During the Savory Institute's conference at the end of June Hunter Lovins kept going back to one word "integrity". She mentioned a 1000 acre parcel of land which she had managed Holistically since the 70's. It was responsibly grazed, free of noxious weeds and self sustaining. ... "my old outfit just sold it.... you can bet the new owner won't ranch it Holistically.... you have to have integrity in what you do." She did a good job not letting the steely anger show in her eyes under that cowboy hat, but it was there...
Of course it's never that simple.
She was referring to Windstar. In 1976 John Denver set up the Windstar Land Conservancy with 1000 (ish) acres of land (okay, 957 acres) with a dream of untouched wilderness held in perpetuity or to quote the County Commissioners 1979 resolution “an educational and research institute dedicated to the creation of an environmentally aware, holistic, and synergistic center, devoted to raising human consciousness at all levels — individual, social, political and environmental.” Perpetuity came to an end last year. The board dissolved the Foundation decided to sell 30 acres off of Windstar and they got $8.5 million for the deal.
The whole thing has gotten attention at the National level NY Times
The Rocky Mountain Institute (run by Amory Lovins, Hunter's X) is the biggest beneficiary of the sale (they also controlled 2 seats on the Windstar board).
Rumor has it RMI is looking for a new space in the town of Basalt.
The remaining acres remain open to the public. Public access may be restricted and the funds for management may be in flux but it will remain open to the public.
So what happened? Really? Here's my take from looking from the outside - the only trustee with income- asked for permission to expand in order to keep up with their needs- Pitkin County said "no". The unintended consequences of the "no growth" response was for RMI to resort to following the letter of the Windstar Conservancy and not the spirit of the Windstar Conservancy.
There will certainly be unintended consequences from the RMI decision to serve their needs by doing what they were legally allowed to do. If nothing else the shiny white armor of RMI is looking a little tarnished.
The story is depressingly familiar. It's very close to what we went through in 2010-11 with the Given Institute we lost that battle and the Given was demolished. It was another situation where the University of Colorado did what they were legally allowed to do to plug a hole in a fiscal bucket.
Their moral responsibility, and their responsibility to the original intent of the gift had nothing to do with what they were legally "allowed" to do.
The entire incident raises two questions:
1. It's a recurring problem. How do we keep it from happening again?
2. What can be done *now*?
For the second question I have an answer, for the first... all I'm doing is shaking my head.
Petition to put Windstar on the Historic Register
If you want to sign a petition to put Windstar on the Historic Preservation list go to the Causes page.
Of course it's never that simple.
She was referring to Windstar. In 1976 John Denver set up the Windstar Land Conservancy with 1000 (ish) acres of land (okay, 957 acres) with a dream of untouched wilderness held in perpetuity or to quote the County Commissioners 1979 resolution “an educational and research institute dedicated to the creation of an environmentally aware, holistic, and synergistic center, devoted to raising human consciousness at all levels — individual, social, political and environmental.” Perpetuity came to an end last year. The board dissolved the Foundation decided to sell 30 acres off of Windstar and they got $8.5 million for the deal.
The whole thing has gotten attention at the National level NY Times
RMI at Windstar
The sale is doubtless in response to the County P&Z refusal of RMI's proposed
expansion in 2004.
Mr. Lovins is a very smart man and he is rarely
thwarted.
The remaining acres remain open to the public. Public access may be restricted and the funds for management may be in flux but it will remain open to the public.
So what happened? Really? Here's my take from looking from the outside - the only trustee with income- asked for permission to expand in order to keep up with their needs- Pitkin County said "no". The unintended consequences of the "no growth" response was for RMI to resort to following the letter of the Windstar Conservancy and not the spirit of the Windstar Conservancy.
There will certainly be unintended consequences from the RMI decision to serve their needs by doing what they were legally allowed to do. If nothing else the shiny white armor of RMI is looking a little tarnished.
The story is depressingly familiar. It's very close to what we went through in 2010-11 with the Given Institute we lost that battle and the Given was demolished. It was another situation where the University of Colorado did what they were legally allowed to do to plug a hole in a fiscal bucket.
Their moral responsibility, and their responsibility to the original intent of the gift had nothing to do with what they were legally "allowed" to do.
The entire incident raises two questions:
1. It's a recurring problem. How do we keep it from happening again?
2. What can be done *now*?
For the second question I have an answer, for the first... all I'm doing is shaking my head.
Petition to put Windstar on the Historic Register
If you want to sign a petition to put Windstar on the Historic Preservation list go to the Causes page.
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