A Personal Note from an Open Field Society Member

By Michael Sasse

Our moving to Dutchess County and our involvement with Winnakee are closely connected. When closing on our property, we noted the office of a small, local land trust located in the same office building as our lawyer.

Winnakee: That was the organization responsible for the glory of Burger Hill, a place we had visited and appreciated for the stunning views and the careful management of the grounds. The nearby development emphasized the need for land protection to preserve some of the character of the area: views, open space, nature for all to enjoy.

Protecting what’s left of our natural beauty and restoring it had always been an interest to me and the focus of my charitable giving, so I became interested in the work of Winnakee.

We like that Winnakee not only protects the land but also actively “works” the land to maximize its ecological impact by removing invasive species, monitoring wildlife and restoring habitat. At the same time, Winnakee provides access to nature through trail-building and educational activities to the public.

While Winnakee is a small land trust, we were impressed by its competent staff and significant conservation impact compared to its size. Winnakee is local, but also personal and welcoming, and we can directly see the impact of our contributions. We have been members of Winnakee’s Open Field Society (OFS) for about five years, during which we have met many interesting, like-minded people at OFS member events. Through those events we started to feel more connected to the area and our “neighbors”.

This, connecting with the area and the people, investing in our neighborhood, along with working with my charitable goals, makes OFS an excellent recipient of donations.

The annual barn tour is a must, so are the lunar events on Burger Hill, and their “Woodland Night” collaboration with Sinterklaas at Vlei Marsh is still one of the best experiences we have had in the Hudson Valley. I also really appreciate the guided walks and webinars. We are always surprised at the amount and variety of activities, more than we can attend.

**Michael Sasse (right) and his partner Tim Goodmanson** (left).

**Above at the Open Field Society “Beaverland” Meet the Author event** **and header image with author Leila Philip**.

My hope for the near future is prudent progression, that Winnakee can expand carefully, provide access, activities and education continuing to protect more important, threatened lands. What Winnakee created is fairly unique and the challenge will be to maintain the character: personable, local, connected and up-to-date yet prudent in management.

Over the years I have seen cherished local organizations pursue significant growth, becoming corporate in their efficiency, goals and language, thereby losing their personal touch.

I would love to see Winnakee’s continued expansion of collaboration with other existing organizations of the same or similar purpose, working in coordination toward shared conservation goals but still intimate in scale.

I see in Winnakee a diverse local resource, not just parks and events. The organization, through their website, offers a wealth of useful information for residents, visitors, parents, landowners – anyone with an interest in the area and character of the region.

For us, becoming involved with Winnakee’s programs has been a way to both feel connected to our community and a vehicle to contribute to the environmental health of our region and world.