Thoughts from Nashville

Over the last few days, I was in Nashville meeting and talking with Conservation League members and supporters from across the country.

Professionally it was a great opportunity to hear what other people are doing in states like Maine, South Carolina, Nevada and Wisconsin while also get the latest thoughts on a variety of topics and tools. Personally, I got to spend time with friends and heroes in a truly amazing city. Nashville is historic, diverse, and in my opinion, hosts some of the best live music in the world. The rolling hills surounding the city are breathtaking and the Cumberland River snakes slowly through town.

Despite all of Nashville's noteworthy features, even the great places can remind you of why you love home.

When out for a walk to get dinner with fellow OLCV staff, it was safe to say we were of a limited number of people who chose to walk there. And during that walk, while paralleling a bike lane part of the way, only one bike was seen.

If the meal wasn't part of the conference, it was likely that we ate on disposable plates with disposable forks and knives. As one person put it "I just want to go somewhere with cutlery" and "I can't drink out of plastic cups my entire life." It was equally impossible to find a place to recycle pop cans and bottles.

Back here in Oregon, we take almost all of these things for granted. We can walk to stores, bike to work, and recycle an ever growing list of products. Reusable bottles have been part of the landscape for years, and I don't remember the last time I ate out on a paper or plastic plate. And, of course, we work everyday to make sure we keep moving in the right direction. In short, it is a very different place.

While we may take these things for granted or not even think about them at all, they didn't happen overnight.

Some happened years ago and some have taken years to achieve. In either case, they represent our shared conservation values here in Oregon. Values that created a litany of landmark laws passed by inspired and tireless environmental champions. Values that have created a generation of leaders committed to smart growth, protecting our resources, sustaibable economies, and much more.

This Friday, I will saying thank you to all of the champions who have fought for these values and celebrate those that are working on them today. I hope you will stand up and applaud with me by joining the celebration at the OLCV Annual Dinner, this Friday at the Oregon Convention Center. I hope to see you there!

P.S. If you get a chance to see Nashville, do it!