Nevada County Land Trust Honors John Taylor for a Lifetime of Conservation Leadership at the First Annual Oak Tree Ball: May 8

April 13, 2010

"Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow" is a well known Greek proverb. The oak is designated as the National Tree of the United States. Oak woodlands are the iconic landscape for California. Our Sierra foothill community are covered in oaks.

Nevada County Land Trust, in celebration of its 20th anniversary is holding the first annual Oak Tree Ball on May 8 at Alta Sierra Country Club. In addition, NCLT will honor John Taylor with the William Nickerl Award for Conservation Leadership.

The Land Trust award is given to individuals who demonstrate the six traits personified in by namesake, William (Bill) Nickerl. Among them are a long time commitment to the cause of land conservation, fostering or inventing a new effort which has demonstrated measurable success, never gave up in the face of a challenge, and perhaps most importantly inspires others. Previous recipients were Bill Nickerl and John Olmsted.

“We are thrilled to have a way to honor John Taylor for a lifetime commitment to conservation,” said Marty ColemanHunt, executive director for Nevada County Land Trust. “I worked for John when he was Board President for NCLT. I witnessed that he has a unique ability to bring people together to work on a common goal. We are so lucky that he chose our community for retirement, though he is probably busier now than any time in his life. That’s just the way he is.” Presenting the Award for Conservation Leadership to John will be Nevada County District II Supervisor Ed Scofield.

Date: May 8, 2010
When: Terrace Reception at 6 pm, Celebration Dinner at 7:00 pm, Dancing until 10:00 pm
Location: Alta Sierra Country Club, 11897 Tammy Way, Grass Valley
Style: Festive Attire (Black Tie Optional)
Cost: $150 per couple/$75 per person/$600 per table

John Taylor a long‐time resident of Grass Valley. John is an avid fishing and hiking enthusiast and mentor of many agricultural and environmental professionals in our community. He has served in a number of agricultural and community‐service committees and positions, including manager of the Nevada County Farm Bureau, past president of the Retired Public Employees Association, the Nevada City Rotary Club, and the Nevada County User Fee Committee. John is also a retired Nevada County
Agricultural Commissioner and former president of the Nevada County Fair and Nevada County Land Trust Boards. He was on the Boards of the Nevada County Resource Conservation District, LAFCO, Economic Resource Council, and California Biological Control Committee. Currently he is on the Boards of the High Sierra Resource Conservation and Development Council, Yuba Watershed Foundation, and the North Star Historic Conservancy.

The Evening Includes:

  • Reception featuring local Nevada County wine and hors d’oeuvres on the terrace with a gorgeous mountain backdrop and Spring flowers in full bloom
  • A delicious meal prepared by Alta Sierra Country Club’s award‐winning chef
  • A short talk about the unique habitat of oak woodlands wildlife by Dr. Edward (Ted) Beedy,
  • biologist and zoologist specializing in California Foothills
  • Live entertainment and dancing with Juicy

To purchase tickets and make a meal choice, please contact Jean Gilbert at 530‐272‐5994 ext. 4, or Jean@NevadaCountyLandTrust.org.

Nevada County Land Trust 20th Anniversary Accomplishments

  • Permanently protected about 5,000 acres in western Nevada County and in some adjacent areas of Sierra and Yuba Counties: 11 properties designated as natural habitats; 5 agriculturalproperties; 2 working forests
  • Own 100 acres on 4 public access parks: Burton Homestead where we have a partnership with the local Tsi‐Akim Maidu tribe; Mathis Pond park and trails; Woodpecker Wildlife Preserve witha new mile‐long trail; and North Star Historic Site that includes the 1906 Julia Morgan‐designed North Star House, a long‐term historic restoration project
  • Bear‐Yuba Partnership with Trust for Public Land and Placer Land Trust, working for landscapescale conservation of the oak woodlands in the Foothills, stretching from above the North Forkof the Yuba River, south to the American River
  • In progress: protection of 5,600 contiguous acres of land including the acquisition of 652 acreson the Bear River, called the Garden Bar Preserve which encompasses the historic ImmigrantTrail crossing of the Bear River
  • 12 miles of trails built, adding another 10 miles of trails this year
  • Treks Through Time, a recreational program where about a 1,000 people attend 50 Treks ofvarious types each year; these include Treks for People with Limited Mobility for people usingwalkers or wheelchairs, and EquiTreks are guided trail rides on horseback.
  • 10 years of summer camp for more than 100 kids annually, about 1/3 on scholarships; the firstweek is a collaboration with the Tsi‐Akim Maidu tribe
  • Workshops and restoration projects to landowners
  • 650 family memberships
  • 300 volunteers, recruited and trained each year
  • 2009 became accredited by Land Trust Alliance

Nevada County Land Trust is a 501c3, for the public benefit organization. Nevada County Land Trust exists to create a balance between nature and the needs of the people who make a life and a livelihood here. Our mission is to enrich the deep community connection with our land ‐ today, tomorrow and forever. For more information, see our website, http://www.nevadacountylandtrust.org or contact Marty Coleman‐Hunt, Executive Director at marty@nevadacountylandtrust.org or 530‐272‐
5994.