2 From the Executive Director By Tom Ward
I have had the honor of being the Executive Director of Merck Forest & Farmland Center for the last six years and have enjoyed almost every day of it! It is now time for another to take over the reins. As Jean and I head south to begin a new adventure, it may be worth articulating what the journey has been like.
Photo, DJB
A strong hand at the helm ....
Conservation of the bulk of Merck’s property through easements granted to the Vermont Land Trust should make it quite likely that a quiet hike through the high country of the Taconics will remain unchanged in perpetuity. If that proves true, my time here was well worth the effort. If the cries of ravens soaring overhead dominate the airwaves atop The Gallop; if the solitude on Mount Antone feels like an embrace; and patterns gnawed by porcupines on beech stems give you pause in the coming years, I like to think George Merck would be pleased.
I have been influenced by any number of authors, but I recommend David Budbill’s poems, Berndt Heinrich’s essays and books, and Tom Wessel’s writings on reading natural landscapes to you and yours. If I can convey a sense of wonder at the awesome beauty of nature to one young person, I consider it a major accomplishment. A friend told me his six-year old daughter inquired of him on a hike: “Can we find a sit spot?” At his questioning, she explained that is a place where you stop and quietly observe all nature has to offer. In the construction of our natural science curricula, this is the essence of the research our young students become immersed in. Observing and recording what you experience are keys to learning about science.
Day over. Wind gone. No sound but an owl far away. Let my care-worn heart take refuge in the heart of evening. David Bulbill
There are many, many people to thank, and most will have to go without mention here. The trustees, staff, and supporters of all matters Merck have made my time here, joyous. There are several, however, without whose help, the amount of work accomplished would have been dramatically reduced and I feel obligated to mention them. Gerrit Kouwenhoven and Austin Chinn each chaired the board for three years during my tenure, and made the leading easier. They listened, supported, and encouraged in equal measure, thereby affording me the opportunity to follow a course set out by the trustees. The generosity of our donors is most humbling. I met Kathryn Lawrence when I became the Executive Director, and could not have asked for a better colleague, aide de camp, and confidante. Her fierce support and encouragement made it possible for me to think outside the box without going off the rails. My dear friend Betsy Sherman told me I was supposed to be the Executive Director of Merck long before I was able to see it for myself. Last, but never least, the support and encouragement I receive from the love of my life, Jean, has made me a better person, and, hopefully, a better leader. For those who struggled with my style or choices, I commend you to the future, which looks very promising to me, and I hope to you. It has been said a time of change is a time of hope … this is a time to hope. Peace.
* Sawyer * * Carpenter * * Owl Whisperer * * Parking Lot Attendant * * Mailman * * Master of Ceremonies * * Farm Hand * * Cheerleader * * Keeper of the Hanger Queen * * “Leisures” Server * * Christmas Float Chauffeur * Was this in the marriage vows??
‘Zat saw big enough for this job, Tom?