Transitions: 27 Years of Service, a Lifetime of Dedication

(Source: 2016 Summer Newsletter, page 10)

George Walter retires from the Board of Directors

George, at the beginning of it all, circa 1989.

George Walter, who founded the Land Trust in 1989 and served as its president from 1989-2012, retired from the Board of Directors in May after almost three decades of service.

We’re happy to report that George will continue to chair our Lands Committee, which coordinates acquisition and stewardship of the Land Trust’s properties. It is difficult to capture the profound impact George has had on conservation in the Nisqually Watershed. During his tenure with the Land Trust, we have permanently protected over 5,000 acres of wildlife habitat.

That alone is a tremendous legacy. But as a long-time employee of the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s Natural Resources Department, as a former chair of the Nisqually River Council, and as the close ally and confidante of the late Nisqually leader Billy Frank Jr., George has played an even larger role.

In 1980, when George helped draft the plan to restore and manage the Nisqually Watershed, only 3 percent of the Nisqually River shoreline was protected. Today, 78 percent of the shoreline enjoys permanent conservation status, making the Nisqually one of the most well-protected rivers in the state.

George has been at the center of achieving that remarkable progress, which the Puget Sound Partnership recognized in 2012, when it gave George its Lifetime Achievement Award.

We are immensely grateful for his leadership, his friendship, his inspiration, and his passionate commitment to our mission. Thank you, George!

Farewell Friends

Thomas A. Ginsburg moved on from the Board of Directors at the end of 2015. This April the Land Trust gave Tom its first Above and Beyond Award for his outstanding service to the Nisqually Watershed in the boardroom, in the field, and at Land Trust events. In his spare time he continues to volunteer as a Site Steward at one of the Red Salmon Creek properties. Tom, thank you for sharing your enthusiasm, unabated energy, and great sense of humor.

Hannah Andrascik first volunteered with the Land Trust last November to assist with student planting events, which eventually morphed into an internship. Hannah has since embarked on a new adventure with the Student Conservation Association at Shenandoah National Park.

Julian Strodel graduated from The Evergreen State College in June after interning with us for his final semester. He assisted with spring weed control and seedling maintenance and conducted an intensive bird survey of the Ohop Valley restoration site, which will provide us with valuable data. After graduation, Julian will pursue a career in conservation.

Welcome Aboard!

Roger Andrascik joined the Nisqually Land Trust board last December, after retiring from the National Park Service, where he was responsible for natural and cultural resource management programs throughout his career. He most recently worked at Mount Rainier National Park and served as the park’s representative on the Nisqually River Council. Roger is passionate about the Land Trust’s mission and is dedicated to the preservation of the Nisqually Watershed. He volunteers as a Nisqually Stream Steward and as a site steward for Land Trust property in the Eatonville area, where he and his wife, Karen, a first grade teacher, have lived since 2002. They have two grown children, Sean and Hannah. Roger is also an Eatonville School Board Director. He enjoys hiking, backpacking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sea kayaking.

Lloyd Fetterly is the newest member of the Board of Directors. Lloyd and his wife, Patricia, live in Tacoma and participate in tree planting, hiking and birder activities in the area. Both have been conservation supporters in Washington for many years. Lloyd is retired from thirty years as an attorney with Pierce County. He is pleased to have worked in the past on land purchases for the Pierce County Foothills Rails to Trails.