On September 23rd the staff and board of CGF welcomed over 300 sponsors, Honorary Hosts, members and their guests to our Golden Celebration birthday party at Runnymede Farm in Woodside for an afternoon of hiking/strolling amongst the eclectic array of sculptures that grace the property. The perfect autumnal California sunshine matched the glow in our hearts as we listened to congratulatory accolades for the organization from local, state, and national elected officials, as well as inspirational words from our speakers, John Christensen and Lynn Stegner. I would like to thank everyone involved including the entire Rosekrans family for so generously opening their estate for our party, as well as the CGF staff and board for all their hard work organizing the event.
…we live in an area of amazing natural beauty…which CGF’s work…has done so much to help preserve.
CGF focused this past year, its 50th, on member outreach and education through a series of monthly programs (all the while continuing our effective advocacy work, as you can see from other articles in this news- letter). I attended all but one of these events, and to my delight found I was able to come up close and personal with the ecology of the Bay Area from the San Mateo coast, down through the Peninsula and the Baylands, to the foothills of Coyote Valley and Gilroy. I have said it before and I will say it again, we live in an area of amazing natural beauty with a complex array of intertwining habitats and intricate ecology, which CGF’s work, to- gether with that of other environmental ad- vocacy and land protection groups, has done so much to help preserve.
I am sure by now you all know that our capable and creative Executive Director, Cynthia D’Agosta, has moved on to become the ED of Filoli, a National Trust historic estate in Woodside. This is sad news for CGF, and we will miss her very much. But a 50-year-old organization is used to hiccups, and already our competent and stra- tegic Board of Directors has started the search process for a new ED. Cynthia leaves CGF with an effective and hardworking staff who will continue our mission of protecting the open spaces, farmlands, and natural resourc- es of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Thank you, Cynthia.
And now, let me ask for your support as we move into our second half century. I hope you will remember CGF when deciding which organizations you would like to help with your year-end giving. Thank you all so very much, and here’s to wishing all at CGF – members, friends, staff, and board – a happy and successful 2013.
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