Annual Appeal for Giving

"Thank you Oblong for recognizing and holding on to what's most precious around us." —Pawling Resident and OLC supporter

Dear Friend,

Please consider including the Oblong Land Conservancy (OLC) in your year-end giving plans.

OLC is the only group whose charter is to preserve and maintain high conservation value open spaces in and around Pawling and Dover. Founded in 1990 by local residents who volunteer their time, the OLC has been responsible for putting into permanent conservation over 1,100 acres of land and water in our midst ... and each year the number grows. We seek your support to keep the momentum going.

Where do our supporters' dollars go to work?

Matching Grants: In 2010 OLC passed its previous record in obtaining matching grants from government and private sources. Our success depends on our ability to leverage funds we receive from supporters like you. With these funds we have several conservation easements which we plan to secure by the end of this year, and more in the pipeline.

Land/Water Management/Activism: OLC made the decision to step up to the challenge posed by a commercial entity that we believe threatens to contaminate our aquifer and adjacent preserve. OLC, along with neighboring environmental groups, is engaged in a battle in Dover to prevent this project from going forward. We expect this to continue into 2011.

Engaging the Community: In May we staged our most successful fund raising event to date. Our primary objective was to raise OLC's profile in the community on the occasion of our 20th anniversary. We welcomed over 250 guests at the Inn at Dover Furnace. One supporter summed it up when she said "Hope you had as much success as I had fun!"

Looking towards 2011: With your help we will seek additional matching grants to acquire important land in The Great Swamp's north flow in partnership with FrOGS. For more information on our work in The Great Swamp, visit our website at: www.oblongland.org/protected_lands.

In 2011 we will continue programs that engage and educate the community, including our popular "First Saturdays" program, a series of monthly ‘walks and talks' through conserved lands led by local naturalists. And with your help we will be hiring our first stewardship manager to help us manage OLC's conserved lands.

Please be as generous as you can in helping us achieve our important goals.

Yours sincerely,

Chris Wood

Chairman

To donate online, click here or send a check to:

Oblong Land Conservancy

PO Box 601

Pawling, NY 12564

Oblong Land Conservancy is a 501(c)3 organization and all donations are tax-deductible.