Putting the garden to bed
By Tracy Lohman, development director
Gardening brings me great joy. From sowing the seeds in the spring, to pulling weeds all summer, to harvesting even the tiniest of carrots before the freeze comes and months later digging into thawed soil, it all makes me happy. This fall, as I put my garden to bed and covered the yard with fall-leaf mulch to protect future poppies, I realized that just as the seasons come and go, so do people.
Tracy in her garden. Photo by Tom Lohman
I am retiring sometime next spring or summer, and that means this will be the last time I ask you to make a year-end gift to Trustees for Alaska. It will also be the last (and first!) time I get hand out some awesome prizes! This year—our 50th anniversary—everyone who donates $25 or more in 2024 will be entered in a drawing for a trip for two to Gates of the Arctic. (We are so grateful to Tundra Travels for donating this trip of a lifetime!)
Yes, fundraising can be fun! It can also be hard, though asking for donations is easy (at least it is for me). The kindness, generosity, stories, and shared passion of our donors remind me daily of all the good in the world. Sure, I’ve had to do the tedious, behind the scenes work of stuffing envelopes and entering data into computer systems, and fretting over whether we’ll meet our budget goals to keep the legal work going, but I’ve also been immersed in the joyful work of talking to all of you.
Photos gifted by one of our donors!
Just yesterday, a long-time donor popped by the office to drop off a collection of bird photos, plus one of a fox. They’re gorgeous! These images sit on my desk as a reminder of what’s important and why this work matters. The photos show not just how this donor cares about nature and animals, but also their willingness to share that connection with others. What a fantastic reminder of how so many of us commit to caring for all living beings and future generations, and to supporting Trustees as part of that commitment.
Building and cultivating relationships with Trustees’ donors is what feeds my soul. And knowing that the good, critical work will continue happening all the time is a labor of love.
As I look ahead, I know there is a lot at stake. Whatever the results of the election, whatever the next Supreme Court ruling, whatever the decisions every next administration makes, Trustees must keep doing the work. Clean water, healthy fish, and Alaska’s abundant life depend on it.
If there’s one thing our first half century taught us, it’s that there can be big wins in court, but the legal work never ends. There’s always another effort to mine, drill, build a road, undermine protected public lands, you name it, just around the corner.
Here’s the absolute truth. Trustees turns 50 on Dec. 16 and every one of you who has chosen to donate once, twice, every year, every month has made that possible. Thank you!
And this year I can also say, every one of you who donates at least $25 before Dec. 16 has a chance to walk away with an Arctic trip of a lifetime. If you haven’t already, make a donation now, and your name will be automatically added to the drawing.
And if you’re already a donor, how about becoming a monthly donor now to be included in our monthly drawings for Trustees goodie bags? There are three more monthly drawings in our 50th year.
I hope many of you can make it to our 50th birthday on Dec. 16 at our office in Anchorage so we can share cake and goodies of all kinds, and find out whose name gets drawn for the grand prize. All I ask is that you bring a story or photo to share. It will be the last big shindig of my Trustees’ career—and I’ll be all eyes and ears and heart!
Tracy Lohman and Madison Grosvenor celebrating our Fall into 50 event! Photo by Tom Lohman.