SPRING EQUINOX ON TURTLEBACK MOUNTAIN | STAFF ARCHIVE
March 2020
Postcard from the Islands
Help us protect the islands you love!
NEWS FROM THE PRESERVATION TRUST
NOTE FROM ANGELA:
Stay home, stay healthy
I write this on March 24, the day after Governor Jay Inslee ordered Washingtonians to stay at home unless engaged in activities deemed essential. To comply with the governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, we have made some changes in our operations, and we offer a few suggestions for how to get a dose of nature while sheltering in place.
SIERRA O'CONNELL EXPLAINS ROCKWEED
"JUST A MINUTE" VIDEOS
We have canceled our events and outings for now, so we’ve decided to create a series of short videos called “Just a Minute from the Islands” as a way of reaching out and promoting connections with nature and SJPT-protected properties. We're adding more as fast as we can, so keep checking back!
DR. DREW HARVELL AT FRIDAY HARBOR LABS
PANDEMICS AND PRESERVATION
On March 13, after a week that few of us could have previously imagined—and before life got even stranger—we announced the cancellation of all Preservation Trust events at least through April.

We also postponed our Annual Meeting, which had been scheduled for May 9.

Back in October, we were thrilled when Dr. Drew Harvell agreed to be our Annual Meeting speaker. Her 2019 book, Ocean Outbreak : Confronting the Rising Tide of Marine Disease , resonates eerily with today's headlines.
DAVID DUGGINS, RETIRED MARINE SCIENTIST
NEWEST BOARD MEMBER
The Preservation Trust’s Board of Trustees elected Dr. David Duggins to a midterm board vacancy at its meeting on Feb. 10, 2020. He is standing for election to a full three-year term in our imminent board vote. Active SJPT members will receive ballots in their copy of the Spring Island Dispatch newsletter, which we will send out on April 10.

We feel privileged to welcome Dr. Duggins to our board!
WEST SOUND, ORCAS | STEVE ALBOUCQ
CAPTION CONTEST
Feeling the need for a little fun, we held a caption-writing contest on social media, with thanks to Orcas resident Steve Alboucq, who provided the photo. Our staff voted on the captions that were submitted.

The winner, submitted by Judy Chovan, is inscribed on the photo. Congratulations, Judy!

A few runners-up:
  • "Well, I didn't see any sand around so I buried my head where I could."
  • "Time to self-quarantine!"
  • "You need to floss more often."
PARTNERS IN PERPETUITY
2019 GANN SOCIETY LUNCH | STAFF ARCHIVE
GANN GET-TOGETHERS
Each year we host a series of lunches on multiple islands to unite and honor members of our Gann Society.

We hope to carry on the tradition this summer, if current restrictions are eased so that we may enjoy each other's company in person once again. (And here's hoping!)

If you are interested in attending one of these lunches to learn more about the Gann Society, please contact Barbara Courtney at barbara@sjpt.org .
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The Gann Society is a group of individuals who have notified us that they have provided for the San Juan Preservation Trust in their estate plans.

Protect these islands for generations to come with a bequest to the San Juan Preservation Trust. 
UPCOMING EVENTS
We have canceled all our events—except for a few that can be held remotely—until at least the end of April.

We have also postponed our Annual Meeting, which was scheduled for May 9, until late July (conditions permitting).

This is especially sad for us, because we were looking forward to connecting with you and other members of our community with a bigger schedule of events and outings than ever before.

We plan to resume the schedule as soon as we can do so safely, within the rules and guidelines set by public-health officials and the governor.

We're sending out a brochure listing all events inserted in the Spring Island Dispatch newsletter. To see an electronic version, click on the brochure cover at left.

For the most up-to-date information, check our online Events Calendar.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH
MARCH SUNSET | STEVE SMITH/ORCASART.COM
Orcas Island photographer Steve Smith captured this moody sunset shot on the evening of March 23, 2020. We think the photo is not only beautiful, but also catches something of the mood of the moment: rays of hopeful light in the distance shining through storm clouds looming overhead.
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The San Juan Preservation Trust

PO Box 759, Friday Harbor, WA 98250

360-378-2461 | SJPT.org