Montana Land Reliance

TWO THOUSAND NINE was yet another wonderful year for us at the Montana Land Reliance. In many respects, it was one of our most satisfying years, in the sense that we met significant challenges, and adapted to significant change. First of all, we said goodbye to two long-time staff members, Amy Royer and Bill Long.

Amy has been the face of the Land Reliance in northwest Montana, where she worked tirelessly for nearly two decades. She has directly or indirectly had a hand in protecting many thousands of acres in that part of the state, as well as helping many families stay on their land. In recognition of her contributions, the MLR board renamed the Glacier-Flathead Fund the Amy Eaton Royer Glacier-Flathead Fund.

We also said a reluctant farewell to co-managing director Bill Long, a man who bears so much responsibility for the accomplishments of our organization over the years. In Bill’s honor we have established the William F. Long Conservation Award. In recognition of Bill’s love of bird hunting in this beautiful state, the award will be given annually to a project with special emphasis on the conservation of upland bird habitat. The first recipients of the award are Julie and Rod Pribyl, a multi-generational Montana ranch family whose property represents the highest standard of land stewardship and habitat conservation. Congratulations, Julie and Rod!

Bill Long is a difficult man to replace, but Doug Mitchell is certainly working hard to do just that. Doug brings to the table an extraordinarily diverse and deep resume, and he has already become an indispensable part of the Land Reliance team.

Speaking of the MLR team, I believe I have seldom, if ever, met a group of people who work harder and more efficiently with less fanfare. In this annual report you will get a brief look at the work of three of the women who make our organization so effective, Amy Royer, Mary Hanson, and Lois Delger-DeMars. We are so grateful to these women for their incalculable contributions to our success.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say that I’m very proud of the Montana Land Reliance for the way we weathered the financial storm of the last year. In an extremely difficult economic climate we managed to operate in the black, running a tight, efficient, and fiscally conservative ship. I’ve often said that MLR is run like a good cattle ranch, which I consider a high compliment!

And finally, on a sad note, we lost a dear friend last year when John Roe passed away. John and his wife Sandra have for many years set an example as conservationists, as philanthropists, and as members of the community of the Blackfoot watershed. In honor of their dedication and service, the Montana Land Reliance is giving John and Sandra Roe its 2009 Conservation Award. Our sincere condolences go out to Sandra for her loss, and our heartfelt thanks to the Roe family for all that they have done.

–Jerry Townsend, President