The Watershed Institute held its 2020 Annual Meeting over a live streaming service. The meeting highlighted the accomplishments of the recent year in science, advocacy, and education, recognized milestones of staff and board members, and elected a trio of new trustees.
Executive Director Jim Waltman started the evening by expressing compassion for those touched by the human tragedy of COVID-19. The annual meeting came at a “solemn and unnerving time” — just two days before the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. “Even in the face of this global pandemic, I’m heartened by the … green youth movement and I’m excited to see this organization fostering that engagement.”
He highlighted how the organization had pivoted to new ways of delivering programs, science and policy for the past month-plus because of the virus, which forced hard decisions to close the Watershed Center and trails on the reserve.
He praised accomplishments over the past year: halting the proposed PennEast pipeline for the foreseeable future, preserving the headwaters of Mountain Brook in Princeton, securing Category One status for vital waterways in Hopewell and Montgomery Townships, launching a green infrastructure project in Hopewell Borough, installing floating wetlands in East Windsor and building the New Jersey Watershed Watch Network. Additionally, there were record numbers of people enrolled in the Watershed Nature Camp, Watershed Academy for High School Students and “richer and more robust” environmental programming.
Scott Sillars, Chair of the Watershed’s Board of Trustees, remarked on the accomplishments of the organization before he celebrated Jim Waltman’s 15-year anniversary as executive director. Staff recognized for their five-year anniversaries included Michelle Perkins (Watershed Nature Camp Director), Mike Pisauro (Policy Director), Vicky Allen (Watershed Educator), Rob Nicolaides (Communications Manager), and Jenny-Ann Kershner (Development Director).
Tammy Love (former Watershed Nature Camp Director, Educator and Program Manager) was thanked for her 14 years of service before her family moves to upstate New York, as was Laurie Babicki (Waltman’s Executive Assistant) who helps coordinate the organization’s leaders and created the monthly First Sunday Environmental Films.
New staff joining over the past 12 months were welcomed, including Bonnie Giglio (Special Events Coordinator), Ellen Gallos (Education Manager), Jennifer Helminski (Delaware River Advocate), Pri Oliveira (Outreach Specialist) and Yesenia Feliciano (Watershed Educator).
Waltman also announced that Sophie Glovier, a former board chair and board member, will start soon as the Municipal Policy Specialist, communicating the Watershed’s policy goals, empowering activists and building coalitions with local governments. She currently serves as chair of the Princeton Environmental Commission, has been on the board of D&R Greenway Land Trust and has been an active member of C-Change Conversations, which offers education on the risks of climate change.
The Watershed members then voted to add new trustees Rob Connor, PhD, Kurt Shulte and Dr. Susannah Wise, as well as extend the terms of Anna Horner, Bernadette Woods Plackey, Scott Sillars, and Dr. Phillip Wey. Outgoing trustees, Kathy Hackett and Dan Van Abs, were thanked for their six-years of service to the organization.
