North Coast Land Conservancy’s Coast Legacy Circle is a special group of supporters who share the organization’s deep-rooted values surrounding coastal conservation and restoration and who have demonstrated their commitment by naming NCLC in their estate plans.
Each year, NCLC enjoys celebrating its Coast Legacy Circle (CLC) members with a brunch, which this year was held Wednesday, July 15, at Circle Creek Conservation Center. About 40 CLC members joined NCLC staff for the special event, which honors all who are part of the ever-growing circle—both those who are still on the earthly plane and those who’ve passed on.
“We share the values of ecological conservation, and it feels really incredible to be in community with people who share those deeply held values,” NCLC Development Director Kassia Nye told guests at the CLC brunch.
NCLC Executive Director Katie Voelke also expressed gratitude to those who’ve made “this pretty amazing decision” of including the organization in their estate plans, forging an intertwined vision of “forever.”
“At North Coast Land Conservancy, that’s what our pledge is,” she added. “Our heartstrings are very connected to all of you. All of us who work here each day also think of this being our legacy. And that’s a pretty amazing gift, to think not just for the short amount of time that we’re here on this earthly plane, but whatever the ‘forever’ is, that this is what we get to do together.”
During the event, attendees mingled indoors and out on the patio, enjoying mimosas and coffee before sharing a delicious meal catered by Malia’s Grill. There also was a time of remembrance for CLC members who have recently passed, including Bonnie Schein, McLaren Innes, and Samuel Johnson.
A Story of Connectivity
Additionally, Katie gave a short presentation on the Rainforest Reserve, which was conserved five years ago, and the nearby Cape Falcon Marine Reserve, which was protected in 2016 and continues to be managed by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW).
NCLC adopted the marine program from the Friends of Cape Falcon Marine Reserve in 2022, shortly after acquiring the Rainforest Reserve. It was a logical step for the conservancy, which recognizes the unique land-to-sea connectivity that exists along the Oregon Coast.
Consequently, Cape Falcon Marine Reserve and the Rainforest Reserve “are quite connected in the way we approach management and stewardship,” Katie explained, adding that, “Wherever you are in either of those places, you see the other.”
She shared about the current community science and stewardship activities that NCLC is leading and participating in at the marine reserve, which includes sea star surveys, marine debris surveys, an annual bioblitz, supporting black oystercatcher monitoring, and contributing to beach cleanups. Additionally, Cape Falcon is a site for abundant community engagement, outreach and education, particularly through the Tidepool Ambassador Program (TAP) and guided outings.
Meanwhile, at the nearby Rainforest Reserve, NCLC is currently in the middle of a long-term road-decommissioning project that will rewild the area and continue guiding it toward a trajectory of healing and robust ecological function.
Not only are these two place-based anniversaries occurring this year, for the Rainforest Reserve and Cape Falcon Marine Reserve, but NCLC also is celebrating its 40th anniversary as an organization.
“I hope that makes you continue to feel very confident about your legacy decisions in terms of forever,” Katie said to the CLC members. “We’ve had a great, great 40 years so far, and there’s no reason to believe that we won’t just continue to enjoy some really awesome success.”
Preserving the Coast for Future Generations
Several CLC members emphasized the sense of confidence that is derived from NCLC’s mission and longevity, as well as how the nonprofit is operated and what it has accomplished over the past four decades.
“This is an organization that is so well run, so well organized, and has such excellently thought-out plans for the future that we can put our trust in that and know that our legacy is going to be in good hands,” said Pat Lehman, who is a CLC member and long-time NCLC supporter along with her husband, Ken. “NCLC’s mission is focused on preserving this beautiful environment in perpetuity. It feels important to contribute to that part of the mission as well.”
For CLC member Kathleen Callan, it feels “really important to conserve our lands for the future.”
Speaking of herself and her husband, she added, “We don’t have children, but other people do. So, we want to leave part of our estate to something that can benefit many generations.”
Diane Gallagher-McVey agreed that while she doesn’t have kids of her own, she has stepchildren and a niece “that’s like my child.” And she also is invested in preserving a healthy future for the generations yet to come.
“I decided a long time ago that a portion of my estate would be going to organizations such as this,” she said.
*NCLC would like to thank the sponsors of this year’s CLC brunch: Coaster Construction, Landwehr Financial, Brut Wine Bar, Unfurl Manzanita, and Malia Jacobsen, of Malia’s Grill.
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