Friends of the Fells announces May 15 Annual Meeting
The Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation is pleased to announce its 2019 Annual Meeting, entitled:
Celebrating 125 Years of the Fells! | How the Movement to Create the Middlesex Fells Led to the Creation of the Metropolitan Park System | Wednesday, May 15, 2019 — 6 PM-9:30 PM | Melrose Memorial Hall, 590 Main St, Melrose
This special evening will include a slideshow presentation by former Executive Director Mike Ryanon the history of the Parks System and the early years of the Fells. This will be followed by featured speeches by Ron Morin, current Executive Director of Friends of the Fells; Leo Roy, Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation; and Heather Clish, Director of Conservation and Recreation Policy for the Appalachian Mountain Club.
6 – 7 PM: Meet-and-greet & light refreshments
7 PM: Meeting call-to-order, welcome remarks, brief board business – Sandy Pascal, Vice Chair, Friends of the Fells
— Presentation: “How the Movement to Create the Middlesex Fells Led to the Creation of the Metropolitan Park System” – Mike Ryan, former Executive Director, Friends of the Fells
The slide presentation will show how in the late 1800’s a local group of visionaries was able to address a public health crisis and stop deforestation through organization, advocacy, and education, thereby assuring citizens the right to enjoy the healthy benefits of access to forests, rivers, and seashores.
Over a 25-year period, working through the Appalachian Mountain Club, the movement for the Middlesex Fells Reservation led to the creation of the Greater Boston Metropolitan Park system.
The success of this movement left us with a rich legacy of lessons which are as relevant today as they were then.
— Remarks on the 90mm Meadow & environmental advocacy — Ron Morin, Executive Director, Friends of the Fells
— Remarks by Leo Roy, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
Since 2015, Leo Roy has served as DCR Commissioner. Prior to his return to public service he served 15 years in the private sector, most recently as a Principal at VHB – an infrastructure planning, design, engineering, and environmental firm. Leo brings to the DCR his experience in natural and cultural resource management, sustainability, ecological restoration, and agency management. As an environmental consultant Roy worked for state and municipal governments, colleges and universities, and private corporations and developers.
Roy served as Massachusetts Undersecretary of Environmental Affairs from 1992 to 1997. He has been an active supporter of numerous non-profit environmental organizations, serving on the Board of the Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC), and as Chair of the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership.
— Remarks by Heather Clish, Director of Conservation & Recreation Policy, AMC
Heather Clish serves as the Director of Conservation & Recreation Policy at the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). In this position she has overall responsibility for AMC’s conservation policy and advocacy work and long-distance trail planning. She oversees, coordinates, and integrates AMC’s regional land and recreation policy activities. She has over 20 years of experience in recreation planning and management, community involvement and conflict resolution, and natural resource protection policy. She has an M.A. in Environmental Policy from Tufts University and a B.A. in Humanistic Studies/Political Science from McGill University.
— Awards Ceremony
— Closing Remarks: “Looking to the Future” — Jeff Buxbaum, Board Chair, Friends of the Fells