Spokane "Hope for a Wild Future" a 2007 Success

Here's to a wonderful event

Thank you for attending the "Hope for a Wild Future" auction and dinner in Spokane! You helped us raise nearly $40,000 for our programs to keep the Northwest wild, from the Washington Coast to the BC Rockies.

It was a perfect, early fall evening on September 27th for Conservation Northwest’s second “Hope for a Wild Future” in Spokane, an event celebrating local wilderness heroes and featuring our Columbia Highlands Initiative.

During the sparkling wine reception, guests bid on prints from the book Columbia Highlands: Exploring Washington’s Last Frontier and signed postcards urging Congresswoman McMorris-Rodgers to support a balanced “blueprint” for the Colville National Forest. Generous door prizes were drawn for all who participated in sending a message to Congress.

Emcee Jeanna Hofmeister invoked Spokane’s motto, “Near Nature, Near Perfect,” and the importance of wild areas to our area’s vitality and continued opportunities for recreation. She also recognized our allies in conservation who were in attendance, such as The Lands Council, Inland Northwest Land Trust, Vaagen Brothers Lumber, and others.

Legendary conservationist Brock Evans reminded Spokanites of our role in protecting the Salmo-Priest as a wilderness area in 1984, and Tim Coleman presented Brock Evans, Ray Kresek, Tom McKay, and Dick Slagle with awards recognizing them for their years of dedication and patriotic service to protecting wilderness and wildlife in northeast Washington.

During dinner guests were treated to a Columbia Highlands video by Jasmine Minbashian revealing the surprising beauty and diversity of the area, the necessity and success of working together and finding common ground, with music such as the Beatles’ “We Can Work It Out,” and audio from locals in northeast Washington who love the land.

Auctioneer Jeff Owens offered items that included a Vespa scooter, collectible wines, a Wilderness Systems kayak, a getaway to Maui, and much more. Our fall auction and dinner in Spokane drew 215 guests and another 20 staff and volunteers. Thanks to generous support, the event raised a total of about $40,000 for our programs.

“I was impressed with such diversity last night—in peoples and in approaches to achieve the same goal of a healthy regional ecosystem. It was also really fun for me to see so many friends whom I have not seen for some time.” —David Hunt, Conservation Northwest member

Thank you to our sponsors for the evening

www.thedavenporthotel.com
www.donandsons.com
www.freixenetusa.com
www.rossprint.com