The following is an excerpt from the Winter 2005 edition of CFC News.

FROM THE STAFF DIRECTOR

Citizens for Conservation is a fortunate organization. In addition to generous support from individuals, families, organizations, businesses and foundations, it has recently received media coverage by the Chicago Tribune and Channel 11. It’s an interesting experience to receive the call that this coverage will be taking place and even more interesting to facilitate making it happen. Thanks to all who were involved. We appreciate these excellent opportunities to reach the broader community with our story and are pleased that the features were so well done.

As you know however, it’s our volunteers, members and donors who are the life-blood of CFC, we can never thank you adequately for the day-to-day, on-the-ground time, energy and expertise you offer this organization. The recent holidays found CFC volunteers continuing to contribute to our mission. Volunteers used their vacation to help clear brush. Others designed and mailed invitations to the 2005 annual meeting. Still others sent acknowledgements to donors over the holidays, and the Membership Committee designed the 2005 membership mailing. In addition, an intrepid group of high school students, supervised by board member Patsy Mortimer, carried out the annual project of trimming Christmas trees to be used for nests on the island in Baker’s Lake. (Call CFC at 847-382-SAVE if you would like to join the group that takes the trees to the island over the ice.)

George Overton, who was a member of Openlands’ Board of Directors for over 40 ears, said, “Society depends on a group of activists who will take the initiative to get the job done.” CFC is indeed fortunate to have so many dedicated activists in its midst.

--- Sam Oliver

IN MEMORY

CFC wishes to thank Ted and Penny Horne for their contribution in memory of Francie O’Neil.

• Stillman Nature Center
• Citizens for Conservation

Grigsby Prairie Preserve - Barrington Hills Impressive results can be seen at Grigsby Prairie since restoration work began there in 1987. Work is underway on the 37 acres to recreate an Illinois tall grass prairie. In 1999, prairie birds nesting at Grisby included a pair of meadowlarks, eight pairs of bobolinks and two pairs of grasshopper sparrows. A bird count conducted a year later found no less than four species of shore birds. But its the landscape dominated by grasses such as big bluestem and Indian grass as well as a large number of other species of grasses and wildflowers, sometimes reaches a height of 10 feet or more, that is the real reason for the name Grigsby Prairie. [photos from Citizens for Conservation photo collection]

See an aerial photo of the Prairie from Oak Knoll Road [pdf 4M] after the seasonal prairie fire and since the Spring rains in 2008.