Like so many of your own organizations, SELP has endured financial challenges as a result of the recent economic downturn. And like many of you, we have had to make cuts and then even deeper cuts.  At the end of last year, SELP's staff and board made the decision to reconfigure at the staff level to strategically deal with these financial challenges.  Despite our own funding challenges, our commitment to you and our mission has never faltered.  We continue striving to serve you in the best way possible.

 

As part of this reconfiguration, on January 1, I assumed the role of Acting Director here at SELP. The board, staff and I remain committed to serving the membership in a meaningful, effective and continual way. 

 

While the past several months have been challenging for SELP, we only have to draw upon the great energy from our conference last year to know that SELP is worth fighting for.  In November we convened a group of you- the greatest and most dedicated people in the environmental movement, who are doing vital work for your state's people and environment. We brought you together to learn from one another, to learn from experts and to build the national environmental movement by strengthening the work that comes out of the states.

SELP strengthens the entire environmental movement by helping environmental organizations become smarter, more powerful and better run. But we also help people. We help new executive directors who come into the position with eyes the size of saucers and constant stress headaches. We help them understand that they are not alone. They are not the only ones going up against a new coal fired power plant or fighting industry lobbyists who outspend them ten to one. We mentor them, we train them and we help them learn from each other. We inspire them to keep on keeping on, and give them the shot in the arm they need to dedicate their time and energy to working for the environment. 

 

Onward and upward.

 

Warmly,

Melissa Gavin

Acting Director

SELP