Now, I am honored to have been asked by Commissioner Carol Ash of New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, to serve as her Deputy Commissioner for Natural Resources. I worked with Carol from 1991-1998 while with the Huyck Preserve and Biological Research Station in Rensselearville, New York and I am honored to have the chance to work with her again in this capacity. Carol has set an ambitious agenda to reinvigorate the Park system across the state, including developing strategies to insure that the natural resources of the parks are fully protected.

It is our good fortune that, The Catskill Center is now in the capable hands of the Director of Policy and Program Development, Deborah Meyer DeWan, who has graciously stepped forward to be interim director while a comprehensive search for the next executive director is conducted. Of course, the success of any organization with a long history of achievement like The Catskill Center is never because of one person, but because of a community of people committed to work together for a common cause. This has certainly been true of The Catskill Center for almost 40 years its optimistic and ambitious mission has challenged us to reach as high as we can, working together, to insure that the natural beauty and the unsurpassed quality of life in the Catskills are protected.

To all of you I offer my sincere thanks for your unwavering support. I’ll forever have a debt of gratitude to the Board of Directors and its committed and competent staff. Allow me one last request: that you continue to support the vital work of The Catskill Center as it moves forward to meet the challenges that face the Catskills.

Thanks to you all for your great friendship and support.

In the Spirit of the Catskills I am sincerely,

Tom