Welcome to the 2005 Fall Retreat:
Nurturing a Groundswell

Greetings,

This year we return to Mohonk Mountain House for EGA’s Fall Retreat. Mohonk is a place with deep connections to our understanding of environmentalism— from the tribes who lived here sustainably for millennia, to the Hudson River painters who popularized and romanticized a uniquely American understanding of wilderness, to the fight over industrial development, which gave birth to many of the tactics, strategies and organizations that have defined the modern movement.

We honor that rich legacy while looking toward the future. As environmental grantmakers, we continually struggle with the issue of how to build greater momentum and act as catalysts for change. For many of us, this has taken on renewed urgency as we are reminded daily of the biological, cultural, economic and political changes that threaten not only further progress but many of the hard-won gains of the past. Often it seems we have more questions than answers—fundamental questions about what, in fact, is a realistic vision for the world, and how we can build a movement to achieve it.  

While these uncertainties have provoked anxiety, they have also led to exciting and creative thinking about what’s working, what’s failing, and how to help set the movement on the best path. One important development is the growth of a global citizenry increasingly dissatisfied with consumerism, who are now turning to nature, spirituality, art, localism, cultural traditions and community. In these nascent groundswells, many in our community see hope for a future where humanity can evolve to live in harmony with our world and with one another.

How real are these groundswells for change, and what potential do they actually hold? As a community, how might we nurture a groundswell, and what is necessary to unlock its potential? We come together as a community for our fall retreat, in a spirit of inquiry and vigorous debate, so that collectively we can progress toward our common goal to create positive change in the world.

This year’s retreat emphasizes broad themes with the power to lift us out of our issue silos: vision, the economy and engaging the power of the grassroots. We will continue the solution- focus of our last few retreats and hope to surprise you with innovative formats, amazing speakers and plenty of opportunities to interact and think together. 

The retreat would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our New York Host Committee. They have organized field trips, volunteers and music, and they helped the Program Committee identify and recruit speakers.

Welcome back to Mohonk as we continue our journey together.

Program Committee Co-Chairs
Aileen Lee, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Peter Teague, Nathan Cummings Foundation