PRESS RELEASE

July 9, 2013

 

The Dishman Hills Conservancy Hires Executive Director

 

Dishman Hills Conservancy received 3-year grant to hire first E.D.

in organization’s 47-year history of land conservation.

 

Spokane, Washington – The Dishman Hills Conservancy (www.dishmanhills.org) recently announced their selection of Eric Robison as the organization’s first Executive Director. As the E.D., Mr. Robison will be working with a variety of stakeholders to build support for conservation efforts in the Dishman Hills area.

 

“I am excited to have this opportunity to work with the DHC”, said Mr. Robison. “What other city has a six-mile long habitat and recreation corridor in the middle of an urban area? It really is a unique and valuable resource for the community. I’m looking forward to helping people realize that it’s worth protecting.”

 

As the first employee in the DHC’s 47-year history, Mr. Robison represents a significant step forward for the organization and its efforts. The DHC recently received a 3-year grant from the New Priorities Foundation for capacity building. “Eric is the perfect match for building the relationships with the community and our partners necessary to complete the Dream Trail and Connecting People to Nature project.” said Jeff Lambert, the DHC’s Board President.

 

The DHC’s Board of Directors selected Mr. Robison from among more than a dozen candidates. Mr. Robison recently received a Masters degree in Sustainable Development from School for International Training, and brings with him more than a decade of experience working with community non-profit organizations. Mr. Robison graduated from Lewis & Clark High School in Spokane and Western Washington University.

 

About the Dishman Hills Conservancy

The DHC’s mission is to conserve the lands within the Dishman Hills, Dishman Ridge and Tower Mountain areas. The DHC works towards this goal by collaboration with private landowners, other organizations and government entities with a similar vision. The DHC owns 800 acres of conservation lands in the Dishman Hills area, and has helped to secure 2400 acres in partnership with Spokane County’s Conservation Futures program, Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources and other partners. DHC is happy to provide more information or make presentations to your group.

 

Contacts

Jeff Lambert, Board President                     Eric Robison, Executive Director

(509) 999-5100                                            (509) 202-0767

President@DishmanHills.org                      ed@DishmanHills.org

 

The Development Committee of the Dishman Hills Conservancy has adopted the new name "Friends of the Dishman Hills Conservancy".

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/may/01/dishman-hills-trails-makeover-resisted-by-some/

In the fall the members of the Dishman Hills Conservancy participated in a retreat to look at the development of a new Strategic Plan for the next 1, 3 and 5 year period. During that time a draft Mission, Vision and Core Values were established and have been under review and discussion since. At this evenings monthly Board of Directors meeting those months of work resulted in an an approved Mission, Vision and Core Values for the organization.

 

Vision:

The vision of the Dishman Hills Conservancy is a vibrant and contiguous ecosystem in the Dishman Hills area, permanently protected, well managed and recognized as an asset for the community.

 

Core Values:

Integrity  Stewardship   Advocacy

 

Mission:

Our mission is to conserve the lands within the Dishman Hills, Dishman Ridge and Tower Mountain areas. We work towards this goal by collaborating with private land owners, other organizations and government entities with a similar vision. We steward these lands using high standards of land trust management and we advocate for their value as a natural and educational resource.

Steve Trefts with the Northwest Trustee and Management Services has taken on the position as Chair of the Development Committee. Steve has years of experience in the area of professional fund raising and we are honored to have his support as a member of our Board of Directors and experience in leading this team.

New organization logo approved by Board of Directors.

 

At the January 2013 Annual Membership meeting it was determined that the Dishman Hills Natural Area Association (DHNAA) would formally change its name to the Dishman Hills Conservancy. This change was made based upon the change in scale and efforts the organization is taking. With this change then came the requirement to change our website address from www.dhnaa.org to one more appropriate to the organization. After much debate we decided on and purchased www.dishmanhills.org to fill this role. Some of you may have reached this site by typing in our old address, but due to a little Internet magic you were able to still reach our new one. Moving forward, we ask that you simply use www.dishmanhills.org in your browser and be sure to share the news and our story with all your friends, family and co-workers.

The Dishman Hills Conservancy annual membership meeting was held on January 15th in the Moran Prairie Library 6004 S. Regal Street Spokane, WA 99223 during which trustees were elected. Following this annual meeting the standard monthly meeting was held and the Dishman Hills Conservancy 2013 Board of Directors officers were selected. The 2013 Board of Directors are as follow:

Jeff Lambert, President

EnviroScience

 

Michael Hamilton, Vice President

Geologist

 

Beal Lackaff, Secretary

Retired

Kris Wolbach, Treasurer

McDirmid Mikkelsen & Secrest, P.S.

 

Andrew Ashmore

Mountain Gear

Paula Bauer

KHQ Incorporated

 

Suzy Dix

Dix Farm, Inc - Farming and Polo Horses

Windermere - Real Estate

 

Chris Kopczynski

Kop Construction Co. Inc.

Dave Lill

Lill Construction Co.

 

Anne McGregor

InHealth Magazine

Christopher Polito

Providence Health and Services

 

David Schaub

Stay at Home Dad

Steve Trefts

Northwest Trustee and Management Services

 

Mary Weathers

Ph.D. Psychologist, Retired

Thank you to The Lands Council for selecting the Dishman Hills Natural Resources Conservation Area again in 2012 for their Reforest Spokane Project.

The Dishman Hills Conservancy along with over 70 volunteers worked with The Lands Council along the north edge of the property performing habitat restoration by the lower Camp Caro parking lot. Thanks to this event and volunteers 600 trees were planted, native seed placed and compost spread to help improve the soil conditions.

 

To see pictures from this event, please click the below link to view of Facebook page.

 

2012 Reforest Spokane - Dishman Hills