Important News from Five Rivers
July 27, 2020
Dear Five Rivers Supporters and Friends,
The past 4 months have given many of us a new perspective on life and our world, as we navigate the reality of a global pandemic. I have been able to take more walks in the woods and spend more time with my wife Ruth at home and in our garden. These are joyful and important activities and I realize I have not taken enough time for them over the past six years. To restore that balance between work and home, I now recognize that it is time for me to transition out of my role with Five Rivers.
Five Rivers is my local land trust, and I want to see the organization succeed wildly beyond my time as Executive Director. I have given the board a flexible time frame for my departure to enable a smooth transition to Five Rivers’ next leader, probably near the end of 2020. The Board of Directors will be releasing its announcement for the Executive Director position in mid-August and will keep the community well-informed about the process as it unfolds. If you have questions for the Board about the position or this transition, please direct them to FiveRiversBoard@gmail.com.
In reflecting on my time with Five Rivers, I’m proud of how far we have come and where we are going. As Executive Director, I have seen the organization through its first Land Trust Accreditation, and a strategic plan that led us to hire our first full time conservation professional. We’ve doubled our number of supporters and received the largest donations of funds and land over our 30-year history. Hundreds of community members have enthusiastically attended our seasonal events. All of these accomplishments have helped us increase Five Rivers’ conserved acreage by 40% over six years – we have now conserved over 5400 acres in 17 towns.
I have greatly enjoyed getting to know our supporters – the people who make Five Rivers’ work possible. My encounters with members, landowners and volunteers have made all my efforts with the organization worthwhile. Thank you for your strong support of me and of the organization over these years.
What will I do next, you ask? In the new year, I will take a break for personal and professional growth – attending a class or two, reading, exploring forests, fields and streams and spending time with Ruth. Those explorations will lead me to the next phase of my career.
Thank you for your commitment to conservation and to Five Rivers. I look forward to working for you and with you through the transition period. I will remain a supporter of Five Rivers Conservation Trust, and I am eager to see how the organization will grow under new leadership.
With gratitude,
Beth McGuinn
Executive Director
