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Adirondack Wilderness Advocates (AWA) has announced its incorporation as a non-profit 501(3)(c) charitable corporation dedicated to the purpose of advancing public knowledge, enjoyment, expansion, and protection of the Adirondack Park’s wildest places. AWA also named its initial Board of Directors.
“I am very excited to be a part of AWA,” Board Chair Bill Ingersoll said in an announcement sent to the press. “We want to make a difference. Our goal is to ensure our wilderness areas are managed in a sound, ecologically intact way, and enlarged in a manner that protects the remotest places in the Adirondack Park while respecting other forms of recreational access.”
In addition to Ingersoll, AWA’s Board includes Vice Chair Ari Epstein, Secretary Pete Nelson, Treasurer Craig McGowan, Tyler Socash, Brendan Wiltse and Kayla White.
Adirondack Wilderness Advocates was formed in 2016 in response to the debate concerning the future of the Boreas Ponds Tract. The organization seeks to “promote the knowledge, enjoyment, expansion, and protection of the Adirondack Park’s wildest places.” More information about AWA can be found on the organization’s website.
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Do they know that to maintain their IRS non-profit status they can’t engage in any political discourse, arm twisting debate, etc.?
Given the cast of characters, it is highly likely they “know” all of the above and almost as likely that they will still engage in those practices anyway…albeit discreetly.
The various groups change, but the same names are continuously cropping up and with few exceptions, all advocating for more and more “wilderness only” approaches.
The good news is that there are so many similar groups, they’re starting to fight among themselves and consequently accomplishing little other than lining the pockets of their attorneys with lawsuits.
Hi Tim!
Long time. I don’t comment much these days, so we’ve not had much of a chance to bother each-other on Almanack pages.
Believe it or not, the post is sincere: AWA intends to take a different approach. We’re tired of the same old divide between “locals” and “preservationists,” or whatever words you want to use to describe the two sides. It’s a stupid, tired, pointless distrust that accomplishes nothing and simply demonizes people.
If you don’t believe we mean it, ask any of the local government folks or business owners we talk with on a regular basis, or state folks for that matter.
But, hey, why not start with you? Name the date, time and place and I’ll buy. We can talk and you will be in a better position to judge how serious we are. It’s easy to disparage anonymously on-line; do you dare to see what happens in person? I do a lot publicly in the park: my email is easy to find.
Pete
This is terrific. Congratulations to the AWA Board. Securing non-profit status is an important benchmark for an organization. When people ask me, or tell me, that there’s too many green groups in the Adirondacks, my pat answer for years has been “There’s not enough.” Given the immense challenges that the Adirondack Park faces, we need as many voices as possible taking up different issues or coming at the same issues from different directions. The Adirondack Park has benefited enormously from the range of organizations acting to defend, protect, and improve it. One hopeful sign for the future is that we’re at an all-time high in the Adirondacks today for the numbers and breadth of non-profits at work across many fields.
Congrats AWA. Your efforts are very much appreciated & supported.