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Meet the Young Professionals
A relative newcomer to the NYC Young Professionals Group, Gretchen Hurlbutt has a long history with The Nature Conservancy. From Oregon to Idaho to New York City, she has remained committed to the ideals and ideas that define the YPG.
How did you get involved in the YPG?
I worked with The Nature Conservancy in Idaho before moving to New York last year. When my colleague, Tom Rosenberg, learned of my previous employer, he introduced me to the YPG. I admire the Conservancy's work and am thrilled to be a part of this organization.
How did you become concerned about the environment?
I grew up in Portland, Oregon and we received our first curbside recycling bins when I was just 7 years old. Recycling felt so intuitive, I remember being very offended when I saw others continue to throw everything in the garbage. (Frankly, I still get offended when I see morning commuters throw their newspaper in the trash!) From there it just grew to an awareness of land use, pollution and then on to global issues.
What issues are you most interested in covering?
I have always had an affinity for freshwater- and I realize that it is one of our most limited resources. I would love to learn ways in which I can make a difference for New York's rivers.
How do you integrate your concern for the environment into your everyday life?
It's the little things that add up: I bring my reusable mug for morning coffee; I try to use my own bags for all of my shopping, not just groceries; and I always print double sided.
When she's not enjoying life in New York City, giving her time to the Conservancy, and 'reducing, reusing and recycling', Gretchen is still working towards a green world. As a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, she helps to incorporate Green Investments into portfolios.
New York's First Green Business Competition
The Nature Conservancy is delighted to be the official non-profit environmental partner of New York’s first Green Business Competition, an event designed to jump-start the city and the state’s green economy! The Green Business Competition is presented by Green Spaces, an organization founded by YP member Jenny Nevin. YP Advisor Tom Rosenberg will be speaking at the competition's launch event "GREEN for GOOD" on February 9th, from 7 - 10 PM at the 92Y Tribeca .
To RSVP email greenbizcomp@gmail.com
See Into The Head of a Conservancy Scientist:
The Nature Conservancy has launched a brand new weblog, Cool Green Science. This blog is updated daily by a team of 15 scientists and writers from throughout the organization, keeping you updated on what's happening in the world of conservation and providing a forum to debate the issues.
Special thanks to Naomi Arbit and Ben Nissim, who compiled the content of this newsletter. Questions? Contact us!
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Upcoming Events with the YPG
Join us for dinner with a Conservancy Fire Specialist
Thursday, February 19th
6:30 to 9:00pm
Zen Palate
104 John Street
Join us for our first Conservation Dinner of 2009! Laura Bavaro, the Conservancy's terrestrial team leader on Long Island, will speak about prescribed burning, fire ecology and the work being done by The Conservancy to restore and preserve Long Island’s natural ecosystems.
Price is $38pp inclusive
**Due to limited availability, only YP members are eligible to RSVP for this event. Reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis and payment must be received in order to confirm your space.
Please RSVP to YPG Events by February 10th
Happy Hour with the YPG!
Thursday, February 26th
6:00 to 8:00pm
Stone Creek
140 East 27th Street (3rd/Lexington)
Come meet old and new friends and learn how you can get involved with the YPG, as well as about our annual Benefit on March 19th to support and protect Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.
Special thanks to Jon Pirozzi of Stone Creek for hosting this event!
Please RSVP by February 19th
Join us for our 2009 Benefit
Festa Brasiliera!
Thursday, March 19th
7:30-10:30 PM
The Bowery Hotel: 335 Bowery
Join us for our 2009 YP Benefit in support of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Although only 7% of the original forest cover remains, the Atlantic Forest is still among the biologically richest and diverse forests in the world and exhibits a high number of species that can be found nowhere else on Earth.
For more information please contact Yoni Rabino or call us at (212) 997-6408
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Introducing: Bill Ulfelder
New York State Director
The Young Professionals Group is excited to welcome Bill Ulfelder as the new State Director for The Nature Conservancy of New York. A 14-year veteran of The Conservancy, Mr. Ulfelder has held a number of posts within the organization, from serving as the community-based conservation director of the Andes Region and the Director of the Northern Arizona Program to his most recent post as Director of both the Eastern Colorado and the Central Caribbean programs. "I am incredibly honored to join the New York team and continue my career where the Conservancy was first established nearly 60 years ago". Mr. Ulfelder will be resettling in New York City with his wife Natalie and his daughter Isabella. Click here to read more!
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Conservation Spotlight
Long considered the nation’s premier commercial shellfish harvesting location, by 2004 Long Island’s shellfish population had become so decimated by pollution, overfishing and habitat destruction that harvests were down 99% from the 1970's. Seeing these drastic changes to the ecosystem, The Nature Conservancy quickly stepped in to save the clams.
These efforts were joined three years ago by the Young Professionals Group, who hosted a Benefit in support of Long Island’s Great South Bay. Just this fall, YPs helped drop clams on Shelter Island during our semi-annual trip to Mashomack. These efforts and many others by The Nature Conservancy’s scientists and staff have resulted in a tremendous growth of the clam population.
A recent Conservancy survey has found that there are more then 250 million juvenile clams in the Bay, which are believed to be the offspring of the three million Conservancy stocked adult clams. This amazing number is a 4,000% increase in the bay’s clam population since 2006. This unbelievable success is not the end of the road however. Conservancy scientists will continue “…to remain vigilant in our monitoring and in our efforts to keep the bay healthy”, working with local partners with the goal of eventually letting nature take over.
Read More at The Nature Conservancy Long Island!
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