In a little over a month, the Pine Barrens Society’s 49th Anniversary Gala will go live on our Facebook page and our YouTube channel. While the basic structure of this year’s virtual Gala is the same as in previous years, there are some major changes made for an unfortunate reason. As you all surely know by now, this past March saw the passage of Richard “Dick” Amper, the Executive Director who led the Society to greatness and was the individual who was, more than any other, responsible for the passage of the Pine Barrens Protection Act. Dick continued to lead the Society for thirty years, with our current initiative – The Best of the Rest – beginning near the end of his tenure. With Dick’s passage, the Society lost its leader, its champion, and its friend. Thus, we’ve dedicated this year’s gala to Dick’s memory.
While this year’s gala is a tribute in honor of Dick’s memory, it also remains our most important yearly fundraiser. You can find links on our gala webpage which will allow you to participate in the gala, become an honored contributor, or purchase an ad in our gala journal. In previous years, gala participants received “Party Boxes” stuffed with goodies to help them celebrate the gala. This year, we wanted to do something a bit different, and so. Instead. participants will receive a copy of Dick’s book Saving Long Island: The David-and-Goliath Battle to Save the Pine Barrens. This book, written in the later years of Dick’s life, serves as both a memoir and as a guide for up-and-coming activists looking to make a difference. It chronicles Dick’s first foray into environmentalism, with the quest to save Lake Panamoka, all the way through the passage of Pine Barrens Protection Act. There are many twists and turns, all told in a frank, often humorous style, that makes this a perfect read for anyone curious about the history of Long Island, environmentalism, or the Society in particular.
In addition to the book, participants in this year’s gala will receive a bottle of Champagne and some small goodies, mailed separately.
While previous virtual galas have been showcases of the work we’ve done, and the work we aim to do, this year’s event will be a tribute to Dick, consisting of two elements. One is a retrospective on Dick, showcasing some of the key moments of his incredible career. The second consists of reminiscences by Society board members, as well as other key players who knew, worked with, and supported Dick. Taken together, the gala showcases the tenacity of the man in life, and the impact that he continues to have even after his passing. Thus, this gala’s title, “A Life Well-Lived, A Legacy Unmatched,” proves apt.
Other than the changes previously discussed, the gala should be familiar to those of you who have participated previously. The participation forms are the same, the options for journal ads are the same and, as usual, the silent auction will go live after the premiere of the gala. The auction will be hosted on the givebutter platform, as in previous years.
If you’d like to participate in this gala, in honor of the late, great Dick Amper, please visit pinebarrens.org/gala. Further information about the gala and the auction will also be posted on our social media pages, so be sure to follow those if you aren’t already!
By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
