Conservation Work Group

Conservation Work Group members:

• Stephen Van Rhein

• Kelly Blandford

• Laurie Brown

• Edd Brown

• Christa Dillabaugh

• Joy Ellsworth

• Ian Fannin-Hughes

• Bill Fessler

• Scott Schulte

This work group's goals are to:

• Protect natural resources

• Improve water quality in the Blue River

• Identify and support projects that meet conservation goals and benefit community

• Identify funding opportunities and support HCA in developing funding sources for conservation projects

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The Conservation Work Group meets nine months of the year on the third Thursday from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Find the next meeting on our calendar.

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Please contact  HCA Land Trust Coordinator Adison Banks for more information about meetings and projects.

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Education & Outreach Work Group

Education & Outreach Work Group members:

• Dan Allenbaugh

• Larry O'Donnell

• Jensen Adams

• Kitty Steffens

• Lara Isch

• Roberta Vogel-Leutung

• Connie Chapman

• Tiffany Bartley

• Keith Hannaman

This work group's goals are to:

• Assess what education is currently being done by our partners

• Create video telling the story of the Blue River

• Table and do public outreach

• Create large map of the Blue River with pictoral outtakes for use at tabling events highlighting important historical, ecological, and recreational opportunities on the Blue River.

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The Education & Outreach Work Group meets every two months (evens) on the second Thursday from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center. Find the next meeting on our calendar.

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Please contact HCA Partnership Coordinator, Natasha Karsk, for more information about meetings and projects.

Partnership Work Group

Partnership Work Group members:​

• Jim Armer

• Kristen Bontrager

• Travis Freeman

• Brianna Leiker

This work group's goals are to:

• Maintain value of membership to Alliance for partner organizations by insuring mutual benefits

• Provide direct support to help build capacity of Alliance partners

• Provide opportunities for Alliance partners to share information efficiently with one another and stay informed of issues and opportunities

• Effectively engage partners and potential partners

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The Partnership Work Group meets on the fourth Wednesday of March, May, July, August, September, and October at 4:30 p.m. at Vireo. Find the next meeting on our calendar.

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Please contact HCA Partnership Coordinator Natasha Karsk for more information about the Partnership Work group.

Policy Work Group

Policy Work Group members:​

• Samuel Bennett

• Kelly Blandford

• Kristen Bontrager

• Eric Bunch

• Andrea Clark

• Victoria Dunkin

• Michael Frisch

• Sarah Hemme

• Christina Hoxie

• Teresa Kelly

• Robin Martinez

• Scott Schulte

This work group's goals are to:

• Promote an understanding of what we want to protect

• Research the best practices for preserving land

• Identify and engage those who can influence protecting land

• Actively enlist champions to build support to protect land

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The Policy Work Group meets every two months (odds) on the last Friday from 3:00-4:30 p.m. at Vireo. Find the next meeting on our calendar.

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Please contact HCA Land Trust Coordinator Adison Banks for more information about the Policy Work group.