A note from COLW's new ED: Happy Birthday, Paul Dewey!

Today we celebrate the 70th birthday of Paul Dewey, LandWatch’s founding Executive Director. 
 
For 35 years, Paul’s leadership has propelled Central Oregon LandWatch to become the tireless defender of our farms and forests, our rivers and streams, and our thriving communities. Without the work he started, Central Oregonians would not enjoy the unparalleled quality of life we have today. 

At the end of this month, Paul will transition to the role of Strategic Advisor so he can remain an integral part of our team while having more time to spend with his family, Jill, Ava, and Etta the dog.

Ben Gordon (left), Paul Dewey

During the past month, Paul and I have worked together to ensure a smooth leadership transition for LandWatch. Paul’s deep knowledge of the organization’s history, current priorities, and our community of supporters have been invaluable to me as I come up to speed in my new role as Executive Director (more about me here).
 
In my first weeks on the job I have learned a great deal that I can summarize thusly: LandWatch is a scrappy and determined organization that punches above its weight -- from challenging development proposals that would fragment our farms and deplete our water resources, to ensuring the growth of our cities is determined through inclusive dialogue, to preserving essential wildlife habitat from the Cascade Crest to the Blue Mountains, to standing up for the ecological integrity of our rivers. LandWatch’s work ensures a thriving future for the fish, wildlife, and human populations fortunate enough to call Central Oregon home.

As we celebrate our 35th anniversary and wish Paul a happy birthday, we are looking forward to the next thirty-five years of protecting and conserving the region’s ecosystems and wildlife habitats and fostering thriving, sustainable communities.

Together for Central Oregon,

Ben Gordon
Executive Director
Central Oregon LandWatch