Gov. Perdue signed the state budget on Friday, August 7. The final budget includes the Office of Environmental Education; however, it eliminates the office’s administrative assistant, Sharon Springs. It also eliminates funding for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Library, which is housed within the office. This funding includes the department’s librarian, Mary Tucker. It directs the library collection to be transferred to the State Library.
These are dire economic times and though the office is devastated by the loss of these staff members, and of the library, we feel fortunate that the remaining staff and programs will stay intact.
There are no words to adequately express the thanks that we owe our constituency for your support during this budget crisis. Our office was overwhelmed by the outpouring of grassroots support from environmental educators, citizens and organizations throughout the state.
A recent op-ed piece in the New York Times eloquently addressed the lack of time Americans spend getting outside. The columnist wrote, “One problem may be that the American environmental movement has focused so much on preserving nature that it has neglected to do enough to preserve a constituency for nature.”
North Carolina is far from lacking a constituency for the environment. Along with the state’s diverse natural heritage, we have the strongest environmental education community in the country.
Our office looks forward to continuing its work for North Carolina’s environmental educators, programs, resources and facilities.Thank you for all you have done to support the N.C. Office of Environmental Education. We feel extremely fortunate that North Carolina has such a unique and dedicated environmental education community.
Sincerely,
The staff of the N.C. Office of Environmental Education
Lisa Tolley
Rachel Smith
Sarah Yelton
Marty Wiggins
Libby Wilcox
These are dire economic times and though the office is devastated by the loss of these staff members, and of the library, we feel fortunate that the remaining staff and programs will stay intact.
There are no words to adequately express the thanks that we owe our constituency for your support during this budget crisis. Our office was overwhelmed by the outpouring of grassroots support from environmental educators, citizens and organizations throughout the state.
A recent op-ed piece in the New York Times eloquently addressed the lack of time Americans spend getting outside. The columnist wrote, “One problem may be that the American environmental movement has focused so much on preserving nature that it has neglected to do enough to preserve a constituency for nature.”
North Carolina is far from lacking a constituency for the environment. Along with the state’s diverse natural heritage, we have the strongest environmental education community in the country.
Our office looks forward to continuing its work for North Carolina’s environmental educators, programs, resources and facilities.Thank you for all you have done to support the N.C. Office of Environmental Education. We feel extremely fortunate that North Carolina has such a unique and dedicated environmental education community.
Sincerely,
The staff of the N.C. Office of Environmental Education
Lisa Tolley
Rachel Smith
Sarah Yelton
Marty Wiggins
Libby Wilcox
