CEO Letter

A Message from our CEO, Arthur Pearson

On July 16, RTPI hosted its first-ever Summer Soiree at the Lodge. On a perfect summer evening, more than a hundred guests joined us for a gourmet dinner and a selection of wines from the oldest estate winery in New York. Our guest speaker, James Prosek, shared how the field guides of Roger Tory Peterson inspired him to his career as an artist, writer and conservationist. In my remarks, I shared the words of Manish Bapna, President and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council:

Today, I believe that advocates like me must join forces with artists, writers and musicians, whose work reaches millions of people, touches hearts, changes perspectives and shapes our culture. The environmental movement needs artists of every stripe just as much as it needs lawyers, scientists and activists. We couldn’t agree more. Trained as an artist, Roger Tory Peterson understood the power of art to inform, inspire and illuminate people about the natural world. The experience of using his illustrated field guides has helped millions of people across the globe really see the natural world. To be inspired by it. To fall in love with it. As the living embodiment of the Peterson Field Guide, RTPI is committed to nurturing the next generation of artists who are equally passionate about using their artistry to illuminate the beauty of nature, to confront environmental challenges, and to inspire us to be better stewards of the earth. Art that Matters to the Planet. More than a slogan, they’re words we live by.