Celebrating Ann's Retirement & Remembering Her Legacy

As we prepare for the retirement of Ann Baker Easley, VOC's CEO for 15 years, we are reflecting on the legacy she leaves behind. This reflection was shared by Peter Kirsch, who served on VOC's Board of Directors from 2006 - 2010, including as chair of the Board from 2006 - 2008.

It is hard to believe that it has been fifteen years since Ann Baker Easley arrived at the helm of VOC. She arrived at a time that seems, in retrospect, perfectly aligned with her skills and expertise. In 2006, VOC was desperately in need of a ‘reset.’ It had for years been a highly respected trail club - one that had a long history of superb volunteer stewardship and volunteer engagement. But it seemed, in 2006 that it needed a rejuvenation, an injection of new energy, a new perspective to keep us relevant. Perhaps no one but Ann could have known – intuitively and instinctively, I believe – what VOC needed.

I remember fondly our search for a new Executive Director – a search team including Andy Eiseman, Philip Levy, Christine Strickland and me helped pour through resumes from a remarkably able and qualified pool. But Ann stood out from the very start: instead of the traditional interview of her, Ann interviewed us about VOC, about our commitment to inclusive and diverse volunteers, about whether we could accept the change that she knew we needed if we were to remain a leader in conservation stewardship. In essence, she needed to know if we were ready for Ann Baker Easley. Many of my Board colleagues were nervous – she had such a different outlook on stewardship, built on the foundation of her years in volunteer leadership, especially with disadvantaged communities. But I had no doubt that we needed Ann.

She didn’t miss a second when she arrived: showing a respectful attitude toward our long-standing volunteers, she gained their respect, even if she did not (yet) measure her trail building miles with notches on her walking stick! She worked hard – and it was difficult – to gain their trust and respect. She worked with our oldest (literally) and longest serving volunteers to convince them that business-as-usual would quickly lead VOC into the dustbin of irrelevance.

I remember fondly one of her early fundraising efforts which, in many ways, epitomized her aggressive push to bring new energy into VOC. She scheduled a series of get-to-know-you sessions with Denver business leaders. At the first of these breakfasts, when people were assembled, she launched into a ten-minute presentation on VOC, its work, and its need for engagement from the business community. Pretty standard stuff. But with one twist: the entire presentation was given in flawless Spanish. No initial English introductions or explanations. It was just long enough that the assembled leaders started to get a bit fidgety – nervously looking around the table to see if anyone else was also uncomfortable. After this dramatic performance, Ann asked the attendees if they felt uncomfortable, out-of-place and a bit perturbed. They all did. That, she explained, is what our Spanish-speaking population feels when we ask them to join us in our conservation work. It was a dramatic but stunningly successful performance: she showed that she was not going to be satisfied with the old VOC. We needed to change, to adapt, and, most importantly, to open welcoming arms to members of our community who have historically been disenfranchised from outdoor volunteer work. Ann would not accept VOC as forever an old-white-guy trail building club.

Ann’s accomplishments in her 15 years are for others to catalog – and are far too long for this brief note. Perhaps most important among those, though, is that Ann has never stopped being a teacher, a mentor, an advocate and a model for what conservation stewardship should be in the 21^st Century. Colorado’s debt to her is measured not just in trail miles restored and parks rejuvenated but in the legions of people of every conceivable race, ethnicity, age and economic status who she brought into the stewardship tent. Her legacy will be long-lasting indeed. I am honored and grateful to call her a mentor and friend. And while I know that she will never truly retire, I wish her all the best in her next equally energetic endeavors.

Save the date for VOC's 7th Annual Uniquely Colorado event on Thursday, October 14th, where we will celebrate Ann's contributions to Colorado's stewardship community and look to the future of VOC. Until then, we encourage you to share your farewell wishes, favorite memories, and more on our online card for Ann.