On February 4, 2013, leaders of Sierra Nevada organizations, legislators, agency heads, and many more gathered for The Sierra Fund’s annual winter legislative reception in Sacramento.
Nearly 200 people toasted this year’s honorees: new State Parks Director Major General Anthony Jackson, USMC (Ret) and new District 1 Assemblymember Brian Dahle who was a long-time Board Member of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. John Laird, California Secretary of Resources and former Board Member of The Sierra Fund, served as Master of Ceremonies.
The Sierra Fund CEO Izzy Martin launched the event program by highlighting the organization’s work with State Parks, funded by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, to assess and address mining impacts at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park.
State Parks Director Jackson took the microphone after a warm introduction by California Natural Resources Secretary Laird.
Director Jackson talked about his interest in and commitment to protecting and restoring natural resources and getting folks out into nature. He noted that, after spending time in mountains of Afghanistan he had a whole new view of the beauty and majesty of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. He announced that he has an “open door policy” and that he looked forward to getting a chance to learn more about the State Parks under his care.
View the event photo album here.
Assemblymember Dahle spoke about his many years of work on the Board of Supervisors in Lassen County, including building support for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and his time on that Board since its founding. Assemblymember Dahle stepped off the Board of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy when his election to the Assembly was confirmed, and promised to continue work to nurture the people that steward the “working landscape” of the Sierra Nevada.
The Sierra Fund Board Chair Patty Brissenden and John Brissenden of Sorensen’s Resort, title sponsor of the event, gave the first toast to the honorees, and Assemblymember Paul Fong followed it up with his congratulations.
The event was well attended, with legislators representing both parties including Senators Hancock and Fuller, Assemblymembers Levine, Stone, Chesbro, Skinner, and Nazarian as well as other luminaries including Director of the Department of Conservation Mark Nechodom, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Board John Donnelly, legislative staff, leaders from Sierra water agencies and conservation groups, Heyday publisher Malcom Margolin, Teichert Materials President Dana Davis, and many more.
The Sierra Fund, a nonprofit organization based in Nevada City, CA works to raise issues pertaining to the Sierra Nevada, and increase investment in the region’s natural resources and communities. The organization holds an annual event in Sacramento to raise visibility of hard working Sierra organizations and the California leaders who support them.
The 2013 reception was made possible by a dozen sponsors, including Sorensen’s Resort, John and Patty Brissenden, Adrienne Alvord and Stacey Sullivan, Butte Environmental Council, and Alison Harvey and Dave Loera.
