Can it be possible that only six months have passed since I last wrote my column for the Barrington Area Conservation Trust newsletter?

Thanks to a grant from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation we were able to hire our wonderful new Executive Director, Nancy Schumm-Burgess, and then we gave her an immediate trial by fire as we plunged into initiating our first major fundraiser, the very first Concours d’Elegance in this region. The Concours was held on September 14–16, 2007, at Makray Memorial Golf Club, and it was truly an event to behold. Ninety-four of the world’s most elegant and unusual automobiles came to our area to be judged at the Concours . The weekend wasn’t just about the automobile extravaganza, however. It was really about showcasing the unique character and valuable natural resources of the Barrington area to those who came from across the region and country to participate in this event.  It was also about helping our more than 2,000 attendees come to know the three amazing charities that worked together to host the Concours—BACTrust, Cowboy Dreams of Illinois, and Hospice of Northeastern Illinois. Each charity benefitted from the profits of the event, but more than that, each charity benefitted by the exposure it received as well as the shared experience of working together on a project of this scope and magnitude. Next October 3–5, we will host the Concours once again. It is our hope that this annual event will only grow in its ability to showcase Barrington as one of the premier regions in the country, thereby shedding light on the important work that we must do here to preserve it.  (Read more about the concours.)

While spent much of the summer focused on the Concours, Nancy Schumm- Burgess jumped right in to her new job of bringing our organization and its work to the next level. She gave an energetic and inspired presentation at our Members and Friends annual dinner on October 3 (which was once again graciously hosted by Betsy and Jim Bramsen). Her presentation stressed the importance of joining together as a community and acting now to ensure that our area remains intact for the future. As Nancy writes on page 3, there are many precedents across the country where communities have successfully formed land trusts for the protection of their natural surroundings, such as Jackson Hole, Nantucket Island, and Martha’s Vineyard. The Barrington area must join that list.

Also throughout the summer and fall, our Saving Our Countryside program continued to secure the financial backing we need to have the ability to temporarily purchase larger parcels of land until we can find a conservation-minded buyer. This program benefits both sellers (who need to extract their money from the land for one reason or another), and the Barrington area (which wishes to see our larger parcels of land remain undeveloped). We are excited to have these tools at our disposal, and we are also grateful that the recent housing slowdown has bought us a bit of time before some of these larger parcels go on the market.

I would like to thank each of you for continuing to support Barrington Area Conservation Trust with your resources, your time, and your talents. If you aren’t a member yet, hope you will consider joining. Our organization has come a long way in just a few short years, and just like the Concours partnership proved, our successes are a testament to what we can all accomplish when we work together.

Mary Bradford-White
President, Barrington Area Conservation Trust