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From the President
by Peter LaTourrette

Where did the summer go? It is nearing the end of September as I begin to write this column, and last week's dramatic display of thunder and lightning brought back memories of my grandfather's insistence that September always brought "equinoxial storms." Whatever the scientific basis for that belief, the thundershowers jolted me to the realization that summer really was over.

So what did all the Green Feet — CGF's staff, volunteers and supporters — do during the summer? Certainly many followed my advice to go out and enjoy the trails and vistas of our wonderful system of parks and preserves in the foothills, bayside and coastside, unequalled in any other urban area in our nation. Others went farther afield, taking much needed and much deserved vacation trips to other parts of the nation and world.

Santa Clara Counties, continuing their efforts to prevent and/or mitigate for inappropriate development, and working to promote the continuation and livelihood of local agriculture. Dealing with these issues requires more time and effort (especially attendance at never-ending series of meetings) than most of us realize.

Nature's Inspirations Exhibition and Auction
For my own part during the summer, I had the pleasure of working on the selection of artists and photographers, and their exhibition and auction pieces, for our Nature's Inspirations art and photography exhibition and auction. It has been extremely gratifying for me to experience the dedication, generosity and environmental sensitivity that these talented and enlightened individuals bring to their work.

Throughout the summer, with the many projects involving our advocates, plus the extensive preparations for Nature's Inspirations, CGF has actually been operating at a reduced staffing level, thankfully supplemented by the capable assistance of our outside consultants and volunteers. We view this time as one of transition, and it affords us the opportunity to redefine our "business model" and find our optimum operating level.

For professional guidance to assist in this process, we have engaged CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, a firm with extensive experience with, and greatest respect by, the nonprofit community in the Bay Area. We are most fortunate and thankful to have generous financial support from both the Peninsula Community Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, expressly directed to our work with CompassPoint.

A key element of CompassPoint's Executive Transition Process is the placing of interim executive directors in organizations undergoing staffing changes and planning new executive searches. The interim directors in the CompassPoint "pool" all have extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, and they are able to provide the support and stability necessary for thoughtful and deliberate decision-making going forward.

Welcome Judith Steiner — Interim Executive Director
We are extremely fortunate and absolutely delighted to have Judith Steiner as CGF's Interim Executive Director. Last year, Judith retired after serving ten years as Executive Director of Hidden Villa, capping her illustrious career in the nonprofit world. She recently decided that she still has the time and the inclination to engage in part-time service to the nonprofit community, and we are the happy beneficiaries of that decision. We anticipate that the extent of her interim position with CGF will be between four and six months. I know that you will all join me in welcoming Judith to our Green Feet family!