Nature Conservancy - Hypocrites

[Hangar18]

Here is a link to series of articles published by the liberal leaning Washington Post. Posting in Ithaca-esque format.

Main Page

Nonprofit Land Bank Amasses Billions

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> The Arlington-based Nature Conservancy has blossomed into the world's richest environmental group, amassing $3 billion in assets by pledging to save precious places. Known for its advertisements decorated with forests, streams and the soothing voice of actor Paul Newman, the 52-year-old charity preserves millions of acres across the nation.

Yet the Conservancy has logged forests, engineered a $64 million deal paving the way for opulent houses on fragile grasslands and drilled for natural gas under the last breeding ground of an endangered bird species.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

$420,000 a Year and No-Strings Fund

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> Nature Conservancy President Steven J. McCormick...ultimately provided information showing that his compensation and benefits for 2002 totaled about $420,000.

He used the loan to buy a new $1.7 million house in the Reserve, an upscale subdivision in McLean.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Image Is a Sensitive Issue

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>A look inside the Nature Conservancy reveals a whirring marketing machine that has poured millions into building and protecting the organization's image, laboring to transform the charity into a household name.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Keep reading, there's more.

Have a good weekend.

 

[Ithaca 37]

Hanger, we covered all this Nature Conservancy stuff a few months ago, but good luck keeping this topic going.

 

[Hangar18]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ithaca 37:
Hanger, we covered all this Nature Conservancy stuff a few months ago, but good luck keeping this topic going.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It would be pretty hard to cover this Nature Conservancy stuff a few months ago when this particular piece was written and published less than two weeks ago.

While you are good at counting topic starts and seem to take pride in the fact the you have more than Ten Bears, I could care less if this topic keeps going. What's there to discuss? The Nature Conservancy, like many other big-headed well funded organizations, is a bunch of hypocrites that lie to the people that fund them.

edit - spelling (crap, I'll get one right soon?)

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1">[ 05-17-2003 00:25: Message edited by: HANGAR 18 ]</font>

 

[Oak]

http://www.huntandlodge.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=31&t=001443

http://www.huntandlodge.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=31&t=001508

Oak

 

[Lostagain]

Good work Hangar..... don't let It spin .
TNC is one of my clients and wow the money that outfit brings in by making a BIG deal outa nothing is amazing. TNC and other enviro outfits are the classic liberals... 'do as I say, what I do doesn't matter'.
There were other topics about all the enviro groups but keep on top of the current stuff too.

 

[Ithaca 37]

Colo Oak, Thanks for those links.

 

[Hangar18]

Thanks for the links Oak. Sorry for the double post. I did a search before posting the Wa. Post series. I missed the acronym (TNC)

That said, I'm surprised at how little discussion the Washington Post series generated. I think it is always interesting when one entity criticizes another where ideologies are similar. I think it lends more credibility when this occurs, like when the Wall Street Journal criticizes Fox News for war coverage.

 

[RockyDog]

I dont know about TNC nationwide, but they are doing a hell of a job managing the Pine Butte preserve here in Montana. Ive hunted there and got a tour when my wife was considering a job there.

They have great land being managed for all types of activities, even hunting. They also manage a T-rex fossil area very well on the preserve that the public would never get to see if werent for the TNC. Its a great place to go, we'd be worse off without the TNC.

Of course some will bitch about anything......

 

[Ithaca 37]

My own impression is that TNC is doing a great job. I know some of their employees and directors and they're all very smart and dedicated. I doubt they'd be involved in anything that they didn't think was a good organization. They're very avid hunters, too.

But when any org. gets as big as TNC somebody can find something to criticize them for.

So what's a better alternative than TNC?

 

[danr55]

Is it jsut me or is something wrong with a charity where the top 6 people all make 6 figures and it comes directly from the donations?? That's one reason I left the RMEF and joined the Arizona Elk Society.

When RMEF demands 85% of the gross from each banquet be sent to Montana, then distributes the cash without consideration of where it comes from and then again turn around and refuse to reveal what the actual salary of the head honchos.. I smell rats... regardless of the good they do... Why the hell do they need a TV show?? Other than production costs are then a tax dodge.. er ah, deduction.... but why does a non-profit group need tax deductions??

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1">[ 05-19-2003 13:28: Message edited by: danr55 ]</font>

 

[JoseCuervo]

There is nothing inherently wrong with the top guys making big bucks, assuming there is an independent board, that is keeping an eye on things. Hopefully the top guys are good investments, and their salary is multiplied many times over, in fund raising etc.

The other side of the issue is, the top guys are commodities, and if you want to keep them, you pay the big $$$$ or they go the next organzaition down the street (NRA or TNC..etc..)

That being said, and I think I have said this before, people should look for organizations that match their interests very closely, and maybe don't have a lot of overhead. IF the glossy magazine is the best part of the organziation, perhaps a new organization would be a better investment.

 

[1_pointer]

TNC is a good organization, IMO. Not great, because they've grown to the size the too much beauracracy (sp?) is needed to keep it running. They will continue to recieve a pittance from me, as that's all I can afford right now.