Photo by Charles Lanza

We are delighted to be with you in for EGA's 2009 Fall. Retreat. Nestled between majestic mountain ranges and along Cook Inlet, Anchorage provides a beautiful backdrop for an event that offers a mix of classic EGA retreat experiences with a few new concepts and opportunities to learn, network, recharge and strategize. This includes a set of delicious pre- and post-retreat field trips, as well as a set of “field intensives” during the conference itself when we’ll get out of the conference center and onto the ground in and around Anchorage.Alaska is a microcosm for many environmental and economic issues and challenges nationally and internationally. It is home to a public often polarized by environmental issues; half of  America's coal reserves;  flora, fauna and communities at the forefra;ls of climate change's impacts; half of the commercial seafood caught in the US; and models for subsistence communities. Alaska is also hosting EGA's 2009 Fall Retreat from September 29^th to October 2^nd in Anchorage.

 As concerns about climate change take on even more importance, what better place is there than Alaska and the Arctic - global warming’s ground zero - to strategize together about how to confront this catastrophe and consider different approaches to stop it? We know that solutions for climate change require deep restructuring of our economic, civic, social, and personal lives.   Alaska, home to both natural resources and extractive industries, powerfully portrays the multitude of interests that must find compromise if we are to stop climate change and irrevocable ecosystems destruction.

In light of this Retreat’s special location, the Program Committee (PC) constructed an agenda for the Fall Retreat that challenges, inspires and connects you at this time of great need and uncertainty. Out of the 55 EGA member-sponsored session submissions, the PC selected 17 concurrent sessions, covering a broad range of issues, including some that were noticeably absent in previous years (example: marine ecosystems concerns). New this year is a series of concurrent “Foundation Leadership” sessions, planned by the Retreat’s Trustee Planning Committee, which target trustees and other foundation leaders, about which you may want to alert your Trustees to. On Thursday afternoon of the Retreat, all participants will have the opportunity to join a learning Field Intensive in order to explore issues in the Anchorage environs first hand, led by local issue experts.

While this is not intended to be a conference focusing on the climate change crisis, the issue is woven into many aspects of the Retreat out of our recognition that ultimately climate change impacts everything.

Lastly, we would like to express our deep gratitude to the PC for their thoughtfulness and hard work; EGA Staff for their unique insight, creativity and bottomless good cheer; and the Host Committee for truly integrating the Alaskan experience throughout the program. This was a fabulous collaborative effort and promises to be a unique philanthropic event not to be missed.

Warmly,

Ken Wilson, The Christensen Fund

Doug Bauer, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

2009 Program Committee Co-Chairs