Annual Meeting Celebrating 40 Years for the Friends
By Mary Lueking
On June 22, 2024, the Friends of Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve hosted an annual meeting that welcomed many long-time friends and featured displays of the Friends’ activities; acknowledgements by representatives from the City of San Diego, County Supervisors’ office, and the District 6 office; and a guest speaker. The event was well attended with an estimated 65 people in attendance.
Beth Mather, President of the Friends, first introduced the 10-member board of directors, followed by the city, county and district representatives who all provided acknowledgement of the Friend’s activities over the years. Representatives included Maria Jose Molina, representing County Supervisor Terra Lawson Remer; Madison Coleman representing Kent Lee from District 6; and Randy Reyes, representing San Diego’s Mayor Todd Gloria.
Mather also highlighted some of the Friends’ accomplishments, including leading over 1800 public hikes over the past 40 years, and four of the current ongoing restoration projects. Those projects include monitoring the Gold Spotted Oak Borer (GSOB), Santa Luz Grasslands restoration, Darkwood Canyon restoration, and the Harrier Hill/Fennel Forest restoration project.
Recognition for long-term board members of the Friends who have each served over 20 years on the board. Those recognized were:
a) Don Albright: 1985 - 2019; 34 yrs
b) Brian Swanson: joined 1988; 36 yrs
c) Les Braund: joined 1988; 36 yrs
d) Mike Kelly: joined 1989; 35 yrs
e) Pat Watkins: 1999 - 2022; 23 yrs
f) Anne Harvey: joined 2004; 20 yrs
Anne Harvey receiving commemorative mug from Beth Mather
Special thanks went to Cindy Burrascano and Mike Kelly for their long-term dedication to preserving several species of rare plants; Mary Lueking for taking over the editorship of the newsletter in 2023, Antonella Zampolli for managing the website and social media; Jeanie Anderson and Cecile Cowan for work on the display booth.
Mike Kelly also made several acknowledgements, beginning by saying that the Friends were not the first people trying to save the canyon. The activities of these pioneers led to the organization of the Friends as a 503c non-profit organization in 1984. Here are some of the highlights:
a) He mentioned Nancy Yates and her late husband Noah. Mike had some old newspaper clipping that Nancy had given to the Friends regarding the first Day in the Park with Roger Hedgecock and other efforts to save the canyon.
b) He mentioned Pam Stevens as an active member of the Mira Mesa community and who served on the board in the 1980s.
c) He talked about Bill Evarts, also a board member in the 1980s and discussed his photography and book on Torrey Pines.
d) He talked about Don Albright’s long involvement and his geology hikes.
e) He acknowledged Bill Lawrence, the first city ranger. He was a great supporter for over 10 years.
Mike Kelly talking about history of the Friends
Finally, the highlight of the evening was a presentation by the guest speaker, Dr. Ollie Ryder, the Kleberg Endowed Director of Conservation Genetics at the San Diego Zoo. Dr. Ryder talked about his long lasting connection with the Canyon, and the biobanking program that is essential to the preservation of many endangered animals in the world.
Dr. Ollie Ryder talking about Biobanking
We are thankful for everyone’s participation and ongoing support. We hope to see you all again soon on the trail or at one of the volunteer work parties!
