For over 15 years, you’ve received news about the innovative Garden City

Bird Sanctuary – a community based nature preserve managed by volunteers

to provide opportunities for everyone. You’ve been invited to enjoy a walk

along the trails, sit on a bench and relax, learn about birds, plants, nature, and

photography or to participate in many activities, including gardening, scout

programs, and festivals. Articles and photos about our site activities have

frequently been in the media and on-line. Many of you have supported this

non-profit organization with donations, volunteer services, materials, and extra

financial help. Many people and groups have become members, and several

have made a welcomed commitment to become life members.

Thanks to your support, we have truly been making “sump-thing” positive

happen with the Nassau County stormwater basin in our community. The

Bird Sanctuary is flourishing, and in 2010 we opened the first section of the

new Arboretum as well as installed an engineered ‘wetland’ area to enhance

the site. These improvements have been the result concentrated efforts by

a good number of people. The work continues, but to ensure the long term

sustainability of the organization, some changes are necessary.

We have a new President and several new Board of Directors members to help

continue the progress. You may recognize the names, and I hope you will

extend to them the friendship and support you have shown me over the years.

Both the ‘Garden City Bird Sanctuary’ and ‘Alvey Arboretum’ are integral

parts of the new designation as the ‘Tanners Pond Environmental Center’. An

added aspect is an additional concentration on environmental and ecological

research. Educational institutions, businesses, members and organizations

are being asked to support these worthy efforts so we have sufficient financial

resources to enable necessary and significant capital improvements be made.

Your membership and the contributions you provide are important and have a

great collective value.

It has been a pleasure and a privilege to lead this organization for the past 15

years, and I am confident that our progress will continue to benefit Long Island,

our community and the wildlife. Our membership form for 2012 is on the

back of this letter, and an introductory brochure on volunteer opportunities is

enclosed. We look forward to your continued support.

Rob Alvey

President – Emeritus

November 2011