2009 Annual Report Tri-Valley Conservancy Newsletter

8/3/2019 2009 Annual Report Tri-Valley Conservancy Newsletter

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AnnualReport2009

Preserving Land for Future Generations


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Mission stateMentTo permanently protect the fertile soils, rangelands, open space and biological resources and to

support a viable agricultural economy in the Tri-Valley area.

VisionPreservation of agricultural lands and natural open spaces in our area is vital to protecting our

quality of life. Tri-Valley Conservancy will foster the creation and maintenance of a productive

and balanced environment for current and future generations of Tri-Valley area residents.

We envision a future that includes population growth and development matched by a strong

agricultural industry and a strong conservation ethic. We recognize the need to protect landand to support a viable agricultural economy to provide food, recreation, and watershed for

the long-term health and viability of our community. We are committed to the permanent

protection of lands that are critical to the health of the environment.

Boardof directors

Rik Hansen, Chair

Jean King, Vice-Chair

Mary Roberts, Secretary

Karl Wente, TreasurerJon Chirstensen

Mark Eaton

Kathy Farrell

Matthew Ford

Michael Fredrich

Miriam Miller

Jim Perry

Christopher Schlies

staff

Sharon Burnham, Executive Director

Laura Mercier, Associate Director

Barbara Graham, Ofce Manager

Monica DePalmo, Stewardship

LegaLcounseL

Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger LLP

independent auditor

Bologna Accountancy Corporation

inVestMent adVisor

Altamont Capital Management

We envision a

future that includes

population growth

and development

matched by a

strong agricultural

industry and a strong

conservation ethic.

2 tri-ValleyConserVanCy


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We do not inherit

this land from

our ancestors; we

borrow it fromour children.

Ancient Indian Prove

MessagefroMthe chair,

The business of the Tri-Valley Conservancy continues every day of each year. The

easements held by the Conservancy protect lands day and night without regard for

political seasons, the twenty-four hour news cycle, or the cause de jour. Our easements

are agreements made with willing land owners, and the agreements are written and

intended to last for perpetuity.

As you read our 2009 Annual Report, you will be favorably impressed by the strengthsthe Conservancy continues to develop in all its endeavors. These strengths are recognized

at the national level. In 2009, the Land Trust Alliance, a coalition of 1700 land trusts

from around the country, awarded the Conservancy the title of Accredited Land Trust.

Only 92 land trusts have achieved this highest national level of recognition. Our

organization is governed by policies and procedures that are the industrys best practices

this demonstrates our commitment to the concepts of protection and perpetuity.

The Conservancys activities blend actively with our local community. When you have

a chance, take a look at our website, www.trivalleyconservancy.org. You can see the

volunteers that assist us with stewardship and fundraising activities, the grape growers

and vintners that share in our Quest for Excellence program, the families that enjoy the

open space permanently protected by our easements.

The business of the Tri-Valley Conservancy continues every day in 2010. Be a part

of this organization that is connected to local community and best equipped to

permanently protect our valued fertile soils, rangelands, open space and natural habits.

Join us by volunteering. Join us by contributing.

Rik Hansen

3annual report 2009


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4

Land conserVation coMMitteeOn February 5, 2009 Tri Valley Conservancy presented their draft of the North Livermore

Resource Conservation Study to the public. Approximately 100 members of our community

attended and provided us with valuable input and comments which were incorporated in the

nal version of the Study. TVC undertook creation of this Study to protect agricultural lands,

open spaces, and biological resources. The Study also attempts to set preservation priorities for

these lands because TVC recognizes the opportunities for land protection will decrease as the

pressure for development increases. The Study establishes a series of goals related to TVCs

mission of protecting lands, habitat and public recreation. The TVC Board approved the Studyin August, 2009.

On August 27, 2009 TVC helped preserve more of our valuable lands when it became the

owner of the 74 acre Bobba Property (photo on next page). TVC met the $1.5-million

purchase price by combining $600,000 of Proposition 84 funds approved by the Coastal

Conservancy with contributions from the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District

(LARPD), East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD), and TVCs own funds. TVC intends

to transfer the property to LARPD which will enable public access and will provide linkage

between Sycamore Grove and other parklands in the vicinity.

In September of 2009 TVC successfully spearheaded opposition to a proposed controversial power

line route through South Livermore wine country, past Ruby Hill in Pleasanton, and through Sunol

The project was being proposed by the Transmission Association of Northern California (TANC), ajoint powers agreement among 15 public power agencies in northern California.

The power lines would have enabled development of power resources in three northern

California counties. The power was to be distributed via 600 miles of transmission lines for the

benet of ve public power-operating cities, none of which are in the Valley. TVC is pleased

to have helped stop this project, at least for now, and is grateful for the extraordinary efforts

made by our staff to quickly respond to, and organize an effective opposition to this proposed

project. We will remain ever vigilant.

As a result of term limits, 2009 also saw my tenure as a board member of the Tri Valley

Conservancy come to an end. I will remain involved with our organization as a committee

member, donor and supporter of the great work being done by the Tri Valley Conservancy.

Thank you to Mary Roberts, Karl Wente, Bill Hoppes and Jon Harvey, who served on this committeewith me in 2009

Chair: William D. Thomson

Never doubt that

a small group

of thoughtful,

committed citizens

can change the world.

Indeed, its the only

thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

resource deVeLopMent coMMitteeThe year 2009 was a very busy year for our committee. Because most of the money TVC has

is restricted for use within the South Livermore Area Plan (SLVAP) it has been an ongoing

challenge to fund its operating expenses for any work it will do outside of the SLVAP.

Even though 2009 was a difcult year for fundraising TVC managed to increase its fundraising

(inclusive of special events, grants and contributions) by 48 percent and increase its number ofdonors by 46 percent.

Part of this success can be attributed to our second annual Jeans and Jewels held in October. It

was a huge success. There were 150 supporters in attendance at the Casa Real in Pleasanton.

Fundraising events like this cannot take place without the commitment and dedication of many

people. We are ever thankful to our volunteers for their hard work.

Thank you to Miriam Miller and Michael Princevalle who served on this committee with me in 2008.

Chair: Kathy Farrell

tri-ValleyConserVanCy


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It all started in 2007 when Livermore Area Regional Park District

(LARPD) asked Tri-Valley Conservancy (TVC) to acquire the 74-acre

property (known as the Bobba Property) adjacent to Sycamore Grove Park

for use as additional parkland that will enable public access and will

provide linkage to trails in parks that surround the property.

onaugust26, 2009 tVcBecaMethe

ownerofthe 74acreBoBBaproperty.

Every green natural place we save saves a fragment of our

sanity and gives us a little more hope that we have a future.Wallace Stegner

additiontosycaMore groVe park

Sycamore Grove Park

va HoSPital

Camp Arroyo

annual report 2009


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In good times

and bad, we know

that people give

because you meet

needs, not

because you

have needs.

Kay Grace

stewardofthe Land $1000 +Anonymous (1)Bob BaltzerMr. and Mrs. David BregmanJoan BuchananMr. and Mrs. David DoyleKathy Farrell - State Farm InsuranceMr. and Mrs. Michael FredrichFriends of the VineyardsRik HansenThe IndependentJames Irvine Foundation

(Ms. Regina Muehlhauser)Mr. Arthur JeannetJean KingDonald and Miriam Miller

Ms. Read PhillipsKevin and Lynn ReedyLynn and Joan SeppalaBarry and Carolyn ShamesSmith School PTAWaste Management

sponsorof preserVation$500 - $999Anonymous (2)Ms. Julie DarnellMark and Joyce EatonMrs. Patricia HansenJohn and Sue HoughtonDr. Ford and Mary RobertsBill and Sandy ThomsonMr. and Mrs. Thomas Tray

patronof preserVation$250 - $499Mr. and Mrs. Andrew BlickCoastal Viticultural ConsultantsMr. and Mrs. Matthew CordesMs. Karen DynekMark and Judy EckartDr. David and Dr. Karen FurstMr. and Mrs. Archer FutchHarry Galles and Linda Nidever-Galles

Ms. Kirstin HigginsMr. and Mrs. Roger LakeLivermore Valley WinegrowersJohn and Susan MarchandTo Honor the Birthday of Miriam MillerMr. and Mrs. J Robert NeelyMr. and Mrs. Ken PerineMichael PrincevalleMr. and Mrs. Douglas RattoKevin Schoenfeld and Debbie WojtowiczMs. Lori SouzaThornburg Investment ManagementEllen TurnerJeffrey and Ann WilliamsMr. and Mrs. Clay WidmayerMr. and Mrs. Leland Younker

partnerof preserVation$100 - $249Anonymous (3)Mr. Robert Addis and Dr. Kristen IvaniMr. and Mrs. John BingamanBill and Connie BishMr. Ronald BrownMr. and Mrs. Steve BrozoskyMr. and Mrs. Stanley G. BurnhamTo Honor the Memory of

Mr. Stanley G. BurnhamDr. and Mrs. James ButtafuocoMs. Chris Chandler and Mr. Daryl Tom

Jon and Elizabeth ChristensenMr. Ken CookMr. and Mrs. Richard DixonMr. Gary DrummondMs. Sue DyerMr. and Mrs. James FoltaCharlotte French and Bob CooperMs. Patricia Fuzesy and Mr. Jon KruegerMs. Ann GaborMs. Tamara GalanterMs. Carol GerichMr. and Mrs. T.J. GilmartinMr. and Mrs. Larry GodwinMs. Emily GrifnJim and Bobbie HadleyMr. and Mrs. Michael HannigMs. Teresa Hauk

Mr. Chuck HazenDave and Evonne HopkinsMr. and Mrs. William HoppesMr. and Mrs. Henry HuffMr. Thomas JeffersonMs. Linda Jeffery SailorsMr. and Mrs. Chuck JeronimoMr. John KontrabeckiMr. and Mrs. John LagrantHerman and Marjorie LeiderMrs. Carol LokkeHarry and Lois LutzMr. and Mrs. Lloyd G. MannMr. and Mrs. Gary MarchMr. and Mrs. Stephen MasseyMr. and Mrs. Patrick McMenaminDr. and Mrs. Mort Mendelsohn

Laura MercierDavid and Barbara MertesDr. Jack MillsMr. and Mrs. Richard MollenkopfMr. and Mrs. Michael MurphyMr. and Mrs. Jeff NarumMr. and Mrs. William NevinsMr. Matt P Nolan and

Ms. Karen Gibson-NolanMr. and Mrs. Fernando OliveiraJim and Cheryl PerryMr. Walter PerryRolf and Susan PetersonMr. and Mrs. John PinelliMr. and Mrs. John PittsMr. and Mrs. Jeffery Richardson

Remo Rosa and Harriet ColeMr. and Mrs. Balazs RozsnyaiMr. and Mrs. Dick RyonMs. Gail Shearer and Mr. John FletcherMr. and Mrs. Ray SmithMs. Suzanna SpringMr. and Mrs. Dane StarkMs. Barbara StearMr. and Mrs. John SutterMr. and Mrs. Tray ThomasMark and Maria TriskaKarl WenteMr. and Mrs. Bruce WhiteTed and Ayn WieskampMs. Beth WilsonMr. Wai-Kin Wong

friendof preserVationunder$100Anonymous (3)Mr. and Mrs. Jim AdamsMr. and Mrs. James BenhamMr. and Mrs. Dale BervenMr. and Mrs. Michael BrooksMs. Sally BrownMr. Richard CiminoTo Honor the Birthday of Ken CookMr. and Mrs. Robert CowanMr. Peter DaleyMr. and Mrs. David Darlington

Danny and Monica DePalmoMr. and Mrs. Kenneth DonnellMr. Robert DoyleDennis and Marcia ElchesenMs. Maryalice FaltingsMr. Robert FletcherMr. Thom Gamble and Ms. Karen KoehlerMr. and Mrs. John GilkisonBill and Barbara GrahamMr. Lee HarrisTo Honor the Memory of Sheila W. HartMr. John HobsonMs. Jamie HyamsMr. and Mrs. John JayMr. Daniel Jones and Ms. Joyce Norton-JonesMr. William JunkMaruta Litus

Mr. Peter MacDonaldMr. Donald Maroney and

Ms. Barbara Goode MaroneyMr. and Mrs. Russell MillerJeff and Carolyn NewtonMr. Milo NordykeMr. John NorwoodMr. William PerkinsMr. and Mrs. Norman PetermeierMr. and Mrs. Tom ReitterMs. Carol RieneckerMs. June SchaeferMs. Julie SeelenMichael and Diane SillsMr. and Mrs. Art TenbrinkJim and Carol WaksdalMr. and Mrs. Berthold Weis

Mr. and Mrs. William Wentworth Jr.Ms. Kathleen Young

corporate Matching fundsAT&TChevronFranklin TempletonGE FoundationLLNL Home DonationsMcKesson Foundation

Tri-Valley Community Foundation

in-kind giftsCallahan PropertiesCheckers CateringEagle Ridge VineyardsEl Sol Winery

Fantasy Sound Event ServicesFaster PhotographyHansen Ranch VineyardsHarris Blade RentalHolt of CaliforniaKathy ThompsonLandmark LabelsLivermore Area Recreation & Park DistrictLivermore Valley FloristCheryl and Jim PerryRMJ GraphicsMr. and Mrs. Pete SandhuStarbucksMaria and Mark TriskaKarl WenteWente Vineyards RestaurantWhole Foods Market

VoLunteersArianna AddisOlivia AddisJodi BachJohn BingamanLeona BingamanBill BishConnie BishDebi BodanPaula CampbellPatti ColeCharlie De Palmo

Claire De PalmoDanny De PalmoMonica De PalmoHeather DemoSheila FaglianoSean FarrellNorma FossDavid FurstCarol GerichBill GrahamMonica GrahamJim HadleyKirsten HigginsJohn HoughtonSue HoughtonKristen IvaniConnie Kirchner

Dave KirkJill KirkVernie LaubeLes MahlerRenee MarchHolly MasseyDiana MendenhallHoward MendenhallMatt MendenhallSybil MercierJC (Jack) MoodyAndrew MoreheadJessica MouraCarolyn NewtonWalt PerryJessica SchererLinda Schmidt

Larry SharpShannon ThomasSandy ThomsonDarren Zimmerman

Tri-Valley Conservancy has

made every effort to record the

names of donors in this report

accurately and completely. If we

have inadvertently overlooked

or misstated your name please

accept our sincere apology and

bring it to our attention.

With SincereAppreciation toThose WhoSupport Us...

tri-ValleyConserVanCy


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finance coMMitteeI am pleased to report that the combined nancial statements for the year ending December 31, 2009

reect a year of substantial growth. Net assets totaled $14,365,339 which is an increase of $2,423,211

when compared to December 31, 2008. Most of the increase in net assets is a result of interest/

dividends on investments and a stock market that ended 2009 with their best gains since 2003.

This year, led by the Finance Committee, TVC reviewed our long-term strategy, including the balance

of dollars between the Capital Fund and the Endowment Fund. This included a lively discussion

about strategy and direction of the organizationafter all, perpetuity is a long time.

Thank you to Mark Eaton and Mary Roberts who served on this committee in 2009.

Chair, Karl Wente

Board goVernance coMMitteeThis committee met regularly during 2009 to discuss the involvement of all directors in the activities and

goals for the Conservancy, to select new candidates for directorship, recommend a slate for ofcers for

2010 and to make suggestions for improving the Boards structure.

Our committee discussed a proposed list of potential board members who were interviewed by the

Executive Director and me. The committee then selected four candidates to recommend to the board. All

were approved and were installed in January, 2010.

Looking to 2010 the committee suggested the Board meet six times a year formally and three times a year

in a workshop format. Alternate months would be the committee meetings.Once again 100% of TVCs board members met Land Trust Alliances (LTA) Board Member Challenge.

Tri-Valley Conservancy joined just twenty-two other land trusts nationwide that met the highest mark in

the Challenge.

*LTA is the national convener, strategist, and representative of the more than 1,700 land trusts across America.

Thank you to Jean King and Michael Princevalle who served on this committee with me in 2009.

Chair: Jim Perry

Contributions/Grants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,504. .8%Net.rom.Benefts.(Fundraiser)... .. .. .. .. 23,772. .5%Program.Income... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,298. .3%From.reserve.account .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..373,600. 84%Total.Organization.Support.&.Revenue.. . . $442,174

Program.Expenses.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194,388. 44%Management.&.General.Expenses.. . . . . . . 199,784. 45%Fundraising.Expenses.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48,002. 11%

Total.Organization.Expenses... . . . . . . . .$442,174

tVc 2009 operating reVenues

Contributions/Grants 8%Net rom Benefts 5%

From Reserve Account 84%

Program Income 3%

tVc 2009 operating expenses

Program Expenses 44%Management & General

Expenses 45%

Fundraising Expenses 11%

annual report 2009


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The Tri-Valley Conservancy will continue to focus on

permanently protecting lands that preserve the areas rural

character, scenic beauty, and diverse environmental resources.

Protecting these lands, we envision that both human life and

wildlife can survive and thrive.

We will work in partnership with local landowners, the

community, nonprot organizations, conservation agencies

and local, regional, state and federal government agencies to

protect two major wildlife and biological corridors along the

Pleasanton and Altamont Ridges. We will protect lands thatwill allow people to hike, bike, and walk throughout the hills

and vineyards to enjoy the land, thereby being motivated to

protect it. We will promote long-term stewardship of local

lands that will result in safeguarding agriculture and water

resources of the Tri-Valley area.

www.trivalleyconservancy.org

1736 Holmes Street, Bldg. B

Livermore, CA 94550-6012

tel: 925 449-8706

fax: 925 449-8709

SAVE THE DATE: OcTObEr7, 2010

attendthe 3nd annuaLceLeBratingthe VaLLeyeVentat casa reaLat ruByhiLLwinery

tri-ValleyConserVanCy8

Documents

2009 Annual Report Tri-Valley Conservancy Newsletter