Merger Approved!

Preparing for the Future

Since 1997, the Alliance has helped the conservation community speak with one voice when working with Alaskan decision makers.   We’ve brought groups together with the understanding that, when we work collectively, we get more done.  We’ve gotten our strength through partnerships, and we’ve won victories because of your help.

This past week, we’ve set the stage to take that collaborative work to the next level.

For the last three years the Alliance has been a part of the transformers project, working with partner groups to improve how we connect with each other and connect with Alaskans.  To change how we operate, the Alliance entered into formal merger negotiations with the Alaska Center for the Environment, a member group since the beginning and a grassroots force to be reckoned with.  A year of merger negotiations led to the construction of a business plan that increases our investment in grassroots, communications, leadership development, and collaborative conservation work.  I’m pleased to announce that two weeks ago, both the ACE and Alliance boards unanimously approved a merger to implement this business plan , and Alliance member groups approved the package on Monday, October 1.  The Alaska Youth for Environmental Action program is expected to transfer to this new organization during the winter of 2012.

Now the fun begins.

The business plan that many of you helped to create provides direction and vision for our next steps, but continued collaboration requires you.  We need to strengthen our partnerships, and work with you to ensure that business plan implementation truly builds our collective power.  We’ll be reaching out in the weeks ahead to ensure that our November member group meeting provides more value to all of our organizational partners.  We plan to maintain what we’ve done well, while using this chance to redefine what our partnerships mean, and improve what we have to offer you.  Let’s continue to think strategically together, while dreaming bigger about what we can accomplish.  Let’s get more people to the table.  Let’s connect with more Alaskans, and ensure that member group status builds each organization’s individual capacity to produce conservation wins!

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, don’t hesitate to contact me at 907-258-6175 or by email at andy@akvoice.org.  Thanks for all the work you do for conservation in Alaska, and collectively let’s take our work to the next level!

Andy Moderow

Executive Director