New beginnings are both exciting and scary.  Taking over an organization with a twenty year history of environmental achievement in Western North Carolina is a breathtaking responsibility.  But after taking a few breaths and meeting the many volunteers who have become the lifeblood of ECO, I am excited about taking ECO to the next level.

To introduce myself to those I have yet to meet, I have been involved in running community-based organizations now for over 25 years in several locations on the East Coast.  I have worked as a civil rights attorney in a public interest firm, as the director of a cultural arts organization, as a community organizer, and I am a published author and a director/producer of documentary film.  I hope my unique experiences can add to ECO's already rich history while working toward expansion and growth to further our mission.

We have an exciting few months ahead with our bio-monitoring of area streams getting underway with two dozen new volunteers, our tenth annual Garden Tour in June, the Apple Country Bike Tour on Labor Day weekend and a number of exciting hikes, tours, lectures and other programming.

I hope I get to meet all of ECO's friends and supporters over the next few months to share your ideas, hopes and dreams for ECO as we work to address current environmental challenges.

In closing I wish to thank Mary Jo Padgett for her incredible leadership over the past two decades.  Her passion, perseverance and dedication has inspired many and has helped efforts to preserve and conserve WNC's natural wonderland.  I've been told I have large shoes to fill and with your help, I look forward to taking the next steps, together.

-- David Weintraub, Executive Director