| Dear Friends,
In late October, under a brilliant blue sky and bracing wind, we had the opportunity to show Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia and a great environmental champion, one of our favorite places. Just west of Glen Arbor, the land comes to a head atop a high dune overlooking Lake Michigan. The gulls wheeled over churning white breakers and cobalt water. The sand and forests swept north and south, cloaking the dune summits in brush strokes of gray and brown. The wind filled our ears and carried the scent of autumn. Even Yvon, who's hiked, climbed, fished, and hunted in spectacular places on nearly every continent, was struck by the gentle beauty of our home. Every time we go to Lake Michigan we're filled with the majesty of this landscape, so special and yet too often so carelessly treated. And every time, the land stirs the deepest passions in us and confirms again and again why we do what we do, and why it's so crucial that the Michigan Land Use Institute remain a vital and influential part of this place. This past year was one of stirring successes. Across our programs -- communications, promoting transportation alternatives, curbing sprawl, protecting natural resources, providing support to grassroots groups -- the Institute is achieving what we set out to do four years ago, and much more. It has emerged as a public interest organization that citizens rely on to solve tough policy problems. As such, it is recognized as a civic asset in Northern Michigan and across the state. It has been wonderfully gratifying to help build this organization, and then to welcome all of the people like you who have jumped in with their time, energy, and financial resources. All of us staff, board, members, funders are performing an exceptional service to preserve the integrity of Michigan's wondrous landscape and its culture of small towns and bustling cities. We look forward to an even more successful year in 2000. Yours,
|
|
| Bob Sutherland, Chairman | Keith Schneider, Executive Director |
 |
 |