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     Clay and Tracy Knopf have been loyal CSERC members since the early 1990’s – even before they knew each other. Over the years they have volunteered countless times on various CSERC restoration projects (three times in just this past year), but their participation doesn't stop there.  They are true role models for what it means to support and volunteer for a cause.

     Clay’s background in natural resources has often been an asset to CSERC.  He’s helped map roadless areas, done field monitoring, and reviewed lengthy, often tedious environmental documents.

 
     Tracy is a well-known artist (see CSERC’s newsletter article about the mural she painted at the Tuolumne County Library).  A couple of months ago she approached CSERC with an inventive fundraising idea. She is participating in the Central Sierra Arts Council’s upcoming Art Trails event and suggested having the proceeds from one of her paintings go to CSERC.  She collaborated with local prize-winning photographer Peggy Sells to pick a great photograph of acorn woodpeckers to use as the image for her painting.  Then she arduously worked to create a charismatic painting of the birds.    

      Julia of our staff wanted to know more about where Tracy and Clay’s sense of stewardship comes from and what it is that they appreciate most about CSERC.  The couple sat down with her recently to share what motivates their strong support of CSERC.

      Tracy: Exactly!  CSERC is the voice for the voiceless. For me, I’ve had a love of nature since I was a little girl, which is what motivates my responsibility and stewardship to take care of the environment in the region where I live.  The volunteer projects that CSERC organizes produce “hands-on” results and help bring the community together in a positive way to protect the environment.

        As an artist who focuses on painting wildlife and wild places from our local environment, I use CSERC as a resource to get information that I can then express through my artist’s view of the natural world.  I used information and pictures from CSERC many times in the creation of the mural at the Library.

        Now that I am leading educational programs at the library for school groups (through CSAC’s Arts Reach to School program), I get questions from kids like: “Why is the California Poppy orange?”  I can find the answers through CSERC, and in this way CSERC helps me to teach children about nature.  I believe that the only way to preserve the future of wild places is by supporting organizations like CSERC and by educating our children.

        I think it’s important to donate to CSERC so that we can have assurance that wild places will be protected for people today as well as for future generations.

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