Contact:
Jennifer Benito
Save the Redwoods League
(415) 820-5814
[email protected]
SaveTheRedwoods.org
SAVE THE REDWOODS LEAGUE THANKS RUSKIN K. HARTLEY FOR 15 YEARS OF SERVICE TO PROTECT REDWOOD FORESTS
SAN FRANCISCO (November 1, 2012) — Save the Redwoods League, the only nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting ancient redwoods throughout their natural range, today accepted Ruskin K. Hartley’s resignation. After 15 years of service to Save the Redwoods League and the redwoods, Hartley feels it is time for new challenges. For six of the 15 years, Hartley served as the League’s Executive Director and Secretary to the Board of Directors. Before this role, Hartley held two other positions including the Director of Conservation and Education and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist.
Hartley was instrumental in launching the League’s Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative, bringing the Master Plan for the Redwoods to the fore, and helping the League address the California State Parks funding and closure crisis. Under his leadership, the League also protected the 426-acre Noyo River Redwoods and the Shady Dell component of the 50,000 acre Lost Coast property.
Having led the League for six years, Hartley feels it is time for new challenges. With the beginning of a multiyear planning process for the League’s Centennial in 2018, this is the right time to make a change to ensure consistent leadership for the League through this milestone event. His dedication to the League, generous spirit and thoughtful approach to conservation will be missed.
The Board concurrently appointed Harry Pollack, Esq. to fill the function of chief executive as Chief Operating Officer and League Secretary to the Board of Directors. Pollack formerly served as the League’s Chief Program Officer and General Counsel. As Chief Operating Officer and League Secretary, Pollack brings to his new role more than 30 years of experience in law and real estate transactions. A practicing attorney since 1975, Pollack was the owner of Conservation Partners, a law firm dedicated to promoting the preservation of land for the public interest. In addition to his professional work, he has served on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations. Pollack assisted in the formation of the California Council of Land Trusts (CCLT). He now serves on CCLT’s Government Relations Committee and also is a member and former chairperson of the City of Berkeley’s Planning Commission. The League’s dedicated directors, staff, board members and councilors will continue to support Pollack through this transition while the League searches for an executive director.
About Save the Redwoods League
Walk through a redwood forest — home of the tallest, largest, and some of the oldest living beings on Earth — and you can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of awe and peace among these magnificent giants. Since 1918, Save the Redwoods League has led the effort to protect the coast redwoods and giant sequoias for all to experience and enjoy. To date the League has completed the purchase of more than 190,000 acres of redwood forest and associated land. For more information, please visit SaveTheRedwoods.org, or to receive monthly email updates, sign up at SaveTheRedwoods.org/signup.
Tags: 2012, Press Release
