Appalachian Spring 2013 – Coming Home to Kingsport, TN

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musicians4.jpgThanks to everyone who made our event a success! Around a hundred guests, volunteers, and staff enjoyed beautiful weather for the afternoon at the Barn at Allandale Mansion. We were overjoyed to see so many friends and family – those new to SAHC as well as long-time supporters and founding members. A huge thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy delicious food, fellowship, and music provided by Trae McMaken & Will MacMorran for this event.

Our volunteers and planning committee for this event went above and beyond to land a solid success. Thank you all for your sincere and dedicated efforts. We raised $1,000, and gained new friends and members!

volunteergroup.jpgCongratulations to our 2013 Stan Murray Volunteer of the Year recipients: Carol Coffey, David Goforth, Mike Fisher, Jamie Burnham, Bill Ryan and Bruce Byers for leadership of the Roany Boyz.

The Boyz are a dedicated group of on-the-ground stewardship volunteers whose tireless efforts have dramatically advanced the restoration of the open grassy habitat at Engine Gap in the Highlands of Roan. On average, they maintain about 4 acres of grassy balds each year. Every July, the Roany Boyz travel at their own expense to Carver’s Gap, hike over Round Bald and camp in Engine Gap. Then they work for 2-5 days. This will be the 12th year that the Roany Boyz have worked at Engine Gap. They joyfully provide their own food, tarps, tents, and sleeping bags, in order to enjoy the comradeship with their friends and the mountains, and hard work. They take great pride in what they have accomplished in restoring the area between Round and Jane Balds, and get pleasure from doing it.

We also want to give a shout of thanks to all the others who have worked alongside Carol, David, Mike, Jamie, Bill, and Bruce over the years. A huge THANK YOU to all the Roany Boyz!

table2.jpgRecognition of Retiring Trustees:

Richard Coker
Richard has focused on advancing SAHC’s relationships with landowners, donors, and community leaders in Haywood County. He has been an extraordinarily gracious and generous host at the Cataloochee Ranch for SAHC’s annual board retreat. Richard has also facilitated exciting partnership opportunities between SAHC and The American Chestnut Foundation.

Lindsay Hearn
Lindsay has been very active in the Communications Committee and Membership Committee, and she chairs the recently created Governance Committee. Lindsay has also been a great resource for funding opportunities, new trustee candidates, and event planning.

Bill Maxwell
Bill has been an indispensable leader with the Planning and Finance Committees, and as Treasurer for SAHC. Bill also brought outstanding leadership and experienced guidance in managing and growing our investments and endowments.

david_award2.jpgDavid Ramsey
David was instrumental in protecting the 10,000-acre Rocky Fork wilderness and continues to lead guided interpretive hikes here for SAHC. David has also been active in helping with SAHC events.

Election of New & Returning Trustees:

We congratulate and welcome the following trustees who were elected to a first consecutive term.

Jim Houser, Charlotte, NC
Jim is a commercial real estate developer who has been a member of SAHC since 2007. Jim is enthusiastic about helping SAHC manage our real estate assets such as cabins we own, explore options for the organization’s office space, and continue ramping up our land protection and farm sustainability programs.

Jay Leutze, Minneapolis, NC
Jay serves on SAHC’s Land Protection Committee, and previously served as an SAHC Trustee and Secretary of the Board. Avid conservationist and trout fisherman and author of the bestselling book Stand Up that Mountain, Jay is a nationally recognized advocate on behalf of public funding to help conserve special places in the Southern Appalachians. He also serves on the NC Mountain Resources Commission.

anne_kilgore_group.jpgAnne Kilgore, Kingsport, TN
Anne is director of Global Sustainability for Eastman Chemical Company. She is a 2002 graduate of Leadership Kingsport, a former chapter president of APICS -The Association for Operations Management, and a Woman of Excellence honoree from Altrusa, the international volunteer service organization.

Mary Bruce Woody, Asheville, NC
Mary Bruce is a committed long-term supporter of SAHC and conservation in the region. She and her husband Steve are longtime members of the Blue Ridge Society giving circle. Mary Bruce has served as a leader of the NC Arboretum, the French Broad River Garden Club, Trinity Episcopal Church, Lake Logan Center and Friends of the Smokies. Mary Bruce is an avid hiker who has explored every corner of SAHC’s service area.

We also congratulate and thank the following trustees who were elected to a continue serving a second 3-year consecutive term.

Milton “Buddy” Tignor, Waynesville, NC
Buddy serves as Vice-President of the Board and Chair of the SAHC Land Management and Stewardship Committee. Buddy is Chair of the Natural Resources Management Department at Haywood Community College. He has diverse interests relating to land conservation, including stewardship of properties, economics of preserving farms, and public education opportunities. He holds a PhD, an MS, and a BS in Horticultural Science.

nancy_closeup.jpgNancy Edgerton, Asheville, NC
Nancy serves as Secretary of the Board and Chair of the SAHC Membership Committee. She is a dedicated participant in SAHC’s hikes, outings and special events, and a leader in the Blue Ridge Society. Nancy is a talented photographer and cellist, and she also serves on the Asheville Symphony board. Nancy attended Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and holds and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.