Dear Friend of MAP,
The dog days of summer are here, and the situation in Truckee Tahoe is heating up! With significant land use, development, and crucial conservation efforts underway, the need for your membership support is more urgent than ever.
We've all been barking about the heat, but it's time to tune into the future of our mountains by helping MAP advance critical advocacy and open space for all! With the scorching summer and doggone development applications piling up, it's time for MAP to unite members and attract new supporters to participate in grassroots advocacy, conservation, and community planning.
MAP members and our furry friends at home are the backbone of our advocacy efforts. Your role in the public process, writing letters, signing petitions, attending events, and supporting our mission-driven work with membership donations is not just important; it's invaluable. You are the driving force behind our tireless commitment and conservation success to date!
We have our paws on 18 land use applications, a multi-year community planning process for the Tahoe Regional Plan Agency Phase 3 Housing Codes, and the future protection of open space in Martis Valley and North Lake Tahoe. It's a critical time for advocacy, so we need your support!
We hate to hound, but now is the time to invest in environmental advocacy by becoming a MAP member today! Your membership will help us preserve and protect the environment for generations to come.
We double-dog dare you to join us in this important work!
With monumental land use review and community organizing needs ahead of us, we have four generous MAP donors who are doubling down on MAP's efforts. They have pledged a $30,000 match for our summer membership drive, which means they will match every dollar raised to $30,000, effectively doubling your contribution. This will help us secure $60,000 for MAP's advocacy, priority land use, and conservation campaigns.
So stop barking and advocate more by powering MAP's mission—double your impact by becoming a member or renewing today!
With gratitude,
Alexis Ollar, MS & GISP
MAP Executive Director
P.s. Tahoe’s environment and future generations are counting on you! Join the movement and become a MAP member today! Donations of $50 or more can receive a 2024 MAP Membership gift, Bryn Merrell Wildflower Bandana.
As a member-powered, environmental advocacy organization, MAP relies on the support of members to accomplish our goals. Since 1987, membership contributions, civic action, and collaboration have fueled our advocacy work, creating a positive change for the environment and community. Become a MAP member today and get involved in grassroots advocacy work to protect present and future generations.
Dedicated MAP Members help to fuel MAP’s advocacy efforts. Attending countless hearings is not easy, and Ellie keeps her pulse on all things Tahoe. We are thrilled to spotlight Ellie and showcase the importance of civic engagement and Stewardship.
My first introduction to the “Jewel of Sierra”, Lake Tahoe, was in 1985. My husband had been camping since 1955 at Meeks Bay and wanted to share his love for Tahoe and our future home when we retired.
I lived in Tahoe Vista for 19 years. Now in nearby Carson Valley. Tahoe is My Backyard (TIMBY).
I’ve attended more meetings and written more comments in 20 years than I can count, but every minute spent is worthwhile. I choose to participate to ensure a safe quality of life for future generations through community outreach and education. Part of my advocacy is trying to leave a legacy of public participation for others to follow.
Today, we have a much different Tahoe/Truckee region emerge in 40 years.
I embrace the passion of Paul Laxalt, Former Governor of Nevada, and Ronald Reagan, Former Governor of California when they said that Lake Tahoe is truly a “wonder of the world” and that the Tahoe Basin must be protected for its incomparable value now and in the future. -Ellie Waller
At MAP, we rely on the passion of our members who carry their advocacy throughout their lives. We want to express our appreciation to individuals who are dedicated to environmental conservation and community engagement. This month, we are thrilled to showcase Sarah Green, a MAP member who embodies the grassroots spirit
Whether it’s participating on the Green Team, attending public meetings, and advocating for open space protection, Sarah is always willing to lend her voice and knowledge to a good cause.
When asked about her advocacy efforts, here’s what Sarah had to say:
“I try to dedicate my life to making the world a better place. Both in my work and my personal life, I promote the protection of our natural world through open space protection, watershed stewardship and low-impact human actions (such as waste reduction, water conservation, minimalism, etc).
I moved to Truckee in 1995. With a career that focuses on natural resource management, watershed stewardship and open space preservation, I am passionate about community engagement and stakeholder collaboration to address our environmental issues.
I feel very fortunate to live in the mountains, surrounded by open space. As we grow and develop, I want to see this area maintain the forests around our homes and the green spaces that abut our neighborhoods. We’ve been losing this as Truckee has been developing and it can be done better!
Throughout my life, my mother instilled me with a strong ethic of civic engagement and modeled public service – the importance of individual action. We must continue to do whatever we can to reduce our impact on the planet at all levels – individual, community, global. But it really does all start with ourselves. I believe our individual lives are a microcosm of the world. Care for ourselves and our immediate surroundings (friends, family, community) is the starting point to making the world better.
I believe that we all are capable of doing better – living more in touch with ourselves, in balance with nature and connected to each other. And nothing can teach us more about the beautiful simplicity of life than our natural environment. “ - Sarah Green
MAP was started in 1987 by local citizens who wanted to protect their community and advocate for responsible development. Grassroots organizing created MAP and is the reason we’re still around today. This month we’re highlighting two MAP members who truly embody that grassroots spirit — Rolf Godon and Tanzy Maxfield.
Whether it’s attending meetings, writing letters, or volunteering behind the scenes, these two are always willing to get in the trenches and fight the good fight in any way they can.
When asked about his advocacy efforts, here’s what Rolf Godon had to say:
“My early experiences in nature etched a profound connection to the wilderness, steering the course of my life. Settling in Truckee in 1974, I not only found a home but a sanctuary. However, our idyllic haven faced threats — looming big-box stores, debates over green spaces, and the town's trajectory. Responding, we formed the Mountain Area Preservation Foundation (MAPF) to shield the town's essence.
Recently, shaping the Truckee 2040 General Plan consumed me. Meetings, heartfelt letters, vocal advocacy — MAP and the Green Team's unwavering dedication bore fruit, particularly for environmental preservation. In essence, my journey mirrors a community's resolve to preserve its character. Our story embodies unity, unwavering advocacy, and an unbreakable fondness for the land we cherish.”
Thank you, Rolf and Tanzy, for your unending dedication to making Truckee Tahoe a better place for present and future generations. Join these two and become a MAP member today.
Advocacy fuels MAP’s mission, and we have a truly inspiring member to spotlight — Stefanie Olivieri, one of MAP’s founders and a shining example of what it means to advocate for positive change!
Stefanie has been a pillar of our community, dedicating herself to the evolution of Downtown Truckee into the vibrant hub it is today for the past 60 years. Her unwavering commitment to preserving special places and responsible development is truly remarkable. She dives headfirst into attending public hearings, making impactful public comments, and staying deeply engaged in the matters that shape our beloved town.
But that's not all! Stefanie's current focus is on an important mission—getting industrial activities off the beautiful Truckee River. She understands the importance of preserving this natural treasure and will serve on a committee to enact change through the Truckee 2040 General Plan. It's through her unwavering determination and tireless persistence that she brings about transformative change.
Help MAP inspire others to participate in grassroots advocacy by getting involved. By joining MAP, like Stefanie, you are helping to fund and grow Truckee Tahoe advocacy. Let’s take a moment to celebrate environmental advocacy and give a huge shout-out to Stefanie, our first MAP Advocacy Spotlight!