On October 29, 2021, the foundation hosted its inaugural annual dinner event at Valhalla on the south shore of Lake Tahoe honoring the contributions of the U.S. Forest Service’s Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) land acquisition team. The event, which was open to the general public, was attended by past and present staff of the LTBMU and members of the foundation. Former LTBMU employees attending the event included Cheryl Ferguson, Bill Johnson, John Hoefer, Sandy Hogan, Jane Oden, Joe Oden, Mac MacGarry, John Shilling, and Dave Stoms, Catering was provided by the Cork and More of South Lake Tahoe prior to which guests took the opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues and friends and reminisce about earlier days in the Tahoe Basin.
Foundation president Craig Morgan presented a history of the LTBMU’s Land Acquisition Program and the significance it had in preserving the ecology of the Lake Tahoe Basin and protecting the lake itself. A summary of the various land acquisitions made within the basin over the past sixty years was recounted and three significant acquisitions and programs were discussed in detail: the 64 acre site in Tahoe City, the Jennings hotel/casino site at Stateline, and the Burton Santini sensitive land acquisition program that encompassed lands all around the basin. Sandy Hogan, Jon Hoefer, the Odens, and John Shilling shared some of their stories about early land acquisitions in the basin and the difficulties the Forest Service encountered in facilitating the acquisitions and managing the lands thereafter.
At the end of the presentation, the foundation presented a plague in recognition of the contributions made in support of the Forest Service’s past and present land acquisition team to Daniel Cressy, LTBMU Public Services Staff Officer.
The Foundation thanks all of those who attended this event and looks forward to seeing you at next year’s event.