Cost will be $35. For more information or to RSVP contact us!
Take a Survey and Help the YPs! While we know that you all love the Young Professionals Group, that doesn’t mean we’re going to stop trying to make the group more effective, more informative and more fun.
If you follow the link below you will be brought to a (very) quick survey that will give you a voice in our effort to make the Young Professionals Group the best it can be. Please note that the survey will close on September 28th!
September 19th, 2009 marks this year’s International Coastal Cleanup Day! There are always opportunities throughout the area (and not just on the 19th) to help make and keep the world's beaches and waterways clean while learning ways to change the behaviors that caused the marine mess in the first place. This is a great way to proactively celebrate this year’s YP Conservation Initiative for Ocean and Coasts so definitely let us know if you're out there working!
Meet the Young Professionals!
Mark Crofton has been a member of the Young Professionals Board since 2006. Now in 2009 Mark has accepted the role of YP Board Co-Chair.We look forward to hearing his thoughts and seeing the impact of his vision and his leadership!
What first brought you to the Young Professionals?
The unbelievable pace at which we’re losing critical habitats really drove me to get involved with a conservation organization. When I came upon the YPs and went to my first event I decided that this was an great way to be involved with The Conservancy while living in an urban environment and to give back to the community.
What has been your favorite part of being a part of the YPG?
First, we’re having an impact. We have raised over $500,000 in the last four years. Through our active members and event attendees we have clearly raised the level of awareness of how young New Yorkers can directly impact the future of our planet. Second, I really enjoy spending time with my fellow board members and YPs; they have become my good friends. What do you see the role of the YP Co-Chair as being?
The answer to this question is probably still evolving. One thing for sure, I’m a lead advocate for the YPs. That means I will strive to increase the awareness among young NY professionals, as well as The Nature Conservancy as a whole, of the fantastic work this group is doing. For example, in our annual benefit we raised over $80,000 for the “Plant a Billion Trees” campaign in Brazil! Not too bad, eh?
How do you see the Young Professionals growing in the future?
I see us as continuing to grow overall membership, but always providing new avenues for folks that want to get more involved to do so. I’d love for more members and future members to join our committees and take more active roles. My hope is that some will enjoy their experience and begin a longer term interaction with the Conservancy.
Any Last Thoughts?
I encourage you all to find something you’re passionate about and donate some time, energy and/or money to that. Most of us have been quite fortunate in life; it is incumbent on us to give back.
When Mark isn’t hitting the trails and guiding the YPG he’s working on business development at SAP AG or back home in central Florida.
Conservation Spotlight:
A Landmark Commitment to Marine Conservation
2009 has been a special year for The Nature Conservancy’s work with Oceans and Coasts. Countries from Indonesia to the United States have demonstrated unprecedented commitments to marine conservation, leading to incredible opportunities and successes for The Nature Conservancy.
An example of this commitment occurred in May 2009 when the Coral Triangle Initiative Leaders convened in Manado, Indonesia. The Coral Triangle, or the area that stretches between the southern tip of Asia and northern Australia, is home to over 75% of the world’s coral species and 40% of the world’s reef life. The Nature Conservancy views the Coral Triangle as one of the last bastions of healthy coral reef to withstand the impact of climate change and considers its protection a major priority.
From this meeting came the Initiative for Coral Reefs, Food Security and Fisheries. This effort, which includes the Savu Sea Marine Protected Area Plan (MPAs) to help Indonesia develop 24.7 million acres of MPAs by the year 2010, $17 million in new conservation funding and the establishment of a Regional Secretariat to promote and coordinate action, will have a wide ranging impact on marine conservation in the Coral Triangle and serve as a blueprint for other such groundbreaking agreements world wide. This Conservancy supported agreement represents a significant milestone in the nearly 20 years of Conservancy marine work in the region.
While this agreement represents an incredible success The Nature Conservancy continues to move forward in other important Ocean and Coastal initiatives, from the Bahamas to Long Island to preparing for the UN Climate Change Conference. To learn more about some of the other projects that The Nature Conservancy is involved in visit our Oceans and Coasts webpage!
While we won't all have the opportunity to visit the reefs of the Coral Triangle that doesn't mean you don't have the chance to support the work going on there. Through The Nature Conservancy’s Adopt a Reef program you'll have the opportunity to protect reefs from Papua New Guinea to the Dominican Republic, ensuring the ongoing vitality of these amazing ecosystems. To learn more about The Conservancy’s Adopt a Reef program head over to our website!
The Nature Conservancy and Ken Burns'
'National Parks'
The United States is lucky to boast some of the most beautiful public space in the world.Celebrate these incredible landscapes with Ken Burns’ upcoming ‘National Parks’ series on WNET13 and WLIW. The shows will air from 9/27-10/2 at 8pm and regularly on evenings thereafter. Make sure to look out for The Nature Conservancy's special public service announcements (PSAs) before and after the program!
Get Involved!
For more information on Nature Conservancy events in New York visit our website.
By becoming a member of the YPG, you will not only be supporting the work of The Nature Conservancy, but will also receive special access to members-only activities and be invited to become a YP Committee member.
YP Committees in the areas of Conservation, Events, Development, and Membership are directly involved in helping to plan our events and to expand our efforts. They are not only a great way to get involved, but can also help determine whether a position as a YP Board Member might be the next step. Further information on our committees and their work is available on our webpage.
