Staff
IPF's day-to-day activities are performed by two part-time consultants.
Mark Fuller has served as IPF's Executive Director since 1996. Mark oversees maintenance of completed projects on the Pass; plans for ongoing and new stabilization and revegetation projects, maintains liaison with the Board of Trustees and other agencies; organizes the annual Ride for the Pass, and directs the school children educational planting program.
Judith Olesen has served as IPF's Development Director since 1994. She is responsible for maintaining relationships with IPF supporters; developing requests to individuals, foundations, and government agencies; producing the bi-annual newsletter and other printed materials; developing and maintaining the website; and maintaining records of all gifts and grants to IPF.
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Volunteers Assist IPF in Many Ways
 Climate Action Day volunteers planted 10 large spruce trees plus many seedlings near the Winter Gate in 2010.Every year various groups of volunteers assist the Independence Pass Foundation in a variety of ways. Volunteers help present the annual “Ride for the Pass,” which raises funds to support IPF's projects on the Pass and at the same time raises community awareness of our mission. One of the most valuable ways in which volunteers support our work is by planting revegetation materials. Every year volunteers help plant seedling trees, native shrubs and wildflowers in different places throughout the corridor.
Extensive planting projects in 2010 utilized local school groups, volunteers and an inmate crew from the Buena Vista Correctional Facility. Last August volunteers from the Maroon Corps, a local group of young environmental activists, planted 200 seedling trees below the Top Cut. In October, a group organized as part of Global Climate Action Day (10/10/10) planted 10 large spruce trees plus many seedlings near the winter gate.
In addition, school groups from the Aspen Country Day School and the Aspen Middle School planted in a number of areas, including at the Grottos Parking area (where the installation of new toilets created some bare ground to be reclaimed) and at the Lodgepole Pine Nursery near the Lincoln Creek Campground. The nursery was first planted in 2009, but survival rates were poor so we did extensive re-planting in 2010. The inmate crew also planted in various areas.
In 2010, volunteers contributed a total of 3,566 hours, and helped install 1,900 plants. Since 1997, volunteers have contributed an extraordinary 42,467 hours, and assisted in planting nearly25,000 native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses. Thanks to volunteers, the slopes throughout the Independence Pass corridor are greener with every passing year. |
