nicolaas and Rhonda Ballintyn

Carl and Nancy Ballou

Keith and Kelly Bandli

Stephen and Theresa Bangle

Elizabeth Banker

Jennifer Baragar

Colleen and Robert Barker

Helen and Ross Barker

Robert and Gail Barnes

Charitable Gift Fund

Tom and Mary Barnes

Jack and Karen Barnwell

Donald and Anita Baron

Joseph and Bonny Barrett

Ronald and Paula Barrett

Cheryl Bartholic

Barton Malow Foundation

Butch and Elizabeth Bartz

Cheryl Bartz

John and Susan Bates

Harriet Batson-Benson and James Batson

James Bauer

Joan Bauer

Patricia Bauer

Bill and Gail Baughman

Bill and Marti Beals

Amy Beasley

Jerry Beasley

Beverly Beauchamp

Arthur and Elizabeth Beaudoin

Barbara Beauregard

Ken and Pat Beck

Sandra and Mike Becker

Curtis and Barbara Bedbury

Brian and Eileen Bee

Lori Beer

Gifts of $1 - $999 –continued

Ernie Behnke

Dan and Nancy Behring

Reverend Ted Beiderwieden

Robert and Carol Beidler

Jeffrey Bell 

Nancy Bell

Sally Bell

Travis and Joan Bell

Bell Title Lakeshore

Marcia Bellinger

William and Sharon Bellinger

Dave and Janice Bellingham

John Bellingham

Marc Bendick and Mary Lou Egan

Rosemary Benedetti

Richard and Maria Bensel

Marilyn Benson

Roger and Kathy Benson

John Beranek and Karen Park

Cynthia Berg

Eugene Berg

David Bergman

James Bergman and Penelope Hommel

John Bergman

Barb and David Bersuder

Matt Bertram

Scott Bertschy

Cory Beuerle

Randy and Mary Bevier

Anna and Richard Bevis

Barb Bierlein and Tom Dillon

John Bigler

William and Lynn Bila

John and Jan Biliti

Dr. Charles and Mrs. Maria Bill

Lillian Billmeier

Don and Bonnie Bills

Tim and Mary Binder

Donald and Nannette Binns

Michael and Mindy Binsfeld

Susan and Sanford Birnholtz

Dr. Evan Black

Mary Black

Liz Blackburn

Blain Supply

Stephanie Blatchley

Alan Bliss and Jan McNish

Carolyn and Richard Block

Sheri Blok

Kathleen Bloomfield

Tim and Cheryl Bloomquist

Richard J. & Carolyn M. Blum Foundation

Boccia Family Foundation

Laurie and David Boccia

Carol Bocskay

James and Gayle Boecker

Margaret Bogart and Robert Bogart Jr.

Gilbert Bogley

Earl Bogrow and Julie Upp

Colin and Margaret Bohash

David and Roberta Bolig

Daniel Bonner and Dolores Trese

James Bonney

Joan and Alfred Bonney

Susan Bopp

Wenche Borgnakke

Andre and Jamie Borrello

Suzanne Bosler

Kenneth and Jennifer Bosma

Robert and Janet Bower

Bowerman, Bowden, Ford, Clulo & Luyt, PC.

John Bowers

Gilbert Bowlby

Anne Bowles

Guy Bowman

Kenneth and Gail Bowman

Brian and Peggy Boyce

Connie Boyd

Gloria and Jerry Boyd

Jeanne Boyd

Kevin Bozung

John and Linda Bozzelli

Ed and Jennifer Bradford

Kathryn Alford Brady and John Alford

David Bradley and Beryl Krasner

Robert Bradshaw

Marilyn Branco

Bruce Brandt

Steven and Mary Branstner

Anne Brasie

Dr. Dan and Dr. Jeri Lynn Braunlin

Eric Braverman

Dianne Braybrook and Robert Venner

Julie Brazaski

Katherine Brege

Carol Breimeier and Fred Nelson

Vivian Breining

Norton and Mary Lee Bretz

David and Julie Brewer

James Brewer and Leslie Littlefield-Brewer

Bruce and Marilyn Bridges

Carl and Ruth Brighton

Preston Britner

Staci Brodeur

Jim and Candy Brody

Ron Broering

Pepper Bromelmeier and Thomas Brown

Robert Brook

Marci and Blake Brooks

Fleda Brown

The Brown Girls

Irene Brown

Laura and Jim Brown

Pamela and Ronald Brown

Robert L. Brown

Scott and Jennifer Brown

Steven and Kelly Brown

William Brown

Cindy Browne and Neil Lau

Eleanor Brownell

James and Danielle Bruckbauer

Richard Brunelle

Richard and Sharon Bruner

Linnea and Gary Brunk

Linda and Buzz Bryson

Emily Buchholz

Herb and Dee Bucholtz

Gary and Lisa Buczkowski

Daniel Buday and Deborah Smith

Allie and Art Bukowski

Geri Burden

Jackie and Mike Burke

Stephen and Christine Burke

James and Barbara Burkholder

Doug and Susan Burns

Lucinda and John Burton

Bruce and Rhoda Bush

Chris and William Bussell

Eric and Kelly Buth

Linda Butka and Bryan Olshove

Edward and Leslie Butt

Susanne Buxton

Chris and Colleen Bzdok

GTRLC.ORG 45
 Matching Gift

Gifts of $1 - $999 –continued

Reid Calcott

Elizabeth Calcutt

Tim Calkins and Carol Saltoun

Bruce and Linda Campbell

Grant Campbell

John and Mary Campbell

Linda Campbell

Maureen Campbell

Robert Campbell

Robert and Candy Campbell

Candelles Team

Candle Factory

Ellie Canfield

Kip and Sherry Cantrick

Beatriz Capper

Thomas Capua

Kelly Caraher 

Barb and Mike Carey

John Carey and Vicki Arroyo

Margaret A.

Cargill Foundation

Paul and Jean Carlson

Edward Carmien

Kathleen, Aubrey and Butch Carmien

Margaret Carmody

David and Marcia Carney

Kathleen Carpenter

Cindy Carr

Diane Carr

Katherine Carr

Richard Carreno

Cathy, Erynn and Doug Carter

Janice Carter

John and Cindy Carter

Melia Carter

CJ Cartwright

William and Sandy Cartwright

Charles Casanova

Dan Casey

Sally Casey

Felix Casillas

Julie and Albert Catallo

Samuel and Sally Catanese

CBRE

CDW

Fred and Michelle Cepela

Dawn Chalker

Mary and Lew Chalker

Bill Chamberlin

Diane and Everett Chambers

William Champion and Beverly Pylman

Beth Chan

Charles and Jeanie Chapin

Jan Chapman

Stephen and Jeannine Chapman

Kay Charter

Alice Chema

Thomas Chesebro

Linda and David Chesterfield

Carol and Fred Chidester

Chimney Corners Resort

Marty and Carole Chirgwin

Eric Chown and Rachel Beane

Glen and Rebecca Chown

Deborah Chrisman

David and Eunsook Christian

Helen and Steve Christian

Julie and Paul Christian

Norman and Laura Christopher 

Bill and Karin Chung

Lou Ann and Robert Churchill

Holly Clack

Patrick Clagett

Jody and E. Terry Clark

Kay Clark

Dale Claudepierre and Melynda Bagley

Kevin and Janell Clayton

Daniel and Linda Cline

Donald and Nancy Clover

Timothy and Mary Clulo

Dotti Clune and Jill Henemyer

Julie Clynes

Daniele and Michael Cobb

Max and Reatha Cochran

Barbara Cochrane

Joyce Cody

Robert and Debra Coffey

Bob Cohen and Kathleen Abate

Ellen Cohn

Jeryl Colby

Henry and Bonnie Cole

Juanita Cole

Thomas and Barbara Cole

Mindy Cole-Frank

Clare Coles

Rob and Diane Collier

Edward and Barbara Collins

John and Lynn Collins

Michael and Carolyn Collins

Community Shares of Colorado

Jane Conard

Christopher and Martie Conner

Thomas and Susan Connors

David Conrad

Birgit and Keith Conway

Mike Conway

Doug and Sally Cook

Jeff Cook

Maralee and Tyler Cook

Nancy Cook

Robert and Karin Cooney

Darlene Cooper

James Cooper

Janet Cooper

Charlotte and Edward Coquillard

Mark and Joan Cordeniz

Irene and Mike Cotter

Shelley and Wesley Cowan

David and Glenys Cowperthwaite

Kenneth and Cynthia Cox

Evan Craig

Emily Crandall

Charles and Susan Crawford

Barbara Cribar

Todd Croftchik 

Tim and Claire Cronley

Tom and Jeanne Crosby

Jennifer Crossen and Joan Callahan

Elizabeth Crowdus

Tom and Judy Croxton

Judith Crysler

Mary Culik and Robert Sharrar

Sam and Janene Cummings

Family Fund

Ruth Cunningham

Leslie Cuppett

Rick and Chris Curran

Charles and Penelope Curry

Janice and Jed Curtis

Arthur W. Curtis, III

Beverly Cuthbert

Thomas Czarny

Louis and Mary Czubak

Kathy Dally

Janet Daly and Nancy Whitwell

46 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77

Raymond and Julie Daly

Susan Damm-Fultz

Dan Brady Painting Services, LLC

Cortney and Chris Danbrook

Stacy and Carol Daniels

Kimberly Dante

Steve and Kris Darpel

Nancy Dash and Cheryl Thompson

Mark and Karen Davey

John Davies

Bill and Jen Davis

Jeff and Sharon Davis

John and Josie Davis

Paul and Kay Davis

Sarah and Jason Davis

Alison and Tom Dayton

Sharon Dean

James Deaton

Ann and Richard DeBoer

Alice and Jerry Deck

Roger Deemer

Ellen Dehm and Catherine Adler

Colleen DeKay

Margaret Delor

Dave and Laurie DeLuca

Peter and Nancy Deneen

Karen Denolf and K.T. Hayes

Bill and Sandy Derman

Deborah and Craig Desmet

Robert Dettling

Michael and Teckla Dettmer

Doug and Margo Detzler

Larry DeVergilio

Wondella Devers

Michael and Ann DeVries

J. Dewey and Barbara Daane

Ronald Dewey

Daniel DeWitt and Lisa Deferrari

Charles and Lorie DeYoung

Harold and Edna DeYoung

Stephany Diana

William and Roberta Dickie

David Dickinson and Jeannine LaPrad

Nancy Dickinson

William and Julie Diehl

Tessa Diem

Virginia Dike and Ijeoma Dike-Young

Dr. Andrew Diller

Victor Dinsmoore

Sue and Tom Dionne

Diane and James Dixon

Gift Fund

Angela Dollaway/Helfrich

Jean Donaldson

Aaron Donnell

Jill Dooley and Annette Brown

Pat Dooley

Ron and Carol Dooley

William and Ginny Dorner

Hank Dow

Lester and Natalie Dragstedt

Claudia and Ken Drake

Sue and Tad Duemler

Sonia Duffy

Charles and Marge Dumanois

Sylvia and Thomas Duncan

Cheryl and Bill Dundon

Judy Dunmire and Mark Plamp

James and Eileen Dunn

John and Anna Dunn

Marissa and Manny Duque

Dave Durham and Ed Farnham

Keira Duvernoy and Robert Braveheart

William Dvorak and Gela Boebel

Robert Dyke

Theresa Dykhuis

Theresa and David Dysarz

Chris and Donna Earle

Margaret Eaton

Sue and Charles Ecker

David and Judith Eckrich

Diane and Robin Edgington

Shirley and Paul Edmond

Gary and Ann Edwards

Jeanne Edwards

Mary and Robert Edwards

Phil Edwards and Laura Reid

Susan Eggly

Russell and Pat Ehler

Sandra Ehlers

Timothy and Irene Eiseman

Elk Rapids Garden Club

Doris and Rick Ellery

John and Sally Ellinger

Charles Ellinwood

Kristen Elliot and Perry Harmon

David and Sally Elliott

Marjorie Elliott

Frank Ellis

Amie Elve

Nancy Elwood

Steven Elyakin

Memorial Fund

Dorothea and Bill El-Yasir

Judith Elzinga

Jim and Mary Emerich

Tom and Diane Emling

Mackenzie and Marcia Endo

Endoman Promotions, LLC

Mary Engdahl

Kenneth and Janet Engle

Paul and Ellen Erhard

Gerri Erickson and Margaret Platner

Bill and Gail Ericson

Ronald and Joyce Erkis

Rich Ernsting

Phil and Florence Ernzen

Michelle Ervin

John and Char Ester

William and Pamela Esterline

Cathy Eubanks

Ted Ewald

Ceri and Timothy Faas

Carol Faber

Cindy and Mike Fairbanks

Mary and Bill Fairgrieve

Bill and Denise Faler

Fred A. Farage Jr. and Carl J. Strebel

Barbara Farrell

Terry and Kim Farrugia

Richard and Lori Fasi

Jan Faulkner

Gregory and Nancy Fazzoni

Roche and Leslie Featherstone

Dennis Fedornichik

Donald and Renee Fedrigon

Douglas C Felt

Charitable Fund

Mary Ferens

Cathy Ferguson

Juliana Fernandez

Joan Ferrari

Beth Ferris

Brett Fessell

Brian Fiander

Julian Fiander

GTRLC.ORG 47  Matching Gift

Gifts of $1 - $999 –continued

Charles and Mary Fierle

Mary Jo Fifarek

Bob Finch and Melissa Lain-Finch

Jane Fiore, Faye Conley and Judy Rich

Jane and Steve Fish

Barbara and Ted Fisher

Brian and Vera Fisher

John Fisher

Beth Fitzsimmons

Charitable Fund

Nancy Fleming

Tamurla Fletcher

Margaret Mudd Fletcher

Charitable Foundation

Tiara Flewelling

Diane Florkowski

Kimberly and Steve Flynn

Michael and Donna Flynn

Susan Flynn and Jeff Corwin

David Foley and

Margaret Willman

George and Mary Ford

Mary Forman 

Randi Forman

Ruth Forrest

Robert and Sandra Forsman

Catherine and Frank Forsyth

Scott Forthofer

Sarah and Stuart Foster

Judy Foulk

Bob and Ruth Fountain

Wendy Fowler and Michael Oxley

Richard and Lori France

David and Martha Frank

DeAnne and Todd Frank

Lora Frankel

Susan Franklin

Joanne and David Frantz

Don and Nancy Fraser

Charles and Julie Frayer

Alta Somsel Frears

Ginny and Carl Freeman

John Freeman and Mary Rose Farrington

John Freidman

David and Esther Frey

Madelyn and James Frick

Becky and Mark Fries

Gordon Friese and Mary

Anne Rivers-Friese

George and Maiga Friess

Katrina Fritz

Steve Fritz

Frontstream

Andrea Fry and John Floyd

Stephen and Susan Fry

Erin and Nathaniel Fuller

Edward and Rita Furdak

Joel and Lucille Gaff

Richard and Rebecca Gagnon

Lucy and Allen Gagstetter

Peter and Patricia Gaines

Stephen and Gloria Gainsley

Larry and Debra Galehouse

Joseph Gallagher

Mindy and Jamie Gallagher

Paul Gambka

Robert and Christine Gamble

Ignacio and Tracey Gamboa

Silvia and Richard Gans

Karen Garber and John DesMarais

Kim Gardey

Linda Gardiner

Community Foundation

Gardner Mahalo Fund

Kimberly and James Gardzulis

Dr. Renee Garrick

Dawn Garrock

Brian Gartland

Patrick and Erin Gartland

David and Cheryl Garvin

John and Grace Gast

William Gates

Arnold and Eleanor Gatzke

Janita Gaulzetti

Keith Geiger

Mark and Mary Beth Gentry

Gregory Gerstner

Earl and Maud Gervais

Thomas Getz and Margaret Burrows-Getz

James and Nancy Gibson

David and Helene Gidley

James Gies

Marc and Pauline Gilbert

Jerry Gillissen

Michael Gillman

Mark Gilmore

Francis Gingras and Jacqueline Merta-Gingras

Robert and Joyce Gingras

Dean and Sharon Ginther

Jennifer Ginther

GivingForce Foundation

Janice Glatzer

Nicholas Glauch

Karen Gleason

Patricia and James Glossi

Claudia Glynn

Barbara Godleski

Katherine Godleski

Kenneth Goebel

Richard Goerke

Steven Goerke

The Gold Family Fund

Jack and Liz Goodman

Janet and Stanley Goodman

T. James and Marilyn Goodwin

Carolyn Googasian

Google Matching Gifts Program

Anita DeMarco Goor

Christopher Gores

Thomas and Inez Gotts

Matthew Gourley

Barb and Leonard Graf

Debbie and John Graffius

Jeffrey Graft

Marcia and Ross Graham

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

George Granlund

Chris Granner 

Chester and Elaine Grant

Michael and Christine Gravlin

John and Kathryn Gray

Judith Greaves

Lisa and David Green

Rose and Mary Green

Thom Greene and Nadeen Kieren

Arthur and Susan Greenlee

Elliott and Sandra Greenspan

Leonard Grey

Christopher and Marlene Griffin

Robert and Valerie Griffith

Thomas and Elizabeth Griffith Fund

Martha Griggs

Barry and Susan Gross

Nancy and Richard Grote

Linda Grubaugh

Michael J. Grusenmeyer Charitable Fund

Angela Gu 

Sharon Gunn

48 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77

Laura Gurasich, Jill Ellis and Betsy Nielsen

Ronald Gurdak

Anthony and Christa Gutowski

Jan and Dave Gwinnell

Ryan Gyurich

Christine Haack and Mark Hood

Barbara and Eugene Haak

N. Richard and Karen Haas

Karen Haase

Fred and Sheila Hackley

Helen Haddick

Peter and Margaret Haddix

Janis Hadley and Gary Fernham

Lois Haertel

Denise and Mick Hager

Richard and Patricia Hager

Sandy Hagman

David and Elizabeth Hague

Carolyn Hahne

John Haine

Rick and Chris Halbert

James and Judith Hall

Gail Halliday and Tim Laney

Halo Helpers

Larry and Barbara Hamilton

Edward and Jeanne Hammond

Rebecca Hammond and Philip Lombard

Rochelle and Steve Hammontree

Melissa Hamp

Rose Hamway and Linda Krynak

Geraldine Hansen

Mary Ann and Gary Hansen

Barbara Hanson

John Harden

James Harding

Ed Hargis and Peggy Anderson

Frances Harju

Donald and Barbara Harmer

Robert Harmon

Gary Harper

Mark and Cathy Harrell

Kirk and Liz Harrington

Kathryn Harris

Dave Harrison

Richard Harrison

Brent and Letha Harshman

Charles and Karen Hart

John Hart

Joanne and John Hartmann

Louise Hartung

Maureen Harty

Noreen and Kevin Harty

Patricia Hartz

Harvey's Foundation

Carolyn J Hastings

Charitable Fund

Charles Hathaway

David and Margaret Hauser

Charles Hausman

Gerry and Mary Haw

Claudia Hawes

Elaine Hawley

Jon and Peggy Hawley

Hayden Foundation

William Hayes

Jeanne and Michael Haynes

Donna and

Christopher Healy

Robert Heavenrich

Kandace Heck

Jessica Hector

Teri Hedrich

Joseph Heffron

Colleen Heflin and Bill Whipps

Robert, Barbara and Pat Heflin

Thomas Hegewald

Paul and Cathy Heidel

Johannes Heijmans and Janis Schiller

Jerry and Jamie Heim

Jerry Heiman

Gordie Heinold

Laura and Scott Heintzelman

David and Joan Heinz

Gregory Hekel

Richard and Linda Helfrich

Ronald and Sherryl Hellenga

Martin Heller

Donald and Lori Helms

Susan Helton

Judy Henderlight

Katie Hendriksma

Henke and McAlindon Families

Bill and Ann Henning

Kenneth and Maswe Hennrick

Henry Family

Sandra and Mark Henschell

Joanna Henson

Andy Herman, Marsha Case, and Mark Herman

Vera Hernandez

Elizabeth Herrmann

C. Richard and Susan Herrold

Michael and Sharon Herron

Carol Hess

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Ron and Jan Heverly

Sean Hickey

Doug and Martee Hickman

Paul and Ruth Anne Hickman

Judy Hicks

Frances and Thomas Higginbottom

Ann and Don Highlands

Jim Highsaw and Linda Prentice

Cheryl and Richard Hiipakka

Bruce and Anne Hildreth

Audrianne Hill and Misti Trap

John and Jane Hilliard

Matthew Hilliard

Mollie Hilliard

Richard Hill-Rowley

Benjamin Hills

Zachary and Holly Hillyer

Gary Hilts

Arlene Hinds

Don and Takane Hinds

Warren and Suzanne Hinsch

Daniel and Susan Hintz

Kathleen Hintz

Marlene Hintz

John and Lauren Hintzsche

Don Hirt

Michael and Eliza Hix

Michael and Janet Hluchaniuk

Art and Carol Hoadley

Paul and Deanna Hoadley

Peter Hoag

George and Mary Hobig

Steve and Becky Hobig

Sue and Ken Hobig

Nancy and Frederic Hoblit

Tom and Amy Hodgman

Linda and Dan Hoemke

Carol Hoffman

Heather Hoffman

Mark Hoffman and Sue Harmer

GTRLC.ORG 49
 Matching Gift

Gifts of $1 - $999 –continued

Mary Sue Hoffman

Alison and Rick Hoffmann

John Hoffmann

Andrew and Terry Hogarth

R. Edward and Cinda Hogg

Steve and Annie Hogler

Robert and Jane Holdeman

Marie and Doug Holem

William and Myrna Holland

Marilyn Holloway

Carolyn Holt

Mark and Yvonne Holtz

Anne Honhart

Thomas and Mary Ann Hoogerhyde

Debra Lynn Hook

Marie and Jay Hooper

Jennifer Hopkins

Susan and Michael Hornby

Donald and Carolyn Hoss

Kelley Householder

Kathi Houston and David Reid

Bill and Jean Howard

Howard Family

Charitable Fund

Edward and Joyce Howard

Michael and Marsha Howard

Patricia and Charles Howe

Sharley Hower

Don Howson

Robert and Suzette Hoxie

Mary Hubbard

Amy Hubbell

Jim and Diana Huckle

John Hudson

Hudson Livestock

Management Services LLC

Michael and Lesa Huget

Dennis and Tina Hughes

Larry and Diane Hughes

Nancy Hulka and Duane Dunlap

Cindy and Douglas Hull

John and Wilma Hultman

Mary and Robert Hurley

Teresa and Daniel Husted

Mary and Robert Hutchins

Amy Hutchinson

Dan and Barbara Ilgen

Dave Imboden

John Imboden

Kathryn Imboden

Charles and Val Impellizzeri

Debra and Pierre Ingold

Carol Inman

Intel Foundation

Gretchen and Ted Iorio

Heather Irvine

Catherine Irwin

Bob and Ann Ivinskas

Abdeen Jabara and Holly Maguigan

Chris Jackman

Dave and Deb Jackson

James Jackson

Jeffrey and Lynda Jackson

Mark and Debra Jackson

Phred and Elaine Jackson

Stephen and Debra Jackson

T. Michael and Joan Jackson

David and Sue Ellen Jacobson

Thomas Jaenicke and Kim Kolb

John and Kathy Jahoda

Joachim Janecke

George and Jo Ann Janes

John and Tracy Janevic

Mary Janik

Mark and Janet Janis

Rus Janis and Connie Snow

Thomas and Linda Janson

John and Margaret Janssens

Phil Jarvi

Jennifer Jay and Evan Johnstone

David and Christine Jaymes

Gerald Jehle

Hollis and Karen Jencks

Teresa and Martin Jennings

Family Fund

Kallie Jensen

David Jeschke

Steve and Morgan Johanson

Michael and Jean Johns

The Johnslington Fund

Bruce Johnson

Chris and Barb Johnson

Gary and Carol Johnson

James and Elaine Johnson

Jeff and Joann Johnson

Karen Johnson

Kim and Margaret Johnson

Ronald and Sharon Johnson

Jill and Ron Johnston

Paula Jonas

Brad and Leslie Jones

David and Nancy Jones

Molly and William Jones

Philip and Susan Joseph

Terry Judd

Cynthia and Allen Julian

Kathleen Kaczynski

Cyndi Kadzban

Janet Kahan

Karen Kamerschen

David Kane

Elaine and David Kanski

Deborah Kanter

Linda Kao

Carol and H. Peter Kappus

Joe and Angela Karbowski

Julie Karingten and Jessica Wojciechowski

Linda and Zach Karmen

Claire, Blaise and Jesse Karner

Cal Karr and Jayne Mohr

James and Tisha Kartsimas

Stacey and Jason Kashazta

Robert Kasperek and Lynn Formanczyk

Laurie Katz

Michael and Holly Kazarinoff

Brian and Angie Keas

Lisa Keder and William Pohlman

Sally and Dennis Keeney

Charles and Margaret Keil

Bill and Nancy Lou Kelly

Charles and Dolores Kelly

Joe and Donna Kelly

Patrick and Mary Kelly

David Keltner

Cliff and Kathy Kelto

Mary Campbell Kemp

Ann Kennedy

Paul and Rebecca Kennedy

Sharon and James Kerfoot

John and Connie Kerns

Ellen Kerr

Margaret Ketchum

Anne Ketner

Ellen Ketz

Jim and Melody Kiefer

Donald and Sharon Kieliszewski

Karen and Ursula Kienbaum

Jacquelin Kilburn

Claudia and Kevin Killeen

Janet Killian

Diana and George Kimball

50 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77

Douglas Kimble and Priscilla Walmsley

Dennis Kinder

Carol and Robert Kindt

Donald and Barbara King

Mary King

Brian and Stacy Kinney

Paul and Dorita Kint

Lewis and Char Kirchner

Thomas and Leah Kirchner

Bob and Pat Kjolhede

Anthony Klain

Peter and Jeny Klain

Molly and Charles Klettner

Jack and Jan Kline

Donna and Jerry Klinefelter

Thomas Knaus

Jerry Knoppow & Sharon

Knoppow Charitable Fund

Annette Knowles 

Ken Kohlman and Pam Coleman

Paul and Diane Kolak

Charles and Susan Konieczny

Marilyn Koons

Mark and Sandy Koslen

Mark and Debra Kosowski

Sanford and Ellen Kossek

James and Karen Kowalski

Carol Kozelka

Dr. Stephan and Pamela Kozelko

Koffi and Teresa Kpachavi

Fred Kraft and Gayle Davis

Rev. Oscar and Shirley Kraft

Ted and Jeanne Kraimer

Walter Kraimer

Charles and Judy Kraus

Barb Krause

Walter and Karen Kreger

Eileen Kreiner

John and Mary Krieger

Amy Krigbaum and Phillip Conroy

David and Linda Krill

Jeff Kroeger

Michael and Janet Kronk

Dennis and June Krus

Kenneth Kuenzer

David and Teri Kuffner

Kuhl Studios

Jerry and Judy Kulka

Kurburski Family Fund

James Kure and Karen Smyth

John and Kathy Kurfess

Kurnetz Stahl Family

Rodney and Christine Kurtz

Pierre and Loretta Lafoille

James Lagowski

Kenneth and Diane Lahti

Bruce and Andi Laidlaw

Ashton Lamb

Lois Lamb

J.P. Lambert Fund

Keith and Bernice Lamkin

Becky Lancaster

Vic Landa

Kim Lande

Gregory and Audrey Landsfeld

David and Crystal Lang

Joe, Laura and family and Chris Lange

Michael and Becky Lanham

Arlene Larson

Lynn Larson and Paul Christ

John and Mary Anne Larzelere

Marilyn Latterman and Frederick Hambly

Frances Laue

Kelsey Lauer

Douglas and Ellen Law

Hazel Lawrence

Paula Leach

Sharon Lean

Virginia LeClaire

Christine Lee

John Lee

David and Rebecca Leege

Patricia Leege

John and Darlyne Leete

Kevin Lehner

Garrett and Amy Leiva

Jim Lemire

Dan and Angie Lemon

Joseph and Betty Lepak

Marilyn Leppek

Joseph and Kathleen Lessard

Lori and Mark Leugers

Tracey Lev-ary

Allyson Lewis

Dorothy and John Lewis

Richard and Colleen Lewis

Richard and Sally Lewis

Jane Libbing

Tom Lieb

Daniel and Mary Liechty

John Lien

Lisa Lightfoot and Marshall Rugg

Ross and Cathy Lillie

Kim and Mary Lind

Jim and Jan Lindner

Orly Lindner

Lance and Mary Lindwall

Michael and Sandra Lininger

Barry and Linda Lishawa

Jean Livingston

Patricia and Stephen Lockman

Bob and Susan Lockwood

Stephen and Gail Loes

Robert Logee

Matthew Lohrentz

Michael and Janice London

Charitable Account

Ellen Longmire and John Glatzmaier

Catherine Look

John and Catherine Loomis

Dusty and Caitlin Lopez

John and Dawnmarie Lorentson

Audrey and John Losey

Rene Louchart

J. Ron Lovasz

Katie Lowran

Doug and Lynne Luciani

Ray and Nancy Ludwa

Barbara Lukasiewicz

Nancy and John Lukasiewicz

Jane Lund

Phillip and Usha Lundberg

Judith and Arne Lundmark

Ben and Sally Lundquist

Cathy Lundy

Sarah Lutes and Linda Guthrie

Richard and Karen Luther

Lutheran Camp Association

Donald Lynch

John and Anne Mabley

Barbara and Rudy Macander

James and Christina MacInnes

David and Lorah MacIntosh

Robin and James MacKenzie

Gordon Macowan and Carolyn Meyer

Douglas Macpherson

Magoun Family Fund

Tom and Gladys Maguire

Judith Malaski

GTRLC.ORG 51
 Matching Gift

Gifts of $1 - $999 –continued

Joseph Maloney

Russell Mancewicz

Rebecca Mang and Dr. Homer Nye

Sally and Patrick Manke

Jillian and Craig Manning

Pete and Mary Mantei

Karen and David Manthei

Kathryn and Gary Manthey

Martie Manty

Will Manty and Gaia Nesvacil

Cathy and Ted Manville

James and Evelyn Marchio

Joseph and Norma Mariage

Tracy and Sandra Mariage

Richard and Lori Marl

Lee and Pauline Marmion

Jamie and Barbara Marsh

Michael and Kerry Marsh

Barbara and John Marshall

Chris and Julie Marshall

Joyce and Eugene Marshall

Kenneth Marshall

Dirk and Mary Martin

Henry and Ginny Martin

John and Marjorie Martin

Marsh & McLennan Companies

Kay Martin

David Marvin

Charlotte Marx

Kenneth and Kathleen Masck

Bill and Lorna Mason

Susan Matyiku

John Matz and Terry Griffin

Raymond and Geri Maxbauer

Brian and Lynette Maxey

John and Kathryn Maxson

Chip and Sarah May

Mike and Linda Mayer

Dale and Karen Mayhew

Jeffrey and Mary Mazure

Brent McCall

John and Havala McCall

Beverly McCamman

Mary McCarthy

Kathleen and Thomas McClanaghan

Meredith McComb

John and Susan McConnel

Will and Carole McCord

Elizabeth McCormick

Pat and Carl McCormick

Christy McCreary

Allen and Midge McCreedy

Bob and Lisa McCririe

Renee and Thomas McCutcheon

Alanna McDermott

Douglas and Susan McDonald

Chloe McGehee

Charles McGonigle

Ann and Doug McInnis

Michael and Susan McIntyre

Spencer McKee

Dan and Lucy McKeen

Sharon McKinley

John and Anne McKinney

McKinsey and Company

Jane McKune

Margaret McMaster

Terry and Kim McMillan

James McMullen

Patrick and Jan McNerney

Mark and Catherine McPherson

Gary and Nancy McRay

Thomas and Linda Mead

Timothy and Nancy Mead

John and Nancy Meade

Paul and Mary Meernik

Sue and Steve Meholic

Lisa Meleski

Jo Meller and Jim Sluyter

Rita Melotti and Andrew Bishop

Julian and Victoria Mendoza

David and Jan Merrell

Leo Merta

Stephen and Nina Merten

Kenneth Meskin

Linda Messing and Kenneth Rudisel

Constance Metcalf

Robert and Adeline Metzger

Amy and Dan Meyer

Microsoft Corporation

Matching Gifts

Pat and Jim Middleton

Timothy Milford

The Albert R, and Deirdre G. Miller Charitable Fund

Charles and Carol Miller

Ellen Miller

Miller Giving Fund

Judith Miller

Katherine Miller

Louis and Karen Miller

Mary and Emmett Miller

Sally Miller

Wayne and Jane Miller

Mary Beth and James Milliken

Donald and Elizabeth Millington

Claud Mills and Janet Brzezinski

Jennifer and Jay Mills

James and Peggy Miner

Robert and Kristen Miner

Thomas and Linda Minter

Lisbeth Mitchell

Samuel Mitchell

Joseph Mittner

Mitton Family Fund

Marsha Mixer

Bob and Michele Mizell

Paul and Lauren Moeller

Douglas and Mary Sue Mohnke

Martha Mollema

Marcia Monks

Ralph and Maria Moon

Andrew Moore

Cynthia Moore

Dennis and Linda Moore

Donna and James Moore

Kristin and Bruce Moore

Nancy Moore

Noelle and Scott Morell

William and Katherine Morgan

Bob Morningstar

Herbert Morris

Karin Wolfe Morris

Dr. James Morris

Patty Morris

Dr. and Mrs. Paul L. Morris

Elliot and Florence Morrison

The Morrison Family Charitable Fund

Robert Morrison

Douglas and Chandra Morse 

Barb and Gregory Mort

John and Victoria Moseley

Megan Motil

Tom Mountz

Timothy Moynihan

Anne Mudgett and Scott Furgueson

Liz Mueller

52 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77

Amy and Sean Muldoon

Patrick and Christine Muldoon

Richard and Marilyn Mumaw

Jo Ann and Gary Munce

Carol and Henry Mundie

Ann Murphy

Barbara and Brian Murphy

Dave Murphy and Sue Peters

Dennis and Judy Murphy

Michael and Dustine Murphy

Patricia Murphy

Sharon Murphy and Sharon Montonye

The D and J Murray

Family Fund

Victoria Murphy

Rich and Elizabeth Murrell

Kenneth and Patricia Musson

Shari and Merle Muszynski

Maureen Myers

Yvonne Myers

Debra Lewis and Kevin Nagy

Richard and Cheryl Naperala

John and Sharon Nedlo

Catherine Nehil

Eileen and August Neitzel

Roger and Stephanie Nelsen

John Nelson and Lynne Moon

Mark and Sandy Nelson

Michele Nelson and Brett Cohen

Jack & Nancy Nelson

Charitable Fund

Thomas and Scott Nelson

Kathleen Nesbitt

Jann Nestell

Patrick and Jennifer Nestor

Becky Nettles

Network for Good

Maxi Neugebauer

Gerald and Jan Neumann

Rick and Kathy Newman

Mary Ellen Newport

Chrisann Newransky

Ray and Paula Nichols

Robert and Cristine Nichols

Chris Nickerson and Pamela Ripsom

John and Debbie Nickerson

Shirley and Jerry Niemi

Margaret and Anton Ninno

Greg and Jean Noah

James and Anne Noffsinger

Mary Nolan and Bob Bronson

Val and Lynn Nolan

Elizabeth Nolan-Greven and Michael Greven

Gretchen and Brent Nord

Richard and Sondra Nordin

Michele Norling

Michael and Linda Norris

Rebecca Norris

William North

Mark and Tricia Noss

Gary Noteware

Don Nowak

Ken and Marilyn Nowak

Richard and Patricia Nuffer

Laura and Timothy Nyquist

Bill and Kim O'Brien

Giving Fund

James and Margaret O'Brien

Trina Ochs

Patrick and Betty O'Connell

Jeff and Julie OConnor

Richard and Adrianne Odell

Liz, Jan, Doug, Mat, Nate and Mindy ODonnel

Timothy O'Donnell

Stacy O'Hair

Louis and Linda Okma

Annie and Justin Olds

Pat and Linda O'Leary

Lisa Oleson

Community Foundation –

John and Carolyn Olson Fund

Dave and Betsy Olson

Eric and Kim Olson

Theresa Olson

Elizabeth Ong

Clifford Onthank

Sue Oppliger

Mark O'Reilly

Thomas and Connie O'Rourke

Oryana Community Co-op

Thomas and Mary Osborn

Osborn/Sprague Giving Fund

Lauren Osuch

Judith Oswald

Thomas and Bonny Ottney

Randall and Ann Over

Donald and Christine Owen

Judy Owen

Kipp Owen

James and Chris Owens

Michael and

Victoria Pachulski

Dan and Jill Packer

James and Laurie Padden

Wayne and Deborah Pahssen

Marty Paine

Philip and Heidi Pandolfi

Roland and Sara Pandolfi

Barbara Papazian

George and Donna Parker

Paul and Sally Parks

Gloria Parsons

John and Judy Parsons

William and

Kathleen Parsons

Kathy Partin

Leo and Pauline Pasch

Patrick and Kaitlyn Pasik

Blair Patch

Todd and Julie Patterson

Richard B. Paulsen Donor

Advised Fund

John and Susan Paulson

Leo and Patricia Paveglio

Erin Paxson

Priscilla Payne

Bruce and Maureen Peabody

The Peacock Family

Julie Pearson

Kate Pearson and Steve Cruzen

Muriel Peavler

Sarah and Lawrence Peck

Stephen and Lorrie Peck

Victoria Peck and Brendan Hunter

Diane and Thomas Pederson

Henry and Sally Peet

Dennis Penney

John and Denise Peppler

Jo Peregrine

Elizabeth Perkett

Goldberg Perkins Family Giving Fund

Howard and Kim Perrin

Stephen Perry and Elisabeth Kufferath

Art and Ruth Peschke

Elmer and Ruth Peterman

Jean Peters

Stephen and Linda Peters

Curtis and Gussie Peterson

John and Kathy Peterson

Mike and Laura Peterson

Ruth and James Peterson

George Petritz

GTRLC.ORG 53  Matching Gift

Gifts of $1 - $999 –continued

Patricia Petrovich

John and Amy Pflughoeft

Joyce Phelps

Denny Phillips

Ray and Susan Phillips

Larry and Kathy Picklo

Lane and Joycelynn Pickwell

Stephanie Pierce

Grant Piering

Donna Pierson

Richard and Susan Pierson

Ellen Pinsky

Piper Sandler

Thomas and Gretchen Pixley

Joy and Louis Platteborze

Pleasant Valley Resorts

Pledgeling Foundation

Thomas Plough

Patricia Ponte

Walter and Judy Popyk

Port of Old Mission Condo No II Association

Portage Lake Garden Club

Heide-Marie Post

Thomas and Ann Post

Christine and Gary Potter

Bruce and Susan Potts

Catherine and Milton Powell

Kathy Powers and Richard Wernham

Allen and Linda Pratt

Annis Pratt

Kurt and Maria Pregitzer

Ed & June Prein

Family Foundation

Woneta and Robert Prenger

Tim Prescott and Linda Wessels

Michael J. Preston

Roger Priest

Judith Primak

Alison and Dennis Prindle

Robert Pringle

David and Joan Pritchard

Robert Probst

Sally Proctor

Derk and Shannon Pronger

Elizabeth Proulx

Lynn Prust and Mitch Purst

Jan Pryor

Mary Purdy

Charlotte Putney

Daniel Putt

John Putz

Gary W. and Karen L. Qualmann Charitable Gift Fund

Edith Elliott Queeny and Warner Guild Queeny

Nancy and Peter Quigley

David D Wright and Julie A Quinn

Rabanus Charitable Giving Trust

Robert and Elaine Rabideau

John and Linda Racine

Ruth Radomski

Helen Raica-Klotz

James Rainey

Etta Rajkovich

Eric and Joni Rammelkamp

David and Laurie Randall

Don and Elsie Randall

James and Lisa Randall

Lauren Ranke 

Herb Ranta

Ross and Shelly Rapaport

Michael Raphelson and Carla Langerveld

Richard and Judith Rathburn

Arnold and Joan Ratkowski

Patricia Raven

Ricki Ravitts

Andy Ray

Bradley and Marilyn Raymond

Thomas Reeber

John and Barbara Reed

Melissa Reed

Dennis Reese

Ruth Reeve

Tim Reeves

Judith Reich

Donald Reinke

Timothy and Shelley Reisen

Terri Reisig

Emilia Rennie

Harriet Rennie-Brown

Kent and Mary Ann Reynolds

Dean and Bonnie Rhoads

Kathleen Rhodes

Ragan Rhyne

Michael and Alice Rhyner

Paul and Robin Rich

Kara Richardson

Karen Richardson

Nate Richardson

Phil and Joan Richardson

Vicky Richey

Lorie and Mark Richmann

Ken and Joan Richmond

Yasmin Richmond and Ruth Hoppe

James and Kathleen Rickard

Ridgeline AP DEP

David and Ann Rigney

Helene and Dan Rimer

Heather Rinkel

David and Kathy Ripmaster

Nathan Ritter

George Rizik

Steven Roach

Thomas and Diane Roach

Richard and Barbara Robbins

Ramana Roberson

Dale and Judy Roberts

Karen Roberts

Alexander and Patricia Robinson

Cherie and Kelly Robinson

Michael and Donna Robinson

Theodore and Maureen Robinson

Michael and Libby Robold

Rochester Lawn Service Inc.

Larry and Elaine Rochon

Charles and Sara Rodeck

John and Julie Rodes

Nelson and Martha Rodes

Philip and Susan Rodgers

Kristen and Paul Roell

Ann and Albert Roeseler

Paul Roettger

Ann Rogers

Bruce and Joyce Rogers

Gwen Rogers

Steven and Linda Rogers

Jeanne and Bill Rokos

David and Elizabeth Rollert

William Rollins

Richard Romanowski

John and Laura Roney

Mike and Sharon Root

Terry Roote

Paul and Carol Rose

Mary Rosebrough

Ellen Rosen

Melanie Rosenberger

Tom and Marilyn Rosi

Susan Ross

Tracy and Judy Ross

54 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77

Brenda and James Rossman

Tammie Rousseau

Diana and Basil Rowe

Vaira Rozentals

Bernie and Donna Rubin

Jeff and Jen Rundio

Barbara and Mike Runyon

Anthony and Natalie Rupard

Mary and Jerry Rupley

Donald Russell

Richard Russell

Rudy and Jill Ruterbusch

Elizabeth Rutila

Belinda Loomis Rutt

Nancy and Hubert Ryan

Terrance and Sara Ryan

Dick Sadler

Madelyn Safronoff

David and Carol Sagaser

James and Verna Sak

John and Kristin Sak

Jeanne Salathiel

Pat and Lyn Salathiel

Janie Saltarelli

Diane Samarasinghe

John and Suzette Sanborn

Paul Sander and Lori Lichtman-Sander

Chris and Mariana Sanford

Sanok Family

Stephanie Santoro

Ariane Sarasin

Edna Sargent

Richard and Norma Sarns

Douglas and Laura Savela

Terry and Gloria Savory

Pershing, LLC

Wylie and Donald Schaffer

Fred and Susan Schankin

Kristina Schenk

Rodney and Sue Scherer

Linda Schiele

Kurt and Colleen Schindler

Walter and Marilyn Schmid

Jan Schmidt

Kurt and Karen Schmidt

Randy and Maryann Schmidt

Wayne and Kathleen Schmidt

Thomas and Beverly Schmitt

Dennis and Mary Jo Schmude

Carl Schmult

Corinne Schneider

Davina Schneider

John and Elizabeth Schneider

Lawrence Schneider

Brent and Laurie Schnell

Greg and Joanne Schnesk

Robert and Sharron Scholz

Dan and Janice Schoonmaker

Russell and Joanne Schopieray

Maria Schrems

Judith Schroeder

Wallace and Patricia Schroth

Erin, Alan, Rowan, and Fianna Schug

Marilyn Schuler

Thomas and Nancy Schulte

Katherine and Steven Schultz

Scott Schulz

William and Sharon Schulze

Alice Schuman

Don Schuster

Earl and Georgann Schuster

Ann and Max Schwandt

Minna Schwarz-Seim

Debra and David Schweitzer

Jean Schwerin

Dr. Robert Schwert

Peter Schwich

Betty and Richard Scott

Bill and Irene Scott

Doug and Marge Scott

John and Gloria Scott

Justin Scott

Thomas and Suzanne Scott

Sharon Scranton

Anita and Chris Scussel

Gary and Nancy Seabrook

William and Laurie Sears

John and Lesa Seefeld

George and Deanna Seifried

Jep Seman

Sumit Sengupta and Cassie

Brooks

Chris and Michele Shafer

Marcia and Keith Shahan

George and Jaqui Shambaugh

George and Roberta Shambaugh

Shari and Benjamin

Shambaugh

Ewa Shannon

Heather Shaw and Duncan Moran

Sarah Sheafor

Jim Sheets

Judith Shepelak and George Vinyard

Timothy and Sharon Sherrow

Susan Shimmons

Edward and Susan Shipman

Clare Shipstead

Paul and Joan Shirilla

Mary Shirley

Robert and Dana Sholten

Eilene and Mike Shore

William and Judy Shoskey

Will and Marilyn Shroyer

Steve and Carol Shuckra

Amy and Clark Shuler

Heather and Rick Shumaker

Peter Shumar

Susan Shurin

Siebert/Nelson Giving Fund

Allan Siefert

Jane and Francis Sievert

Robert Sigler

Sundew Environmental, Jeff Silagy

Lorraine Siler and Dell H

Paul Simcox

Kimball and Constance Simon

David and Tami Simonelli

David Simpson and Anne Pawlak-Simpson

Jodi and Aili Simpson

Rosanne Singer

Michael Sipkoski

Jay and Linda Siwek

Robert and Jo Ann Skabo

Ernest and Debbie Skeans

Patricia Skifstad

Thomas and Maura Slack

Mary Ann Slazinski

Bill and Anne Sleeman

Donna Sloan

Edward Slosky

Julie Smeltzer

Catherine and Mark Smith

Dena Smith

Donald and Linda Smith

Eleanor and Matthew Smith

Ellie Smith and Charles Brackett

Horace and Autumn Smith

Janell Smith

Jay and Janice Smith

Jean and Brook Smith

Julie Smith

GTRLC.ORG 55  Matching Gift

Gifts of $1 - $999 –continued

Mark and Ann Smith

Matthew and Denise Smith

Martha and Michael Smith

Patrick and Kathleen Smith

Sherwood Smith and Suzannah Tobin

Steve Smith

Tim and Julia Smith

Suzanne Smitley and Keith Sparrow

John Smolen

Gerald Solanics

Autumn and Matthew Soltysiak

Owen Sommerfeld

Sally Somsel

Richard and Rebecca Sorensen 

Suzanne Sorkin and Eliot Singer

Eve Sorum

Richard and Diana Sosnowski

Freda and Patrick Southworth

Donna Sowers and Louis Wojtowicz

Russell and Tina Soyring

Brad and Cathy Spanski

Carol Spartano and Robert Feldman

James and Kelli Spencer

Jeff and Judy Spencer

Mark and Kathy Spencer

Judith Spohn

Jim and Dottie Spousta

John and Elizabeth Sprague

Reg Sprik

David Springer

Jandy and Brad Sprouse

Michele and Tom Squires

Bernard St. Pierre

Kristen Staggs

Nick and Rachel Stagman

Jim Stamm

John Stamm

Colette Stanish

Jane and Thomas Stanley

Stardust Memorials, LLC

Jill Staszak

Gretchen Staub

Don Stauffer

Gary and Jane Stauffer

Lynn Steben

Matthew Stedman and Katie Ororke-Stedman

David Steffey

Linda Stegenga

Spencer and Erica Stegenga

Kris Stegmann

Charles and Jacqueline Stein

Jennifer Steiner

Patti Steinmayer

John and Tina Steketee

Robert and Michelle Stephanoff

Jonathan Stephens

Mark and Ann Stephens

Steve Stephens

Yvonne Stephens

Ross and Dianne Stephenson

Diane Stevens

Mark Stevens

Elizabeth Stevenson

William and Kathleen Stevenson

Kent and Ann Stewart

Edward and Kris Stieg

Frank and Jill Stiltner

David and Linda Stimpson

R. Troy and Carrilyn Stobert

Mr. Chuck and Shelley Stockwell

Mark Stoddard

Lee and Tom Stoltmann

Mark Stone

James Storey

Nancy and Mickey Story

Robert and Ruth Stow

Sue and James Strabel

John and Marilyn Strader

Joseph and Carol Strauss

Richard Streit

Scott Strelow and Pat Burns-Strelow

Judith Strickland

Jannifer Stromberg

John and Irene Stuart

Bob Stuber and Debra Cline-Stuber

Marvin and Carol Studinger

Kristin Stuedemann, Andrea

Lovendusky and Molly Steck

Elizabeth Stumbo

James and Mary Stutelberg

Chris and Ali Sullivan

Kyle Sullivan

Roger and Charlie Sullivan

William and Cheryl Sullivan

Raymond and Marrilee Summers

Robert and Cheryl Sunday

Heidi and Andrew Sung

Thomas and Lisa Suntrup

Jerry Sura

Stephanie and Mike Surface

Marian and Thomas Sutter

Judith Sutton

Mark and Susan Sutton

Charles and Linda Svec

Stefan and Susan Svensson

Ann Swaney

Steven Swaney

David Swanson

Joel Swanson

Joel and Ann Swanson

Jim Swearingen

Carolyn Swift

Scott Swinton and Sylvia Morse

Sandra Symington

Jim and Penny Szczechowski

Stephen and Joan Szynal

Kingsley Taft and Gillien Todd

Bing Tai and Catherine Allen

Carol Talbot

Makram Talia

Sonia and Samir Tanna

Carl and Emily Taphouse

Philip and Susan Tarczon

Paul Tata and Martha Bornak

Paul and Debbie Taube

Lisa and Fred Taylor

Terry Taylor

Michael and Jacquelyn Teagan

James and Roberta Teahen

Kelly Teelin

Sam Tesaker

Margaret and Timothy Tewson

June Thaden

William and Mary Alice Thauvette

Mary and David Thayer

Nicolas Theisen

Doris Thibedeau

Cyril and Jacqueline Thiel

Homer Thiel

Judy and Dick Thoma

Deborah and Jean Thomas

Jacqueline Thomas

Randy and Susan Thomas

Robert and Janice Thomas

Sheryl and Dan Thomas

56 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77

Carol Thompson

Connie Thompson

George and Sally Thompson

Robert and Patricia Thompson

Donald Thomson

Dennis Thorpe

Esther Thorson

Larry and Sandy Tiefenbach

Katherine and David Tiemann

Doug Tinnette

John and Janet Tinnette

Linda Tinson

Emily Todd

Samuel Todd

Paul and Sally Ton

Martha Topol and David Kirby

Elsa Della Torre

Asher Tourison

Harriet Townsend

Toyota

Joshua Traeger

Linda and Stuart Travis

Corey Treadway and Sarah Bancroft-Treadway

Art and Sarah Trembanis

Vicki Trent

John Trezise

Lewis Tripp

Alexis Troschinetz

Heather Troup

Cynthia and Ron Tschudy

Dan and Joanne Tubbs

Dave and Karen Tubolino

Sara Tucker

Kathy Tuckerman

Weston Twigg 

James Tuller

Joseph Tylutki 

UBS Employee

Giving Program

USAA Employee Giving Program

Molly Updike

Craig Urquhart

USAA Employee Giving

Dan Utic

Steve and Cindy Utic

Michael Vahey

Brett Valentyn

Beau Vallance and Jack Carpenter

Barb Van Pelt and Dave Varga

William and Elizabeth Van Westen

Richard Vance

Doug and Linda Vander Hoff

Eric and Julie VanderHaagen

Laura Vanderveen

Mark and Michelle VanderVelde

Gary and Anita VanderZiel

Joan Osborn VanGunten

Mark and Margaret VanHoose

George and Lauri Varga

Beth Varty

Larry Vasher

Barbara Vaughan

Cindy Vaughan

Mark and Rachel Vaughan Family

Steve and Sue Vegter

David and Lori Verbrugge

Lois Verbrugge

Douglas Verellen

Richard and Mary Vervisch

ViaCom CBS

Peter and Pauline Viall

Alan and Bev Vicstein

Tom and Maggie Vinette

John and Lynn Vinkemulder

Hank and Bonnie Visser

Gary Vogel

Phil and Barb Von Voigtlander

Emily Votruba

George and Alyce Voulemenous

David and Pat Vranesich

Karen Wachs

Dawn Waggett

Michael and Debra Wagner

Sue Wagner

May Waldron

Rep. Howard and Dianne Walker

Michael and Andrea Wall

Barbara Wallace

David and Frances Wallace

Judith and Gerald Wallace

Victoria and Ray Wallick

Ken and Joanne Walrad

Christopher and Renna Walter

Meagan Walters

Steven Walton

Andrea Walworth and Douglas Endicott

Wander and Gather LLC

Helen Wangard

Lawrence and Jamie Warbasse

Doug and Ann Ward

Elizabeth Ward

Harmon and Joyce Ward

Margaret Ward

Nancy Wardwell

Priscilla Ware and Robert Davis

Jane and Bill Wares

Suzanne Waring

William and Di-Anne Warmbein

Anne Warren

James Warren

Washtenaw Master Gardeners

Sharon Watling

Becki and Richard Watson

Steve and Terri Waugh

Kathleen Way and Robert Molloy

Mary K Weadock

Camille Weatherholt

Tim Webb and Gail Roberts

George and Patricia Weber

Marilyn Weber

Daryl Webster

Dave and Janice Webster

Richard and Lucinda Weiermiller

William and Pamela Weiner

Peter and Nancy Weir

Bob and Maurine Weisenburger

Robert Weisman

Steve and Mary Weiss

Charles and Ann Weitz

Thomas and Marcy Welburn

Brad and Cheri Weller

Donna and Bill Weltyk

Peter Wendling

Robert and Michelle Wentworth

Dale and Barbara Wentzloff

Pamela Wenzel

Bruce and Catherine Werts

Carol and Mark Werts

Thomas Wertz

Janis and Liam Wesley

Alan West

Michael and Jessica West

Dale and Tracy Westerman

Roger and Mary Westover

Joe and Linda Whelan

GTRLC.ORG 57  Matching Gift

Leigh Whelpton

Whistling Frog Tile

Harvey White and Alice Lloyd

Jeff White

Laurence and Carole White

Erin and Ben Whiting

Lisa and Jeffrey Whiting

Steve and Amy Whitlatch

Carl and Christine Wiatr

Rick and Raj Wiener

Joe and Glenda Wierzbicki

Casey Wiggins

Bryson and Emily Wilbert

Diane Wilbur and Jim Szalay

David Wilkins

John and Kathy Wilkinson

John Wilkinson and Robin Silva-Wilkinson

Phyllis and Ron Wilkinson

Joe and Michelle Will

David and Roberta Williams

Jeanie Williams

Roger and Barbara Williams

Robert and Sandra Williamson

Bart and Patty Wilson

Kemp Wilson

Rebecca Wilson

Richard and Betsy Wilson

Steven and Mary Wilson

Tom and Susan Wiltse

Michael and Arlene Windbacher

Kathy Windiate

Windward Partnership

Cathy and Michael Winkler

Julie Winkler

Nathan Winkler and Jenna Scheub

Tim Winslow

Holly and Larry Winter

Kenneth and Marguerite Winter

Alfred and Barbara Wishart

Rita Witler

James and Gera Witte

Karla and Stan Woell

Pam and Dean Wohlers

Carolyn Wolf

Christopher Wolfe

Wendy Wolfe and Paul Wawrzynek

Irvin Wolfson and Brenda Forbrig Wolfson

Robert and Barbara Wollak

Gary and Nancy Woodard

Susan and James Woodburne

Ron and Diane Woods

Tom Workman

John and Kathleen Worm

Laura Worst and Dr. Robert Bracey

Franklyn and Diane Wosek

Helen Woytowich

Marshall Wright

John Wunsch and Laura Wigfield

Jan Wyckoff

Mike Wylie

Steven and Margot Wynkoop

John and Janet Wyrwas

Maureen Yahrmatter

Mr. Howard and Dr. Patricia Yamaguchi

Gary and Janet Yankee

Lucia Yaroch

Laura Yeo

Thomas Yeo

Fred Young and Julie Youmans

Richard and Loretta Young

John and Peggy Zachman

Richard Zaebst

Lise Zahn

Dolores Zakrzewski

Elden and Carole Zang

Michael and Colleen Zanotti

Chester and Marjorie Zbojniewicz

Michael and Christine Zenn

Joseph Zepf

Douglas Zernow and Merilyn Ueno

Amy Zesbaugh and Tim Tibbetts

Pierre and Sally Zetterberg

Thomas Zieziul and Natalie Killingstad

Paul Ziliak and Katie Hanson

Barbara Zimmerman

Liz and Scot Zimmerman

Maryann Zimmerman

Frank and Ruth Zinn

Michael and Ann Zipser

Stephen and Nancy Zirkle

Constance Zoutendyk

Gretchen Zuiderveen

Barbara Zupin and Thomas Gardner

Robert and Elizabeth Zurschmiede

Zynga Inc

Gifts of $1 - $999 –continued
PHOTO: TRAVIS GELINAS

LAND PRESERVATION & PROTECTION PROJECTS

January 1 – December 31, 2022

The following donors made gifts between January 1 and December 31, 2022. Your donations have enabled the Conservancy to pursue land protection and stewardship projects that will have an immense impact on the ecology and quality of life in northern Michigan. Your gifts are providing our area’s residents and visitors with spectacular places to visit–beaches, trails, parks, and pristine natural areas. You are supporting the farming community by providing ways to keep their land in production, support our local economy and preserve the extraordinary vistas their fields and orchards lend to the beauty of our region. You have helped create a legacy you can be deeply proud of and we are grateful.

Arcadia Dunes Stewardship Endowment

David Lyon

Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve Additions

Linda and Craig Hanson

Natalie Johnson

Robert and Nancy Marshall

Melba and Paul Panhorst

William and Kathleen Parsons

Benzie County Land Protection

David and Kathleen Heyboer

Jane Purkis

Dr. David, Kathryn and Keiana Snell

Paul and Ingrid Turner

Birch Point

Nature Preserve

The Amdur Family Fund

Anonymous

Chris and Diane Anderson

William and Paula Anderson

James Bauer

Anthony and Susan Baynard

Lori Beer

Bell Title Lakeshore

Alison Berry

Peter and Eleanor Blitzer

Nena Bonadarenko

Kathy and Chuck Bonneau

Gloria and Jerry Boyd

Paul Brandenburg and Trudy Mangan-Brandenburg

James Dalley and Lois Brennan

Charles and Nancy Brickman

Nancy Burt

Dorothy and Harold Byers

Michael and Nancy Call

Robert and Candy Campbell

Janice Carter

Harold and Marsha Case

Sally Casey

Stephen and Jeannine

Chapman

Julie and Lonnie Christopher

Patrick Clagett

Kelly Clark

Donna and Michael D'Alessandro

Amy D’Ancona

Paul and Amy Damian

Daum Family Fund

Jules and Sharon DePorre

Roger Dewey

Mark and Denise DeWys

Family Fund

William and Julie Diehl

William and Gabrielle Dodge

Thomas and Cynthia Duemling

Emily Eby and Mark Baranoski

Ned and Barbara Edwards

Edward Ellsworth

Cathy Eubanks

Charles Fahlgren and Kay Harley

Clifford and Norma Fox

Ed and Mary Franco

Pam Yee and Ron Gianola

James Goodheart

Ruth and Keith Griffioen

Guidewire 

Melissa and Martin Havlin

Hawthorne

Family Foundation

Mike Hennesey

David Hilbrands

Alan and Elizabeth Hindmarch

Tracy Hobbs and Eddie Sullivan

Melissa and Chad Hoeppner

Mark Hoffman and Sue Harmer

Karen Holstad

Ed Hoogterp

David Horn

HP Foundation Matching Gift Program

Joseph Hulsebus

Erroll and Kathleen Imre

Judith and Thomas Ivacko

Tom Jackson

Cindy Janecke

Elizabeth Jessup

Barbara Johnson

Dennis Kinder

Darrell and Shirley Kinnan

Joyce Kirshner and Frances Wyatt

Susan Koenig

Kirk and Laura Kolberg

Jessica and Jeff Kovan

Charlene Krygier

Amy and Victor Lane, Sr.

Margaret Laubach

David and Annette Lean

David and Jane Lean

Sharon Lean

Connie Leutloff

Amy Lindstrom

Thomas and Lucy Lloyd

Manitou Restaurant

Lauren Mayer

Sally McLain

Judith Miller

Susan E Miner Donor Fund

Andrew Morrill

Molly Murbach

Mike and Nancy Nerbonne

Maxi Neugebauer

Paul and Mary Neustadt

George and Jami Nicholson

Richard and Debra Northway

Erin O'Connell 

Mike and Daniele Okma

Karen Ostdiek

GTRLC.ORG 59
 Matching Gift

Land Preservation and Protection Projects –continued

Leroy Owens and Mary Lou Henderson

Maureen Passalacqua

Candy and Stephen Petrick

Beverly and Byron Photiades

Mary Pitcher

Mark and Kim Rapanos

Ann Reichert

Gary Richardson and Cheryl Gross

Robert Robbins

Anne Rogers and Hal Swoverland

Dan Ruffe and Heather Hudson

Richard and Jennie Schmitt

Aaron and Margaret Scholnik

Sandy Schroeter

Marilyn and Hal Smith

Matt Smith

Peter and Mary Jo Solwold

James and Kelli Spencer

Ross and Dianne Stephenson

Lee and Tom Stoltmann

Steven and Sarah Stryd

Robert Summers and Kathy Campbell

Robert and Cheryl Sunday

John and Nancy Taylor

Julie Tebo and Paul Danes

Mary Ann Tomaszewski

Dori Turner

Michael Vahey

Phyllis Valentine

Saskia van Wolferen 

Amy and Matt Vance

Alexander Vanderklipp

Mark and Jane Vogel

Family Foundation

Steven Walton

James and Sharon Wawrzyniak

Brad and Cheri Weller

Mary Wila

Avace and Bruce Wildie

Steve and Karen Wilson

Chain of Lakes

Land Protection

Clifford Allen Birge

Carls Foundation

Chain of Lakes Watershed

Dole Family Foundation Sub Fund

Dole Family Foundation

Charlie Kehr Memorial Trail Connector at Railroad

Point Natural Area

Suzanne Voltz

Embayment Lakes

Nature Preserve

Patricia Compton and Barbara Bleyaert

John and Andrea Grix

Falender Family Endowed Fund

James and Fran Falender

Farmland Protection

Garvey Family Fund

Finch Creek

Nature Sanctuary

Alden State Bank

Stephen and Louise Anella

Tammie and Alan Brown

Rob Chandler

Cameron Clark

Charitable Fund

David and Nadine Collier

Arthur W. Curtis, III

John and Susan Davis

Fred and Ann Dean

Christopher Eckrich

Quan Gerville-Reache

James Grady

Susan and Gerald Hoar

Bill and Kay Hokanson

Ruth Ann Hubner

Craig Kapson

Margaret Larson

Judd Leighton Foundation, Inc.

Stewart McMillan

Mittler Family Foundation

Tom Mittler

William Mittler

Diane Mortensen

Mary Lou Mullen

Sue Mullett

Kerri and Darrel Ritchie

Barton and Bonnie Shroyer

Barbara Snell

Neal Wankoff

Barbara Wind

Chris and Cathy Wynne

Golden Days Loon Nature Sanctuary Addition Anonymous

Ken Beck and Jana Tuckerman

Daniel and Kay Boone

Dole Family Foundation

Scot and Jilanne Egleston

Debra Eller

Neal and Margaret Elyakin

Colleen Farrell

Dennis and Barbara Fitzpatrick

Frey Family Fund

Garry Gardner

Jonathan Gardner

Steven Gardner

Hans and Linda Gundersen

Jason and Dana Hiemstra

Heather Irvine

Bonnie Joyce

Sue and Patrick Kelly

Barb and Chris Korynski

Nicholas Krupansky

Craig and Susanne Larrabee

Lynn Larson and Paul Christ

David and Debbie Lazorski

Tonya Lutz

Marla Morrissey

Murray Family Fund

Ann Norman

Tom and Elise Roe

Rosso Family Foundation

Dorothy Singleton

Jannifer Stromberg

Margie and Graham Teall

Judy and Dick Thoma

Bonnie Topper-Bricker

Dana Vannoy

Kyle and Kari Walworth

Marti and Jay Weaver

Thomas and Jane Weaver

Laura and John Wilson

Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve Improvements Anonymous

Tom and Lori Baker

Aaron Beyette and Lisa Herkelrath

Jeff Braun and Amy McVeigh

Robert Brook

Amy and Jamie Buff

Jesse and Anne Burt

Rich and Mary Devon

William and Gabrielle Dodge

Paula and Bryce Dreeszen

60 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77

Tom and Sarah Dunn

Thomas Gast and Sue Leason

Diane Hanson

Mark and Cathy Harrell

Cynthia Heidecker

Penny Hergenroeder and David Weiss

Thomas Hitchman and Keith Hewitt

Richard and Shelley Kotz

Carole and Willie Lee

Larry and Joan McKay

Morley Foundation

Michael Morley

Sue Oseland

William and Kathleen Parsons

Rudy and Jill Ruterbusch

Julie Schumaker

Jonathan Upton

Flint Watt

Williams Group

Kirsten Young

Hoffman Farm

Conservation Easement

Mack and Lorraine Beers

Steven and Constance Benz

Margaret Brickman

Jill Byron

Jay Callahan

Patrick and Carol Conway

Gretchen Deo

Philip and Nancy Foley

William and Whitney Gillies

Nancy Hammond

Debbie Henn Jones

Ellen Kerr

Russell and Deborah Larimer

Michael and Pam Mazor

Mary Peters and Patrick Mcmanaman

Ralph L. & Winifred E. Polk Foundation

Tom Rensberry

Michael and Alice Rhyner

Mark and Ann Smith

Shaw & Betty Walker Foundation

Bernadette Wilson

Holiday Woods

Natural Area

Denise and Mike Busley

Kiessel Ridge Farm

Conservation Easement

Anonymous

Brookby Foundation

Carls Foundation

James Grady

Dan and Laura Lorimer

Kevin and Sue Malone

David and Nicole Martin

Andrew and Trish Narwold

Susan and Tom Palmer

Nancy Podurgiel

Katie Roth

Diane Stevens

Land Acquisition

The Amdur Family Fund

Anonymous

Andrew Mach

Lower Woodcock Lake

Nature Preserve

Michael Beauchamp-Cohen

Peter and Eleanor Blitzer

Sandra Bromley

Roberta Dow

Alton John and Linda Hewett

Marty Hilbrands

Joseph Hulsebus

Marilyn Kamp

Nancy Martin and Charles Gann

Eric Maxwell 

Curt Mayes

Fred McGill

Steve Michael

William and Kathleen Parsons

Rick and Luvon Taylor

Jon Throop

UBS Employee Giving Program

Nadine Weirich

Christina White

Maple Bay Farm and Natural Area Habitat

Enhancement Project

Judy and Paul Arnold

Peggy Bushnell

Jay Jasinski

Judy Kern

Cameron Mansfield

Sarah, Troy and Amelia Naperala

Laura Reisse

William Thacker and Anne Cavanaugh

Maplehurst Natural Area

Thomas and Sallie Suby-Long

Misty Acres: The Borwell Preserve

USDA - Soil Conservation Service

Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry

Oleson Nature Preserve –Additions, Restoration, and Access

Debra Benton

Eugene Berg

Kurt and Angela Brandstadt

Glen and Rebecca Chown

Nate Crane

Joyce Delamarter

Michael and Mary Foley

Karen Franseen

Michael Gillman

David and Terri Goodwin

Jim Heffner and Donna Hagan

Terry and Alan Hershey

Zachary and Holly Hillyer

Dennis and Janice Hudson

Jay Jasinski

Cathy and Mike Kowaleski

Andrew McCall

Andrew R. and Janet F. Miller Foundation

Oleson Foundation

Dan Remahl

Nate Richardson

Matthew and Adrienne Russell

Rick and Cynthia Sack

Anne and Mitchell Saywitz

Jan Schmidt

Anita and Chris Scussel

Donald and Linda Smith

Bonnie Topper-Bricker

M. Sue Waltz

Luann Wieber

Mount Minnie

Nature Preserve

John and Lynn Collins

Dave and Lori DeHaan

Cheryl and Bill Dundon

Joseph and Gail Frank

Ronald Liesemer

Bobbe Luce and Bruce Dannenhauer

Carl Lundgren

Jane Moyer

GTRLC.ORG 61  Matching Gift

Land Preservation and Protection Projects –continued

Old Mission Peninsula Land Protection

Brian and Robin Dailey

Nancy Deo

George Fabe Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation

KBPR Family Fund

Ken and Susan Morrison

Denis and Martha Pierce

Polk Scyphers Foundation

David and Dianne Stephan

Cameron and Fran Wolfe

Pelizzari Natural Area Addition

Arleta Bernson

Liz and Peter Bruning

Melissa Bullard

John and Sharon Dolton

Walter Fallows

Susan Gomez Lio

Nancy Hammond

Marty and Anita Klein

Mera and Peter Kohler

Estate of Maxine MacInnis

Sherrie Martin

Peters-Murphy Fund

Matthew and Adrienne

Russell

William Scharf

Brent and Laurie Schnell

Marie-Claude and Armen

Shanafelt

Alice Tang

Bruce and Jacquelyn Thomas

Platte River Park

DTE Foundation Fund for Regional Manager

Strategic Philanthropic Organization Initiatives

Pyatt Lake: The Bill Carls Nature Preserve Improvement and Expansion Project

Ralph and Lorraine Brickman

James and Barbara Burkholder

Carls Foundation

Patrick and Carol Conway

Gretchen Deo

Diana Hammond

Nancy Hammond

Community Foundation

Land Use and Conservation Planning Endowment

Richard and Susan Pierson

Gary and Carol Tasch

Ashley Thompson

Marty Tomb

Helen Vogel

Fred and Barbara Woodruff

Pyatt Lake: The Bill Carls Nature Preserve Stewardship

Nora and Dean Francis

Julia and Paul Holtgreive

Race Day Events

Grace Rudd

Mary and William Swift

William and Karen Tasch

Railroad Point Natural Area

Cheryl and Bill Dundon

Regional Forest Protection Program

Land Trust Alliance

Skegemog Lake Wildlife Area

Community Foundation

Evelyn A. and Charles H. Drummond Skegemog

Lake Wildlife Area

Education Endowment

June Janis

St. Clair LakeSix Mile Lake Nature Preserve Addition

Larry and Lauren Prentice

Sue and Kjell Svensson

Lawrence and Marianne Talon

Kyle Trevas

Stewardship Endowment

Brian and Maripat Allen

Aurealis Foundation

Jeremy Birnholtz

Stephen Calkins

Carls Foundation

Peter and Pamela Dennison

Gary Holt

IBM Corporation

Timothy and Jessica Lindstrom

Dave and Barb Mahan

Francia and Brian Mann

Robert and Nancy Marshall

Thomas and Deborah McMullen

Michigan Wetlands Association

Heather and Andrew Nelson

Joe Rathbun

Rotary Camps & Services of TC

Serendipity Endowment at the Community Foundation

Strine Family

Charitable Fund

Timbers Recreation Area

Betty Koons

Ma-Me-Ne-Sewong Garden Club

Thomas and Lisa Schermerhorn

Torch Lake

Nature Preserve

Christopher and Martie Conner

Torch Ridge

Farm Easement

Janet Killian

Joe and Jill Parker

Trail Creation and Maintenance

Jane Kirkeby

Turtle Cove

Nature Preserve

Ross and Emily Abrahamson

Clifford Adams

Karen Andrews Anonymous (2)

Gail Ashley

Baird Foundation, Inc.

Claire and Randy Bancino

Gerald and Katherine Batka

Curtis and Barbara Bedbury

Ralph Bednarz 

Sally and Gary Betz

Marlene Bevan and Jeremy Conaway 

Sheri Blok

Jon and Christine Brausch

John and Phyllis Brewster

Julia and Tamara Cain

Martha Campbell

Tom and Jody Case

Giving Fund

62 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77

Sam Clark

Tim and Teresa Cook

The Cummings Family Fund

Jen and Bill Davis

Sarah and Jason Davis

Jodi and Mark Derylo

Kent and Victoria DesJardins

Sandra and Ronald Dietz

Caitlyn Dolan

Nadine Dolan

Leah Doran

Russell and Pat Ehler

William English

Marcia and Michael Etienne

Nelda Faber

Caitlin and Brandon Falenski

Calvin Floyd

Susan Foster

Pamela Fraker

William Fromm

Sebastian Garbsch

Charles and Jeanne Gembis

Martha and Philip George

Edie Gibbs

Emily Gibson

Michael Gillman

Caralee Giuntoli

Nancy Glass

Robert and Margaret Glover

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

Georgine and Tom Grapes

Robert Haake

Jimmy Harkes

Mark and Erika Hepler

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Joyce and Garland Hicks

Elizabeth and Mark Higdon

Dennis and Janice Hudson

Pam and Lance Huffer

Robert and Rachel Johnson

Claire, Blaise and Jesse Karner

Matt Karsten

Nancy Keilty

Cecelia Kleinrichert

Harry and Faye Knol

Andrew and Mary Ann Koran

Ronald Kovacs

Jeff Kroeger

Carol and Craig Kuesel

Ted and Beth Lacey

Steve and Sharon Largent

Jim Lemire

Catherine Lewis

Amanda Macaluso

Sue and Howard Maniloff

Dennis Mann

Lisana Mann

Myles and Kimberly Markey

Martha Marshall-Hyde

Joe Martinez

Frank and Lisa Maynard

Mac McClelland

Ron and Nancy McCullick

Craig Merdian and Yelena Zakharova

Karen Mitchell

Andrew Morrill

Brad and Mary Mrozinski

David Mudd

Lawrence and Katheryn Mudd

Molly Muessg

Kate Pearson and Steve Cruzen

Ann Peczynski

Ashley and Kyle Peczynski

Ashley Perschbacher

Jeff Peters

Carol Reichard

Christie Robnett

John and Margaret Sargent

Ann and Corey Schaub

Judith Sharkey and Anthony Brakora

Beverly and Spencer Silk

Timothy Sitts

Bill and Anne Sleeman

Chris Sloane

Adam and Theresa Smith

Marguerite Smith

Rob and Anne Smykal

Kim Steffes

Mark and Ann Stephens

Jason Stringer

Kim and David Stringer

Judith and Emil Sunley

Kathleen and Philip Swanson

Cynthia Swift

Matthew Tiemann

Scott and Allyson Tinker

Judy Vittiglio

Emily Votruba

Richard and Christine Walter

Neal Wankoff

Brian and Mary Wheeler

Whistling Frog Tile

Sarah Wicker

Joe and Michelle Will

Holly and Larry Winter

Wolff Family Fund

Jesse and Molly Wolff

Kent and Molly Woodrow

Upper Manistee Headwaters: The Milock Family Preserve

Dee and Ron Crawford

Jack Maddox and Janet Garvey

Mark Maddox and Sarah Sutton

Sherry Marshall

Samuel and Jo Rahaim

Dick Sadler

Joshua Weber

Wilcox-Palmer-Shah

Nature Preserve Addition

Susan Bloye and Shawn Pollack

Boquist Family Fund

Jim and Mary Jo Braun

Peggy Bushnell

Betsy Davis

Tom Houle

Tate Kern

Andrew Mach

Scott and Beth Pryde

Carl Rinder

Thom and Kaye Yocum

GTRLC.ORG 63  Matching Gift

LAND CHAMPIONS

January 1 - December 31, 2022

Your recurring monthly donations provide the steady current of support necessary to plan and pursue ongoing land protection and stewardship efforts with the utmost confidence. Thank you so much for your stalwart contributions and helping to safeguard northern Michigan’s lands and waters for all time!

Charlene Abernethy and Mike Gill

Jeff Ackerman

Perry and Mary Catherine Adams

Katherine Amerman

Aaron Anderson

Joe and Kathryn Anderson

Katherine Armstrong

Jeremiah and Kristi Avery

Nancy Baglan

Nicolaas and Rhonda Ballintyn

Carl and Nancy Ballou

Bay View Flooring

Beverly Beauchamp

Travis and Joan Bell

Marcia Bellinger

Andre and Jamie Borrello

Ed and Jennifer Bradford

Anne Brasie

Robert L. Brown

Allie and Art Bukowski

Doug and Susan Burns

Melia Carter

Dan Casey

Marty and Carole Chirgwin

Glen and Rebecca Chown

Norman and Laura Christopher

Richard and Jill Claybour

Julie Clynes

Birgit and Keith Conway

Joseph and Leslie Cook

Robert and Karin Cooney

William Cooper and Mary Wright

Charles and Susan Crawford

Arthur W. Curtis, III

Colleen DeKay

Paul and Christine Deyo

Virginia Dike and Ijeoma Dike-Young

Sylvia and Thomas Duncan

Marissa and Manny Duque

Dave Durham and Ed Farnham

Tom and Diane Emling

Fred A. Farage Jr. and Carl J. Strebel

Brett Fessell

Jane and Steve Fish

David Foley and Margaret Willman

George and Mary Ford

Don and Nancy Fraser

Madelyn and James Frick

Stephen and Susan Fry

Karen Garber and John DesMarais

Dilys Tosteson Garcia and Lola Jackson

Dawn Garrock

Mark and Mary Beth Gentry

Jeremy Gibson and Carolyn McDonald

Mark Gilmore

Doug and Karen Goodkin

Jack and Liz Goodman

John and Kathryn Gray

Kathleen and Mark Guy

Gail Halliday and Tim Laney

Jack and Ruth Harris

Will Heelan

Robert, Barbara and Pat Heflin

Laura and Scott Heintzelman

Donald and Lori Helms

Sean Hickey

Mollie Hilliard

Zachary and Holly Hillyer

Paul and Deanna Hoadley

Pam and Lance Huffer

Abdeen Jabara and Holly Maguigan

Lee Jameson and Barbara Nelson-Jameson

Jennifer Jay and Evan Johnstone

Jill and Ron Johnston

Linda Kehr

Donald and Barbara King

Carol Kozelka

Ashton Lamb

Becky Lancaster

Gregory and Audrey Landsfeld

Ross and Cathy Lillie

Matthew Lohrentz

Katie Lowran

Josephine Marquis

John and Nancy Meade

Rita Melotti and Andrew Bishop

Barb and Gregory Mort

Megan Motil

Timothy Moynihan

Anne Mudgett and Scott Furgueson

Richard and Marilyn Mumaw

Mary Ellen Newport

Lauren Osuch

James and Laurie Padden

Kathy Partin

Julie Pearson

Kate Pearson and Steve Cruzen

Victoria Peck and Brendan Hunter

George Petritz

Tim Prescott and Linda Wessels

Robert and Elaine Rabideau

Samuel and Jo Rahaim

James Rainey

Eric and Joni Rammelkamp

Polly Rea

Ruth Reeve

Kara Richardson

Nate Richardson

Yasmin Richmond and Ruth Hoppe

James and Kathleen Rickard

Heather Rinkel

Michael and Libby Robold

Kristen and Paul Roell

Diana and Basil Rowe

Anthony and Natalie Rupard

Dick Sadler

Diane Samarasinghe

John and Suzette Sanborn

Matt and Sara Satkowiak

Randy and Maryann Schmidt

Erin, Alan, Rowan, and Fianna Schug

William and Laurie Sears

Shari and Benjamin Shambaugh

Heather Shaw and Duncan Moran

Jim Sheets

Edward and Susan Shipman

Robert and Dana Sholten

Mason Showalter

Catherine and Mark Smith

Julie Smith

Brad and Cathy Spanski

Jeff and Judy Spencer

Michele and Tom Squires

Nick and Rachel Stagman

Gary and Jane Stauffer

Lynn Steben

R. Troy and Carrilyn Stobert

Chris and Ali Sullivan

Michele Swanson

Linda and Stuart Travis

Sara Tucker

Kathy Tuckerman

Dori Turner

Molly Updike

Tom and Maggie Vinette

Emily Votruba

Rep. Howard and Dianne Walker

Joshua Weber

Charles and Ann Weitz

Carol and Mark Werts

Leigh Whelpton

Erin and Ben Whiting

Rick and Raj Wiener

Diane Wilbur and Jim Szalay

Jeanie Williams

John Robert Williams and Terrie Taylor

Julie Winkler

Nathan Winkler and Jenna Scheub

Wendy Wolfe and Paul Wawrzynek

PHOTO: NATE RICHARDSON

Caring for What Matters Most

NEW VANGUARD SOCIETY MEMBER DEDICATES A PORTION OF HER ESTATE TO LAND PROTECTION AND STEWARDSHIP

If you’ve ever spoken with Lucy Dueck, the latest member of the Conservancy’s Vanguard Society, chances are you felt a connection with her. And that’s no coincidence–she is ebullient and talkative, and has an incredible knack for bonding with people who cross her path.

She displays a genuine interest in learning through her relationships, her work, and anything she is passionate about–from researching the genetics of rare and endangered species to protecting and stewarding northern Michigan’s critical lands.

While speaking of her decision to entrust a portion of her estate to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, she said, “To me, the land is the most important thing…because we’re here for just a flash. ‘Love the land and pass it on’– (the Conservancy’s) philosophies jive with mine. It’s just the right thing to do for me.”

Through her gift of making connections and her innate thirst for knowledge, she has made a positive difference in many instances. Her story began in the suburbs of Toledo, Ohio, where she loved exploring the woods nearby every day since she didn’t have siblings to play with as an only child. She sometimes joined her father, an avid outdoorsman, on pheasant hunts although she never carried a gun, instead shooting nature photos elsewhere, a talent she continues to cultivate.

“It was just an excuse to enjoy the outdoors,” Lucy said, reflecting on her childhood. “It was really important for me to

be out in the wild–to be ‘in the bush,’ as they’d say in Canada. I enjoyed that more than anything.”

Early in her adult life, she decided to forgo finishing her degree and worked as a medical secretary to support her husband through medical school. The pair raised two sons and after a brief stint in Grand Rapids, moved to a home near the edge of Evart, where Lucy learned about the North Woods and started an art league. After their divorce, she relocated to Cadillac and explored the Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas on the weekends.

In the years that followed, Lucy fell in love with and married a Canadian man whom she met during her travels, and he encouraged her to pursue an undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto. There, she studied biology and biophysical systems, and followed up her studies at the University of Guelph with a master’s degree in zoology and a specialty in fish genetics on rainbow trout in Lake Ontario. “I didn’t know what to study at first,” she said. “But my husband suggested I just study what I wanted to learn about–and I wanted to learn about the land and the things that live on it.”

She went on to accept positions with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in largemouth bass genetics, then at the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. While managing the latter’s DNA lab and training students, she did subsequently published research on two projects: the molecular relationships among members of the orchid

66 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77

genus Spiranthes (ladies’ tresses), found mainly across North America with many species of conservation concern, and the genetic diversity of the endangered red panda, both in American zoos and wild in Nepal.

“I felt that this contribution could actually provide useful guidance to help prevent their extinction,” in speaking of her red panda research. “In the last paper, I could pull together several aspects of my knowledge–in biogeography, ecology, and genetics–to explain the results, which was very fulfilling.”

Today, Dueck splits her time between her home in Texas where she does nature trail interpretation for a local arboretum, and a half-acre parcel near Torch Lake where she has lovingly planted primarily native trees, shrubs and flowers. Reflecting on her return North, she said, “Michigan is the best place in the world. Why was I thinking anywhere else? This is the place I love.”

One of the things that impressed her most about the area was that every few miles, she discovered a nature preserve. “This is the way it ought to be!” she thought, delighted by the region’s appreciation for conservation.

Dueck, now in her 70s, began investigating organizations that she’d like to support while she was preparing her will. After some research, she contacted the Conservancy and spoke with charitable giving specialist, Barb Heflin. “It was like finding the house by Torch Lake–it was perfect!” she said. “Everything about it. (The Conservancy) has so many properties and such foresight, and it appears to be so well run. Everyone seems so devoted and casual–and I love that. It’s all about doing the work.”

While considering her contribution, it was paramount to take care of her boys first. She is proud of her sons, Justin, who works as a tax assessor for his township plus participating in two other companies, and Jason, a broadly trained plant ecologist currently a professor at Washington and Jefferson College.

“I don’t know how much of what I have now I’m going to need. I want to make sure to take care of my family,” she explained.

“The legacy gift works well because I can set one pot aside for this sort of thing, and it will always be there.”

As a member of the Vanguard Society, Lucy is part of a collective that provides critical support for the Conservancy while balancing their giving with the future needs of their loved ones. The flexibility and versatility of these gifts allow supporters to make a meaningful difference in the future of land protection and stewardship without worrying about assets they may need during their lifetime.

Leaving a bequest provision in a will or a trust works particularly well for donors who would like to contribute substantially to the Conservancy’s work, but may not currently be in a position to do so.

“Our Vanguard Society members understand the importance of taking the long view and thinking about the future,” said Charitable Giving Specialist Barb Heflin. She explained that while this topic can be difficult to think about, it is helpful if donors let the Conservancy know of their plans in advance. “Then we are prepared and can properly recognize them for their thoughtful support.”

For Lucy, her contribution means she can care for what matters most. “I can pull together what I've learned is important to me into a tangible contribution that will actually help save it, which fulfills my sense of stewardship to nature after I have taken care of responsibility to my family,” she explained. “I hope more people will leave a lasting legacy because I believe it will come down to individuals and grassroot organizations to conserve our special places.”

If you’d like to learn more about the Conservancy’s legacy giving program, contact Barb Heflin at (231) 929.7911 or bheflin@gtrlc.org.

GTRLC.ORG 67

VANGUARD SOCIETY

January 1 – December 31, 2022

The Vanguard Society recognizes donors who have honored the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy with planned gifts. By making a charitable gift to the Conservancy through their estate plans, they know they will leave an enduring legacy. Vanguard Society members understand the importance of planning for the future and want to ensure that our region remains vibrant, healthy, and beautiful by protecting the critical places we all love–forever.

Martha Aemisegger ‡

Carl Anderson

Anonymous (9)

Anonymous ‡ (3)

Hal and Kathryn Armstrong

Marjorie E. Arney ‡

Judy and Paul Arnold

Christine Arvidson and Henry Doss

Robert and Nancy Baglan

George and Martha Bailey

Tom and Ellen Baird

Jannine Baker and Craig Locke

George ‡ and Merry Ball

Daniel P. Baumhardt

Rosemary Benedetti

Carl and Sally ‡ Benner

John and Rebecca Bercini

Barbara Arnold Bigalke

Naomi Borwell ‡

Kenneth and Jennifer Bosma

Nancy Eshelman Brickman

Grace and Eric Bries

Jill C. Byron

Kathleen Carpenter

Ruth W. Catton

Glen and Rebecca Chown

Bob and Cindy Clement

Richard ‡ and Marilyn Cobb

Sara Cockrell

Rob and Diane Collier

Jane R. Comings

Birgit and Keith Conway

Bonnie Craig and Dan Sylvester ‡

Karen and Ronald Culp

Jim Cunningham

Marcia and Ted ‡ Curran

Kate and Rick Dahlstrom

Robert and Arlene Dean

Lois R. DeBacker

Graydon and Sherri DeCamp

Jock ‡ and Sue Denio

Michael and Barbara Dennos ‡

Alice J. Detzler

Betsy and Stan Dole

Lucy Dueck

Thomas P. and Stacy A. Dunning Trust

Diane L. Dupuis

Debbie Edson

Phil and Laura Edwards

David and Linda Egeler

Arthur Elliott ‡

Rich and Susan Erwin

Fred A. Farage Jr. and Carl J. Strebel

Edward F. Farnham & David B. Durham

Jeannette M. Fehner ‡

Jamie and Beverly Finlayson

John H. Fisher

Dean and Nora Francis

Karen Garber and John DesMarais, In Memory of Dr. Frank W. Garber and Ellen A. Garber

Andrew Gerber

Michael J. Gillman

Lois Goldstein and John Heiam

Tom Greensmith

Anthony Grybok ‡

Scott Hamilton and LeAnne Hamilton

Jessica A. Hatch

Victor C. Hayes ‡

Mr. and Mrs. John R. Hicks

Tom ‡ and Myrna Hitchman

Tom Hitchman and Keith Hewitt

Anne M. Hoffa

William Holland

Jim Hopfensperger and Jane Maddox

Donald E. Hunt

William A. Hyslop

Brian and Jennifer Jaffe

Harry ‡ and June Janis

Jennifer Jay

Jerry and Pat ‡ Jehle

Susan K. Jennings

Walter H. Johnson

Joyce Keillor ‡

Karen G. Kerrigan

The Rev. Dr. Kathleen L. Kircher

Wayne and Ruthanne Kladder

Pamela S. Knowles

Richard Kooyman and Melanie Parke

Oscar H. Kraft ‡

Kima M. Kraimer

Edith Krause ‡

Robert Charles and Patricia Cosner Kubic

Roger and Ann Looyenga

Richard and Marlene Loughmiller ‡

Wendy MacGaw

The Joseph Magliochetti Family

Rosemary Malocsay

Kent ‡ and Barbara Manning

Josephine "Jody" Marquis

Bob and Nancy Marshall

Diane McDonald ‡

Christie McGue and Robert Calt

Donald McIntyre, Jr. ‡

Dick and Shirley McNally ‡

Mark and Catherine McPherson

Deb Menninga

Robert and Joyce Mims

Elizabeth S. Mitchell ‡

Amy and Jim Moore

John and Nancy Morrison ‡

Tim and Janet Mulherin

Ruth Luse Myers ‡

Ray and Paula Nichols

David and Marilyn Nussdorfer

Elaine Oeflein ‡

Julie Pearson

Kate Pearson

Mary J. Pitcher

Eula Pray ‡

David and "Weezie" Reese

Dan Remahl

Harriet Rennie-Brown

Patricia D. Robinson ‡

Tom Robinson ‡

Elizabeth B. Rodgers

Daniel and Martha Rogalny

Edward and Elyse Rogers

John Ross

Don Schuster

Eda June (Novak) Scott ‡

Gregory D. Seman

Chris and Michele Shafer

George E. Shambaugh, Jr. ‡

Jodi Simpson

Marilyn Slabaugh

Colette Stanish

D.W. and Joyce ‡ Stibbs

Erik Takayama ‡

Ann and Allen Taylor

Terrie E. Taylor, D.O.

Herbert H. Tedder ‡

William and Mary Todt

Andrew M. Vander Molen ‡

Dana Vannoy

Chip Visci and Marty Claus

Suzanne J. Voltz

Phil and Barb Von Voigtlander

Ralph A. and Margaret von Walthausen ‡

Lorenzo E. and Beverly F. Wagner ‡

M. Sue Waltz

Anne W. Warren

Donna M. Weitz and Bill O. Smith

Gloria Whelan

Frank and Judith Wilhelme

Randi and Mark Woodworth

John Wunsch and Laura Wigfield

Ron and Marty Yocum

‡ Deceased
PHOTO: NATE RICHARDSON

HONORARIUMS

January 1 - December 31, 2022

The following donors made gifts between January 1 and December 31, 2022. By honoring your friends and loved ones with your gift to the Conservancy, you are making an enduring tribute while helping protect northern Michigan’s beauty and natural resources. We are pleased to honor the following people through your support of the Conservancy.

Barbara A Anderson

William and Paula Anderson

Connie and Chuck

Armstrong-Grabiel

Constance Metcalf

Joel and Foy Baillie

Shirley and Paul Edmond

Jerry and Fleda

Beasley/Brown

Amy Beasley

Scott Blackhurst

Mary and Emmett Miller

Augustine Blanco

Lawrence Schneider

Al Bonney

James Bonney

Nick and Theresa Boudjalis

Janell Smith

Gary Bowerman

Emily Crandall

Bowerman, Bowden, Ford, Clulo & Luyt, PC.

Lois Breimeier

Carol Breimeier and Fred Nelson

Peter Schwich

Allison Brook

Robert Brook

Zanne Brook

Robert Brook

Harriet Rennie Brown

Emilia Rennie

Kathy and Butch Carmien

Edward Carmien

Selma Carter

Melia Carter

Constance G.

Chamberlain

Vicky Richey

Glen Chown

Kay Charter

Mary Cobb

Rev. Oscar and Shirley Kraft

Cotanche Family

David Hulefeld

Elizabeth Crowdus

Ridgeline AP DEP

Bob and Arlene Dean

Nancy Cook

Linda and Bob Deneen

Peter and Nancy Deneen

Jodi Derylo

Sheri Blok

Jim and Jill Elzinga

Judith Elzinga

Diane Fiander

Julian Fiander

Jessica Forster

Robert Bradshaw

Andy and Edna Frostic

Jim and

Penny Szczechowski

Carlton Fry

Andrea Fry and John Floyd

Virginia Gerstner

Gregory Gerstner

Mrs. Henry Gest

Cameron and Fran Wolfe

Amy Goldberg

Katherine Carr

My Grandchildren

George Petritz

Rick Hager

Denise and Mick Hager

Elizabeth Hardy

Karen and Ursula

Kienbaum

Mark Haynes

Brian Fiander

Julian Fiander

John and Jane Hilliard

Mollie Hilliard

Matthew

(Matt) Hilliard

John and Jane Hilliard

Mollie Hilliard

John and Jane Hilliard

Matthew Hilliard

Mike Hix

Michael and Eliza Hix

Tim and Sandy Hodges

Cathy, Erynn and Doug Carter

James and Catherine Hook

Debra Lynn Hook

Priss and Gregg Hovious

John and Julie Rodes

Jim Huckle

Nancy and Kent Walton

Bill and Amanda

Hyslop/Mangiardi

Erin and Nathaniel Fuller

Brent Jarosz

Charles McGonigle

Martin Jeschke

Bill and Anne Sleeman

Wayne Kladder

Tom and Gladys Maguire

Annie Lange

Kim Lande

David and Annette Lean

Sharon Lean

Kathy Magliochetti

Steve and Mary Weiss

Andrew and Stephanie Martin

Henry and Ginny Martin

Karen Masters

John Hoffmann

70 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77

Beth Mauldin

Matthew Hilliard

Debby and Tom McMullen

Jannifer Stromberg

Philip (Phil) and Nancy Meek

Kevin Lehner

Kathy and Tom Lehner

Joyce Mims

Faye Conley

Jane Fiore

Judy Rich

Kathy Moore

Wondella Devers

Paula and Paul Moyer

Thomas and Sallie Suby-Long

Mary Ellen Newport

Orly Lindner

James Harding

Bruce & Becky Ogilvie

Christy McCreary

Mr. and Mrs. Don and Bette Oswell

Gloria Parsons

Kathleen and William Parsons

William and Kathleen Parsons

Kate Pearson

Gerald Jehle

Kyle Peczynski

Ann Peczynski

Sue Peters and Dave Murphy

Stephanie Santoro

Stephen and Linda Peters

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Plough

Anita and Chris Scussel

Greg and Deneen Powell

Catherine and Milton Powell

Spencer and Molly Powell

Marilyn Weber

Jeff Riddle

Daniel Putt

Charlie Rodes

John and Julie Rodes

Martha Rodes

John and Julie Rodes

The Rogers Family and Chimney Corners Resort

Dr. David, Kathryn and Keiana Snell

Linda Rosen and Diane Fall

Ellen Rosen

Lyndon and Patricia Salathiel

Jeanne Salathiel

Tom and Jean Sarasin

Ariane Sarasin

John Sargent

Bill and Anne Sleeman

Joanne Scherf

Kyle Sullivan

Irene and Bill Scott

Justin Scott

Nate Sellars

Amy Hubbell

Dianne Shullenberger

Mary Rosebrough

Gordon and Cheyenne Sinclair

Paul and Rebecca Kennedy

Shari Spoelman

Corinne Schneider

Jandy and Brad Sprouse

Anonymous

Bob and Sue Stuedemann

Kristin Stuedemann

Ryan Swanson

Kathleen and Philip Swanson

Mike and Cindy Swift

Ramana Roberson

Gary and Carol Tasch

William and Karen Tasch

Rick Tasch

William and Karen Tasch

June Thaden

Steve and Betsy Duede

Ann Rogers

John Thompson

Joyce Phelps

Brigitta Tiemann

Katherine and David Tiemann

Turner/Schmitt Families and Our Friends at Watervale

Thomas and Jane Jenkins

Beau Vallance and Jack Carpenter

Richard and Jill Claybour

Jay Waldron

Mary Waldron

Wendy and Mike Walker

Henry and Ginny Martin

Dan and Polly Welburn

Thomas and Marcy Welburn

Sheila and Max Wicha

Allyson Lewis

Joe Wilhelme

Douglas and Susan McDonald

Mark Woodworth

Ricki Ravitts

GTRLC.ORG 71

MEMORIALS

January 1 - December 31, 2022

The following donors made gifts between January 1 and December 31, 2022. With this tribute, you are supporting a timeless mission and enduring legacy. Thank you for honoring lives well-lived and building a priceless foundation in nature for future generations.

Keith Adler

Carol Adler

Rob Arnold

DeAnne and Todd Frank

Andrew Wells Barron

Elaine Hawley

Jennifer Steiner

Steve Bass

Joe, Laura and family and Chris Lange

Sheila Bell

Ruth Forrest

Dennis C. Benson

Marilyn Benson

Patricia Bevis

Anna and Richard Bevis

Nannette Binns

Donald Binns

Tim Boursaw

Janet and Stanley Goodman

Max Bromley

Robert and Janet Bower

Janet Kahan

Audrey Brown

Samuel and Sally Catanese

Lorraine Buckner

Robert Edward Buckner Trust

Chester Bullard

Beth Hubbell

Archie Carmichael

Robbie and Archie Carmichael

Selma Carter

Melia Carter

John Cartwright

CJ Cartwright

Betty Koons

Scott Casey

Sally Casey

Marshall Champion Anonymous

Jon Chrestensen

Andrea Lovendusky

Molly Steck

Kristin Stuedemann

Karen Connor

Catherine Alfred

Ann Cooper

Joe and Angela Karbowski

Tom Crampton

Robert and Barbara Wollak

J Richard (Dick) Crout

The Ann and Jonathan Hubbard Charitable Gifts Fund

Linda and John Spevacek

Bob Dean

Barbara and Joe Backus

William and Sandy Cartwright

Daniel and Linda Cline

Rob and Diane Collier

Nancy Cook

Kathy Dally

Susan Damm-Fultz

Margaret Eaton

Bill and Gail Ericson

Lucy and Allen Gagstetter

Claudia Hawes

Robert and Jane Holdeman

Kallie Jensen

Claudia and Kevin Killeen

Kenneth Meskin

Theresa Olson

Thomas and Ann Post

Bernie and Donna Rubin

Terrance and Sara Ryan

Timothy and Sharon Sherrow

Nancy Duede

Joseph and Bonny Barrett

Ronald and Paula Barrett

Steve and Betsy Duede

Robert Dyke

Constance Metcalf

Paul and Debbie Taube

Wally Edwards

Roger Dewey

Bill Edwardson

Camille Weatherholt

Joyce Fischer

Judith Greaves

Gordon (Mac) and Glennis Fletcher

David and Crystal Lang

Liz, Jan, Doug, Mat, Nate and Mindy ODonnel

Mark and Michelle VanderVelde

Gretchen Zuiderveen

Alan (Al) Flory

Barbara Farrell

Beth Ferris

Barbara and Ted Fisher

Lynn Prust and Mitch Purst

Steve Stephens

Scott Strelow and Pat Burns-Strelow

John and Lynn Vinkemulder

Pam and Dean Wohlers

Joyce Kirshner and Frances Wyatt

Zac Fochtman

Jane Fochtman

Jack W. Follett

Carol Hoffman

Leonard (Len) Franseen

Anne Brasie

Norton and Mary Lee Bretz

Lisa Franseen

Phil Jarvi

Robert and Nancy Marshall

Port of Old Mission

Condo No II Association

Ann Rogers

Heather and Rick Shumaker

Norm and Lois Galbraith and daughter Judy

Galbraith Lambert

Jen and Bill Davis

Thomas and Carmen Tosteson Garcia

John Matz and Terry Griffin

George and Madalynne Gardner

Garry Gardner

Jonathan Gardner

Steven Gardner

Bonnie Joyce

Dorothy Singleton

Abby Mahan Gartland

Jennifer Baragar

Patrick and Erin Gartland

Dave and Barb Mahan

Gerald Solanics

Gloria Goddard

Stephen and Lorrie Peck

Joseph (Joe) Griggs

John and Rebecca Bercini

Katherine Brege

Angela Dollaway/Helfrich

Richard and Linda Helfrich

Mary Beth and James Milliken

Ann Rogers

Constance Zoutendyk

Gordon Grimm

Gary Andrew and Jean Braxton

Paul Grunberger

Charlotte Knoll

Cornelia Hart

Peters-Murphy Fund

Robert M Heavenrich Jr

Lloyd and Wendy Anderson

Judy and Paul Arnold

Roberta Ballard

The Brown Girls

Reid Calcott

Randi Forman

John Freidman

Kim Gardey

Barry and Susan Gross

Joseph Heffron

Deborah Kanter

Linda and Zach Karmen

Sanford and Ellen Kossek

Joseph Maloney

Margaret and Anton Ninno

Ellen Pinsky

Helen Raica-Klotz

Theodore and Maureen Robinson

Lorraine Siler and Dell H

Carol Spartano and Robert Feldman

Patti Henke

Henke and McAlindon Families

Jane Heywood

Anne Bowles

David Hicks

Judy Hicks

Angela Higgins

Kathleen Hintz

James and Jane Highsaw

Bruce and Rhoda Bush

Deborah Hogan

Elizabeth Stumbo

Michael Holdeman

Robert and Jane Holdeman

Donald Holman

Matthew Stedman and Katie Ororke-Stedman

Louis and Florence Honhart

Anne Honhart

Jack Hood

Christine Haack and Mark Hood

Sally Somsel

Michael J. Houlihan

Fred and Sheila Hackley

Peter Hoag

Belinda Loomis Rutt

Kim Michele Hughes

Robert Heavenrich

Leo Hughes

Brenda and James Rossman

Rodney and Sue Scherer

Robert and Patricia Thompson

Phyllis Ann Husted

Teresa and Daniel Husted

Kathy Imboden

Dave Imboden

John Imboden

Kathryn Imboden

Margaret Jones

Cory Beuerle

Charlie Kehr

Craig Urquhart

Robert Killam

Lisa Franseen

GTRLC.ORG 73

Memorials

Carla Kish

Liz Blackburn

Michael and Holly Kazarinoff

Melanie Rosenberger

Jep Seman

Rosanne Singer

David Springer

Kurnetz Stahl Family

Phoebe Klain

Peter and Jeny Klain

Matthew Kloes

Richard and Susan Pierson

Robert James Kobs

John Matz and Terry Griffin

David Leege

Patricia Leege

Carolyn Lewis

Cheryl and Bill Dundon

Jennifer and Brian Jaffe

Ronald Liesemer

Bobbe Luce and Bruce Dannenhauer

Carl Lundgren

Pat and Carl McCormick

Jane Moyer

Debra Lewis and Kevin Nagy

Ross and Dianne Stephenson

Connie Thompson

Susan Lyman

Robert and Janet Bower

Amy Wheaton Lyman

Brad Lyman

Jim Swearingen

Terry Malone

Christopher and Martie Conner

Clarissa and Andrew Marckwald

Louise Ladd

Robert (Rob)

James Marshall

Lillian Billmeier

John and Lynn Collins

Michael and Teckla Dettmer

Kenneth and Janet Engle

Judy Foulk

Keith Geiger

Michael and Christine Gravlin

Linda Grubaugh

Kathleen and Mark Guy

Linda and Craig Hanson

Richard Harrison

Larry and Diane Hughes

Brian and Jennifer Jaffe

The Johnslington Fund

Jennifer Jay and Evan Johnstone

Lynn Larson and Paul Christ

Barbara and John Marshall

Chris and Julie Marshall

Kenneth Marshall

Robert and Nancy Marshall

Dale and Karen Mayhew

Patricia and Edward Robinson

Steven and Linda Rogers

Betty and Richard Scott

John Smolen

Art and Sarah Trembanis

Sue and Norm Ulbrich

Mike Wylie

Maryann Zimmerman

Porter John Martin

Anonymous

Barbara Baie

Nancy Bell

Blain Supply

Linda Campbell

Glen and Rebecca Chown

Beth Einsele

Philip and Shirley Foster

Jeremy Gibson and Carolyn McDonald

Charles and Karen Hart

John Hart

Russel and Carol Heck

Gary Hilts

John and Lauren Hintzsche

Jim and Diana Huckle

David and Sue Ellen Jacobson

Dean and Laura Johnson

Molly and Charles Klettner

Stephen and Gail Loes

Robert and Nancy Marshall

Kay Martin

Charles and Carol Miller

Peters-Murphy Fund

Ray and Susan Phillips

Lane and Joycelynn Pickwell

Joy and Louis Platteborze

Port of Old Mission

Condo No II Association

Mary Purdy

Sheldon and Joyce Rueff

William and Sharon Schulze

Robert and Jo Ann Skabo

Kelly Teelin

Brett Valentyn

Judith and Gerald Wallace

John Wunsch and Laura Wigfield

Jack McAvoy

Steve and Becky Hobig

Kona Miske

Kristen Elliot and Perry Harmon

Marilyn Mittenthal

Judith Crysler

Joyce Delamarter

Susan Eggly

Cathy Ferguson

Don and Takane Hinds

Chrisann Newransky

Sandra Symington

M. Sue Waltz

Janet Daly and Nancy Whitwell

Margaret (Biani) Moran

Melissa Reed

Theodore (Ted) Mullett

Stephen and Louise Anella

Tammie and Alan Brown

Rob Chandler

Cameron Clark

Charitable Fund

David and Nadine Collier

John and Susan Davis

Fred and Ann Dean

Christopher Eckrich

David and Judith Eckrich

William Gates

Quan Gerville-Reache

Susan and Gerald Hoar

Bill and Kay Hokanson

Ruth Ann Hubner

Craig Kapson

Laurie Katz

Margaret Larson

Judd Leighton Foundation, Inc.

–continued

Stewart McMillan

Tom Mittler

William Mittler

Diane Mortensen

Mary Lou Mullen

Sue Mullett

Kerri and Darrel Ritchie

Linda Schiele

Barton and Bonnie Shroyer

Will and Marilyn Shroyer

Barbara Snell

Barbara Wind

Chris and Cathy Wynne

Susan Neal

Jeff and Julie OConnor

Denton W. Nelson, MD.

Michele Nelson and Brett Cohen

Barbara Nickelson

Carol Hoffman

Orley Norris

Halo Helpers

Susan (Sue) Ohm

Mary Forman

Johannes Heijmans and Janis Schiller

Frances Laue

Althea Petritz

Nancy and Mickey Story

Richard Petrovich

Anonymous

Muriel Peavler

Patricia Petrovich

N. Richard and Karen Haas

George and Patricia Weber

Rebecca Wilson

Robert Pierson

Donna Pierson

Sue Ann Powell

Mary and Robert Hutchins

Thomas and Linda Minter

Jann Nestell

Lucia Yaroch

R.L. Price Anonymous

June B. Rayle

Lynn Rayle

Cora Reinbold

Janet Cooper

Marilyn Holloway

Zora Richardson

Jan Leuallen

Constance Riopelle

Pauline Lackie and Mary Hoiles

Dennis F Sanderson

John and Mary Campbell

Karen Kuehlhorn

Martha Shambaugh

George and Roberta Shambaugh

Bruce Shannon

Bruce S. Shannon Family Foundation

Bruce Sharp

Charles and Judy Kraus

Alan L. Smith

Eleanor and Matthew Smith

Randall (Randy) Smith

Reynolds-Jonkhoff

Funeral Home, Inc.

Holly Clack

Christina Sorum

Eve Sorum

Patricia (Pat) Stringer

Matt Bertram

Dr. Evan Black

Kay Clark

Robert and Valerie Griffith

Jacquelin Kilburn

Margaret McMaster

Elizabeth Stevenson

Candelles Team

Alexis Troschinetz

Barbara Stout and Robert L. Jessup

Elizabeth Jessup

Gerald (Gerry) Swaney

Rochelle and Steve Hammontree

Ellen Kerr

Charles and Sara Rodeck

Heather and Rick Shumaker

Ann Swaney

Steven Swaney

Sonia and Samir Tanna

Jan Swanson

Janita Gaulzetti

Robert Simanek

Andrea Walworth and Douglas Endicott

Paul Swidorski

Douglas and Laura Savela

Michael Swift

Patricia Ponte

Hal Swoverland

Mary Pitcher

Wendy Taggart

Kathryn Alford Brady and John Alford

Staci Brodeur

Marty and Carole Chirgwin

Tim and Claire Cronley

Aaron Donnell

Sarah and Stuart Foster

Dr. Renee Garrick

Robert Gould

Laura Gurasich, Jill Ellis and Betsy Nielsen

Patricia Hartz

Julie Karingten and Jessica Wojciechowski

Stephen and Nina Merten

Gretchen and Brent Nord

Ragan Rhyne

Cherie and Kelly Robinson

Spencer and Erica Stegenga

Sheryl and Dan Thomas

Linda Tinson

Heather Troup

Jane Tarnecki

Marsha Case

Joyce Delamarter

Sandy Hagman

Andy Herman

Mark Herman

M. Sue Waltz

Joseph Hajduk Taylor

Donna and Christopher Healy

GTRLC.ORG 75

Memorials –continued

John and Naomi Tepaske

Anonymous

Charles and Madeline Tyson

Catherine Irwin

Norman Ueno

Douglas Zernow and Merilyn Ueno

Samuel "Bud" Vance

Robert and Susan Rinder

James (Jim) VanStratt

Tom and Mary Barnes

Brian and Eileen Bee

Paul and Kay Davis

R. Edward and Cinda Hogg

Claudia Glynn

Marie and Jay Hooper

Susan and Michael Hornby

Karen and David Manthei

Raymond and Geri Maxbauer

Robert and Cristine Nichols

Thomas and Connie O'Rourke

James and Chris Owens

Eilene and Mike Shore

Carol Talbot

William and Elizabeth Van Westen

Nancy and Kent Walton

Jane and Bill Wares

George and Patricia Weber

Michael and Colleen Zanotti

Barbara Zupin and Thomas Gardner

Margaret Wegner

Dorothy and John Lewis

Cindy Retherford and Jeremy Wheeler

Brian and Mary Wheeler

76 SPRING ‘23 | VOL 77

BUSINESS SUPPORTERS

January 1 - December 31, 2022

The ongoing support of our business community shows a commitment to northern Michigan’s farmland heritage, the protection of natural lands, and the preservation of clean air and water. With their charitable donations to the Conservancy, the following business owners demonstrate how deeply they value and care for our natural resources:

Alden State Bank

Alfie Logo Gear

Backcountry North

Bay View Flooring

Bell Title Lakeshore

Blain Supply

Bowerman, Bowden, Ford, Clulo & Luyt, PC.

Candelles Team

Candle Factory

Cherry Republic

Chimney Corners Resort

Dan Brady Painting Services, LLC

Endoman

Promotions, LLC

Frontstream

Grand Traverse Construction

Halo Helpers

Hudson Livestock

Management Services LLC

Huntington National Bank

Kuhl Studios

Manitou Restaurant

Olson, Bzdok & Howard, PC

Oryana Community Co-op

Otwell Mawby, PC.

GIFTS-IN-KIND

January 1 - December 31, 2022

Pleasant Valley Resorts

Port of Old Mission

Condo No II Association

Race Day Events

Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, Inc.

R.M. Young Company

Rochester Lawn Service Inc.

Shift Chiropractic, PLC

Stardust Memorials, LLC

Wander and Gather LLC

Whistling Frog Tile

Williams Group

Windward Partnership

The following gifts were made between January 1 and December 31, 2022. An in-kind donation is a non-cash gift made to the Conservancy, including goods, services, time, and expertise. We are deeply grateful to these supporters for their generous contributions:

Ken Barber

Rick Bellingham

Tom Cooper

Richard and Patricia Hager

Heflin Design

Image 360

Tim Johnson

LBR Services

Marla Morrissey

Michael Murray

Kristin Page

Sagasser & Associates, Inc.

Jim Toppin and Janet Traub

Wildlife and Wetland Solutions

PHOTO: JENNIFER JAY

GRANTS FROM STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

January 1 - December 31, 2022

The following grants were awarded between January 1 and December 31, 2022. Public grants help leverage and maximize the value of your private investment by providing state and federal funding for natural resource protection and outdoor recreation. The Conservancy is a direct recipient or a sub-awardee of grant funding from these agencies and organizations:

MATCHING GIFT PROGRAMS

January 1 - December 31, 2022

Employee match programs are a benefit that companies offer to encourage and reward giving among their staff to charitable causes like the Conservancy. By taking advantage of your employer’s matching gift program you can often double or even triple the impact of your gift by providing additional resources to support the work of land protection in northern Michigan. These companies made donations to match their employees’ gifts to the Conservancy:

AT&T Employee Giving

Baird Foundation, Inc.

Barton Malow Foundation

CDW

CBRE

Gates Foundation

Google Matching

Gifts Program

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

HP Foundation Matching

Gift Program

IBM Corporation

Intel Foundation

International Monetary Fund

W. K. Kellogg Foundation

Kresge Foundation

Marsh & McLennan Companies

McKinsey and Company

Microsoft Corporation

Matching Gifts

Charles Stewart

Mott Foundation

Piper Sandler

Shell Matching Gifts Program

Toyota

UBS Employee Giving Program

USAA Employee Giving

ViaCom CBS

Zynga Inc

CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND LAND DONATIONS

January 1 – December 31, 2022

Donating land to protect its natural features is truly one of the finest legacies a person can leave to future generations. We are grateful to the following people who are prioritizing conservation by donating land, conservation easements, or real estate with unique ecological, recreational, or scenic value.

Richard and Jo Anne Beemon Robert Edward Buckner Trust The William J. Hoffman and Monica A. Hoffman Trust Holiday Woodlands Vicki L Jacobs USDA - Soil Conservation Service US Fish and Wildlife Service - Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Coastal Program

PRIVATE LAND PROTECTION

January 1 – December 31, 2022

While the parks and nature preserves we protect are open to and enjoyed by the public, more than half of the land we have permanently protected are private properties. The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy works in partnership with over 280 individual landowners to manage voluntary conservation easements on their privately owned lands to protect and enhance land, water, and wildlife habitat. We extend our sincere gratitude to the following landowners:

Acme Township

Alan R Adams Trust

Christopher and Ann Adams

Douglas Adams

Dorance and Julia Amos

Roland and Marilyn Andreasson

Anonymous (2)

Antrim County

Antrim County

Conservation District

Anway Farms LLC

Anway Legacy Farm LLC

Bret Bachert Trust

Baillio Company

Elizabeth Banker

Mark and Karen Barbera

Bash Enterprises

Ardis Bauer

Bay Harbor Club Association

Bayshore Real Estate Associates #1

Dennis and Jacquelyn Beal

Leon and Shirley Beal

Bill and Marti Beals

Margaret Beck

Michael and Leah Bell

Robert and Barbara Below

Roland Bielert

Black Star Farms

Boardman Township

Dave and Jackie Bos

Mary Ellen Boucher

Matthew and Joni Brengman

Lee and Richmond Brown

James and Justine Buck

Andy and Beth Buelow

The Gary D and Elizabeth A Burns Trust

Keith Burns

Bruce and Rhoda Bush

Jon Bylsma and Jennifer Johnston

Kathryn Bytwerk

Robert and Candy Campbell

Pat Capps

Archibald Carey

David and Nancy Carey

John Carey and Vicki Arroyo

Andrew and Andrea Carolus

Shirley and Tammy Carris

Terrance & Marlene Caszatt Trust

Cedar River Group, LLC.

Mike Champion

Charles and Jeanie Chapin

David A Charlton Trust

Chartwell Properties, LLC.

Glen and Rebecca Chown

Mark and Leslie Churella

Tom and Janice Cook

Heidi and Michael Cooper

Richard Cooper and Jan Tennant

Tom Cooper

Vince Cooper

Spencer and Amy Couturier

Croft, LLC

Crystal Highlands

Owners' Association

Richard and Linda Cushman

James Dalley and Lois Brennan

Tom and Martha Dalluge

Alice and Jerry Deck

DEER Development Engineering

G. Michael and Barbara DeGraeve

Michael Delp

Michael and Ann DeVries

Charles and Lorie DeYoung

Harold and Edna DeYoung

Lance and Allyson Docken

Kay and Frederic Dohm

J. Bennett and Tauna Donaldson

Deborah Doyle

Roger and Angelica Dunlap

Earl and Susan Dutton

Julie and Jim Dutton

Martin Easling

Laurie Eberhardt and Peter Martin

Phil Edwards and Laura Reid

Russell and Pat Ehler

Carl Eklund

Phil and Rita Ellington

Jeff and Marilyn Elliott

EPIKERDIS Manistee LLC

Evans Brothers

Fruit Company

Katherine Farrell

Jim and Kari Fisher

Laura Fisher

The Estate of Mary C. Francis

Alison Fredericksen

John and Teresa Frey

Charter Township of Garfield

Mark and Jane Garrett

G.D.O. Investments LLC

John Gehring and Lisa Leininger

Gene Gerring

Brian and Lisa Getty

Jeremy Gibson and Carolyn McDonald

Gordon Gienow

Judy Gienow

Ron and Diane Gillison

Matthew Godlewski and Jacob Whitman

Raul Gomez and Emma Smith

Gloria Goodale and Dan Wood

Margo Goodale

Nick Goodale and Wendy Asselin

James Goodheart

Charles and Bethany Goodman

Ann and Harold Gurian

Martha and Ed Hammer

Anne Hammond

Thomas Hanna

Hanson Revocable Trust

Alan and Carol Hart

Thomas and Annette

Hart Trust

Charlene Heim

Jerry and Jamie Heim

Jane and Timothy Hemenway

Matthew Hemenway

Jed and Dawn Hemming

Henry Orchards Inc

David and Barbara Henton

Todd Herber

Carol Highsaw

Jim Highsaw and Linda Prentice

Alicia Hiyane

Russell and Kay Hughes

Mark and Sharon Hullman

Inn at Watervale, Inc.

J-4 Enterprises LLC

Vicki Jacobs

Private Land Protection –continued

Travis Jacobsen

JD Leelanau LLC

Jeffers Family Trust

Village of Kalkaska

Julie Kavner and David Davis

David Kelley

David and Katy Kern

Kingsley Area Schools

Kladzyk et al.

Anthony Kramer and Barbara Bailey

Brent and Tami Kroll

Bruce and Libby Krone

Kenneth Kroupa

Lucas Kroupa

Margery Kroupa

Louise Ladd

Leelanau Conservancy

William Lentz

Joe and Kathy Lessard

Timothy and Jessica Lindstrom

Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

The Wendy J Ljungren, Trust

Locusta Preserve Inc

Long Lake Township

Anna Love

Charles Lyon

Susie Mackay

Todd Mahoney

Bob and Kris Mampe

Robert and Lois Manigold

Francia and Brian Mann

Kirk Marckwald and Chris Desser

Dirk and Mary Martin

McCool Joint Trust

Robert and Joni Metiva

Amy and Dan Meyer

Philip and Connie Micklin

Janet Miller

Kelly and Debra Miller

Susan and Monte Montei

Neahtawanta Resort

Association

Steve and Kathleen Newman

Scott Nugent

Wendy O'Brien

Leobardo and Carmelita Ocanas

OCS Watervale, Ltd.

John O'Hair

OHK-SEK

Peter Ohrnberger

Ohrnberger Properties, LLC

Brad Oleson

DJ and Lisa Oleson

Oleson Foundation

Anders Olson and Jacqueline Ewing

Dustin and Kim Ordway

Paradise Township

The Pasch Revocable Trust

Patrick and Kaitlyn Pasik

Kevin and Melissa Payne

Cheryl Petrie

Shirley J. Petrie Trust

Pine Warbler LLC

Gary Pomeroy

James and Anne Porritt

Steve Pray

Brian and Dodie Putney

Charlotte Putney

Loy Putney

Putney Real Estate Holdings, LLC.

Edith Elliott Queeny and Warner Guild Queeny

Marvin and Jodi Radtke

Rammelkamp Family Cottage Trust

Ranke Family Partnership

Michael H Raphelson & Carla J Langerveld Trust

Ray Ravary

RF Reiley Family

Partners, LTD

Ridge Runner Properties LLC

Jared Ringwald

Riverview Rod & Gun Club

The Jack B Robbins Revocable Trust

Phyllis Robinson

Robert and Penelope Rosi

Jenipher Roslund

Rotary Camps & Services of TC

Brad and Annie Rowe

Wayne and Joan Rowe

Royal Farms Properties LLC

Samuel and Anna Runkel

Mr. Matthew and Elizabeth Russell

William Sage

John P & Margaret A Sargent Trust

Sarah E. Schin Trust

SC Realty Partners LTD

Michael and Melissa Scanlon

The Robert L. Schiewe

Living Trust

Nathan Schultz and Stephanie Woodfin

Anita and Chris Scussel

Mark Seasholes

Seize The Day LLC

Send Brothers Properties L.L.C.

Shaffer Family Partnership

Rick and Diane Shaffer

David and Ingrid Shambaugh

George and

Roberta Shambaugh

Michael and Amie Shaw

Michael and Shanna Shea

Hebe and Jim Shipp

Robert Sigler

Peggy and Kimberly Simpson

Richard and Diane Simpson

Loring Sims

Nicklaus Slocum

Dale and Carolyn Smith

Julie and John Smith

Snyder Farm, LLC

Steve and Nikki Sobkowski

Glenna E. Southwell Trust

Reg Sprik

Laura and Chuck Stanek

Anne Starr and Kristin Hall

David Steffey

James and Mary Stutelberg

David Taft

Barbara Taylor

TD Timbers, LLC

Thompson Revocable Trust

Jennifer Tobias and Tom McCracken

Tosebo Clubhouse, LLC.

Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center, Inc.

City of Traverse City

Kenneth VanHouten

Sally Van Vleck

Village Ridge Homeowners Association

Roy and Pamela Volkening

Randall Vyverberg

Melinda Wagner 2014

Revocable Living Trust

Wayne and Joan Webber

Wellington Real Estate Holdings, LLC.

Greg White

John Wilkinson and Robin Silva-Wilkinson

Windward Partnership

Alison Wright

John and Charlotte Wuepper

Adele Wunsch

Isaiah Wunsch

State YMCA of Michigan

Dan Yoder

Richard and Loretta Young

Shelby Ziegler

VOLUNTEERS

January 1 – December 31, 2022

GTRLC volunteers are leaders in the effort to protect and steward the important places that make this area unique. The work of the Conservancy simply could not happen without these passionate advocates for our natural world. Leading hikes, demonstrating community science, tackling invasive species, building trails, stewarding preserves, assisting in the office–volunteers participate in every aspect of the work of caring for the incredible places in northern Michigan that are sure to foster future generations of environmental stewardship. We are deeply grateful for your dedication and hard work.

Perry Adams

Liz Agerson

Melissa Akin

Brian Allen

Karen Alphenaar

Diane Anderson

Renee Archambo

Ben Arnold

Ben (Mac) Arnold

Laurie Ashley

Miranda Ashley

Cheryl Bachman

Jan Bachman

Ellen Baird

Tom Baird

Jannine Baker

Jeanine Baker

Claire Bancino

Nan Barbas

Barry Barto

Rebecca Beach

Lori Beer

Norman Bell

Bobbit Bellingham

Rick Bellingham

John Bercini

Mary Binder

Tim Binder

Chuck Blake

Brad Boals

Richard Bobian

Laurie Boccia

Janice Boles

Wenche Borgnakke

Gary Bowerman

Gary Buczkowski

Lisa Buczkowski

Donna Burk

Jesse Burt

Jane Bush

James Butler

Betsy Calcutt

Kelly Campbell

John Caravetta

Sally Casey

Kay Caskey

Nick Cassell

Eric Chatterson

Dale Claudepierre

Cindy Clement

Robert Clement

Linda Cline

Dotti Clune

Marilyn Cobb

Anthony Coe

Don Coe

Sandy Coe

Pam Coleman

John Collins

Fiona Colliver

Catie Compson

Maribeth Condon

Chris Conger

Doug Cook

Emily Cook

JoAnne Cook

Butch Cooper

Susan Flynn Corwin

Elizabeth Courtright

Kurt Cox

Nate Crane

Dee Crawford

Tom Crosby

Garret Crow

Mary Culik

Leslie Cuppett

Barbara Czarnecki

Molly Dalton

Cortney Danbrook

Sarah Davis

Kent DesJardins

Victoria DesJardins

Al DeVore

Kelly Dillan

Victor Dinsmoore

Sue Dionne

Chris Douglas

Bryce Dreeszen

Paula Dreeszen

Jillian Drinko

Jack Ducote

Noah Dudley

Sylvia Duncan

Tom Dunn

Stacy Dunning

Emily Eby

Mae Stier Egeler

Kathy Eiferle

Brendan Eleovic

Robert Ely

John Ester

Mary Fairgrieve

Caitlin Falenski

Claire Farrell

Tom Feldmann

Mary Ferens

Dennis Fitzpatrick

Kathy Flynn Mach

Jane Fochtman

Kyla Foley

Michael Foley

Steven Foley

Clifford Fox

Meredith Freeby

Carl Freeman

Heath Garris

Jennifer Geiger

Brad Gerlach

Carroll Gilbert

Brad Gillespie

John Goy

Jim Grady

Michael Grahl

Jacob Grochowski

Tina Groleau

Cheryl Gross

Kathleen Guy

Patricia Hager

Richard Hager

Beverly Hallfrisch

Rochelle Hammontree

Melissa Hamp

Volunteers

Amanda Han

Mark Harrell

Robert Haydock

Mark Haynes

Constanza Hazelwood

Dean Healy

Bob Heflin

Jill Henemyer

Zachary Hillyer

Tracy Hobbs

Mark Hoffman

Susan Holcombe

Jessica Hollon

Jim Hopfensperger

Cathy Hoppel-Harrell

Don Howson

Doug Hozak

Jim Huckle

Pam Huffer

John Imboden

Kathleen Imre

Dave Jackson

Deb Jackson

Phil Jarvi

Sue Jennings

Paul Jensen

Terri Jones

Peggy Kane

Rick Kane

Bobbi Kayser

Judy Kelly

Aileen Kemme

Wayne Kladder

Thomas Klotzbach

Tom Knaus

Gary Kneale

Ken Kohlman

Koffi Kpachavi

Steve Kraft

Betsy Kurth

Debbie Kwaiser

Michael Kwaiser

Kelsey Lauer

Abigail Lee

Jennifer Lee

Lynn Lee

Darlyne Leete

Jerry Lewallen

John Lewis

Bob Lockwood

Susan Lockwood

Jane Lund

Ben Lundquist

Sally Lundquist

Cathy Lundy

Dina Lunken

Dan Mach

Tricia Mack

Jack Maddox

Jane Maddox

Mark Maddox

Greg Magel

Lissa Magel

Grace Maitland

Annaliese Majewski

Patrick Manke

Sally Manke

Seton Manke

Jennifer Manville

Irene Marcussen

Paul Marcussen

Girard Marotto

Jody Marquis

Marcella Massa

Dave Mathews

John Maxson

Chip May

Ron McCullick

Shelle McElwee

Tom McElwee

Brett McGregor

Kim McMillan

Terry McMillan

Keagan McNulty

John Meade

Barbara Mendenhall

Amanda Meyer

Dan Mixer

Ed Moehle

Margaret Monsour

Val Morris

Marla Morrissey

Douglas Morse

Stanley Mortel

Tom Mountz

Paul Moyer

Paula Moyer

Cameron Murray

Amelia Naperala

Tyler Nardone

Andrew Nelson

Heather Nelson

Steve Nelson

Barbara Nelson-Jameson

–continued

George Nicholson

Jami Nicholson

Marilyn Niebel

Bill O'Brien

Camdyn Odykirk

Annie Olds

Spencer Olson

Lauren Osuch

Dan Packer

Kristin Page

Susan Palmer

Gail Parry

Fayeannette Parsons

John Paul

Jeff Petterson

Lyn Petty

John Pflughoeft

Kathy Pilon

Abigail Platt

Jill Polmateer

Nancy Potter

Royce Ragland

Joe Rathbun

Martha Redick

Dave Regalbuto

Michael Rivard

Sawyer Robinson

Mark Rogers

John Rothhaar

Tammie Rousseau

Kevin Russell

Karen Sabin

Mary Sawyer

Jenna Scheub

Brent Schnell

Mary Schuhardt

Greg Seman

Marie-Claude Shanafelt

Robert Sharrar

Ted Shaw

Morgan Sheldon

Josh Shields

Michael Sipkoski

Bill Skaff

Brad Slaughter

Evan Smith

Mary "Nancy" Smith

Maureen Smyth

Bill Spiers

Mary Spiers

William Spiers

Don Stauffer

Gary Stauffer

Jane Stauffer

Mark Stevens

Jeffrey Stimson

Sue Stroope

Wayne Stroope

Sharon Studinger

Jonathan Sugar

Eddie Sullivan

Anne Sutton

Todd W Sutton

Al Taylor

Dave Taylor

Terrie Taylor

Terry Taylor

Connie Thompson

Jon Throop

Robin Tinholt

Mary Ann Tomaszewski

Matt Tomlinson

Jim Toppin

Janet Traub

Debra Trowbridge

Barbara Van Dam

Howie Van Houten

Patricia Van Houten

Tom Vinette

Jane Vogel

Phoebe Walker

Dave Waners

Hank Wang

Bill Ward

Sandra Warnaar

Dave Warners

Flint Watt

Charles Weaver

Janis Wesley

Angela Willis

John Willis

Nate Winkler

Gera Witte

Jim Witte

Michael Wnek

Karin Wolfe

Brenda Forbrig Wolfson

Fred Woodruff

Sonya Yenser-Hammon

Thom Yocum

PHOTO: RICK KANE

2846 3 Mile Rd N

Traverse City, MI 49686-8490

(231) 929.7911 | GTRLC.ORG

Call for Volunteers!

Each field season, GTRLC’s staff and volunteers work together to restore native plants in protected lands across our service area. An important, first phase of this process is removing invasive species so that native plants can be reintroduced in the fall. Controlling these aggressive plants early in the season–before they have a chance to spread–is critical to allowing our beautiful native species to thrive.

We are always looking for more hands to help with this rewarding work! If you’d like to volunteer with GTRLC, check out our website’s event calendar for upcoming volunteer shifts at gtrlc.org/volunteer/calendar/ and register today!

NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49684 Permit No. 306
PHOTO: RICK KANE

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