Farewell Elizabeth!
Please consider making a donation to Washington Trails Association by April 30 and help us reach our spring goal of $16,000. You'll help keep your favorite trails open this summer and beyond. As of yesterday, we have raised $12,622.
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- We'll miss you, Elizabeth!
Last night, more than one hundred people came together to wish WTA's longtime Executive Director, Elizabeth Lunney, a fond farewell. After more than eleven years at the helm of WTA, Elizabeth is hanging up her hard hat. On Monday, an exciting new chapter begins with the arrival of our new Executive Director, Brian Windrope.
But this week is definitely about Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, who through hard work, strategic decision-making and the innate ability to bring people together, has left Washington Trails in a much stronger and much better place than it was in 1999. During that period, she has helped to double the membership, double trail maintenance hours, and more than triple the budget.
But even with all of the growth of the past ten years, WTA is still the same, welcoming place that it has always been. This is due, in large part, to Elizabeth. Yes, she grew the membership, added programs and increased WTA's boot print in the hiking community. Yet this was all done quietly, conservatively and with great respect to WTA's culture and its previous leaders - Louise Marshall, Ira Spring and Greg Ball.
I was a newly-minted board member who was sitting in the room the day Elizabeth was hired. When asked what she thought of the task ahead, Elizabeth responded, "I think I have big socks to fill." And fill them she did! I have no doubt that five years, ten years, twenty years down the line, her tenure at WTA will remembered as being as vital as that of her predecessors and mentors.
I think I speak for many folks when I say to Elizabeth: Thank you for the inspiration to hike, for your friendship on the trail and for your leadership on behalf of hikers. WTA owes you a debt of gratitude.
If you'd like to leave Elizabeth a message, please do so in the blog comments below!
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